News

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Kodiak High School has produced some talented athletes over the years, and many have continued on to play collegiate sports. Senior Hannah Wandersee has those aspirations, and has been busy reviewing game tapes and talking with college coaches about her athletic future. Wandersee was the outside hitter for the high school’s volleyball team, and just wrapped up a …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT The Alaska State Troopers are asking for the public’s help in locating a wanted Kodiak man. Brandon Timpke, 23, is wanted on a $500,000 arrest warrant for weapons and drug charges. Last week troopers arrested Timpke in Kodiak on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court. He was then charged with driving with a revoked license …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Kodiak’s recent snowfall left parts of town covered with a bit of ice this week. That is, until the rain washed much of it away, of course. But a sizeable patch of ice remained, and will remain in the months to come. The Ice Rink at Baranov Park opened up earlier this month and has been busy catering …

Jay Barrett/KMXT With a grant from the Rasmuson Foundation’s Art Acquisition Fund, the Alutiiq Museum has four new pieces of art, created by three local artists. They include two mixed-media dolls made by Jacqueline Madsen, a soapstone oil lamp by Sandee Drabek, and a yellow cedar kayak water pump by Peter Lind Junior. Marnie Leist, the museum’s curator of collections, …

Jay Barrett/KMXT After years of having zero representation on the state’s Marine Transportation Advisory Board, Kodiak’s mayor has been appointed to a new seat representing Southcentral Alaska. On Wednesday, the governor’s office announced the appointment of Pat Branson to the M-TAB. She was an early voice calling for local representation on the board that advises the Department of Transportation on …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Upgrades might be on the way for Kodiak High School’s teaching vessel. The 42-foot K-Hi-C is owned by the Kodiak Island Borough School District and used for teaching maritime courses during the school year. The boat is shared with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and used by the organization May through September. A cooperative agreement between …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT It’s been almost two weeks since super typhoon Haiyan (HY-ahn) ravaged the Philippines. Here in Kodiak, relief efforts quickly kicked into gear and various community groups took to fundraising for family and friends left amid the devastation overseas. Kodiak has raised almost $8,000 in the past two weeks, with more support rolling in each day. Hannahgrace Lucas is …

Matt Lichtenstein/KFSK The federal government has finalized new guidelines on the use of sea otters by Alaska Natives. The change is aimed at better-defining a requirement that hides must be “significantly altered” in order to be considered authentic Native handicrafts or clothing that can be sold to non-natives. Andrea Medeiros is a spokesperson for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, …

Jay Barrett/KMXT The winter storm overnight forced the state ferry Tustumena to spend the night in its homeport of Kodiak. Last night’s 9:45 p.m. sailing to Homer was cancelled as was this morning’s scheduled run from Homer to Seldovia. The Marine Highway System expects to announce an updated schedule this morning. A storm warning remains in effect for the waters …

Jay Barrett/KMXT We’ve got snow in the forecast for later this week, and as is common for Kodiak, it will likely be mixed with or followed by rain. While landlubbers are often inconvenienced by the wet snow, it rarely sends a home to the bottom of the sea. Aboard boats tied up in the harbor, though, it’s a different story …