Unalaska, AK – Results from the local 2009 Christmas Bird Count are in. Local bird watchers saw about 7,270 individual birds from 51 different species. Included in the count were 1,368 Emperor Geese, 125 Steller Eiders, 505 bald eagles, and 2 Eurasian Wigeons.

"It's kind of citizen science at its best," said Suzi Golodoff, who helped coordinate the count. "It's just a heck of a lot of fun to do every winter but it's also very vital data."

Unalaska, AK – Firefighters responded to a blaze at Peking Restaurant around 4:40 this morning and successfully extinguished it. No one was injured. Public safety received the call at 4:35 am. Police arrived first at the scene to ensure that the four residents who live in the apartment above the restaurant were safely cleared from the building. They also blocked off the roads from traffic. Sixteen fire fighters soon arrived at the building. Fire Chief Brian Long said the fire started in Peking Restaurant and spread to the walls and ceiling. He describes the fire as free burning with open flames that affected the structure of the building.

Unalaska, AK – The local Eastern Aleutian District tanner crab fishery opened on Friday. Eight boats are trying to catch the 74,000 pounds available in Unalaska and Kalekta Bay and the 45,000 pounds in Akutan Bay. The Makushin and Skan Bay area is closed to fishing this year. Assistant Area Management Shellfish Biologist Jeanette Alas said that it is not atypical for one section to be closed. Each year the Alaska Department of Fish & Game surveys all of the sections to see if they should be fished.

Unalaska, AK – The city may have to pull up to $23 million out of savings to complete necessary projects during the next fiscal year. They currently have about $90 million in savings, though much of it is already designated for major projects. The city saved up the money by budgeting conservatively, even in years of high revenues.

One of the largest money draws is the new Carl E. Moses Boat Harbor. Constructing the uplands and the inner harbor will cost around $27 million. The city currently has $12 million in state and city funds, but it is unclear where the rest will come from. City Manager Chris Hladick said the costs for the project have steadily risen.

Unalaska, AK – The proposed ArcticLink fiber optic cable from Japan to the United Kingdom would bring faster internet to Unalaska and Prudhoe Bay but not to other parts of western Alaska. The Kodiak Kenai Cable Company announced a plan to build a fiber optic express highway that connects Europe and Asia by passing through the Northwest Passage.

The route will go from Japan through the North Pacific, stop in Unalaska, go up the western coast of Alaska to Prudhoe Bay, then through the Northwest Passage, south of Greenland, to connect to London. The company's technical consultant, Ik Icard, said it's actually the shortest route between the edges of the continents.

Unalaska, AK – More than 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel and contaminated water have already been collected from the oil spill site in Adak. Two clean-up crews are working to recover the 142,800 gallons of diesel that spilled from a storage tank as it was being filled at Adak Petroleum on Monday. Most of the fuel was absorbed into the land.

Unified Command spokesperson Sara Francis said the clean-up crews are focusing on cleaning the water first. They've already removed most of the fuel that entered the small boat harbor. The weather is also working in their favor. Rain is flushing the oil toward collection points and the waves are making it easier to clean up.

Unalaska, AK – Three local organizations are participating in this year's "Pick. Click. Give." program through the Permanent Fund Dividend. The program allows people to donate to non-profits around the state when they file electronically for their PFDs. Locally, Unalaskans against Sexual Assault and Family Violence, or USAFV, the Museum of the Aleutians, and Unalaska Community Broadcasting are all participating in the program.

Unalaska, AK – Public safety extinguished a vehicle fire Saturday afternoon at Westward Seafoods. The fire started around 1:20 pm. A fire fighter who was already at the scene used heavy equipment to push the vehicle away from any buildings as police and fire personnel arrived on scene. Within 15 minutes the fire was put out and traffic was allowed to pass by the area. The vehicle was not turned on when the fire started. Investigation into the incident showed that recent electrical work was the likely cause of the blaze. The vehicle was extensively damaged and it is unknown if it can be repaired of if it will be declared a total loss.

Unalaska, AK – The state's Board of Fisheries is considering closing Unalaska Bay to all trawling year round. At present, the pelagic trawl fleet is allowed to harvest in the Bay during pollock B season, from June 10 to November 1. Many local residents and the Unalaska/Dutch Harbor Fish and Game Advisory Committee want the area to be closed to all trawling year round. This week, city council also unanimously approved a resolution supporting the closure.