Author: kfskadmin

The U.S. Forest Service has approved tree clearing in roadless areas of the Tongass National Forest for two mining exploration projects in Southeast Alaska. The decision will allow some helicopter access and winching work to go forward on Woewodski Island south of Petersburg and at Bokan Mountain on southern Prince of Wales Island.

Local voters will likely have several sales tax questions to decide this October. Petersburg’s city council Monday passed the first reading of a ballot question to remove the senior citizen sales tax exemption for purchases of alcohol and tobacco, but not without some opposition. The council also voted to send a question to voters on creating sales tax free days in Petersburg.

Southeast’s commercial purse seine season is off to a record-setting start, with the fleet harvesting big numbers of pink salmon on the northern end of the region.

New research suggests the number of collisions between boats and whales in Southeast Alaska is on the rise. A growing humpback population in the region might explain the increase. These collisions are dangerous not only for whales, but can also be a frightening experience for smaller boats plying the waters of the Alaska panhandle.

The city of Petersburg and the union representing most city employees made offers last month to settle the ongoing labor dispute, about a year and a half after talks first started between the two sides. Management and the union say they still would like to reach an agreement, although there’s still a gap between the competing offers.