Author: Joe Viechnicki, KFSK

The largest vessel in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet will be late to return to service this summer. The 418-foot ferry Columbia was due to return to service June 28th with service from Bellingham, Washington to communities in Southeast Alaska.

Petersburg residents and boat owners last week examined the latest plans for a boat yard and haul out facility at Scow Bay, two miles south of downtown. Officials are hoping to design a project that could be built if federal or state grant money becomes available.

Commercial trolling for salmon in Southeast Alaska reopens this week after a region-wide closure due to low king salmon returns. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Friday, June 9 that trolling will re-open in much of the region June 15th.

During a contentious legislative session focusing mainly on Alaska’s budget crisis, the Petersburg borough quietly scored a major win in the state capital this spring. Petersburg’s legislators got a bill passed to increase the land grant to the Petersburg borough. It passed without any votes of opposition in either the House or Senate and now just needs the governor’s signature to become law.

State legislators representing Petersburg in the House and Senate expect some compromise on the state budget impasse with just weeks to go before a shutdown of state government. Conference committees made up of representatives from both chambers are meeting this week to work toward an agreement.