KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska

Jay Barrett/KMXT The makers of Alaskan’s favorite rubber boot have responded to calls from Alaska’s junior senator to improve their product and consider moving back to the United States. Currently, Xtra Tufs are made in China, where production was moved last year by Honeywell Corporation. Earlier this year fishermen started noticing a decrease in quality and an increase in failure …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT The Kodiak Arts Council is getting a new director in the coming months, and it’s someone many Kodiak residents already know. Katie Oliver is currently the executive director of the Baranov Museum and will say her goodbyes to the organization in late November when she’ll join the Kodiak Arts Council as executive director. Oliver has worked at the …

Jay Barrett/KMXT There’s one less bear wandering around the east end of Kodiak. An eight-foot, four-year-old male bear was shot late on Saturday, according to Fish and Game wildlife biologist Larry Van Daele. He said the bear was raiding a chicken coop near Bayside Fire Station when the homeowner shot him in defense of life and property. There have been …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT A motion to reconsider a contract and payment suspension between the Kodiak Island Borough and Kodiak Construction Services, a company owned and operated by Assemblywoman Chris Lynch, failed Thursday night despite having a three to one vote in favor of the reconsideration. The contract between Lynch’s company and the borough raised questions among some assembly members during the …

Jay Barrett/KMXT The annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Alaska Chapter, gets underway today (Monday), here in Kodiak, with continuing education classes and tours for participants. The keynote address is Wednesday morning, which begins three days of presentations on about 20 different topics from professionals in their fields. The theme this year is “Ecosystem, Fishery and Food Sustainability in …

Jay Barrett/KMXT While the American Fisheries Society is meeting here in Kodiak this week, there’s another big fisheries meeting going on today and tomorrow (Monday and Tuesday), in Anchorage. The state of Alaska is convening “Understanding Abundance and Productivity Trends of Chinook Salmon in Alaska.” The symposium is intended to try and figure out what scientists don’t know about Alaska’s …

Abbey Raymer, age 10, a student at Peterson Elementary School, climbs out of the cab of a Coast Guard Fire and Rescue fire truck at Base Kodiak, Alaska, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. Like Abbey, all of the students were allowed to climb inside of the response vehicles, play with the sirens and lights and don firefighting equipment as part of …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT After more than five months of reviewing applications, interviewing candidates and negotiating contracts, the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly had to vote against the proposed contract between the Kodiak Island Borough and Borough Manger hopeful Erick Strahl. The assembly convened in executive session last night during their regular meeting to discuss an email that was sent to borough staff …