(381) stories found containing 'Alaska Marine Highway'


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  • AMHS reforms sought by Southeast Conference

    Nick Bowman Daily News Staff Writer|Sep 22, 2016

    PETERSBURG – Three packages of major reforms to the Alaska Marine Highway System went under the microscope on Wednesday at Southeast Conference. Facing an aging fleet, declining service and tightening state budgets, the regional economic development organization is working to rethink the $150 million transportation network serving Alaska’s southern coast. The Alaska Marine Highway System is an agency within the Alaska Department of Transportation. For most of its life, it has been managed by state employees and overseen by appointees of the...

  • Editorial: Welcome conference guests

    Ron Loesch Publisher|Sep 15, 2016

    Petersburg is hosting two conferences this week and next. On Thursday and Friday the Alaska Recreation and Park Association meets. On their schedule are topics entitled: “Love Your Job…Love Your Life; Managing for Millenials; Laughter Yoga in Your Parks and Do You have a Dog Park? Or Has Your Whole Community Accidentally Become a Dog Park?” Who says Parks and Recreation Dept. directors don”t have a sense of humor? Next week the Southeast Conference meets on Monday through Thursday. President Garry White points out in his conference welcome...

  • AMHS Releases Winter 2016-17 Schedule

    Aug 18, 2016

    The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) today announced the release of its 2016-17 winter schedule. Reservations are now available for booking at FerryAlaska.com, by calling 1-800-642-0066, or visiting ferry terminal staff throughout the system. The AMHS winter schedule covers ferry travel from October 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017. Fare information is availableat FerryAlaska.com or from reservations agents. Release of the 2016-17 winter schedule followed a public comment period held in May and June. The comment period is an opportunity for...

  • U.S. Senator stops for meet and greet

    Jess Field|Jul 28, 2016

    Around 35 locals turned out to hear U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski speak Tuesday night at the Sons of Norway Hall. The meet and greet hosted at the local landmark lasted two hours, and gave the Senator, who is seeking re-election, the opportunity to field questions. Glo Wollen introduced Murkowski and took a moment to thank her for the years spent fighting with the Board of Engineers to set aside funding for less populated places, like Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The money will help a select... Full story

  • Engine repairs leave Columbia tied to Petersburg dock

    Jess Field|Jul 21, 2016

    The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry MV Columbia will remain docked in Petersburg due to a mechanical issue with the vessel’s starboard engine, according to a news release. The vessel is currently docked at the Petersburg Ferry Terminal, and the delay will take a minimum of approximately 36 hours. A technician for the engine manufacturer is being flown in from Houston, Texas to diagnose the problem and assist with repairs. The technician should be in Petersburg tomorrow afternoon (Thursday), according to Jeremy Woodrow, Alaska Department o...

  • Ketchikan swimmer takes on the Wrangell Narrows

    Jess Field|Jun 30, 2016

    Navigating the Wrangell Narrows can be tricky, if not treacherous, depending on the vessel size and time of year. On June 14, Britta Adams of Ketchikan became the first known individual to swim the body of water from south to north. "I just knew that I had a tide, and I had six hours," she says. "My goal was to get from Marker 1 to Marker 42, the end of Pinball Alley, and everything beyond that was just a bonus." The water was 48 degrees when Adams jumped in at 4:45 a.m., and 15 minutes later... Full story

  • Obituary, Steven Delbert Erickson, 67

    Jun 30, 2016

    Steven Delbert Erickson, 67, died on June 22, 2016 after a long battle with health. He was born on June 2, 1949 in Auburn, Washington to Pete and Irene Erickson and attended Auburn schools. He was both an avid hunter and enthusiastic fisherman throughout his life. In the mid-60s, his family moved to Alaska aboard the M/V Irene E in search of "more elbow room." They settled in Petersburg where he and his family fished commercially, started a construction company and ran Irene's Restaurant.... Full story

  • SEC calling for ferry reform proposals

    Dan Rudy|Jun 23, 2016

    WRANGELL — Alaska’s state ferry system is embarking on a journey to make itself more financially viable over the next 25 years, as a process to refocus and possibly restructure, spearheaded by Southeast Conference. Representing the region’s economic interests, the SEC was first started 58 years ago in order to support establishment of what would become the Alaska Marine Highway System. Appropriately enough then, the organization will help to steer that regional transportation network into the future, after a memorandum of understanding to th... Full story

  • School board busy with summer duties

    Jess Field|Jun 16, 2016

    The school board met for its monthly meeting Tuesday, and worked its way through a full agenda including the FY17 budget, changes to student handbooks and an activity fee increase. The Petersburg district, like many others in Alaska, is dealing with a tighter budget due to lack of funding. Karen Quitslund, director of finance for the district, presented the budget she’s been working on for months. The board approved the budget with a 4-0 vote, after receiving a summary. “One thing that’s definitely different about this budget, that I’ve...

