Author: kfskadmin

Three women battling cancer in Petersburg this winter are taking advantage of a free service to help them cope with some of the negative effects of their treatment. The "Look Good, Feel Better "program is a worldwide effort aimed at helping cancer patients overcome the visual side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments using make-up, wigs, scarves and a helping hand.

The U.S. Forest Service says a proposal for a large timber sale on Etolin Island near Wrangell will provide a needed boost to the region’s timber industry. However, the Navy Timber Sale has drawn mixed reactions from industry representatives, along with a wide array of concerns from environmental groups as well as state agencies.

A road up the Bradfield Canal connecting Southeast Alaska to Canada is still a possibility. That’s despite the fact that the state legislature last year moved some of the money set aside to study the road to a street project in Anchorage. Nevertheless, state transportation officials say they’ll continue to investigate the options for a road out of central Southeast.

The state legislature is considering a long-awaited increase in money for special education this year. Specifically, it would boost funding for intensive-needs children who must be provided with a full-time aid, though the formula would remain the same for special-ed kids whose disabilities are not as severe. Children with autism can fall anywhere within that special-needs spectrum. Whatever the severity, the cost and availability of special education services can make things difficult for some families living with autism in rural Alaska. But they say life in a small town also has its advantages.

A stage performance that prompted a national movement to stop violence against women is coming to Petersburg. Next month, a group of volunteers will be staging a local performance of “The Vagina Monologues” – an acclaimed and controversial collection of stories, some humorous, some dramatic, from the lives of many different women. The performance will benefit Women’s Aid in Violent Emergencies, a local organization that advocates for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Matt Lichtenstein spoke with WAVE volunteer Jessica Harrison about the play.