Listen to this story: May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S.; this May also marks just over two years since the pandemic upended life for people across the country.  Heidi Barrett-McNerney is a licensed clinical social worker and a behavioral health therapist at the Kodiak Community Health Center. She said local therapists are still seeing a pandemic ripple …

The body of 7-year-old Sawyer Cipolla – who went missing near his home off Monashka Bay Road more than a week ago – was found on Pillar Mountain on Sunday, according to an Alaska Department of Public Safety statement. There were no obvious signs of foul play identified at the scene and the investigation into the boy’s death is ongoing, …

The Alaska State Troopers are winding down their active search and rescue operation for 7-year-old Sawyer Cipolla – who went missing near his home in the Monashka Bay Road area of Kodiak on Sat., May 7. The change in strategy was announced at a Saturday morning media briefing held by the Alaska State Troopers on May 14.  Alaska Wildlife Trooper …

At a recent meeting, Kodiak Island Borough Assembly members discussed rolling back the emergency orders that were passed in the early stages of the pandemic – like the formation of Kodiak’s Emergency Services Council. That should have included a sunset provision, according to Assembly member Scott Arndt. “And as you can see, we’ve gone on for two years, so, and …

Alaska communities impacted by more than a dozen fishery disasters between 2018 and 2021 are set to receive $131.8 million in federal relief. That’s according to an announcement on Thurs., May 5 from Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game. The funds were approved by Congress and allocated by the U.S. Department of Commerce.  But that’s a fraction of the money …

Listen to the story: Dozens of people gathered outside the Bayside Volunteer Fire Department – just outside of Kodiak city limits – on Sunday morning to continue searching for Sawyer Cipolla. It was slightly overcast, and a Coast Guard helicopter whirred overhead. A steady stream of volunteers – wearing backpacks and hiking boots – showed up to help. Dozens of …

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. We will update as more information is available. Sawyer is 7-years-old and autistic, and answers to “come on in.” He was last seen off Forest Drive, in the Monashka area of Kodiak. (Photo: Kodiak Police Department) Sat., May 14, 8 a.m. According to the Search for Sawyer Facebook page, the community-wide search for …

The city of Kodiak is one step closer to replacing its current firehouse. The state capital budget includes $15 million for a new station, but state Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, says the funding must still clear some legislative hurdles. “And we’ll try to get it through the Senate here at least by the end of the week, the House will …

The City of Kodiak is in the final process of collecting bids for a planned overhaul of the Baranof Park Recreation Center – and the project contract could be awarded as early as this month, but the $3.8 million development faces a final fundraising hurdle. Plans for the future of Baranof Park include 4,500 square feet of new building; the …

An environmental advocacy group is suing the U.S. State Department for more information about a mass whale stranding that happened off the coast of Alaska nearly four years ago. Eight whales that washed up on the shores of Adak – near the tip of the Aleutian chain – back in the summer of 2018 are at the center of the …