Author: kfskadmin

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.

Petersburg voters will decide Tuesday whether to prohibit smoking in most workplaces and public spaces. Opponents see the measure as an infringement on individual freedom. For supporters, the ban is about the right of employees and the public to breathe smoke-free air.