LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
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New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
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Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
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    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
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City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
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New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
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Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
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Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

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27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
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House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
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Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
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March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
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26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
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    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
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By Sentinel Staff
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Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
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By GARLAND KENNEDY
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Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
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By GARLAND KENNEDY
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26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
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By JAMES BROOKS
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Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

Bevans Cites Progress In Filling City Positions

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Interim city administrator Hugh Bevan says he is moving “full speed ahead” on getting top-level vacancies filled at city hall.
    Bevan told the Assembly when he was hired for the temporary post that he would make filling vacancies in high-level city positions a top priority.
    “We’re proceeding full speed ahead on all fronts with hiring,” Bevan told the Sentinel today.
    The Assembly chose Bevan as interim administrator after Fire Chief Dave Miller, who had been serving in the position, stepped down for health reasons. Bevan is expected to serve until John Leach, who has been hired for the permanent position, arrives sometime before April 1.
    As to the hiring process, Bevan provided the following update:
    – Planning Director (vacant since August 2018) – Bevan is recommending promoting Planner 1 Amy Ainslie to planning director (see story). “She has the right stuff for the job,” Bevan told the Sentinel.
    – Library Director (vacant since September) – Video interviews are scheduled for next week or the week after. “We received a good group of resumes for library director that have been submitted to the hiring committee,” Bevan said, referring to an in-house group of city employees and a member of the Library Commission.
    – City Assessor (current assessor working remotely) – Video interviews will take place a week to 10 days from now for two candidates who have applied, also with an in-house hiring committee.
    – Human Resources Director (vacant since June) – “We’re operating pretty well right now with an expert human resources attorney,” as well as human resources assistant, and a part time staff member, Bevan said. There are no plans at this time to advertise.
    – Electric Utility Director (vacant since September) – The advertising period for the job is still open, and a few have applied, Bevan said.
    Bevan said given the low unemployment rate down south, it has been challenging filling certain positions.
    “As a general rule, Sitka’s going to have to be somewhat creative in our hiring process,” he said. “We’re all competing for a small employment pool.”
    Filling jobs in law enforcement has been particularly difficult, he commented.
    Bevan said he is making progress in other aspects of the job, including day to day business, and longer-range action plan items identified by the Assembly.
    Those include work on the project to build a city seaplane base on Japonski Island, the future of the Marine Service Center facility on Katlian Street, and the No Name Mountain master plan. Bevan said he is also keeping tabs on the Hoonah application to the state boundary commission to annex parts of Sitka, Juneau and Haines boroughs into Hoonah.
    So far, Bevan said, the job has been going well,
    “It’s going fine,” he said. “In any case, there’s a term to it. I have the luxury of going as hard as I can, knowing it’s not a long-term thing. The staff has been very supportive, and I think we’re making progress. I really do.”
    Bevan has served as city administrator before, from 2003 to 2005, and was public works director before that.


       
   

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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