Author: kfskadmin

The Alaska Local Boundary Commission will not consolidate Petersburg's borough petition with a competing annexation proposal from Juneau. Nor will it postpone action on the Petersburg proposal. The commission unanimously denied the City and Borough of Juneau’s request in a teleconferenced meeting Wednesday morning.

Now that a judge has ruled against Petersburg’s court challenge on redistricting, it looks even more likely that Petersburg will end up sharing a legislative district with downtown Juneau. That part of the capitol city is currently represented by Democrat Beth Kerttula, who is planning to run for an eighth term next fall. If re-elected, Kerttula’s new district will include downtown Juneau along with Petersburg, Skagway, Gustavus, Tenakee, Hobart bay, Excursion Inlet and the city of Kupreanof. Kerttula says she empathizes with Petersburg’s concerns over the new boundaries, but she’s excited at the chance to represent that community and the others. Matt Lichtenstein spoke with Kerttula shortly after news broke that Petersburg had lost its court challenge

The Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office has come out with a new version of its proposed land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service. The Trust is trying to swap land it owns around seven Southeast Alaska communities with a similar amount of acreage from elsewhere in the Tongass National Forest. The agency wants to log its lands and that’s been a concern for neighboring residents who are hopeful the exchange moves forward.

Petersburg High School basketball teams and the Viking cheer squad kick off their season tonight with homecoming weekend games against the Wrangell Wolves. Sports fans can watch boys and girls teams playing Wrangell tonight and tomorrow on the Vikings home court. Matt Lichtenstein caught up with basketball and cheer leading coaches and filed this report.

Petersburg’s city council wants to take a look at what it costs to own and maintain city buildings, including the newest structures being built by the local government. Councilors want to be able to plan ahead for future major repairs on the new fire hall, which is nearing completion, and the new library, once that’s constructed next year.