  • AMHS fall, winter and spring schedule now online

    Jess Field|Jun 9, 2016

    The Alaska Marine Highway System’s fall, winter and spring 2016-2017 schedule is now available online for public review. The comment period opened in May 19 and runs until June 22. Because the AMHS is such an important means of transportation for many communities this time allows the public opportunity to review and comment on the proposed schedule. “There are no major changes from this year to the previous year,” said Jeremy Woodrow, Alaska Department of Transportation spokesman. “There are less service weeks planned and that is because... Full story

  • To the Editor

    Jun 9, 2016

    Popular doesn't make it good To the Editor: Learning facts is important. Re-learning facts is also important, and sometimes exacting and painful. Take tobacco. Around 400 years ago people colonizing in Virginia learned to smoke tobacco from local Native Americans. “Recreational,” yet addictive, this poison began killing Americans. Only around 50 years ago the medical science started to prove the obvious - millions of people go to an early grave because of smoking tobacco. I’ve lost family members and friends, as has every person reading these w...

  • Guest Editorial: Treat ferry system like a business

    Ketchikan Daily News|Jun 2, 2016

    The Alaska Marine Highway System should become — at least in part — a private enterprise. AMHS has been in business for 50 years; like most businesses, it’s had its problems and it’s even come up with solutions within the realm of possibilities. But, its biggest problem, as many Alaskans have known for some time, is that its ever-changing executive doesn’t make for a consistently charted course. A new governor means a new state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities commissioner and deputy commissioners for the ferry system ...

  • The Petersburg Borough Manager updates Assembly during the May 16 meeting

    May 19, 2016

    Abatement has begun on the building project. New curb in front of the building has been poured, and Power & Light got the underground conduit put in place prior to the concrete pour. An attempted suicide in the jail was prevented by staff on April 30. Overall statistics in the Police Department are trending slightly higher this year. Total cases FY 16 through Feb were 3235 – total FY 15 through Feb were 2848. Arrests FY16 through Feb were 48 - Arrests FY 15 through Feb were 26. Jail days are down, however, for the same periods, 343 versus 407.5...

  • Yesterday's News

    Mar 3, 2016

    March 4, 1916 – The business men of Petersburg have made provisions for a meeting of the fishermen at the Sons of Norway March 18 to discuss the formation of an organization for giving the fishermen an adequate mutual marine insurance and for establishing credit of the members for making loans without the necessity of mortgaging their boats. Marine insurance is today almost prohibitive in rates. No one can pay ten per cent for insurance while the actual cost in a mutual organization would hardly exceed two or three per cent. An advantage of a...

  • Editorial: AMHS an economic driver

    Ron Loesch Publisher|Feb 25, 2016

    The Alaska Marine Highway System brings more to S.E. Alaska than transportation. It’s also an economic driver for all of Southeast. Most of the benefits fall to small rural communities. For every $1 in benefits paid to subsidize the system’s operation, $2.30 comes back to local economies in jobs, spending, shipping and other services. The report from the McDowell Group states the ferry system is directly responsible for 1,017 jobs and indirectly responsible for 683 who are employed by businesses benefitting from the state ferries. Put another w...

  • Cuts and Taxes and Dividends Oh My!

    Kyle Clayton|Jan 28, 2016

    State Rep. Jonathan Kreiss Tomkins and Alaska Department of Revenue Director Ken Alper gave a state budget crisis presentation for community members two weeks ago. They used colored blocks of wood representing different revenues and expenditures balanced on a large scale to provide a visual representation of the state's budget deficit and the continued gutting of our state's savings should the legislature not create a more sustainable budget for the state. On the revenue side of the scale sat a... Full story

  • Insurance on the agenda for school board to start the year

    Jess Field|Jan 14, 2016

    Susan Erickson from Petersburg/Wrangell Insurance gave the board an update about property and casualty insurance trends concerning the school district. The district had a great year in terms of premiums, and the increase in premiums accounted for less than one percent of that budget item, Erickson said. “We stayed with Alaska Public Entities. They have been a great carrier for us for many years now, and we just signed a three year commitment to stay with them for another three years,” she said. “They are doing a great job for us provi...

