Here is a link to the Arts Council website.

KAAHC Facebook Page.

Phone: 907-225-2211

Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution. 

The post Arts Council Report appeared first on KRBD.

A Ketchikan man was sentenced to ten years in prison, with three suspended, for stabbing his landlord last October. Justin Carpenter, age 46, was sentenced by Ketchikan Superior Court Judge Katherine Lybrand yesterday.

Carpenter was found guilty of assault in the first degree after a weeklong trial in April. The jury found him not guilty of an attempted murder charge. 

The sentence is the legal minimum for Carpenter’s charges. During the hearing, Judge Lybrand said that while it is a serious offense, she believes Carpenter is capable of rehabilitation. 

“I do think that Mr. Carpenter doesn’t need to otherwise be confined to prevent further harm to the public beyond the active minimum,” Lybrand said. “That’s somewhat based in terms of the history of violence or lack thereof.”

A psychologist who evaluated Carpenter in the Ketchikan Correctional Center said that while in jail he’s shown promise for rehabilitation and low risk for violence in the future. 

In October, Carpenter stabbed his landlord three times in the chest and once in the neck after he grabbed Carpenter by the wrist during a dispute over laundry. Carpenter’s attorney said it was a case of self defense, which the judge denied. 

The state asked for 20 years with eight suspended, which is the maximum legal sentence. State prosecutor Jackson Willard argued that the seriousness of the multiple stab wounds and Carpenter’s involvement with alcohol warranted a sentence that focuses on isolation and deterrence. 

Ariel Toft, the public defender representing Carpenter, argued that his lack of violent history made this case an isolated incident.  

“This is a serious offense, but it’s also a highly situational offense,” Toft said. “I don’t think that there’s any need to confine Mr. Carpenter beyond the time that he’s already served, other than the fact that the law in this circumstance requires it.”

Carpenter will face five years of supervised probation on release.

The post Ketchikan man sentenced to 7 years for Oct. stabbing appeared first on KRBD.

Two environmental conservation groups and a Southeast Alaska tribe have filed suit against the U.S. Forest Service, challenging a logging project just east of Ketchikan. 

The Forest Service announced in July that it would move forward with the South Revilla Integrated Resource Project, a plan that includes harvesting over 5,000 acres of trees, mostly old growth, in the Tongass National Forest. It also includes construction of new trails, cabins, boat launches and roads. 

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court last week by the Ketchikan Indian Community, the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, and the Center for Biological Diversity, alleges the project violates federal law because “the Forest Service failed to rationally balance the Tongass’s multiple uses.” 

The complaint alleges that the project’s logging of old-growth trees will harm subsistence and recreation resources. It also highlights potential impacts to wildlife, the ecosystem and the economy. 

The suit lists several defendants, including the Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It also lists Forest Service Region 10 Acting Regional Forester Jeremiah Ingersoll and the Tongass National Forest Acting Forest Service Supervisor Janelle Crocker. The Forest Service could not immediately be reached for comment. 

The South Revilla plans were first introduced in 2018 but were paused in 2020. Last year, the Trump administration issued an executive order to expand timber production. 

Following an environmental review, the Forest Service decided that work on the South Revilla project can begin immediately. 

Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.

The post Lawsuit challenges South Revilla timber project appeared first on KRBD.

Next Steps (a program for high school juniors and seniors) returns, there are preview concerts by Sitka Music Festival and Island Music, Senior Tech Time, a Jigsaw Puzzle competition, crafts and much more happening over the next few weeks. Pat Tully gives details.

Here is a link to the library’s website.

Here is a link to the library’s Facebook page.

The post Ketchikan Public Library Report appeared first on KRBD.

Marissa Medford has filed to run for a three-year term on the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board. There are two seats up for grabs in the upcoming municipal election and four candidates are running. 

School board members are responsible for overseeing the district’s budget and adopting policies. 

KRBD’s Hunter Morrison spoke with Medford about her goals and priorities if elected to office. 

Marissa Medford: Hi, my name is Marissa Medford.

Hunter Morrison: Why are you running? And what are you running for? 

Medford: Oh, so I am running for the school district, and I am running because I am a lifelong Southeast resident. Born in Sitka, moved to Ketchikan when I was a toddler, and this community has invested a lot in me. So, I would like to return the favor, which I’ve done in some other ways thus far in my life. But this seems like there’s a need for people, and I thought I’d throw my name in the ring and invest back into the community.

Morrison: And tell me about your priorities?

Medford: My priorities are – obviously that we’re having some budget issues and the financial crisis. I know that’s been top priority and big news. So that is something that I would like to use my experience that I have with – I was a city admin, and so I’ve got budget and budget mod experience to help maintain fiscal control. I’ve got decades of HR experience developing policies and procedures and benefits, and so I think a lot of my work history and experience would be beneficial on the school board.

