Unalaska, AK – On Tuesday afternoon the sun was shining, the sky was clear, and the wind wasn't blowing. It should have been an Unalaska airplane passenger's dream conditions

"Oh we were just flying along. It was a great little flight. And the pilot actually came on and said because of high barometric pressure that effected the altimeter, we would have to divert to Cold Bay to wait for lower pressure in Dutch before we could land," recalled passenger Kris-Ann Wilcox. "I leaned up to the flight attendant and said, So what he's saying is that the weather's too nice for us to land in Dutch.' And she laughed and said, I guess you're right.'"

Unalaska, AK – This weekend, over 30 members of the Qawalangin Tribe met to set their priorities for the year and to elect a new councilmember.

The most immediate task involves sending three councilmembers to the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Providers conference held in Anchorage this December.

The Qawalangin Tribe is also working to add roads to their federal inventory. The Tribe is eligible for transportation funding based on the inventory's size, which can include both roads managed by the Ounalashka Corporation and the city. Qawalangin Tribe President Denise Rankin says that they already have some infrastructure projects in the works.

Unalaska, AK – Fall sports are winding down. Volleyball and swimming have completed their seasons, and wrestling has just two more tournaments to go before it wraps up.

The wrestling team attended the ACS tournament last weekend. Alex Magalong placed sixth in the 103-lb weight class, and Unalaska City School principal Glenn Cole says that each teammate gave a good showing.

"All of the wrestlers won at least one match while they were there," says Cole.

Unalaska, AK – This month, the Alaska commissioner of education nominated Unalaska City School for the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Award. The program recognizes exceptional schools, as well as schools with a high rate of success with disadvantaged students.

The state is able to nominate three schools out of the more than one hundred that operate in the state. Chugach Optional School and Houston High School also received nominations.

Unalaska, AK – Last night, community members met at the school library to discuss the future of the health and physical education curriculums at Unalaska's schools. All of the school's curricula is on a rotating review schedule. Physical education and health were last reviewed six years ago, and now it's their turn to be evaluated, says Eagle's View Elementary Principal Laurie Scoles.

"We'll be looking at the trends in P.E. and health education that have been going on in the last six years, since we took a look at this curriculum," says Scoles. "Taking a look and seeing what has changed and making sure that we're offering kids all of the current P.E. and health education standards, and adding to the curriculum as it's appropriate."

Unalaska, AK – While pollock is common at sushi joints and grocery stores, it might also be making its way into hospitals in the form of gelatins. A team of scientists is trying to find a way to convert the fish byproduct into a gelatin that could be used to dress wounds or even help repair damaged organs.

For years, the United States Department of Agriculture has worked with the University of Alaska Fairbanks to maximize the value of pollock, says Peter Bechtel, a food technologist at the Subarctic Agricultural Research Unit in Kodiak.

Unalaska, AK – This weekend, a small oil spill was spotted near the light cargo dock. Petty Officer Jeffry Crews from the Coast Guard's marine safety detachment reported the incident. The sheen was about 50 wide and 2,000 feet long.

John Brown is with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and he says that the spill was likely composed of hydraulic oil.

"It had a light bluish color, so it must have been a fairly good concentration," says Brown.

Unalaska, AK – Today, the Department of Public Utilities made its first big move to bring two new generators online. At about 1:10pm, a Wartsila engine was powered up and connected to the city's electrical grid. While the city had prepared for power outages during these tests, none occurred.

"The critical time was when we were bringing the Wartsila online, and switching the power from the old plant to the new plant here," says Public Utilities Director Dan Winters. "It went really smooth, and we're really pleased."

Unalaska, AK – Last night, city council met to consider zoning rules.

The meeting opened with the swearing in of Justin Swangel as a new police officer.

Council then transitioned to the work session, where they discussed the Fiscal Year 2012 budget and the Capital and Major Maintenance Plan (CMMP) calendar. Council will be directly addressing the CMMP in its December meetings.