Unalaska, AK – Both of Unalaska's schools met the Adequate Yearly Progress standards for the 2008-2009 school year. To meet the standards, a certain percentage of students must pass annual standardized tests produced by each state. Students' proficiency is measured for the language arts and for math. This year, 88 percent of the 3rd through 6th graders and 87 percent of the 7th through 12th graders were proficient in language arts. Superintendent John Conwell said the numbers are the almost exactly same as last year and above levels set by the state.
Unalaska, AK – The clean-up and salvage of the F/V Icy Mist is almost complete. The 58-foot boat went aground on Akutan Island on February 25, 2009. Dan Magone and his crew immediately set to work removing all of the oils and pollutants from the vessel. To do that, Magone's crew was taken to the island and left on a cliff above the rocky beach where the boat was grounded. On each of four days they climbed down the cliff to remove the pollutants. Then, the project had to be set aside for multiple months while the Magone team cleaned up the F/V Mar-Gun, which went aground on St. George Isalnd. Dan Magone said there was only one major issue with letting the Icy Mist wait.
Unalaska, AK – Unalaska's smoking ban went into full effect yesterday. Smoking is no longer allowed in any public spaces, including businesses, restaurants, and bars. KUCB's Anne Hillman went down to the Harbor View Bar to see how people were reacting.
Unalaska, AK – Scientists, industry players, federal agencies, and communities are working together to map the productive Pribilof Canyon Ecosystem. The cooperative research allows all of the different stakeholders to access and use important new information about the ecologically significant area. This is the first time the area has been mapped in its entirety. Earl Krygier is the cooperative research coordinator for the Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation, an organization representing fishing vessel owners, processors, and fishing communities. He says that understanding the canyon is important for environmental conservation and for sustainable fishing.
Unalaska, AK – Nineteen people participated in the Bobby Johnson Summer Bay Classic this weekend. The 13-mile half-marathon for bikers and runners starts at the PCR and goes over Overland Pass, past Summer Bay, and back to the Methodist parsonage. It was renamed this year in honor of local cyclist Bobby Johnson, who recently passed away while competing in the Fireweed 400 cycling race.
This year's first place men's cycling winner was Forrest Bowers with a time of 1:03:58. He said his time wasn't as good this year because of a partially flat tire, fewer stiff competitors to spur him on, and difficult weather conditions.
Unalaska, AK – Unalaska might be getting another 2 million dollars from the federal government to help build the new Carl E. Moses small boat harbor. The Senate approved the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill last week. It included 2 million dollars to go to the Army Corps of Engineers to build the floating breakwaters and wave barriers for the new boat harbor. These are necessary before the city can start building the interior of the harbor. Both Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski will support the project as the bill moves to a joint committee between the Senate and the House of Representatives. However, the funding is not fully secured until the President signs the bill. If the bill passes, the Corps will still need an additional $10 million to complete the project. The City of Unalaska requested the senators to help them seek the funds.
Yesterday, in Brookline, New Hampshire, Bob Flannery celebrated his 100th birthday. Flannery, a World War Two navy veteran surrounded by his fellow Seabees, was teased for having a sole candle on his cake, according to an article written in The Citzen of Laconia.
Flannery told the Citizen of Laconia that during the war, he was stationed at various locations in the Aleutians. He said that he poured many foundations for bridges on the islands. At one point, he was injured by an "explosive shrapnel" while pouring a foundation on Attu. From the explosion, a piece of metal was lodged into the back of his neck, and he was airlifted to a Naval hospital "on the mainland." Because the piece of metal could not be removed, it remains in his body still, sixty years later. He was honored with a Purple Heart.
Unalaska, AK – The Iliuliuk Family Health Services will be offering patients a new alternative to quit smoking. Catherine Garcia, marriage and family therapist program was trained in June to do NADA Protocol Acupuncture on the ear to help individuals to stop smoking.
"The acupuncture works from the natural healing ability of the body. It's also done in a group setting, and there is a collective healing that comes from the group," Garcia said.
Unalaska, AK – Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship Fairweather passed through Unalaska on its way to the Eastern Bering Sea. The ship's crew is mapping the seafloor of the ocean to look at the composition of the bottom relative to the populations of fish that live there.
NOAA has combined two different departments to work on this project. The two pronged approach to this research will benefit both the National Marine Fisheries Services and will update nautical charts in low-traffic areas.