Morrison: Yeah. If elected to the school board, what is something that you would like to do on the board?

Medford: Yeah. One of the things that I’ve really been looking at – and thankfully, to be able to run with a close friend is really great to have that support network. And so we’ve been chatting, talking about the budget, and I saw on the school board agenda tonight [WEB: last Wednesday] they’ve got a health insurance task force update, and so I’m really interested in that as an HR person, the budget and the health insurance side of things with the benefits. And so it looks like last year with the USI insurance, it was budgeted for a little over $8.3 million, but the actual cost was over $9 million, so about an 8% increase over budget on those fixed costs that were unexpected. That’s a pretty significant amount of money, and so they’ve presented a couple options for their benefits and what those costs look like. So anyway, that’s something that I’d be interested in, have been crunching numbers. It looks like based on the information that the HR director has provided, just in this agenda statement, it kind of looks like that public educator health trust is probably a good way to go, just based on what I can see here. But would be interested in evaluating the difference between all the benefit options.

Morrison: What community leadership roles, engagement roles, make you equipped for this role?

Medford: I would say that my prior experience, as I had mentioned, as a city administrator, decades of HR, quality control. I think those would all be really helpful in collaborating with the existing school board members. And the relationship with the district personnel, other borough personnel, and figuring out how we can all work together to try to right the ship.

Morrison: Gotcha. And what is something that you would like listeners to know about you?

Medford: I would like them to know that I’m eager to learn. I don’t mind asking the hard questions and gathering as much information as possible before I make a decision. And I want the kids to know that even if you’re not of voting age yet, your voice matters. We’re listening. Keep being engaged. Speak up about these issues, because people are making decisions that impact you currently and in the future. So, really going to be interested in listening to all community members, but making sure that our kids are heard as well.

Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.

The post Marissa Medford talks about why she’s running for Ketchikan’s school board appeared first on KRBD.

Hear about some of more than 480 jobs available in the Ketchikan area and on Prince of Wales Island; along with other services offered by the Job Center. Reed Harding gives details during the August 31 report.

You can contact the Ketchikan Job Center at 907-225-3181.

Here is a link to find jobs on the State of Alaska website.

Here is a link to the Rapid Response site offering support to employees who are fired or laid off.

The post Job Center Report appeared first on KRBD.

Hear about some August weather records – over 8 inches of rain one day in 1920! – and the outlook for the week. Meteorologist Zoe Kaplan gives details for the week of August 31.

Here is a link to CoCoRaHS – the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network for those interested in becoming weather observers.

Here is a link to the NWS Juneau’s Facebook page.

Here is a link to NOAA’s Alaska Weather site.

The post Weather Report from NWS Juneau appeared first on KRBD.

The distant sound of crashing waves rang through the tree line of Refuge Cove State Recreation Area, north of Ketchikan. The park was a favorite of Sean Griffin, who lived just walking distance from the area. He died in the 3rd Avenue Bypass landslide.

“Before he passed away, we walked down here every night unless it was blowing sideways,” said Sarah Griffin, Sean’s wife. She said the two would often watch sunsets at the recreation area.

“And then, now, it’s a spot for the kids and I and his mom to come to, just to kind of remember,” Sarah said. “And it’s a beautiful spot.” 

On August 25, the landslide’s two year anniversary, the site’s forest-covered picnic area was dotted with dozens of Sean’s friends, family and fellow community members. They were there to honor and remember Sean at a memorial plaque dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony. 

The memorial, atop a small bluff, overlooks the Tongass Narrows, where Sean spent a lot of his free time. 

Sean was born and raised in Ketchikan, and worked for the city for 17 years. He started as a solid waste collector, then operator. He later moved to the streets department, where he was promoted to senior maintenance technician. 

His wife remembers him as a go-getter, who enjoyed working with his hands. She said his dedication to the job, and to his community, is why Sean was working on the day the landslide hit. 

“I think it speaks volumes to his character that he was on vacation, but he still went in when he was called in,” Sarah said. “And ultimately, his last call.”

Duane Galloway, who worked with Sean at the streets department, looked back at his coworker’s commitment to the community. He said Sean had a great attitude and an open heart, and was a good person to work with. 

“He was a self-teacher,” Galloway said. “He has a goal, like, ‘Hey, I can do that.’ He’s never done it before, but he’ll do it. He’s our guinea pig.”

“And then he’ll learn, and then he’ll teach someone else how to do it, which is cool,” Galloway added.

Galloway said it was an honor to help install Sean’s memorial plaque. A number of other groups, including Ketchikan High School’s National Honor Society, helped bring the memorial to Refuge Cove. Underneath the plaque are signatures of everyone Sean worked with at the streets department. 

