Author: kfskadmin

Alaska’s congressional delegation has introduced legislation that would exempt Alaska’s two national forests from the nationwide Roadless Rule. The rule prohibits new roads and development on nearly 60 million acres of unroaded forest across the country, including parts of Alaska’s Tongass and Chugach National Forests. However Alaska’s senators and congressmen say the rule will limit timber and mining jobs along with energy development.

Alaska state senator Bert Stedman says he’ll take a second look at funding for three Petersburg capital projects that were vetoed last month by governor Sean Parnell. The governor cut half a million dollars for upgrades to Petersburg crane dock, $100,000 to plan for renovations at Petersburg’s police station and $150,000 for renovations at the Sons of Norway Hall. Petersburg projects will receive over $2.7 million in state grant money in this year's capital budget, with most of that, $1.8 million going to fund a commercial vehicle drive-down dock in the harbor. Stedman, who represents Petersburg in the state senate and is co-chair of the Senate finance committee, visited Petersburg this week. Joe Viechnicki spoke with him about project funding and commercial fishing issues from this year’s legislative session.

The Sealaska Corporation has uncovered an old Haida canoe on the corporation’s timber land near the Prince of Wales Island community of Kasaan. The partially-finished canoe may be centuries old and could provide a rare glimpse of canoe construction techniques using traditional tools.

The Petersburg Economic Development Council, the Chamber of Commerce and the City are launching a new marketing initiative for the town. Organizers say it will create a more cohesive identity for Petersburg and help attract residents, businesses, and visitors.

A hatchery run of chum salmon that has produced big early season catches for Southeast’s commercial purse seine fleet is just a fraction of its former self this year. Chum returns to the Hidden Falls hatchery on eastern Baranof Island this summer have been low – so low that seiners will not likely be fishing for those chums again this year and hatchery managers are concerned about getting enough fish back to keep the run going.