Author: kfskadmin

Federal officials will not reconsider their decision to give Angoon an exclusive permit for hydro-power exploration at a mountaintop lake near Petersburg. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week denied Petersburg’s request for a rehearing of the issue. Petersburg, Wrangell, Angoon, and a private company had all applied for the three-year permit. It basically puts Angoon first in line to apply for a construction license at Ruth Lake in Thomas Bay.

Halibut researchers saw some improvements in their survey catch rates last year which could be a positive sign for the future of the fishery in Southeast Alaska. Over the past half decade, the International Pacific Halibut Commission has cut the southeast area 2C commercial quota by roughly 60 percent. That drop was due to a decline in abundance as well as changes in research methodology and the way the commission apportions the catch limits for each regulatory area along the Pacific coast.
As the commercial season got underway in early March, IPHC director Bruce Leaman was in Petersburg to talk with fishermen. He also spoke with reporter Matt Lichtenstein about the Southeast stocks, the charter halibut issue, and bycatch.

The Petersburg School District may ask for voter support this October to redo the walls and windows at the Rae C. Stedman Elementary School. The renovation work may cost just under a million dollars and would aim to cut down on heat loss in the building. Petersburg’s school board discussed the project at their regular meeting Tuesday.

There’s a new mural in the works for the outside wall of the high school gym in Petersburg. The theme for the 10 foot by 40 foot mural is “The Diversity of Petersburg”. Students are working on the design and local volunteers are invited to help them paint the artwork on eight to ten aluminum panels. The prep work gets underway march 30th. Organizers are looking for prepping and painting volunteers as well as contributions, materials and loner equipment. Anyone interested in volunteering for the project, sponsoring one of the panels, or contributing in other ways can contact the high school at 772-3861. Project organizers are asking to borrow tarps, sawhorses, and orbital sanders. To find out more, Matt Lichtenstein spoke with community engagement advocate Peggy Floro and Ashley Duross, who teaches art at the Middle and High Schools.

Petersburg area residents focused on Native corporation logging practices, potential impacts to salmon streams and the need to complete land entitlement selections during two and a half hours of passionate testimony about the Sealaska lands bill last week. Around 50 people packed Petersburg’s city council chambers Friday giving testimony on the controversial legislation.