Villages

Please note:  This story has been updated to include a late breaking development from the Kodiak Island Borough clerk’s office, to assist voters who did not receive mail in ballots. Elections are never easy in Alaska’s smallest communities. And this election day is especially problematic in the Kodiak Island Borough’s outlying communities. As of Tuesday’s election day,  some voters still …

The Kodiak Island Borough’s efforts to get mail-in ballots to outlying communities in time for this Tuesday’s municipal election has run into some problems. Dorinda Kewan, Mayor of Port Lions. Port Lion’s mayor, Dorinda Kewan, says some voters haven’t received their ballots yet. “I’m concerned about the process they set up,” Kewan said. “I know it’s new. This has never …

In our first recap of Tuesday night’s Borough Assembly Candidate Forum, five candidates for three assembly seats discussed their views on the economy, education, and consolidation. KMXT’s Jared Griffin overviewed the candidates’ positions on non-profit funding, village cooperation in borough decisions, COVID-19, and conflicts of interest. Even though borough financial support for non-profits makes up a relatively small portion of …

Stormy weather in the Gulf of Alaska cancelled the Tustumena’s departure from Homer on Sunday night. In an online notice, the Alaska Marine Highway System said all ports of call scheduled for Monday, Sept. 7 are cancelled due to weather. Had the Tustumena departed Homer as scheduled at 8:45 Sunday night, it would have arrived in Port Lions and Ouzinkie …

It’ll be a tough winter for a lot of coastal communities that depend on state ferry service. “It’s greatly reduced,” said Amanda Becker, the ferry terminal manager in Kodiak. “There’s no two ways about it.” That’s how Becker sums up the new winter schedule, which was finalized after a brief five-day public comment period. Although the Alaska Marine Highway System …

The Alaska Marine Highway System is at a critical crossroads, as the first round of hearings on restructuring the ferry system gets underway this Wednesday. A nine-member working group is reviewing a $250,000 study commissioned by the Dunleavy administration, one that’s already ruled out privatizing the state ferry fleet, because it doesn’t pencil out. Now they will hear what the …

Jared Griffin presents the Midday Report featuring national headlines from NPR, and state and local stories on: update on Kodiak’s COVID-19 cases PSP and pets celebrating elder’s birthday in Old Harbor plus, Alaska Fish Radio, updates from Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, and the weather forecast and community events.

Friends drove by Mary Haakanson’s house in Old Harbor to help her celebrate her 81st birthday. It wasn’t the kind of birthday Mary Haakanson’s family in Old Harbor wanted to give her – but with the number of Covid cases on the rise on Kodiak Island, they improvised. Normally her house would be filled with friends and family. But at …

Mike Wall presents the Midday Report featuring an update from the Kodiak Emergency Operations Center, and state and local stories on: City of Kodiak annexation plans Sustainability and food security in Old Harbor plus, Alaska Fish Radio, updates from Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game,and the weather forecast and community events.

In the midst of the Covid-19 crisis and the threat of food shortages, “sustainability” and “food security” are no longer just buzzwords to communities across Alaska. And some look to Old Harbor for answers. Old Harbor is a community tucked away in the rugged wilderness on the southeast side of Kodiak Island. It started its journey towards sustainability with hoop …