Author: Joe Viechnicki, KFSK

Most of Southeast Alaska shuts down to commercial salmon trolling just before midnight Thursday, August 6th. The fleet will have their second shot at king salmon this summer season over a week later.

Alaska State Troopers have identified the driver in last week’s fatal motor vehicle wreck on Mitkof Island about 27 miles south of Petersburg.

Petersburg’s assembly Monday agreed on the date and format for a community forum on an emergency ordinance. There’s been significant opposition this summer to updating the local government’s law on emergency measures and responsibilities. A question and answer session with a moderator is planned for next month, before the assembly takes its final vote on the ordinance.

Petersburg’s borough assembly Monday approved spending over three quarters of a million dollars of the borough’s coronavirus relief funding for school staff and equipment that will help with the start of the new school year. Assembly members questioned whether that money would also be needed for other services in the community but approved the request.

Sitka Republican Bert Stedman this summer has been visiting communities in Southeast Alaska as he seeks re-election to the senate district he’s represented for the last 17 years. He faces a primary challenge in August but no general election challenger.