KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska

Maggie Wall/KMXT Looking for a used fire truck? How about a 2,600 gallon water truck? If so, then the City of Kodiak may have just the deal for you. A decommissioned fire truck and the water truck are just two of the vehicles available for sale at the city’s surplus auction scheduled for noon on Friday at the old jail. …

Coming up this week: More groundfish boats are going to have observers on them come the new year, Surimi prices are well up in Japan, and the governor wants to almost double the amount of state funds that go to chinook salmon research. All that and a plan in Petersburg to boost survival of hatchery king salmon is gaining support. …

Maggie Wall/KMXT The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly is likely to get an ear full during tonight’s assembly work session. This will be the first gathering of the assembly since last weekend’s meeting of about 30 residents concerned about hauling sludge from the wastewater treatment plant to a proposed composting site in Middle Bay. The sludge disposal is not on the …

Jay Barrett/KMXT On January 1st, there will be a sea change in the who, what, where and when of federal fisheries observer coverage for Alaska groundfish and halibut boats. “The purpose is to improve data quality, to more equitably distribute industry cost and to include halibut vessels," said NOAA Fisheries spokeswoman Julie Speegle in Juneau. "So the changes are, vessels …

Maggie Wall/KMXT A group of Kodiak skin sewers will travel to Finland in February to examine and learn about early Kodiak sewing from close examination of items in the Etholin Collection. Kodiak residents may not know much about Adolf Etholin, but like the more familiar Alexander Baranof, Etholin was a Russian governor or “chief manager” of the Russian-America Company’s Alaska …

Alexandra Gutierrez/KUCB After a week of harsh weather, responders were finally able to remove fuel from a tug that grounded off the Alaska Peninsula. The Polar Wind was carrying about 20,000 gallons of diesel when it — and the barge it was towing — ended up on the rocks. About 6,000 gallons were lost after the accident, but there have …

Maggie Wall/KMXT Here’s a nautical phrase to add to your vocabulary. “Tendering your line smartly.” It’s got to do with the lines and how you tie your vessel to the dock. And it’s one thing you need to know if you have a boat in Kodiak’s boat harbors. Deputy Kodiak Harbormaster Lon White explains that vessel owners—from small skiffs to …

Alexandra Gutierrez/KUCB A 31-year-old man has received a lengthy prison sentence for a sexual assault four years ago in False Pass, wrapping up a legal saga that involved two jury trials. The attack occurred in 2008, while Jason Downard was working as a commercial fisherman. He was initially charged with sexual assault in the first degree, assault in the second …