Author: kfskadmin

With a newly-established office and staff member in downtown Petersburg, organizers with Women’s Aid in Violent Emergencies say they’ve had more people contacting them for help or to volunteer.
WAVE is the local advocacy group for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The organization opened the office this spring with funding from the federal “stop violence against women” program. WAVE’s umbrella organization in Ketchikan, Women in Safe Homes, secured the money for local organizations on Prince of Wales and in Petersburg and Wrangell. Matt Lichtenstein spoke with WAVE board member Kathy Bracken and newly-hired coordinator Pat Walden.

A measure aimed at keeping the Petersburg City Council from voting on an issue without public notice failed to make it past the Council on a four to one vote this week. Opponents said they supported the spirit behind the ordinance, but they also expressed concern about how it could be implemented.

Repairs to Petersburg’s problematic water pipeline could be underway soon. Despite earlier disagreements and controversy, the Petersburg City Council, Monday, decided to move ahead with the work so the city’s larger reservoir at cabin creek would be available for salmon season, when water is most in demand.

The proposed rate-hike for Petersburg’s assisted living facility passed the City Council in its second reading Monday night. As the councilors considered the thousand-dollar a month increase again, they heard more concerns from a resident’s family member. The City Manager also gave another explanation of the numbers behind the increase.

Petersburg welcomed the 2009 fishing season and remembered lost loved-ones Sunday afternoon with the annual blessing of the fleet. There was a full crowd for the event at the sons of norway hall. Drizzly weather prompted organizers to hold the event inside. The service typically takes place next door at Fisherman's Memorial Park. Matt Lichtenstein produced this sound portrait of the annual religious and community event, which is a spring tradition in fishing towns around the state of Alaska: