TRUCK FIRE – Firefighters knock down a fire in a Ford Explorer truck in Arrowhead Trailer Park in the 1200 block of Sawmill Creek Road Saturday evening. One person received fire-related injuries and was taken to the hospital, Sitka Fire Department Chief Craig Warren said, and the truck was considered a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Warren said. The fire hall received the call about the fire at 5:33 p.m., and one fire engine with eight firefighters and an ambulance were dispatched, he said. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
The federal government owes Alaska more than $700 billion in comp [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Sylvester Byrd Jr. served nearly three decades in prison for a [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Competing Sunday in a City League volleyball match, a short-handed Yellow Je [ ... ]
Heritage, Cultural
Tourism Event
Here this Week
The ninth annual Heritage and Cultural Tourism Conferen [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 15
At 4:30 a.m. a fender bender invol [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Rep. Rebecca Himschoot and School Board President Tri [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
With $20 million needed to complete the Katlian Bay r [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
A historically high herring return is forecast for Sit [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
After a year-long vacancy in the Sitka Superior Court [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, following through on an ultimatum, vet [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
For many of the women considered to be at high risk for breast ca [ ... ]
Climate Connection -- Cruise Tourism Choices
Citizen groups in many port cities have mobilized to pre [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 14
An Austin Street resident said a c [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Sitka Homeless Coalition and St. Michael’s Sist [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka’s annual Heritage and Cultural Tourism Confere [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Language matters, the House agreed on Wednesday, when it advan [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A new state revenue forecast that includes modestly higher oil pr [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 13
Vehicles left parked at Sealing Co [ ... ]
SFS, Coliseum
To Show 15 Shorts
The Sitka Film Society and Coliseum Theater will present the Oscar Sho [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka Tribe of Alaska told the Assembly Tuesday that [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Among proposals presented to the Assembly Tuesday for [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The public is invited to a discussion Thursday on the [ ... ]
By BRYDEN SWEENEY-TAYLOR
Outer Coast executive director
In 1986, two linguists, Ron and Suzie Scollon, [ ... ]
Vigil on Saturday
At Roundabout
Community members are invited to attend the weekly Voices for Peace vi [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
May 19, 2020, Letters to the Editor
Clear Air
Dear Editor: Many parts of the world are seeing scenery in the far distance for the first time in quite awhile. The COVID-19 virus has aided this in an unusual way. Sounds ludicrous, but humans have been encouraged by doctors and scientists worldwide to stay at home and nonessential services are shut down. That in turn has helped to clean up the air pollution. There are fewer cars, trucks and motorcycles on the road and airlines are decreasing he number of scheduled trips. There is now less air contamination.
Before COVID-19, Delhi, India, was considered the world’s most polluted city. The quality of the air now brings blue skies and clean air. Dramatic changes have shown, without a doubt, the relationship between human behavior and air quality.
The Los Angeles, California, skyline has been noted for smog that is made up of smoke and fog (first coined in 1905). In 1943 there were 2.8 million internal combustion engine vehicles registered in California. When it was smoggy, the field of vision was only about three blocks. There were problems with people having difficulty breathing, some were vomiting and many had stinging eyes. The state of California passed the Air Pollution Control Act in 1947. However, the pollution problem continued unrelentingly. That is until this year, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and within several months of “stay home” mandates, Los Angeles now has the cleanest air of any major city. California Air Resources: “California’s Air Quality History Key Events.”
Copernicus Sentinel-5 satellite: “Readings from this satellite show a significant decline in the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide over Rome, Madrid and Paris.” Strict quarantine actions were first implemented in Europe in these cities.
Here in Sitka we are seeing less traffic, more bicycle riding, and many people enjoying the hiking trails. The beginning of the fishing season will bring in many people to work in the fish plants and hopefully some visitors. This will help our economy, though there is a worry about COVID-19 coming to town. We won’t see any cruise ships this year and that will be very hard for many businesses. There will be no Sitka Fine Arts Camp and no Sitka Summer Music Festival. I would like to suggest that we residents of Sitka WELCOME the visitors and workers who are able to come to Sitka.
Judy Kearns-Steffen, member of Citizens Climate Lobby
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Businesses using the Centennial Hall parking lot testified Tuesday against a proposal to charge them rent in addition to the $200 annual permit fee. City Administrator Hugh Bevan made the proposal in response to the Assembly’s direction to Centennial Hall manager Don Kluting to try to close the $340,000 gap between building revenues and operational costs.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Alaska Native Brotherhood Grand President William S. Paul Sr. will be special guest and speaker at the local ANB, Alaska Native Sisterhood Founders Day program Monday at the ANB Hall.