Unalaska, AK – The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Advisory Panel developed their recommendations for the Council last week regarding the king salmon bycatch issue. The Council is trying to decide if it will put a hard cap limit on Chinook salmon bycatch in the pollock fishery. But it's not as simple as deciding if the cap should be as high as 87,500 or as low as 29,300. It's about the little things. KUCB's Anne Hillman brings an update from the NPFMC meeting.
Unalaska, AK – The City Council will discuss and take public comments on a revised smoking ordinance this evening, Tuesday, March 31. The proposed ordinance bans smoking in all public places and places that employ four or more people or provide childcare. It does not ban smoking in hotel rooms or in employee housing, other than in bunkhouses. The new version also would allow smoking in a stand alone bar that employs fewer than three people. Currently that does not apply to any bar in town. The ban allows smoking at least 10 feet from most entrances. If a person violates the ban, he or she would be fined $100. Businesses could also be fined if they don't post signs or remove ash trays. If the ban is enacted either by the council or by a public vote, it would go into affect January 1, 2010. However, this version of the ban is still up for revisions.
Unalaska, AK – Drug theft felonies 03.25 Anne Hillman/KUCB
A woman from Unalaska is charged with 59 felony counts involving drugs she stole from the Iliuliuk Family Health Clinic. Thirty-nine year old Michele Calcia, a former clinic employee, was arrested yesterday and indicted by a grand jury in Anchorage. Between August 29, 2008 and December 18, 2008 she allegedly stole 2,512 pills of vicodin from the clinic pharmacy. Department of Public Safety Director Jamie Sunderland said the clinic administrators contacted Public Safety in December to say a staff member had made false entries in the pharmacy log.
Unalaska, AK – Is the pollock industry facing off against the subsistence salmon fishermen? Not necessarily. Here's a brief look at two sides of the debate. We'll bring you more next week from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Meetings.
Unalaska, AK – Each of Unalaska's community fundraisers has something in common - a quilt by Judi Ruder. But sometimes even those who give the most need something in return. KUCB's Anne Hillman has the story.
Unalaska, AK – The F/V Mar-Gun clean up is entering the next phase - ship removal. The Coast Guard, along with help from Magone Marine, removed 18,895 gallons of fuel and oil from the grounded fishing vessel on St. George Island. sa they used two different methods to complete the task.
"Initially the bulk of the fuel was removed using pumps and transfer hoses which were suspended over the water to a tank on shore. For the last portion weather conditions worsened and we weren't real comfortable with that operation," explained Coast Guard Petty Officer Sara Francis. "So we adapted things to use pumps on board to pump into barrels or drums that were then lifted by helicopter to shore."
Unalaska, AK – Redoubt may not be in the Aleutians, but the ash from this week's eruptions is still causing cancelled flights between Unalaska and Anchorage. No flights arrived or left Monday though they should be on track for Tuesday. It is unclear how long the Cook Inlet volcano will affect air travel in the region. Alaska Volcano Observatory scientist Tom Murray said they can only predict the volcano's behavior based on past eruptions.
Unalaska, AK – Her police blotter entries are read around the country. She was featured in the L.A. Times. But who was Unalaska Police Sgt. Jennifer Shockley before she started unintentionally informing the world about Unalaska's faults, foibles, and felons? For this segment of Community Crossroads, KUCB's Anne Hillman talked to Sgt. Shockley about life before - and after - the police blotter.
Unalaska, AK – The clean up of the F/V Mar-Gun is still underway. The Coast Guard has been on scene on St. George Island since the vessel grounded two weeks ago, but the clean-up process has been hampered by high winds and high surf since Friday. So far the team has removed 17,195 gallons of oil and fuel from the vessel.
Due to harsh weather, the clean-up team will change tactics and use a commercial helicopter to hoist the remaining 1,700 gallons of fluids off in barrels. Coast Guard officials say this will reduce hazards for both the clean-up crew and the environment.
