Local reactions to Stevens' convictions

Tuesday, October 28 2008

Unalaska, AK – Senator Ted Stevens was convicted today by a jury for seven counts of lying on his Senate disclosure forms about receiving a quarter of a million dollars in gifts from VECO CEO Bill Allen and others. Stevens says he will try to appeal the felony convictions and will still run for re-election. He's represented Alaska in the U.S. Senate since 1968, but some in Unalaska think the conviction may signal the end for the 84-year old republican senator.


Residential wind turbine ordinances in the works

Monday, October 27 2008

Unalaska, AK – Two new residential wind turbines will be installed in Unalaska soon after permits were granted by the planning and zoning commission last week. Unlike the typical windmill-like propeller blades of most wind turbines, Marty Wech and Lilia Howard will both install vertical double-helix style power generators. Wech said he thinks the vertical style will produce more power from the winds and produce more approval from the neighbors.


Peck says residential wind may or may not work

Monday, October 27 2008

Unalaska, AK – More residents are seeking to install their own residential wind turbines to reduce their power costs, but local wind power expert Dick Peck says his studies show that residents might want to think twice before investing in the technology.

"It's all about location and elevation. What I have found, at the higher elevations you have better wind velocities and at lower elevations it is much reduced and it may not even be economical," he said. "And so I really caution a lot of residents they may not have the quantities of wind to repay their investment."


Search ends for missing two

Monday, October 27 2008

Unalaska, AK – The search for the last two crew members of the Katmai was called off Sunday morning and the survivors and others began testifying Monday before the Coast Guard Board of Inquiry about what happened to the catcher-processor when it went down last Wednesday. Four of the 11-member crew were rescued from a life raft by a Coast Guard swimmer. They are Capt. Henry Blake III, of Massachusetts, Adam Foster of Shoreline, Washington, and Guy Schroder and Harold Appling, both of Anchorage.


Two Katmai crewmembers still missing, four found alive

Thursday, October 23 2008

Unalaska, AK – Searchers found four survivors and recovered five bodies from the catcher processor Katmai, which sank around 1 am on Wednesday in the Aleutian Islands about 100 miles from Adak. Two crew members remain missing. The names of the four survivors are Henry Blake III, Guy Schroder, Harold Appling, and Adam Foster. The Coast Guard search was assisted by two good Samaritan vessels, the F/V Courageous and the F/V Patricia Lee. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Levi Reed said the four survivors were found in a life raft about 15 hours after the ship went down. They were all in good condition and wanted to help with the search.


4 survivors found from missing vessel, 2 found dead

Wednesday, October 22 2008

Unalaska, AK – The Coast Guard has found 4 survivors in a life raft and two bodies in the water from the 92-foot cod fishing and processing vessel that is missing in the Bering Sea. The whereabouts of the other 5 crew members is still unknown. The Katmai was in Amchitka pass just west of Adak in the Aleutian Islands when the Coast Guard responded to an EPIRB signal from the ship at about 1 a-m Alaska time. Coast Guard petty officer Wes Shinn said when the MH-60 Jayhawk and the C-130 arrived from Kodiak five hours later, they only found an empty survival suit and part of a life raft. After searching from air for 6 hours, they found the body of a crew member wearing a survival suit with the name of the vessel on the back. Around 4:30 pm, they found the four survivors. The survivors were taken to Adak for treatment. The good Samaritan fishing vessel Courageous is helping with the search and found the second body as well as buoys, fishing gear, a life raft, a life ring, and another empty survival suit. Another good Samaritan vessel will be in the area by 7 pm. There are no signs of oil spills or other environmental concerns in the area.


Sea otter decline changes bald eagle eating habits

Wednesday, October 22 2008

Unalaska, AK – The decline in Aleutian sea otter populations is affecting what bald eagles eat. A new study published in the journal Ecology this month compares the eagles' eating habits from before and after the sea otter decline. The US Geological Survey study's lead biologist, Dr. Bob Anthony, explained that the species are linked in two different ways. The first is directly eagles often eat sea otter pups when the adults dive into the water to gather food. The species are also linked through a long ecological chain.


Ship ran aground on Unalaska Island, all are safe

Wednesday, October 22 2008

Unalaska, AK – The Ocean Harvester, went aground on Unalaska Island in Mutton Cove near Chernofski ranch last night. The vessel dropped anchored but high winds pushed it on shore. The crew was able to get it off this morning and is waiting until weather improves to return to Unalaska where the Coast Guard will inspect the ship for any damages. The local Coast Guard reports that the boat is fully operational and not leaking any fluids.


First red king delivery

Tuesday, October 21 2008

Unalaska, AK – The first red king crab of the season arrived in Unalaska over the weekend. The F/V Bering Star delivered about 14,000 pounds to Unisea when they returned to pick up more pots. Crew member Chris Eicher stood on deck as workers unloaded the catch.

"We had 116 pots on board and we spread each pot a mile apart," Eicher said. "We figured out where the crab are and then we narrowed our strings a little closer together. And we've been getting 50 average [with shorter soaks], 50 king crab a pot."



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