Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

Industrial Park board discusses design specs for new haulout facility

Are we gonna need a bigger pier? That was one question presented to the Gary Paxton Industrial Park board of directors last week (1-12-23), as it discussed how to get Sitka’s highly anticipated marine haulout project off the ground.

Assembly rejects bus fee increase, approves other changes to new Harrigan Centennial Hall rules

The Sitka Assembly on Tuesday (1-10-23) continued to make changes to the rules for tour vendors and commercial vehicles at Harrigan Centennial Hall. It voted to eliminate permit fees for taxis, if they’re electric – among other updates.

UPDATE: Missing teen found safe late Thursday

Sitka Police and Alaska State Troopers are looking for a Sitka teenager who has been missing since Wednesday night (1-11-23).

Sitka Assembly considers funding for trollers’ ongoing legal battle

Trollers turned out at the Sitka Assembly meeting last night (1-10-23) to voice concerns about a court case that could shut down commercial salmon trolling in Southeast Alaska. The lawsuit is about Washington killer whales and Alaskan king salmon. Fishermen and representatives from the Alaska Trollers Association (ATA) asked the local assembly to consider contributing $25,000 to their legal defense fund.

January 10, 2023: What’s on the agenda at the Sitka Assembly meeting?

Fishermen fighting a court case that threatens to shut down commercial salmon trolling in Southeast Alaska are asking for help from the Sitka Assembly. When the assembly meets tonight (1-10-23), it will consider whether to donate $25,000 to the Alaska Trollers Association legal defense fund. The ATA is a defendant and intervener in a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) brought by the Wild Fish Conservancy in the spring of 2020.

Sitka Police Department looks to fill nearly a dozen vacant positions

Staff are in short-supply at the Sitka Police Department, and few have applied for a number of vacant positions. Right now, there are close to a dozen vacancies.

On split vote, bus permit fee hike advances at assembly table

When the Sitka Assembly met on Tuesday (12-27-22), it approved several updates to rules concerning commercial vendor and vehicle permitting at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Some, like additional incentives for electric vehicles, passed smoothly, while others, like increasing the permit rate for large buses, will need more votes in order to pass on second reading.

December 27, 2022: What’s on the agenda when the Sitka Assembly meets tonight?

The Sitka Assembly will revisit new rules it recently passed concerning summer vendors and outfitters, when it meets in regular session tonight.

JJ Carlson looks ahead to 10 months on Sitka Assembly

Last week, the Sitka Assembly added a new member to its roster. JJ Carlson was appointed to fill former assembly member Rebecca Himschoot’s seat for the next year. KCAW’s Katherine Rose spoke with the Sitkan, who moved back around two years ago. Carlson has experience working in architecture and construction, and believes her design-approach to problem solving and willingness to collaborate will be an asset at the assembly table.

Study finds wind power is Sitka’s ‘strongest resource’ for future energy needs

Wind power may be the best option to add extra “umph” to Sitka’s electric grid– based on research collected as part of an investigation into Sitka’s long-term energy needs.