Author: kfskadmin

A couple hundred young swimmers gathered at Petersburg’s Aquatic center last weekend for the biggest club event if the year – The Southeast Regional Championships. Some of the highlights for Petersburg included Preston Marsh, who took first place in individual points among 13 and 14 year-old boys and set a regional record wwhile taking first in the 100 yard freestyle. His brother Evan took first in the 100 backstroke, setting a regional record as well. He also tied for first in high points among 11 and 12-year olds. Petersburg’s Tessa Hasbrouck tied for second place in overall points for 15 and over girls. For high points in eight and under girls, Maddy Parker took second place while Elisa Larson and Gillian Wittstock tied for 3rd. Petersburg’s 11-12 year old boys also took 1st in the 400 free relay. The relay team included Evan Marsh, Ian Fleming, Vince Kowalski and Abel Aulbach. As a team, the Viking Swim Club achieved 74 percent best times which was the top “best-time” performance at the meet. In overall team points, VSC took third place. Juneau and Ketchikan took first and second. It was the first time Petersburg has hosted Southeast Champs since completion of the new Aquatic Center. Matt Lichtenstein stopped by on the first day of the event to talk with competitors, fans and coaches from around the region:

Legislation that would increase Alaska’s minimum wage got a hearing before the state senate’s labor and commerce committee Thursday. The measure would require Alaskan employers pay a higher wage that’s adjusted for inflation each year. Opponents, mainly in the hospitality industry, testified it would hurt their businesses and force them to eliminate jobs.

Educators from the Alaska Association of School Boards will present the results of their latest student survey tonight in Petersburg. They asked local students from 5th to 12th grade last year about their perceptions of school and community. It’s part of the districts effort at community engagement. That’s a statewide program aimed at building the positive elements in student’s lives to help them avoid risky behavior like substance abuse. The district gave students a similar survey in 2007.
Matt Lichtenstein spoke with the association’s Shelly Eidsness and Susie Gaffney about the Community and Connectedness Survey:

The deadline has passed and a recall effort for a Petersburg city council member has fallen short of the signatures needed to put the issue on a special election ballot.

The debate over how the city of Petersburg replaces its vehicles continued before a committee of department heads and one city councilor Monday. The Motor Pool Advisory Committee ultimately recommended replacing six vehicles, the sale of two others, and transfer of another vehicle between departments. But that was not before tensions ran high at Monday’s meeting.