Author: Joe Viechnicki, KFSK

A warming climate is making it easier for vessels large and small to transit the Northwest Passage. 2017 was the second year for the cruise company Crystal Cruises to offer a month-long expedition onboard its luxury ship the Crystal Serenity through the famed ice-choked waterway. Petersburg resident Karen Hofstad was among the passengers making the journey of over nine thousand miles in August and September from Seward to New York, part of the way escorted by two ice-breaking ships.

First it was chip sealing that damaged Petersburg vehicles. Now it’s messy road paint on some of those same roads. Motorists are complaining about the state of Alaska’s road painting job this week, with bright yellow line paint smeared along several state roads. The paint has also stained some vehicles and spread in yellow footprints and tire tracks.

Federal fisheries managers are proposing an additional change to help charter halibut fishing businesses in Southeast Alaska and the central Gulf during lean years for the valuable bottom fish. The change would allow one non-profit organization to buy commercial halibut quota shares to loosen restrictive bag and size limits for charter clients.

The borough’s public works director says he’s withdrawn his name for a new proposed job of utility director following the results of Petersburg’s election. That will leave it up to the new borough assembly to decide whether or not to seek a new superintendent for Petersburg Municipal Power and Light or continue on with the current administrators on an interim basis.