KFSK Local News Stories http://kfsk.org 05/09/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/09/2008) A group of young drummers is bringing its unique style of music to Petersburg for a series of performances and workshops throughout this next week and the Little Norway Festival. Kodiak island drummers, “K.I.D” for short, is a diverse group of children and teens. They combine a variety of drumming styles from Africa, South America and Japan. K.I.D has performed in communities and festivals throughout Alaska. The group was founded by Michael Daquioag (de-key-wa). Mr. D, as he’s called, says the group emphasizes the principals of discipline, respect and unity through music. Matt Lichtenstein listened to some of kid’s music and caught up with “Mr. D”by cell phone. D said the non-profit organization started in 1999 under the Kodiak Island Arts Council and Kodiak School District’s summer arts program: http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=118 05/09/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/08/2008) A national watchdog group is asking Congress to investigate allegations that the Forest Service retaliated against a whistleblower employee from Petersburg. An independent federal agency, which is now wrapped-up in its own controversy, dropped an investigation of the Tongass whistleblower case earlier this year after the employee died. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=119 05/08/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/07/2008) Petersburg’s city councilors will have a lot of reading to do this week. They were presented with the draft city budget for next year, as well as the school district’s budget Monday. In other news from this week’s meeting, Petersburg power and light customers will want to make some extra efforts to conserve electricity this month……the city is switching to diesel fuel for a couple of weeks and that will mean a surcharge on every kilowatt hour. In other news the city manager is looking into the possibility of leasing the Elizabeth Peratrovich building for a police station. Matt Lichtenstein has more news from this week’s regular council meeting: http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=113 05/07/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/06/2008) Petersburg’s high school baseball team is coming on strong so far this year. The Vikings are now three and one after three big wins against Craig late last week. In their first game of the season last month, Petersburg was able to keep Juneau, the leading team in the region, to four runs. This is the fourth season for the new high school program and as Matt Lichtenstein reports, the team was in high spirits during their home series against Craig. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=117 05/06/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/06/2008) It looks like the cost of living at Petersburg’s assisted-living home will be going up…a lot. The city council Monday passed the first of three readings for a measure that includes an 80 percent increase over the next year in the basic cost for self-pay residents at assisted-living. The move is aimed at reducing city subsidies to the new facility, which has been operating at a loss since it opened in the spring of 2004. The Council voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance despite concerns from some of the resident’s family members. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=114 05/06/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/06/2008) It’s back to the drawing board for Petersburg’s borough petition. The city council wants the former borough charter commission to take another look at the overall petition and make some changes that might attract more support for the plan. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=112 05/06/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/05/2008) Pools and trails, playgrounds and maintenence, funding and safety were all part of the discussions at the Alaska Recreation and Park Association conference in Petersburg last week. Over 50 public and private recreation managers and specialists from across the state were in town to take part in the annual event. They met at locations throughout town….from the City Council chambers and Sons of Norway hall to the community gym, and Petersburg’s new aquatic center. The facility has drawn a lot of interest from other towns looking to build pools. Matt Lichtenstein spoke with several attendees about the conference and some of the issues facing parks and recreation programs in Alaska: http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=115 05/05/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/02/2008) After a 30 years of practicing nursing in Petersburg, working with parents and children, and promoting public health programs, Marlene Cushing is retiring. The long-time Public Health Nurse was honored for her many years of service last month by the Petersburg Childrens Center as “The Champion of Children for 2008”. Cushing took over as public health nurse here in 1978 when she and her husband Dave moved from Ketchikan. Matt Lichtenstein recently spoke with her about the many changes she’s seen in local public health over the decades: http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=116 05/02/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/01/2008) It’s been more than a half century since Alaskan fishermen began to fish king crab commercially. In southeast Alaska, one of those crabbing pioneers was Lloyd Pederson of Petersburg, who passed away at the age of 87 on March 30th Pederson began longlining at the age of 14 with his father Hilmer aboard the arcade….eventually he went on to buy his own boat, the Middleton, in 1953. He fished her for another 40 years after that. He decided to prospect for king crab in southeast in the late 1950’s, making his own pots and other specialized gear. The commercial fishery that he helped develop gave a boost to Petersburg’s wintertime economy, providing more work for boats, crew and canneries. Pederson later took the unusual step of having his daughter jean crew aboard his boat at a time when women were not commonly hired as deckhands. Pederson was prominent for his activism in the industry but also for his sense of humor. Many locals remember his 1963 rambler station wagon, wildly decorated with everything from bouy bags to planters. In simple terms, Jean Curry describes her father as a good man……Matt Lichtenstein recently asked Curry about her dad. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=111 05/01/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/01/2008) Petersburg lost a piece of its history in April, when the fishing vessel Charles W slipped quietly beneath the calm waters of Frederick Sound. The 108-year old schooner was listed on the national register of historic places but without enough funding for restoration, she had to be scuttled. For those who knew her, the Charles W was an icon of Petersburg’s past. Once a mainstay of the local economy, she represented a way of life and livelihood for several generations of fishermen and seafood processors. Matt Lichtenstein produced this story: http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=110 05/01/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/01/2008) For the first time, high school sports and activities will be subject to a statewide policy against tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. The new rules include both consequences and an educational requirement for students who get into trouble. The Alaska School Activities Association approved the policy during its meeting in Petersburg. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=107 05/01/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (05/01/2008) It’s been more than a half century since Alaskan fishermen began to fish king crab commercially. In southeast Alaska, one of those crabbing pioneers was Lloyd Pederson of Petersburg, who passed away at the age of 87 on March 30th Pederson began longlining at the age of 14 with his father Hilmer aboard the arcade….eventually he went on to buy his own boat, the Middleton, in 1953. He fished her for another 40 years after that. He decided to prospect for king crab in southeast in the late 1950’s, making his own pots and other specialized gear. The commercial fishery that he helped develop gave a boost to Petersburg’s wintertime economy, providing more work for boats, crew and canneries. Pederson later took the unusual step of having his daughter jean crew aboard his boat at a time when women were not commonly hired as deckhands. Pederson was prominent for his activism in the industry but also for his sense of humor. Many locals remember his 1963 rambler station wagon, wildly decorated with everything from bouy bags to planters. In simple terms, Jean Curry describes her father as a good man. Matt Lichtenstein recently asked Curry about her dad. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=108 05/01/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (04/29/2008) High school teams in many smaller southeast towns will have one more school to compete with next year….while Juneau and Ketchikan will have one less. School activity officials say Sitka High School’s shift to the 3A conference will mean some significant changes for southeast sports next year. They worked out the schedules during a meeting in Petersburg late last week. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=102 04/29/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (04/25/2008) Petersburg Medical Center will be raising rates five percent in May as part of an effort to cope with ongoing financial problems. The hospital was a million dollars short on revenue for its 7-point-six million dollar operating budget last year. Hospital administrator John Bringhurst says the situation has improved this fiscal year though the hospital is still operating at a projected loss of about 200 thousand dollars. Bringhurst spoke with KFSK’s Matt Lichtenstein http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=105 04/25/2008 PETERSBURG-AK (04/23/2008) Improvements to the community cold storage, marine support services and regional marketing are all issues that the Petersburg Economic Development Council has tackled over the past year. The PEDC, which is supported by money from the city’s economic fund, gave its annual report to the council Monday. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&ID=104 04/23/2008