The Juneau Economic Development Council has taken its show on the road. Its operations director, Margaret O’Neal, was in Sitka this week to talk to local entrepreneurs and offer advice on starting up a business. The council does what it calls “gap financing” – putting up the money to help startup businesses. O’Neal gave a…
Southeast
Sitka students head to Kodiak for cultural exchange
A group of students from Sitka are in Kodiak this week for the second half of an exchange with the Woody Island tribe. Like many exchange programs, this one aims to foster better understanding between two cultures. But it also could help preserve traditions lost to either side, and foster healing between two cultures with…
Pilots awarded for saving damaged jet
Two Alaska Airlines pilots are being recognized for safely handling a jet last year after one of its engines exploded while taking off from Sitka. Captain Steve Cleary and First Officer Michael Hendrix won the Superior Airmanship Award from the Air Line Pilots Association Aug. 18th. Cleary and Hendrix were at the Boeing 737’s controls…
Small cruise lines send more ships to Alaska
A pair of small, high-end cruise lines are expanding their Alaska fleets. The Seattle-based companies are filling some of the void left when Cruise West went out of business about a year ago. InnerSea Discoveries already sails two small ships between Juneau and Ketchikan. Sister company American Safari sails three luxury yachts from Juneau to…
U.S. Agriculture Department official on roadless, Sealaska lands
One of the Department of Agriculture’s top officials travels through Southeast Alaska and the nation’s largest national forest over the next week. U.S. Agriculture Department Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Harris Sherman arrives in Juneau on Saturday and then heads to Sitka and Ketchikan over the next several days. The culmination of the trip…
2012 ferry schedule reactions mixed
JUNEAU, ALASKA (2011-08-16) Reactions to the proposed ferry schedule for next summer are mixed. In general, communities like more service and dislike reductions. But it’s not that simple. The draft of 2012’s May-through-September sailing plan alters the fast ferry Fairweather’s routes. One change has the ship stop in Angoon twice a week during its Juneau-Sitka…
Bill would allow gull egg harvest in Glacier Bay
A bill just heard by a Congressional committee would allow Tlingits from Hoonah to harvest seagull eggs in Glacier Bay. It would resume a tradition that ended when the former Native homeland became a national park. But it faces opposition from a nationwide environmental group. Tlingits used to live, hunt and fish in Glacier Bay,…
Angoon, Gustavus, Petersburg ferry sailings could change
Alaska’s marine highway plans some schedule changes next summer. The fast ferry will begin port calls in Angoon but have fewer stops in Petersburg. The main Lynn Canal ship will reverse its route, and Gustavus will double its sailings to and from Juneau. But most other routes will remain the same. That includes the new…
Ferry reservations staff could leave Juneau
State officials say they have no immediate plans to move the marine highway reservations office from Juneau to Ketchikan. But they confirm it is on a long-term list of possible system changes. The office remained in the capital city when most other headquarters functions were relocated about seven years ago. Ferry chief Mike Neussl says…
Murkowski, Young post new Sealaska bills
Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young have introduced new versions of their Sealaska land-transfer bills. Murkowski’s measure was filed Tuesday, and Young’s was released Wednesday.Related Link: Hear the report and find links to bill information.