  • To the Editor

    Dec 24, 2015

    Shift in thinking needed To the Editor: The Alaska Marine Highway System is at a critical juncture. Since its first port of call, the Alaska Marine Highway has provided substantial economic growth and improved quality of life for Alaskans. It has become a vital socio-economic engine even more now, than when it was conceived half a century ago. We cannot afford to lose this transportation corridor for Alaska. However, we must acknowledge that the state can no longer afford to pay for the current system and outdated management model. Our...

  • Officials request $37M for Kake-Petersburg road project

    Dec 17, 2015

    PETERSBURG (AP) — The state of Alaska is moving forward with plans to construct a controversial road linking the city of Petersburg to Kake as part of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. The proposed road from Kake would end at Wrangell Narrows across from Petersburg, where a shuttle ferry would then pick up passengers to complete the trip. The Kake Access Project calls for building 27 miles of unpaved road and upgrades to another 26 miles of logging roads, KFSK-FM reported. Funding for the $37 million project is covered under the...

  • DOT plans for new Kake ferry terminal

    Dec 17, 2015

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is planning to launch major renovation projects for a number of highway segments and ferry terminals next year. On the Marine Highway, the DOT is asking for bids on a new terminal building in Kake. Ferry system manager John Falvey says the Kake project will also install sanitary sewer and water lines. Construction will take place in the summer, with work completed by fall. A similar projected is expected in Angoon next summer. In Ketchikan, DOT is planning a $...

  • Statewide budget cuts result in road maintenance decline

    Jess Field|Nov 26, 2015

    After last year’s Legislative session, all state agencies are working on reduced budgets due to low oil prices, including Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT). The agency’s expenses are paid for by the state general funds and that funding goes to maintenance and operations of roads, airports and the Marine Highway System. “When we receive a reduction in our operating, really the only area in the department’s budget that we can make these reductions in, is the operations and maintenance of our roads, airports or ferry system,” says ADOT...

  • Rural Alaska National Guard:

    Jess Field|Nov 12, 2015

    In the early-2000s, the Alaska National Guard (ANG) relied upon a rural presence. Guardsmen of that rural force were deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2006, which was the first time ANG members were deployed to a combat zone since WWII, according to Guardsman Matthew Duddles. The ANG rural presence sharply declined after the deployments ended, and the decline continues to this day with the 761st Military Police Battalion of the Guard in Southeast scheduled to be deactivated by the end of 2017.... Full story

  • Summer ferry schedule looking slim, future uncertain

    Dan Rudy|Nov 12, 2015

    WRANGELL — The Alaska Marine Highway System has been taking public comment for its ferry schedule for the coming summer. From Bellingham, Wash., to Skagway, concerned user groups of the regional transportation network participated in a teleconference, hosted in Ketchikan Nov. 4. A draft schedule has been available for review, and patterns in the draft have been based on an assumed funding level for the 2017 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2016. Reductions in service to some communities over the previous year’s schedule reflect $25 mil...

  • Visitor business improves despite ferry cancellations

    Jess Field|Oct 15, 2015

    Skate of Gear moving closer to downtown is definitely helping year-round business. The family owned and operated store doesn’t focus on tourism. Any summer dollars from out of town guests is just a bonus. “I find that we don’t really carry or buy things that I would consider a tourist type of product,” says Lisa Nilsen. “We buy more for local customers.” Tourists will stop in to buy jewelry and cards, but that’s about it. The fact that Skate of Gear lacks large display windows is not helping business a bunch, but Nilsen likes the new location....

  • Canadian company considers Ketchikan ferry service

    Sep 24, 2015

    KETCHIKAN (AP) — A tour boat company based in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, is considering running a weekly ferry service to Ketchikan next summer. Owners of West Coast Launch and its subsidiary, Prince Rupert Adventure Tours, Debbie and Doug Davis said they are interested in making trips to Alaska next year, especially as the Alaska Marine Highway Service reduces service, The Ketchikan Daily News reports. Debbie Davis said at the Southeast Conference on Wednesday that as the Alaska Ferry system drops from twice-a-week service in the s...

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