Unalaska, AK – This summer the city contracted Zhen Cheng, a scrap metal recycling company, to remove junk vehicles in exchange for metals extracted from the city's landfill. The company removed about 20 containers of heavy steel but left behind all of the vehicles, the smaller, lighter metals, and a large mess, says Public Utilities Director Dan Winters. City Manager Chris Hladick told city council that since they left the island, the company has closed its doors in Anchorage.
Unalaska, AK – The city council revisited the community energy relief options at their meeting last night. City staff recommends giving all residential households a $60 per month electric bill rebate for 14 months. It would cost the city $280,000 but would not affect the money the city receives from the state's Power Cost Equalization (PCE) program. Initially, Public Utilities Director Dan Winters recommended supplementing the COPA to stabilize and lower electric bills, but doing so would have reduced the state's PCE contribution. Most city council members supported the idea of utility bill rebates.
Unalaska, AK – Three dead or dying sea lions have washed up on the shores of Unalaska in the last three months and a local scientist is trying to find out why. KUCB's Anne Hillman joined him for the most recent dissection.
Unalaska, AK – Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell is in Unalaska this week to speak with residents about local and statewide issues and to learn more about the community. He answered questions and listened to concerns during a community meet and greet session and at a high school assembly. KUCB's Anne Hillman attended the events.
Unalaska, AK – Seventy-five percent of fatal falls from fishing boats in Alaska happen in the western region an area including Bristol Bay and the Aleutians because many fishermen don't wearing personal flotation devices. Researchers from the Center for Disease Control want to know what would change that. They're distributing 200 high-tech, work-oriented PFDs to crab, longline, trawl, and salmon fishermen and asking them to evaluate the products.
Unalaska, AK – Though a mid-water trawl survey shows that pollock biomass is down almost 50 percent, scientists say pollock stocks are not crashing. National Marine Fisheries Services scientist Jim Ianelli is in charge the pollock stock assessment, which won't be completed and released until next month. He said groups like Greenpeace, which recently sent out a press release saying the fishery is on the brink of collapse, are overreacting.
Unalaska, AK – The remains of a World War II submarine, the USS Grunion, have been officially identified by Navy historians. The sub sank near Kiska in the western Aleutian Islands on August 30, 1941. The captain of the ship, Jim Abele, left behind his wife and three young sons. But the sons didn't want to leave his memory without knowing what happened. KIAL/KUCB's Anne Hillman has more.
Unalaska, AK – Captain Eric Peter Jacobsen was amongst the five who died when the Alaska Ranger sank last Easter in the Bering Sea. Since that day, his daughter Karen has been on a journey to find out more about the father she was only just beginning to know. KIAL's Anne Hillman spoke with Ms. Jacobsen and the filmmaker who's trying to capture the story of the sea captain's daughter.
Unalaska, AK – The major points of contention between the public safety employees union and the City of Unalaska during the two year contract negotiation focused on wage increases. The disagreement was so strong, they had to resort to biding arbitration. KIAL's Anne Hillman attended the proceedings.