And the plaque spells out who Sean was as a person. He was a husband. He was a brother. He was a friend. 

But he was also a dad of four boys. Each of his children’s names is on the post holding the plaque. 

Sarah, his wife, said Sean loved being a father. 

“He was quiet, but he was always – he was the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back, but he wouldn’t want you to mention it,” Sarah said.

And it’s not just a plaque that was dedicated in Sean’s honor. There’s also a memorial tree, planted as a testament to his enduring memory. 

Those who knew him said Sean did not enjoy being the center of attention, and a memorial dedication like this would not have been his style. But his wife said she wants the community to remember his legacy, and the memorial is just a small way to do that.

“He was the quiet guy behind the scenes who just did it, so he would have been pissed that we’re making a big deal out of it,” Sarah said. “But we all really loved him, so we don’t want anyone to forget.”

Ketchikan’s city and borough mayors read proclamations at the ceremony remembering the 2024 landslide and Sean. A rotary phone was also set up at the memorial for people to share stories or leave messages to the family. 

Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.

The post Memorial unveiled for victim of deadly Ketchikan landslide appeared first on KRBD.

Listen to the August 28 Craig Parks and Recreation report with Victoria Merritt, Dawn Sheets, Gretchen Klein and guests.

The post Craig Parks and Recreation Report appeared first on KRBD.

Timothy Montgomery has filed to run for a three-year seat on the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly. There are three 3-year seats up for grabs in the upcoming municipal election.  

The assembly serves as the legislative power of the borough, and is responsible for voting on action items and establishing policy for the borough.  

KRBD’s Hunter Morrison spoke with Montgomery about his goals and priorities if elected to office. 

Timothy Montgomery: Hello, my name is Tim Montgomery, and I’ve lived here in Ketchikan since 1967, when my family, brother and sister, mom and dad, moved from Oregon.

Hunter Morrison: What are you running for, and why are you running?

Montgomery: I’m running for borough assembly member. The reason I’m running is I feel I can help in the process that the borough’s in. The school district, their financial situation they’re in. I think I can help in that process.

Morrison: Gotcha. And can you elaborate on what some of your priorities are? 

Montgomery: The main priority would obviously be the budgetary process. I’m a fairly fiscal conservative. I believe the budget should be prepared as a zero-based budget, I’m pretty sure. I’m not sure if that’s how they’re prepared, meaning that every year you start at zero and build a budget, right? You don’t just base it on last year’s numbers. You kind of do, but you don’t just add to it because that’s the simple way to do it. And then you monitor the budget on a regular, pretty regular basis. Make adjustments if you have to, and if there’s money left over, you don’t just spend it because it’s budgeted. You put it back into the general fund or any reserve fund to use for when you really need it for when the budget falls short, those types of things. And like I said, I really haven’t dived into the borough budget yet, so I don’t know exactly how the process is, because it’s fairly complicated, I’m sure, because there’s many streams of revenue.

Morrison: If elected to the assembly, what is something that you would like to do on the assembly?

Montgomery: Well, help the school district get out of their financial hole, if possible. I don’t know what rule other than allocating money based on the cap to fund the schools, but possibly some ideas. One of the budget cuts that have been made is youth activities, and I was really involved in youth activities when my kids were growing up. I coached little league baseball and basketball, and I was involved in the high school varsity basketball program for five years with the late Ed Bolburn and coach John Brown, and so I have a passion for that. I umpire baseball, I referee high school basketball and dribblers league still. The amount of money allocated for all activities, not just sports, but you have music, and you have drama, and you have debate, and all that’s been drastically cut, which everybody understands why. But there needs to be a way to help fund that because the budget for that is quite large. I understand it’s probably around a million dollars, which shocked me. And I think it’s been budgeted somewhere in the $200,000 range.

Morrison: And you know, you mentioned your involvement with local sports. What other leadership roles, community engagement roles, makes you equipped for this role?

Montgomery: I owned and operated several businesses in the ’90s and the early 2000s. Currently, I am a member of the Elks Lodge, and I’m currently the treasurer for the last four years. So I prepared budgets there. They’re not a big organization, but it’s a nonprofit. So I guess basically based on my business background and that, I could probably help out.

Morrison: And aside from what you’ve mentioned, what is something that you’d like listeners to know about you?

Montgomery: I put my mind to things. I follow through with it. I’m outspoken. I believe in transparency, not just saying that, like today in the paper, unencumbered expenses with the school district. I think you know, ‘Why don’t we tell them what it is?’ But mainly, I speak my mind. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. 

Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.

The post Timothy Montgomery on why he’s running for Ketchikan’s borough assembly appeared first on KRBD.