The Kodiak Area Emergency Services Organization sent KMXT the following press release on Friday afternoon, June 12 announcing a fourth case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the Kodiak Island Borough.  We post it here as received with minor editing. COVID-19 Banner   Kodiak Area Emergency Services Organization  KODIAK, ALASKA, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 12, 2020 We have received information …

UPDATE:  Sailings for the M/V Tustumena are now said to be “fluid,” and while ferry officials hope to keep the original Saturday sailing, when the Tusty will actually depart Homer depends on test results. Kodiak’s local ferry office manager, Amanda Becker told KMXT on Monday evening the Tustumena will be disinfected, and then some tests will be taken to determine …

  Alaska’s fishing industry was allocated $50 million in the CARES funding act, which is designed to help businesses suffering losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a report on who is eligible and what comes next. An American Dynasty factory trawler based out of Seattle is back in port—and in quarantine after 86 crew members tested positive for COVID-19. …

A familiar ship was moored for much of Wednesday at the ferry dock. The ferry M/V Tustumena made its first Kodiak port call following a long period of repairs.     This photo shows the ‘Trusty Tusty’ as it approached the channel after turning around in the area off Pier 2 and Pier 3. KMXT Photo by Kavitha George.

It took a total of four aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak to medevac an injured fisherman off the fishing vessel Baranof on Monday. The reason–the vast distances the aircraft had to traverse to reach him. The Coast Guard reports that two C-130J Hercules aircraft and two MH-60 helicopter crews coordinated efforts to perform a long-range medevac for the …

  A COVID-19 mystery in Valdez — A Peter Pan Seafoods worker tested positive for the virus, even though he had been in state for a month, completed a two-week quarantine and not left the city of Valdez. Officials aren’t sure how he got it. Also, Alaska’s fishing charters are suffering this summer, as travel restrictions and pandemic worry put …

  If it’s salmon season it must be summer, right? The commercial salmon season kicked off on Thursday in the Copper River district. The first fresh salmon out of Alaska is usually met with a lot of hoopla and salivating by restaurants in Seattle. This year, it’s doubtful someone would be willing to pay $80 or $90 per person for …

    Our guests this week are several members of Kodiak High School’s Drama Club — Shakesbears, some in the studio and some by video conference. We discuss their historic and record-breaking run to becoming the 2020 Alaska state champions in Drama and Forensics.       Wetherleigh Griffin, (at right in studio), Felix Lewis, (top left of screen shot); Derek …

Kodiak had a moderate earthquake shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. The 5.4 quake struck at 4:22 p.m., according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center. It was 16 miles deep and located in the ocean on the south of Kodiak Island. No tsunami was expected, nor did any occur. Screen Grab shows location and information on Thursday afternoon’s 5.4 quake. …

  The COVID-19 pandemic has slowly begun to spread into rural Alaska, and it’s forcing fishermen and processors to take a hard look at the summer fishing season. Three tribes in Bristol Bay have joined Dillingham in asking the governor to consider closing the fishery. Meanwhile processors have presented a plan to address local concerns about keeping small fishing communities, …