KFSK Southeast News Stories http://kfsk.org 03/10/2010 SITKA, ALASKA (03/10/2010) The U.S. Forest Service plans to get rid of its Sitka Ranger boat, and it could shed another one of its remaining two Southeast boats if their use diminishes. Forest Service Sitka District Ranger Carol Goularte announced the news at Tuesday night's Sitka Assembly meeting. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1047 03/10/2010 JUNEAU, ALASKA (03/09/2010) The Parnell administration is not ready to join the campaign to build a power line linking Southeast Alaska to central British Columbia. But it’s tracking the project and considering its pros and cons. Gene Therriault, the governor’s energy adviser, discussed what’s called the A-K-B-C intertie at a Southeast Conference meeting earlier this month in Juneau. The administration of Governor Frank Murkowski pushed for construction of the line. But state support has lessened since he left office. The most likely route would start at the Bradfield Canal, southeast of Wrangell, and cross the coastal mountains to British Columbia. Canadian officials have taken steps toward extending the province’s electrical grid to a point where it could connect to the cross-boundary line. But construction is not certain. A private company trying to develop hydroelectric plants northeast of Petersburg wants to sell power across the border. And Wrangell officials have pushed for the project. Therriault says the governor has not made direct contact with British Columbia about the line. But he says the Alaska Energy Authority has been in touch with provincial power officials. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1045 03/09/2010 KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (03/09/2010) Prince of Wales residents were staunchly divided Monday on legislation that would allow Sealaska to select acreage outside of its current land selection boundaries. The town hall meeting was the first in a series of listening sessions being held on Prince of Wales and around Southeast on the Sealaska lands legislation. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1046 03/09/2010 SITKA, ALASKA (03/06/2010) The Sitka High girls have won their first 3A basketball title in Region V. The Lady Wolves edged past Haines on Friday night, 37-31, in the championship game. But, in the very next game, Haines won the 3A boys’ title, in a one-point, overtime contest against Mt. Edgecumbe that will likely be remembered as one of the best efforts of the Braves’ basketball program. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1044 03/06/2010 SITKA, ALASKA (03/05/2010) Sitka High School and Mt. Edgecumbe High School have a decades-old cross-town rivalry. And it was visible to some extent at this week's Region V high school basketball tournament. But students and staff say the rivalry -- which has had its share of tension -- is becoming more and more positive. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1043 03/05/2010 JUNEAU, ALASKA (03/04/2010) Only one Southeast project is slated for funding in the next round of Alaska Renewable Energy Fund grants. It’s work toward a small hydropower plant for Hoonah. But another 14 projects are on a secondary list that could be funded if the Legislature decides to spend more money than the governor wants. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1042 03/04/2010 SITKA, ALASKA (03/02/2010) A legislative subcommittee has determined state Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, violated state ethics law in connection to remarks he made to the Craig City Council. But a second complaint, that Kookesh made similar remarks to the Sitka Assembly two years ago, did not hold water with the subcommittee. Ed Ronco reports. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1040 03/02/2010 KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (03/02/2010) Angoon Sen. Albert Kookesh has been slapped with a state ethics violation over comments he made in January at a Craig City Council meeting. A senate ethics subcommittee found that Kookesh implied that he would use his legislative power to block state funding for community projects if the Craig City Council opposed legislation he was supporting. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1038 03/02/2010 SITKA, ALASKA (03/02/2010) Twenty high school basketball teams from around Southeast are in Sitka this week for the Region V tournament. The toughest competition of the tournament will likely be in the 3A classification, where seven teams each of boys and girls will compete for the regional title, and the first and second place teams will take a state berth. At the BJ McGillis gym at Mt. Edgecumbe High School through Saturday. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1037 03/02/2010 KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (03/01/2010) An 8th grader from the Craig Middle School beat out 158 spellers from around Alaska to take top honors at the state spelling bee on Friday. Oliver Price will be one of two students representing the state in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. this spring. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1035 03/01/2010 SITKA, ALASKA (02/25/2010) A spokesman for Sen. Lisa Murkowski says there’s not much chance the senator herself will make it to Southeast Alaska in the near future to hear public testimony on a controversial land selection bill. And the chance of an official field hearing in the next few weeks is equally as slim. http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1034 02/25/2010 SITKA, ALASKA (02/23/2010) Senator Lisa Murkowski delivered a wide-ranging speech on the major issues facing the state, in her annual address to the legislature in Juneau last week. Although the bulk of her remarks covered Alaska’s role in the United States’ evolving energy strategy, she did touch on tourism, fishing, and the timber industry. KCAWs Robert woolsey sought out reaction from stakeholders: http://kfsk.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1031 02/23/2010