Author: Joe Viechnicki, KFSK

The Sealaska Heritage Institute has released three new books in its award-winning Baby Raven Reads series. Baby Raven Reads promotes literacy, language skills and school readiness for Alaska Native pre-school-aged children. It’s offered in 10 communities around Southeast.

The Petersburg borough will negotiate a land swap with fuel company Petro Marine for property and buildings near South Nordic Drive just south of downtown. However, Petersburg’s assembly Monday was split over whether it was a good idea to move forward with the exchange.

Local residents and business owners Monday came out in strong opposition to a proposed letter seeking to wait on a larger cruise ship making stops in Petersburg in future summers. Mayor Mark Jensen had drafted the letter asking Viking Cruises not to plan stops here in 2020 until the community could decide on whether an expanded visitor industry was wanted here. Ultimately Jensen was the only vote for the letter.

Strong returns of hatchery chum salmon are expected in Southeast Alaska next summer and fall. Those include the first returns of adult fish expected at a new remote release site near Petersburg, a healthy run at a site near Kake and a second strong year expected at a site south of Sitka.