News

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Come November Kodiak will have a new district manager for Alaska Waste. After three and a half years in Kodiak, current Manager Rick Vahl has decided to take a new job in Mammoth Lakes, California. Vahl came to Kodiak right as the borough decided to switch to the controversial roll cart method of collecting trash. Vahl said he …

Jay Barrett/KMXT Five crewmen from a burning fishing vessel in the western Aleutian Chain were safely rescued by a nearby Good Samaritan. The crew of the 59-foot Kodiak-based longliner Western Venture were picked up from their liferaft by the Aleutian Beauty, after their vessel caught fire Sunday morning. The Coast Guard in Juneau reported receiving emergency locator beacon signals around …

Jay Barrett/KMXT There’s a suspected leaking stove oil tank causing a stink in Woodland Acres today. Bayside Fire Chief Bob Himes said he received a report of a strong smell of diesel early yesterday morning and later tracked it to a home on Teal Way: “We don’t have any real confirmation yet. We’ve got a suspect tank, an underground fuel …

Jay Barrett/KMXT Tree-cutting has a long and controversial history on Kodiak Island, whether it be commercial logging or clearing land for home-building. The latest flashpoint is on the ridge that separates the Mission Road neighborhood with midtown, where the city cemetery lies. Given the high visibility of that location, the city taking down 50 Sitka Spruce did not go unnoticed. …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT After 25 years as the Kodiak Island Borough Mayor, Jerome Selby beat the gavel on his last borough assembly meeting. During last night’s meeting, Selby took the opportunity to point out a few differences between what the borough looked like when he first entered the office in 1983 and now. “In 1983 I was elected mayor for the …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT This weekend people can get some important health information, without making a trip to the doctor’s office. Karen Leatherman is a spokeswoman for Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center and said the Kodiak Community Health Fair will offer free and low cost health screenings and educational materials to anyone interested. “Some of the health screenings that will be offered …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT If all goes according to plan, the state ferry Tustumena could be pulling up to pier I in Kodiak on Monday. An email from the Alaska Department of Transportation’s office said the vessel is currently undergoing sea trials, and so far no problems have been identified. Stability tests have been done and the department expects an approval from …

Gregg Hacker, far right, points up at the four-story tower under construction in front of the high school. He stands in the old senior hallway, which is now an oudoor walkway.From right to left: School Board members Rick Kniaziowski, Debra Kirk, Katie Oliver, Superintendent Stewart McDonald, Bill Watkins and Barry Altenof. Brianna Gibbs Photo Brianna Gibbs/KMXT The high school has …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Composting in Kodiak could take a huge step toward fruition tonight, if a land transfer garners enough support. The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly will hold a regular meeting tonight and discuss, among other things, whether or not the borough should transfer a portion of land south of the landfill to the city. The city hopes to build a …

Jay Barrett/KMXT The State of Alaska has completed a two year project archiving documents from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and its legal aftermath. In the end, according to state senior archivist Larry Hibpshman, the project staff waded through 3,500 standard file boxes located in Juneau and Anchorage and whittled them down to 918 that will go in to permanent …