Unalaska, AK – The Unalaska city council took its first shot at the Fiscal Year 2012 budget this Saturday.

The five-hour meeting kicked off with a presentation about the Unalaska City School District from superintendent John Conwell, focusing on the city's high test scores and low dropout rate. UCSD expects to receive $3.78 million in state funding this year, and will be asking for $3.54 million from the city.

Unalaska, AK – Icicle Seafoods will be back in Adak starting this summer.

On Friday, Icicle announced that it will be taking over the on-shore processing facility that was once run by Adak Fisheries, a company that has since gone bankrupt. Icicle had previously processed fish out in Adak, and plant landlord Aleut Enterprise approached the company to see if they had any interest in leasing the island's vacant facilities. Icicle subsequently signed a 25-year lease for the facilities, and the company hopes to start processing Pacific cod as early as this summer.

Unalaska, AK – Adak is finally receiving mail, after a week without it.

The trouble started last week, when the Transportation Security Administration prohibited Alaska Airlines from carrying priority and parcel packages greater than 16 oz. on board passenger planes. While many Alaskan communities were able to reroute packages on other airlines, Adak was left without postal service since Alaska Airlines is the island's only carrier.

Unalaska, AK – Strong winds blasted the southwest portion of the state yesterday, and caused significant damage across the Aleutian chain and the Alaska Peninsula.

In Atka, high winds tore the door off the local clinic. And in Unalaska, cars have been hit by loose debris, and a flying dumpster lid caused damage to the town's bridge. But the village of False Pass suffered the worst of the damage.

Unalaska, AK – The captain of a commercial fishing vessel was arraigned today on eight counts related to the sexual abuse of a minor.

Michel Bain, 36, was charged with five counts of sexual abuse in the first degree involving the penetration of a victim under the age of 13, one count of sexual abuse in the second degree, and two counts of incest. According to court documents, Bain allegedly abused his two biological daughters, ages 13 and 9, while they were living with him in Unalaska between 2006 and 2008. Bain entered a plea of not guilty on all counts.

Unalaska, AK – Another case related to last year's drug bust was resolved this morning.

John Bruce, Jr., 26, pleaded guilty to the manufacture of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to five years in prison, and three years probation. Two and a half years of his jail sentence have been suspended.

As part of the plea agreement, two other charges - including the more serious count of distribution to a minor - were dropped.

Unalaska, AK – Another case related to last year's drug bust was resolved this morning.

John Bruce, Jr., 26, pleaded guilty to the manufacture of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to five years in prison, and three years probation. Two and a half years of his jail sentence have been suspended.

As part of the plea agreement, two other charges - including the more serious count of distribution to a minor - were dropped.

Unalaska, AK – The Unalaska municipal government continues to put pressure on the state for assistance with the development of a new wastewater treatment plant.

Last week, Mayor Shirley Marquardt, City Manager Chris Hladick, and Council Members Katherine McGlashan, Dick Peck, and Dennis Robinson traveled to Juneau to lobby the state for $8 million in assistance for the plant. Because the Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the current facilities do not meeting their permitting standards, the city is working on the construction of a new plant, which could cost up to $24 million. The city is also in the process of developing a landfill to contain waste output.

Unalaska, AK – A shutdown of the federal government could potentially take place by Friday, which would close up national parks and slow down the tax refund process for late filers. But for the most part, Unalaska shouldn't feel any major effects immediately since many of the federal employees here are considered essential staff. The post offices will continue operating, the Marine Safety Detachment will remain open, and fishing vessels will be able to keep their observers on board.