Joe Viechnicki, KFSK, Author at KFSK

School projects in Petersburg in line for state maintenance money

Petersburg’s school district has been notified it should be receiving some state funding for projects, some that have already been completed and one that’s already started.

Southeast fishermen seek relief from expanding sea otter population

Crabbers and dive fishermen returned to Alaska’s Board of Fish this month seeking changes to commercial fishing regulations in Southeast Alaska for crab and other shellfish impacted by a growing population of sea otters in the region. Some told the board that time is running out on their fisheries because otters are eating clams, sea cucumbers, urchins and Dungeness crab.

Petersburg, Southeast population drops

Petersburg and the Southeast region both lost population last year, according to the latest estimates from the Alaska Department of Labor.
The state’s estimate for Petersburg in 2017 is 3,147, down 30 people or nearly one percent from the year before. It’s estimated the net migration, the number of people leaving town subtracting the number of people moving into town, was 47 last year.

Writer laureate holds Petersburg workshop, reading

The state’s writer laureate for 2017 and 2018 is in Petersburg this week for book readings and a writing workshop. Ernestine Hayes teaches creative writing at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau. She was born and raised in the capital city and returned there in her 40s. She eventually enrolled in a masters program in creative writing at UAS and went on to write a number of works.

Petersburg looks at fees for tax exemption, cruise passengers

Petersburg’s borough assembly Monday heard from mostly supporters of proposals to charge two new fees in the borough. One would be an administrative fee for senior citizens who apply for an exemption from local sales tax. Another would be a fee on cruise ship passengers visiting the area. Both could be back in front of the assembly later this year.