Applicant Dennis Symmons. Photo by Dennis Symmons Kayla Desroches/KMXT and Jay Barrett/KMXT Two candidates applied for the vacant Kodiak Island Borough Assembly seat that Carol Austerman left behind after her resignation last month, but one man withdrew his name on Tuesday. The two hopefuls were former Assemblyman Mel Stephens, and Dennis Symmons, who works in tree service and excavation, but …

Kayla Desroches/KMXT Walmart reported a bomb threat to the Kodiak Police Department early this morning. Police evacuated the store in order to assess the threat and then turned the space over to the store manager when they did not find any bombs. The police department asks that anyone in the public with more information contact them.

Kayla Desroches/KMXT Two applicants will be considered for the vacant Kodiak Island Borough Assembly seat that Carol Austerman left behind after her resignation last month. At the time of her resignation, she said she would be moving to Europe for her husband’s job. The two men who applied are former Assemblyman Mel Stephens, and Dennis Symons, who works in tree …

Kayla Desroches/KMXT Whale mortalities near Kodiak Island in May led to a string of tests on one of the better preserved carcasses to detect just what caused those deaths. Kate Wynne, a Marine mammal specialist with the University of Alaska in Kodiak says, so far, they haven’t found anything conclusive. She says the fin whale tested negative for domoic acids …

Kayla Desroches/KMXT Walk, run, and just move your body for people with cancer at the Kodiak Relay for Life this Friday. You can participate for as much as 24 hours or as little as 24 minutes according to one of the event chairpeople, Kathie Morin. It’s not about how you do it, but why. “It gives people an opportunity to …

                                                                        Host Kayla Desroches speaks with artist Bonnie Dillard about her designs for a marine debris fish ornament to decorate the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree this winter. They dicuss how lesson plans for the ornament and community involvent will raise children’s awareness. Also, Leila Pyle joins to talk about marine debris and her collaboration on debris sculptures with Dillard and …

Dillard with two examples of ornaments by children in the class she taught. Kayla Desroches/KMXT Kayla Desroches/KMXT Every year, a different state decorates the capitol Christmas tree in Washington DC, and this summer, ten Alaskan artists will design the ornaments. Bonnie Dillard is a retired teacher and one of those involved. She explains the project is meant to be a …

A picture of the barge during loading the Kodiak marine debris. Kayla Desroches/KMXT Kayla Desroches/KMXT A barge landed in Kodiak this week in its first stop to pick up marine debris at sites along Alaska and British Columbia shorelines. It sailed early Thursday morning with almost 100 tons of debris picked up from beaches in the Kodiak Island Borough. The …

Dennis and Julie Knagin dancing. Photo via Native Village of Afognak Kayla Desroches/KMXT A tribal culture camp has completed its transition from all-tent based to a permanent fixture on Afognak Island. Dig Afognak recently closed in its final building, a mess hall. Tribal administrator Melissa Borton says they’ve been making the change to a building-based camp for the last six …

Kayla Desroches/KMXT The Kodiak Electric Association has streamlined its payment approach. It’s turned away from pay-by-phone and will rely on online, mail, and in-person options from now on. Dan Menth works in the finance department and says mandates from the Payment Card Industry are the driving force behind that decision. “If we take credit card information over the phone, you …