Unalaska – The city harbormaster says the Port of Dutch Harbor's rescue boat should be coming into service in a few weeks. The 32-foot Almar aluminum rescue craft has been offline since last November while the pontoons are being replaced.
John Days said this morning that the parts shipped on the eighth and he hopes to receive them soon. He added there have been no serious issues in the harbor that had required the rescue boat in the seven months it's been out of service.

Unalaska, AK – Unalaska police are investigating the theft of prescription drugs from the medical kits from seven different vessels moored at the UniSea dock. Boat captains had secured the medication on shore at the processor to deter break-ins while their vessels were tied up. But thieves broke in to UniSea last week and took a number of medical kits containing unspecified controlled substances.
Police have released few details except to say the investigation continues.
In other news, the 28-year-old Kodiak man facing multiple felony counts for allegedly crashing a rented pickup truck and seriously injuring himself and passengers has been arrested in his hometown.
Alaska State Troopers in Kodiak picked up David Woolley on Saturday night following a routine traffic stop after they discovered he had an outstanding warrant. Woolley faces a slew of charges including three counts of first degree assault, driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and evidence tampering for his alleged role in the May 31 crash off East Point Road in a rented Ford F-150.
He and his three passengers fled the scene despite serious injuries. Woolley is accused of hiding his bloody clothes and accusing one of his passengers of being behind the wheel.
Woolley and two of his passengers were medevaced to Anchorage later that day. Sgt. Mike Holman says Woolley will be transferred back to Unalaska to face the criminal charges.

Unalaska, AK – The state's redistricting board has cut up Unalaska's House district 37 and divided up the Aleutians. The five-person board has been redrawing districts using 2010 U.S. Census data. Coastal Alaska to have lost population while there have been large gains in suburban areas around Anchorage, Fairbanks and the Mat-Su Valley, causing coastal areas to lose seats in the House to the rail belt's gain.

Unalaska, AK – Felony charges have been filed against the driver of the pickup truck that crashed last Tuesday into a shipping container near Dutch Harbor. Police have identified the driver as 28-year-old David L. Woolley of Kodiak. He had been the engineer aboard the Kodiak-based F/V Irene H, which had been longlining for halibut.

Unalaska Public Safety Sgt. Mike Holman says two counts of first degree assault have been filed as well as misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment.

Unalaska, AK – Two women reported being attacked by bald eagles Monday morning in separate attacks less than two hours apart. Both women were struck by eagles nesting near the Dutch Harbor post office. Bald eagles are nesting this time of year and very sensitive to humans. Wildlife

Trooper Sgt. Robin Morrisett says his office fielded calls following the incident.

"People need to be aware that this is the time that eagles do sit on nests," Morrisett said. "People just need to stay vigilant about their surroundings and the birds flying in the air."

Unalaska, AK – The new seafood processor occupying the former Harbor Crown plant says business has been healthy since it reopened the shuttered plant this year.

Bering Fisheries, a partnership between Copper River Seafoods and the Siu Alaska Corporation, announced the joint-venture last summer. Production started in January and since then general manager Rocky Caldero says the plant is carving a niche for itself by serving the small-vessel fleet.

Unalaska, AK – The Unalaska High School Gym was filled to near capacity for the Ounalashka Corporation's annual banquet which followed the Native corporation's 38th annual shareholders Saturday meeting in the Grand Aleutian Hotel. During the meeting two long-time directors decided not to run for re-election. They were: Gert Svarny and Nena Mathe. Elected to replace them were Brenda Tellman and Sandra Moller who will begin serving three-year terms on the nine-person board.

Unalaska, AK – Commercial fishing remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. So safety experts are crying foul over the Obama administration's proposal to cancel a program run by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health that's working to reduce fisheries-related deaths and injuries.

This year $1.5 million went toward NIOSH's Alaska regional office that studies commercial fishing.

Unalaska, AK – The chairman of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council has been reappointed to serve another three-year term. Eric Olson of Anchorage was reappointed as Alaska's designee to the council by the Secretary of Commerce. This will be his third term on the council and second term as chair.

Also announced yesterday was the reappointment of John Henderschedt of Seattle. Henderschedt is a designee from the state of Washington.