News

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Kodiak is in the running for “Best U.S. Island.” The online competition is hosted by USA Today Travel and pins Alaska’s Emerald Isle against 19 other islands in the U.S. Kodiak is the only island featured from the 49th state and has some stiff competition with places like Kauai, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico making the top 20 list. …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT May is ALS Awareness Month in the United States and one woman is taking it upon herself to educate people about the disease here in Kodiak. ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that limits the brain’s ability to control muscles, often times leading to …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Folks will have a chance to test their strength in an unusual way this weekend, and help out a local cause at the same time. Dan Canavan is the volunteer community director for Special Olympics here in Kodiak and said people can form eight-member teams to try and pull a fire truck. “Actually it will be a nine-member …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT A joint effort by the Alaska State Troopers and Kodiak Police Department resulted in a drug bust on Friday. Three grams of tar heroin were seized in addition to $3,970. The estimated street value of the heroin is around $2,000. The bust was the result of a joint investigation following a traffic stop made by Troopers. A press …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT This summer will be the second and final summer of the NOAA-funded Tugidak community marine debris clean up program. “It’s on Tugidak Island, a really beautiful and super exciting place to spend time.” That’s Tom Pogson, the director of marine programs at Kodiak Island Trails Network. Pogson spent a sizeable portion of his summer on Tugidak Island last …

Annie Ropeik/KUCB The Coast Guard sent three aircraft on a long-range rescue for a mariner aboard a container ship near Unalaska yesterday (Monday). The 751-foot bulk carrier TW Manila first called for help late Sunday night. They reported a 28-year-old crewmember was suffering from appendicitis-like symptoms on board. The ship was 450 miles south of Unalaska at the time. That’s …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT The Afognak Native Corporation has a new president and CEO. Gregory Hambright’s official start date was May 1, but he’s been with the company for more than 10 years. Gerad Godfrey is the director of corporate affairs for Afognak Native Corporation and said Hambright will be relocating to Alaska from Alabama, where he currently works as a senior …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Later this month folks will have a chance to participate in a tradition that has been running, quite literally, for more than three decades. Dan Canavan is the community director for Special Olympics here in Kodiak and said this year’s Torch Run will be May 17. “And it’s led by the law enforcement throughout the nation and I …

Jay Barrett/KMXT The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced the closure of the black rockfish season in the eastside district of the Kodiak area for mechanical jig and hand troll gear. The closure will be 11:59 p.m. Monday night. In an emergency order, the department said the guideline harvest level for the district, at 30,000 pounds, will likely …

Jay Barrett/KMXT Kodiak has a new harbormaster, but he’ll be a very familiar face. Lon White, who started with the Harbormaster’s office 32 years ago, was named today (Monday) to the post by City Manager Aimee Kniaziowski. White will assume his official duties on Wednesday. White joined the city in 1982 as a harbor officer. He was promoted to Deputy …