Erik Wander/KMXT The Wet Dogs have decided to call it a trip. After three days stranded by inclement weather at Wide Bay on the Alaska Peninsula, the five jet skiers on a journey from Anchorage to Iliamna have suspended their trip and now plan to head back to Anchorage early next week, after a brief stopover in Kodiak. Wet Dogs …

Erik Wander/KMXT When the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce presented its comprehensive economic development strategy to the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly recently, it was noted in the document that the borough’s population fell by about 200 from 2007 to 2008 and by about 500 since the last U.S. census was conducted. According to Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development statistics, …

Erik Wander/KMXT With the 2009 commercial salmon season set to open in Sand Point in a few days, the fishery is looking forward to another good year. And after last year’s unexpectedly positive returns, there’s always hope in Sand Point of exceeding preseason projections.

Erik Wander/KMXT At its most recent regular meeting, the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly approved funding for the Kodiak Island Borough School District in an amount that fell short of the district’s request. However, thanks in part to a lower than expected rate for health insurance, and after an adjustment to its budget, the school district now says the discrepancy has …

Erik Wander/KMXT Contrary to recent reports that a University of Alaska Fairbanks’ School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences research vessel will be homeported in Seward, Kodiak Island Borough officials say the borough may still be in the running to attract the vessel to Kodiak. Last week, it was reported that the new, 242-foot research vessel, to be funded by federal …

The crane being used by Kodiak Electric to erect the wind turbines atop Pillar Mountain towers over Cannery Row. Photo by Jay Barrett Erik Wander/KMXT Kodiak residents need only look to the top of Pillar Mountain to see that Kodiak Electric Association’s wind power project is on track. A large crane was installed about two weeks ago, and turbines were …

Erik Wander/KMXT The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly continued discussion of, and possible adjustments to, the fiscal year 2010 budget at its work session Thursday night. The assembly specifically concerned itself with how to avoid a property tax increase of a quarter-mill. The money from the increase would go to pay down bonds approved by voters for the new swimming pool …

Dan Bross/KUAC Alaska has its first case of swine flu. The influenza A-H1N1 virus has been confirmed at the state virology lab in Fairbanks. State Department of Health and Social Service spokesman Greg Wilkinson says it’s unclear how the patient, a middle aged woman from Fairbanks became infected. Wilkinson says the woman has recovered from the flu and is no …

Erik Wander/KMXT Phase Four of the City of Kodiak’s Aleutian Homes upgrade project began in earnest yesterday after a period of preparation work. City officials and Brechan Enterprises, which is under contract to conduct the work, urged residents of the Thorsheim Street area and those who walk or drive there to use caution or avoid the area if at all …

Erik Wander/KMXT The Wet Dog team is making the journey from Anchorage to Bristol Bay in hopes of seeing a 2,000-mile race on personal watercraft become a reality in the near future. Judging from what they’ve learned so far, team members are optimistic about that likelihood. KMXT’s Erik Wander spoke to them when they stopped in Kodiak.