Author: Joe Viechnicki, KFSK

The U.S. Forest Service this year is starting up an effort to plan and analyze a wide variety of projects on both the Wrangell and Petersburg ranger districts. It’s a change from the agency’s past practice, which has produced separate environmental review documents for each project. The Forest Service is looking for public input and ideas on recreation work, stream restoration, timber sales and other management activities that could happen on National Forest land over the next 10-15 years.

Despite three days of impassioned testimony before the Board of Fisheries in January, not much has changed for the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery, which will ramp up in about a month. Local subsistence harvesters won an increase in the size of their exclusive use area, but failed to persuade the board to reduce the commercial catch. Fishermen and processors from Petersburg joined with other commercial interests to remind the board of the economic importance of the annual springtime export.

Seniors will have to pay an annual fee of 100 dollars for a sales tax exemption card in Petersburg starting next year under an ordinance that’s just one approval away from taking effect.

Fresh off a meeting with U.S. Coast Guard officials in Washington D.C., Petersburg’s mayor is not optimistic that the Coast Guard cutter Anacapa will be stationed in Petersburg after 2022.