Author: kfskadmin

A key veteran’s advocacy group is hoping to attract more volunteers in Alaska. Leaders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary have been travelling the state to increase membership and raise awareness about the needs of veterans and troops still overseas. The Ladies Auxiliary includes mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, wives and widows of veterans. Alaska Ladies Auxiliary president Penny Mosher of Eagle River and past president Zona Gregg of Juneau recently visited Petersburg. They spoke with Matt Lichtenstein about the group and its work on behalf of the men and women who have gone to war for the United States.

Petersburg bars, restaurants, clubs, workplaces and public spaces will all have to be smoke-free in less than a month. Local anti-smoking proponents were pleased with the strong show of support among voters, who passed the new smoking restrictions with nearly a two to one margin Tuesday. It will be up to city officials to implement and enforce the new rules. Businesses still have the option to set up smoking rooms and that provision has prompted criticism from some statewide anti-smoking advocates. However, local bar owners are not taking that step at this point.
Matt Lichtenstein has a follow-up to this week’s vote.

The state of Alaska has honored a Petersburg attorney for his volunteer legal work on behalf of domestic violence victims. John Hoag received an award from Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan during a ceremony in Anchorage last week marking domestic violence awareness month.

Some local home schooling families are excited about the possibility of a new support program though the Petersburg School District. The school board is researching the possibility of being a text book vendor and creating partial enrollment options.

Petersburg voters have passed a ban on smoking in most public spaces and working places. In unofficial results from Tuesday’s municipal election, 426 people voted to approve the ordinance banning smoking in bars, restaurants, businesses and other public places while 241 voters opposed the new ordinance.