Author: kfskadmin

Planners are taking a closer look at the problems of combining a road with the power line project from Petersburg to Kake. The power line itself is not controversial. Rather, it’s the State’s proposed road that’s prompted concerns from Petersburg and opposition from the neighboring, roadless community of Kupreanof. Recently, the Alaska Energy Authority and the mayors of all three towns met in Petersburg to discuss the project. Matt Lichtenstein has this follow-up:

Commercial dive fisherman and crabbers in Southeast Alaska are worried about losing crab, urchins, sea cucumbers and clams to what may be an expanding population of sea otters in the region. The Alaska Seagrant Program has now agreed to fund a new study of sea otters impact on commercial seafood species.

Twelve young daredevils sped down PFI hill in Petersburg Saturday for the annual Humpy-500 Go-cart race. It was the fifteenth year of the popular local event which is sponsored by Icicle Seafoods and other local businesses. Drivers and pit crews build their sea-themed carts with a 55-gallon drum and a variety of wheels and hardware. The top prizes go to the teams with the most creative costumes and carts. This year, the designs included a pirate ship, a blowfish, a sockeye salmon, and a spot-shrimp. Matt Lichtenstein produced this audio-postcard of the event:

State Representative Peggy Wilson will be chair of the house transportation committee when the legislature convenes in January. The Wrangell republican formerly served as Chair of Health Education and Social Services.
As part of her committee chairmanship, Wilson recently spent several days on a transportation fact-finding tour around the state. Shortly afterwards, she made a stop in Petersburg where she spoke with KFSK’’s Matt Lichtenstein about transportation and other issues:

Petersburg health care workers expect to have H1N1 flu immunizations available later this month. Alaska received its first 4200 doses on Monday. Symptoms of the so-called swine flu are similar to seasonal flu, which can cause anywhere from mild to severe illness. However, according to the centers for disease control, this particular strain of flu has caused more problems for younger people than older people. Just a hand full of cases have been reported in Petersburg, but local officials have been preparing for more.
Petersburg Fire and Emergency Medical Services Director Sandy Dixon gave an update to the City Council this week. She expected the vaccine would be in Petersburg within the next two weeks
Dixon said the Centers for Disease Control expected swine flu to circulate along with the regular flu, so the agency recommends immunizations for both strains. So far, H1N1 is still considered a mild flu according to Dixon, who said most of the people that have been hospitalized with the illness have had pre-existing medical conditions.
To find out more about the illness and the vaccine, Matt Lichtenstein recently spoke with Petersburg Public Health Nurse Anne Heisler: