Author: Joe Viechnicki, KFSK

Petersburg schools Monday got one step closer to have a reduced rate for electrical power but the local hospital is not yet in on the discount. That was despite pleas from hospital officials seeking some savings in their budget.

The Emblem Club got its start a little over 100 years ago in Rhode Island as women gathered together to wrap bandaged for soldiers in World War I. Today there are clubs across the country dedicated to charitable work, including 11 in Alaska, with over 800 members. Petersburg’s Emblem Club has 94 members and last week hosted the nationwide organization’s supreme president Marty Lynch and supreme marshal Paulette Thompson. Both are from Alabama and have been traveling together since Lynch started her term in September.

Petersburg’s borough assembly Monday advanced two potential changes to sales tax exemptions that could go before voters this October. Tax is only charged in Petersburg on the first 1200 dollars of a sale. At six percent that’s a maximum of 72 dollars. That cap would go up to the first five thousand dollars of a sale under one proposed exemption change, or a maximum of 300 dollars. A separate change would be to eliminate the point of sale exemption. That requires no sales tax for goods or services purchased here but for use outside of the borough.

This month KFSK reported on a new hatchery remote release site for chum salmon in Thomas Bay near Petersburg, moved there to thwart humpback whales eating the young salmon when they’re released. A researcher from Sitka gave a presentation on that topic in Petersburg Thursday. Ellen Chenoweth (CHEN-o-with) is pursuing her PhD through the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She’s based at the Sitka Sound Science Center and works with University of Alaska Southeast professor Jan Straley. Chenoweth’s work is funded by the Alaska Seagrant Program and the National Science Foundation . Joe Viechnicki spoke with Chenoweth about her research and what she’s observed.

Local voters could be deciding on fluoride, on-road ATV use, sales tax changes and changes to the borough’s charter this October. Residents have submitted a proposal to end the practice of adding fluoride to Petersburg’s water and hope to be able to start gathering signatures to put that issue on the ballot. Another group is trying again with a proposed ordinance to allow on-road use of all-terrain and utility vehicles.