Author: kfskadmin

Governor Sean Parnell says he’s committed to increasing ferry service in Southeast Alaska. He answered questions and heard concerns about State ferry service during this week’s visit to Petersburg.

Alaska governor Sean Parnell Wednesday sounded a positive note about some of Petersburg’s funding requests for local capital project needs. Parnell, a former state legislator, took over the reigns as Alaska’s governor in July. He made his first visit as governor this week to Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg. Joe Viechnicki spoke with Parnell Wednesday and started off asking about expectations heading into the upcoming legislative session.

The state has shipped more doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine to Petersburg and a few more local residents should be able to get a swine flu shot this month.

The national non-profit organization StoryCorps marked the Friday after Thanksgiving as a National Day of Listening, and is encouraged people around the country to spend an hour recording stories with friends and family. Organizers of a local oral history recording project are also hoping Petersburg-area residents will take some time and think about conversations they’d like to record, or stories they’d like to tell. In December, Petersburg’s Public Library is starting up a six-month recording effort called the Listening Project. Similar to the StoryCorps recording project that gathered 14 stories and interviews from Petersburg residents last spring, the Listening Project offers a way to preserve the memories and stories that are important to you. The library this year won a 10-thousand dollar grant to fund the oral history project. Joe Viechnicki spoke with librarian Tara Alcock and project facilitator Julie Hersey about the effort.

Officials with the State Department of Transportation and the Petersburg Indian Association say they still hope to reach an agreement over snow blowing for the Mitkof Highway’s bike and pedestrian path this winter. The PIA is ready and equipped to keep the pavement clear when the snow falls. However, the State has yet to give the green light.