Author: kfskadmin

Ridership on the fast ferry Fairweather between Petersburg and Juneau remains low but system officials plan to continue the route next year at a reduced level. Even in the busy summer season, the Fairweather is far from full between the two Southeast communities.

The Five Finger Lighthouse is on its way to becoming the first whale research station in Southeast Alaska. The Juneau Lighthouse Association has teamed up with the Alaska Whale Foundation to repurpose the historic building. A research team led by Oregon State University graduate student Michelle Fournet spent five weeks on the island this summer monitoring humpback whales. Fournet’s team is investigating how communications between individual whales influence their spacing across the Frederick Sound feeding grounds. They are also looking at how vessel noise affects the whale’s behavior and ability to communicate. Esmay Joyce spoke with Fournet about her research and future plans for the station.

The Alaska Labor Relations Agency has ruled in favor of the city of Petersburg in a dispute over which of its employees should be allowed to take a strike vote. The decision clears the way for arbitration for some members of the Petersburg Municipal Employees Association.

School officials in Petersburg are using part of the summer break to take a longer look at how the school district handles student absences and discipline for students in sports and other activities. As a result, local high school students could see a change in activity suspensions for alcohol, drug and tobacco use in the upcoming school year.

After more than a year of construction, renovations at the Petersburg Medical Clinic are nearing completion. The renovation adds seven exam and procedure rooms, new offices for the doctors, and a staff break room. The additional rooms decrease the wait time for an appointment from several weeks to a few days.