Author: kfskadmin

Petersburg has finished work on a draft plan that could help the community qualify for disaster preparedness funding from the federal emergency management administration. The draft hazards mitigation plan is now slated for review by the state division of homeland security…and then by FEMA. It identifies the types and likelihood of various disasters that could befall Petersburg and lays out strategies to minimize potential damage. Based on the history of the area, the plan lists downtown fires and landslides as the two most likely disasters in the future. The city developed its plan with input from the public and a committee of local residents and officials. The city contracted with URS, an Anchorage consulting firm, to help put it all together. Matt Lichtenstein spoke with URS environmental planner April Brehm about the purpose of a hazards mitigation plan

Petersburg’s City Council may have to make some tough choices for Mountain View Manor’s assisted living wing in the near future. City administrators plan to recommend an increase in rent and service fees for the new facility, which has not brought in enough money to meet expenses since it opened in 2004.

After more than two decades of training Petersburg High School Cheerleaders, Ronelle Beardslee is stepping down as coach. Beardslee is known for emphasizing the sport and athleticism in cheerleading. The cheer squad took Grand Champ honors at the Top of the World championships in Anchorage this month. They went on to take grand champ runner-up for the Alaska state competition behind Diamond high school. Prior to this year, the Viking Cheer Squad claimed three statewide, Grand-Champ titles in a row under Beardslee’s leadership. Missing the fourth was disappointing for the team, but Beardslee thinks they performed flawlessly. She spoke with Matt Lichtenstein

Petersburg school board members this week had only a few questions on the district’s proposed spending plan for next year. The draft school budget adds money for additional teachers, higher fuel costs and an expanded sports travel program, among other items. It also relies on an increase in state per-student funding and more money from the city of Petersburg. Board members and staff sifted through budget details at a work session Tuesday night.

Southeast processors have been working round-the-clock the past week to keep up with record catches from this year’s Sitka sound herring sac roe fishery. Seiners had their first opening last Monday, but the biggest landings happened on Wednesday afternoon when the southeast seine fleet caught over 9300 tons of large herring. Most of the fish are transported on tenders to major plants around the region.
Matt Lichtenstein visited icicle Seafood’s Petersburg Fisheries plant Friday morning to see what happens to the catch, once its delivered at the dock