BLUE RIBBON COOL – Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School students wear blue sunglasses and bead necklaces given to them as part of the Blue Ribbon celebration at the school today. In September the school was named one of three schools in Alaska and 353 across the nation to win the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools. The recognition as Exemplary High-Performing Schools was based on their overall academic performance as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
At a sparsely attended meeting Thursday, the Assembly [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
Well over 100 Sitkans attended a town hall-style prese [ ... ]
By ARIADNE WILL
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Planning Commission passed two conditional use permit [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The single finalist in the Assembly’s search for a [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
A driver was medevacked early this morning following an accident in the 20 [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Competitors will line up Saturday for the 40th annual [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
More Alaskans will be able to access food stamps following law [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
In the last days of their two-year session, Alaska lawmakers pass [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
May 16
At 12:41 a.m. a man wa [ ... ]
Climate Building Science
As we wean ourselves off of fossil fuels by electrifying our homes, we cons [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A fire destroyed a small island house in Thimbleberry [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola has included $5.8 million for [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city announced Wednesday that $62,795 was stolen [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
A day of street performances, art, food and music, cap [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS,
CLAIRE STREMPLE and
YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
The 33rd Alaska State Legislature [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
The Alaska Legislature has passed a bill that combines carbon sto [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
May 15
Shortly after noon, callers complain [ ... ]
U.S. Coast Guard
Sets Town Hall
On Boat Accident
The U.S. Coast Guard will hold a town hall 5-8 p.m. to [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
After four months of special meetings to review and d [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
Living amid craggy peaks and remnant glaciers, Southea [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
In the play opening Thursday at the Sitka Performing [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A late-session attempt to salvage a proposal that would revive [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
May 14
At 7:46 a.m. a reckless driver was r [ ... ]
Life Celebration
For Carl Peterson
The family of Carl Peterson, 85, will have a celebration of his lif [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Fisheries Funds To Be Split Among 3
By ARIADNE WILL
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Sitka Assembly apportioned a fisheries enhancement fund to three organizations, in a 6-1 vote Tuesday night.
The Sitka Sound Science Center will receive $23,000, Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association will receive $10,000, and Alaska Trollers Association will receive $5,000.
The distribution was proposed in a motion by Assembly member Richard Wein.
A motion to give $3,000 more to the troller group failed. Assembly member Kevin Mosher said it was needed because of Sitka’s stake in an ongoing legal battle between NOAA and Seattle-based Wild Fish Conservancy. The suit could jeopardize trolling practices in Southeast Alaska.
“(The lawsuit) is an existential threat to our town,” Mosher said. “(ATA) needs money and they need it now.”
Discussion before the Assembly came hours after ATA received word that an injunction filed by WFC has failed before a Seattle magistrate.
The fisheries enhancement fund is the result of a city tax on the catch of guided sport fishermen; the revenue in the past has been awarded primarily to the science center. The tax was passed into Sitka General Code in January 2007.
“The voters approved this fish box tax on guided sport fishermen because they wanted these people to help enhance the fisheries of Sitka Sound,” Lisa Busch, executive director of SSSC told the Assembly. “Though commercial fishermen most certainly benefit from our operation... they do not actually pay us to do it,” Busch said, speaking of the SSSC fish hatchery.
Busch said the fish box tax is a way for SSSC to “recoup the costs associated with putting fish in the water.”
The center applied for the full $38,000 available from the fund.
“We believe our hatchery program is exactly what the voters intended,” Busch said, adding that the hatchery “enhances the fisheries for the widest breadth of the community.”
ALFA Executive Director Linda Behnken spoke about the longliner association’s request for $10,000. She said the organization used the $10,000 to promote policy engagement, research and programs that benefit a healthy fishing community.
The organization’s membership includes longliners, trollers, seiners and gill netters and has received funds from the fish box tax since 2016.
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20 YEARS AGO
May 2004
Photo caption: Sara Roa wipes a tear as retiring Sheldon Jackson College Professor Mel Seifert accepts a citation honoring his 29 years of teaching at the college, during graduation ceremonies this morning at the Hames P.E. Center.
50 YEARS AGO
May 1974
From On the Go: Vyola Belle and Kybor are leaving the Canoe Club, where they’ve been cooking for the past two years. Vyola Belle will devote her time to her Maksoutoff Caterers and Kyber will become a chef for the Marine Highway System aboard the Wickersham.