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Capt. Mark Cawthorn, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Munro, accompanied by his dog Akela, is presented a Meritorious Service Medal by Rear Adm. Charles Ray, deputy commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, during a change of command ceremony in Kodiak, Alaska, June 18, 2013. Capt. Jeff Thomas relieved Cawthorn as commanding officer of Munro during the ceremony. U.S. Coast Guard photos …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT This week a number of representatives from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, also known as ASMI, are in town for an annual meeting to discuss how to better market Alaska seafood around the world. ASMI has a presence in about 21 countries worldwide, with representatives on the ground promoting the state’s bounty. A handful of those individuals spoke …

Jay Barrett/KMXT The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have opened up more water at the mouth of the Buskin River in an attempt to limit sockeye salmon escapement into Buskin Lake. A release from the Kodiak office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says, “In order to prevent a higher …

Jay Barrett/KMXT Last month some Kodiak residents vented their frustration at the City Council over what they saw as inaction over vagrants accosting people in the heart of downtown. “There are drunks down there all the time. It’s disgusting,” said Judi Kidder. “What’s it going to take? A Rape? A murder? Some woman getting beaten to a pulp?” asked Lisa …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Two weeks ago Kodiak residents took to road system beaches and cleaned up marine debris during the first ever Coast Walk. Participants signed up to clean 31 of the 81 identified beaches and collected more than 1,645 pounds of marine debris. Tom Pogson is the marine debris coordinator for Island Trails Network, the organization that hosted the event, …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Health professionals throughout the community are hoping to figure out how Kodiak is doing with health services these days. A new online survey went live last week and asks a number of questions about participants’ current health and experiences with local services. Karen Leatherman is the communications and public relations coordinator for Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center and …

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, now decommissioned, is being auctioned by the U.S. General Services Agency. U.S. Coast Guard file photo Jay Barrett/KMXT The historic Coast Guard Cutter Storis, which spent most of its post-World War II career sailing Alaska waters, is on the auction block. Alaska’s Congressional delegation had managed to stave off disposal since its 2007 decommissioning, …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT A rockslide on Shelikof Street last month has delayed construction on the Shelikof pedestrian improvement project and generated some unanticipated expenses. During Thursday’s city council meeting City Manager Aimee Kniaziowski explained an emergency engineering and construction services contract that was before the council. Kniaziowski said the work needs to be done as soon as possible to reopen the …

Jay Barrett/KMXT We’ve talked a lot about the excellent sockeye salmon run since the season started just over a week ago – but while the reds are running strong, the pinks are the real money fish in these parts. So what’s their outlook? “The pink salmon forecast overall, is about 17-milllion,” said James Jackson, the Fish and Game salmon management …

Jay Barrett/KMXT The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is liberalizing another sports fishery around Kodiak Island due to the exceptionally strong sockeye salmon run this year. As of 12:01 Saturday morning, anglers in the Karluk River drainage can now take 10 red salmon a day, with 10 in possession. In a statement Friday, Kodiak Area Management Biologist Donn Tracy …