FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]
By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]
Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m. [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Hames Corp. Honored for Employment Policies
By ABIGAIL BLISS
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Hames Corporation was honored Wednesday at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon for the company’s exceptional efforts to hire, train and invest in employees with disabilities.
Bob Purvis, a member of the State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee, announced the Hames Corp. as Employer of the Year in the small business category, and awarded a plaque to company representatives Jaylene Owen, Steve Huddleson, and Andrew Hames.
Bob Purvis, second from right, presents the Alaska State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee Small Employer of the Year award to Sea Mart staff members Wednesday during the Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Westmark. From left are Jaylene Owen, HR director for Hames; Andrew Hames, store director; Purvis; and Steve Huddleson, assistant store director. (Sentinel Photo)
“They recognize the value in all of their employees,” read a comment from the committee, relayed to the Chamber audience by Fran Schwuchow, employment services manager at Sitka Job Center, a branch of the State Department of Labor.
The weekly Chamber meeting centered on Schwuchow’s presentation on the Job Center’s services for both job seekers and employers hoping to hire.
Fran Schwuchow. (Sentinel Photo)
The Sitka Job Center, at 304 Lake St., is one of 15 scattered throughout the state. Its goal, Schwuchow explained, is to “provide labor exchange, employment and training services, and unemployment insurance to Alaskans, and Alaska businesses thereby advancing opportunities for employment and providing economic stability for communities in Alaska.”
She detailed the Job Center’s offerings for Sitkans searching for work: application assistance; resume and cover letter guidance; interview practice; internet, fax, and telephone access; proficiency testing; insight into industry trends; personalized suggestions of local gigs; career counseling; access to the state’s fidelity bonding program and veteran services; and opportunities to work toward the National Career Readiness Certificate.
She described its services for employers: assistance accessing the Alaska Labor Exchange System, recruitment aid, referrals, information into state and federal tax credits, workplace posters, job fairs, advice on layoff responses, and local or statewide advertisements for vacancies.
The Job Center also offers assistance filing unemployment insurance claims and access to a conference room that can be used for job fairs, meetings, and interviews, she said.
Responding to a question from the audience, Schwuchow said there is no shortage of local job opportunities. If you want a job in Sitka, she said, you can have it.
Even so, she said, she’s found it challenging in the past year and a half, in particular, to fill posts, primarily those requiring unskilled labor.
“I don’t know if people have just given up and they’re not working, or if people have found another source of income or if they’re just gone,” she said. “I don’t know if people are leaving Sitka, and so we’re losing that population. ... I had jobs this summer, which I don’t think I always filled, which is not normal.”
Schwuchow said she offers personal support to every job seeker who comes into her office, whether they have a history as a janitor or as a doctor. She emphasized, in particular, the accessibility of Job Center services to any business or employee in the community.
“You can call me. You can fax me. You can email me,” she said.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....