Author: kfskadmin

Petersburg officials are upset with the District Attorney’s office in Juneau and the City Council is planning to take the issue to the Governor. The town’s City Manager and Police Chief are complaining that too many criminal cases are being dismissed. Local authorities acknowledge the DA has to cover a lot of territory with just a few attorneys, but they are frustrated at what they say is a lack of communication from the agency. The DA says his office is serving the community the best it can and it will try to improve communication.

An independent ferry authority in Southeast Alaska is losing its general manager at the end of next month. Bruce Jones is leaving the top job in the Inter-Island Ferry Authority after four and a half years. He’ll be leaving behind an organization that has scaled back its service, moved its headquarters, trimmed staff, and may have some more tough decisions on the horizon.

Guided anglers in Southeast Alaska may be able to keep some bigger halibut next summer. At its meeting in Anchorage this month, The North Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended a change in the size limit that restricted charter businesses last season.

Former Petersburg poet laureate and retired teacher Lee Ribich has published a new book of poetry called “The Lines That Connect Us.” Ribich has lived in Petersburg for nearly four decades. He taught high school and middle school classes for 18 years here, coached local sports teams and retired in 1991. Ribich’s book features photography by retired Fish and Game biologist Barry Bracken and poems inspired by Petersburg and the natural world. Joe Viechnicki spoke with Ribich about his new book.

Petersburg’s State Senator will be Democrat Dennis Egan of Juneau after the 2012 elections. Petersburg recently lost a lawsuit aimed at overturning its new legislative district and the city council this week decided not to take the case any further. Egan is the only legislator who will not be up for re-election next fall. Once Alaska’s new legislative boundaries take effect, Egan’s Senate District will include Petersburg, Skagway, and several smaller towns along with the Capitol City. Petersburg is currently in Republican Bert Stedman’s Senate district which also includes his home town of Sitka as well as Wrangell, and Ketchikan. Egan says he has a good relationship with Stedman and plans to work with him to get up to speed on Petersburg issues. Egan’s also been in touch with local officials and Matt Lichtenstein spoke with him late last week