Unalaska, AK – The community will participate in an emergency sheltering exercise tomorrow. The simulated scenario is a volcanic eruption in Akutan wherein people had to evacuate that island and seek shelter here. It's unclear when the volcano will theoretically erupt, but when it does the Department of Public Safety will set up a communications center. Then, around 4 pm, 20 students will go to the PCR to play the role of the evacuees. They will check into the simulated shelter with only the clothes on their backs. PCR director Jeff Hawley said each evacuee will register, be assigned a cot, and be given all of the toiletries and supplies needed for staying over night.
Unalaska, AK – The City Council is taking measures to ensure that the road to the new Carl E. Moses Boat Harbor will be built this summer. If it's not, the entire project could be delayed. The city needs to purchase land from the Ounalashka Corporation. At the moment, negotiations are hinging on a conditional land use permit that allows the O.C. to quarry on their property on Little South America. City Manager Chris Hladick said their current permit will be valid if they submit mining development and reclamation plans by May 22 and the plans are approved by the city. Their original permit was deemed invalid because the city didn't have those plans.
Unalaska, AK – The City Council will meet tonight to discuss more issues related to the Carl E. Moses Boat Harbor. One item of business relates to the city's acquisition of property from the Ounalashka Corporation to build the road to the new harbor. After long negotiations, the city offered $1.8 million, the assessed value of the surface rights, to the O.C. in exchange for the property. The O.C. would gift the city the value of the subsurface rights. However, the corporation also wants to negotiate the conditional use permit that would allow them to dig a rock quarry on Little South America. O.C. CEO Wendy Svarny-Hawthorn explains that they want to remove the rock and make more developable land on the peninsula. They can't do that without a land use permit that the city's previous planning director said was in violation and is not viable.
Unalaska, AK – This edition of "Speak Up, Unalaska!" featured guests city council member Dick Peck and Director of Public Utilities Dan Winters. They spoke about ways the city and community members are making the town more sustainable. Here's part one.
Unalaska, AK – This edition of "Speak Up, Unalaska!" featured guests city council member Dick Peck and Director of Public Utilities Dan Winters. They spoke about ways the city and community members are making the town more sustainable through things like energy conservation and ways to improve the community in the future. Here's part two.
Unalaska, AK – A three-month long drug investigation ended in ten arrests in Unalaska on Sunday, two additional arrests on Monday, and over thirty drug-related charges from the past two weeks. An undercover officer, Patrick Bliss, bought drugs from a number of people around the community, some times when wearing a microphone to record the conversations. During the investigation the Department of Public Safety seized about $13,000 in cash, 5 ounces of cocaine worth about $28,000, 10 ounces of methamphetamine worth $28,000, three quarters of a pound of marijuana worth $9,600, and about 80 pills of Oxycontin worth $16,000.
Unalaska, AK – A man was charged with a felony stabbing a fellow crew member early Thursday morning. Public Safety Officers reported to a call from the F/V Clipper Surprise at the OSI dock with reports that a man had been stabbed. Upon arrival they spoke to a man who had blood dripping from a shirt that was tied around his neck. He said he did not remember being involved in an altercation and would not tell officers anything else.
Unalaska, AK – The City is updating its comprehensive plan for the first time in about 20 years. However the plan does not just set forth how city land and regulations will develop. Doyle Hyett, with the firm that's helping the city develop the plan, said it truly is a comprehensive document that involves all public, private, and nonprofit organizations in the community and incorporates the ideas gathered in the community vision statement.
Unalaska, AK – Hundreds of thousands least and crested auklets used to nest on Kasatochi Island. But in August of 2008, the island's volcano erupted and covered the entire place in ash and leaving all of the birds homeless. It was one of only seven major colony sites for the birds in the Aleutian chain. Now they need new places to go to breed.
Bird biologist Ian Jones said their options are limited. They could nest on nearby Kiska Island, which already has a large colony living on the lava flows from the 1970s. But it also has rats.