Author: kfskadmin

Petersburg’s Salvation Army church saw an increase in the number of people in need of food this past holiday season. The prominent, local charity also raised more money than expected in its annual Kettle Campaign. The church serves anyone who needs help in town throughout the year with a food bank program, energy assistance and emergency housing. Matt Lichtenstein asked Salvation Army Lt. Caleb Fankhauser about the local aid that the church provided over the past year.

As the new year approaches each December, the reporters of KFSK and the Coastalaska Public Radio Network take a look back at some of the headlines that made the news in their communities over the past year. Here's a rundown of several stories that were prominent in Petersburg news for 2011.

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.