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Today's top stories

Police Chief Candidate Meets Sitka Public

Michael Hall, one of two applicants in the city’s search for a new police chief, at center meets with Sitkans Tuesday evening at Harrigan Centennial Hall during a public meet-and-greet. The city will host anotherr public reception event for the other candidate, Wade Lyons, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Michael Hall, one of two finalists in the city’s search for a new police chief, gave a jovial speech before about 40 Sitkans during a public meet-and-greet event on Tuesday evening at Harrigan Centennial Hall. City leaders interviewed candidates...
Bob Sam stands behind an informational sign in the Russian Cemetery off Marine Street today. Sam, who has worked to restore Sitka graveyards since the 1980s, has been involved in a project to find the exact burial site of Saint Yakov, 1802-1864. Yakov was canonized by the Orthodox Church in 1994.

Search May Identify Historic Sitka Grave

On the salmonberry-covered hill of Marine Street, where the Holy Trinity Church used to be, Reverend Herman Belt of St. Michael’s Cathedral and Bob Sam, longtime cemetery caretaker, are hoping to have discovered the gravesite of Saint Yakov...
A map shows areas that could be "eligible for sale" to private interests if new language in a draft Senate reconciliation bill were to pass.

Trump Land Sale Plan Draws Protest in Sitka

Sitka residents are mounting a strong response to a draft provision of the U.S. Senate Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill that would mandate the sale of roughly 2 to 3 million acres of federal public lands in 11 western states, including...

KCAW Seeks Action Against Funding Cuts

Local and regional community radio advocates are asking for listenrs’ help in fighting President Trump’s proposed rescissions which KCAW-FM says is “the most serious threat” to federal funding the station has faced. “Our ask to the public is to...

2 Rescued From Small Boat

Two men, ages 61 and 31, were rescued early this morning from a small boat foundering off Eagle Beach, police and fire officials said. The two were treated for hypothermia. Police received calls around midnight that cries for help were being...

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Community news
Community Calendar June 20-23, 2025
FRIDAY Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 907-747-8866 for information  2 p.m. Sheldon Jackson Museum artist-in-residence Liz Morrow artist talk 3-6 p.m. Community Cleanup Day at the Swan Lake Senior Center 4:30-6:30 p.m. STA...
Sitka Rotarians were joined by two Ukrainian Rotarians for a photo following the regular luncheon meeting noon Tuesday at UAS-Sitka, where the two women, Dr. Olhar Paliychuk (front row, left) and Iryna Odyntsova (front row, second from left) from District 2232, were featured speakers. Along the way, the two are sharing the work of Ukraine Rotary clubs and volunteers during the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Rotarians in Ukraine are providing resources, such as books, activities and counseling for children, services to improve sanitation, de-mining work, medical and social work services, and helping refugees. Paliychuk, a gynocologist-oncologist and professor, is the district governor-elect for District 2232; and Odyntsova, an attorney, is the chair of Rotary Fellowship of Educators and club president for RC “Dnipro Novyi” D2232. Top row, from left, are Dan Jones, Jay Stilwell, Shannon Haugland, Kari Lundgren (attending by Zoom), Keith Nyitray, Debbie Miller, John Stein, Dave Lamm and Rich McClear. Front row are Paliychuk and Odyntsova, Ed McFadden, Sharon Bergman and Janet Eddy. (Photo provided)
UKRAINIAN PEACEMAKERS
Police Chief Candidate at Meet-and-Greet
The City and Borough of Sitka invites the public to meet Sitka police chief candidate Wade Lyons at a meet-and-greet 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, June 23, at Harrigan Centennial Hall in meeting room 3. For information contact the Human Resources office...
Yard Sale Benefit At Pioneers Home
Sitka Pioneers Home will host a yard sale fundraiser 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at the upper front lawn. Proceeds benefit the residents through the Sitka Pioneers Home Auxiliary. If raining, the sale will be in the basement recreation...
Transition Sitka Sets Annual Meet
Transition Sitka will hold its annual meeting 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, at St. Peter’s See House. Those attending are asked to take a dish to share as well as their own place setting.  On the agenda is election of officers, reports from...
Free Dance Day Listed Saturday
Sitka Studio of Dance will offer a free day of dance Saturday, June 21, at 1310 Sawmill Creek Road. Classes in jazz, hip hop, tap (shoes provided), ballet, and modern will be offered to kids in Keet Gooshi Heen elementary school and Blatchley...
Blues & Dance at Community House
Community members are invited to an evening of free blues and dance 7-9 p.m. Friday, July 4, at the Sheet’ká Kwáan Naa Kahídi.  Sitka Tribe of Alaska will host Diné bluesman Levi Platero and his band for “Music Is Medicine.” Platero is a...
Calendar of Events June 18, 2025
WEDNESDAY 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Made in Sitka Market, Harrigan Centennial Hall 11-2 Salvation Army Little Store open Noon White Elephant Shop open Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information  Noon STA Tribal Council,...
SHS Class of 1975 Set to Celebrate
The Sitka High School class of 1975 will celebrate its 50th class reunion over the 4th of July holiday. All are invited to join the parade. Gather at noon on by KIFW on Lake Street  for the 1 p.m. parade or simply join in from the sidewalk...
John Reiter. (Photo provided)
Moose Dignitary to Visit Sitka Lodge
John R. Reiter, Moose International Inc. board of directors chairman,  is visiting Sitka Moose Lodge 1350 this week. The lodge will host a free dinner of rockfish Olympian, rice, organic green beans, coleslaw and dessert 6 p.m. ...

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Police blotter

Police Blotter, June 17, 2025

Police Blotter Sitka Police Department received the following calls in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. today. June 16 At 9:25 a.m. a flag flying upside down on top of a tree near the Mt. Edgecumbe High swimming pool was taken down. A case was...

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Obituaries
 Joyce Marvel Martin Dies; Former Resident Was 94
Joyce Marvel Martin, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on June 6 at the age of 94. Joyce got her name because, as her family put it, marvelous day!” “The day of her birth was a joyous and Born on...
Agnes J. Greimann Dies; Longtime Alaskan was 92
AGNES J. GREIMANN  Agnes Joyce Greimann passed away, peacefully, on March 29, 2025. Agnes was born on December 15, 1932, in Alberta, Canada. On February 19, 1949, Agnes met Paul, in Edmonton, Alberta. After a week of dating , Paul left for...
Longtime Sitka Resident Marian Blankenship Dies
Longtime Sitka resident, Marian Blankenship, passed on to her eternal home, in the early morning hours of May 28, 2025, at the age of 92. Marian was born Marian Jean Myers, to Clarence and Sadie Myers, on March 8,1933, in Ketchikan AK.  She...
Barbara Pamela (Craig) Chittenden
Memorial Service June 13 For Barbara Chittenden
Memorial Service June 13 For Barbara Chittenden Memorial services for Barbara Pamela (Craig) Chittenden, who had deep roots in Sitka, will be Friday, June 13, at Sitka National Cemetery. Her ashes, along with those of her husband Gene, will be...

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Sports

Sitka Women’s Softball Expands to Five Teams

Lauren Bell hits a grand slam homerun Tuesday night at Kimsham Field in city league action.
Tatiana Perkins is from a softball family, which means that her history with the sport can be counted in generations.  She grew up on the softball fields — a proud “field rat” —  playing with other kids when too young to participate in...
Sitka baseball sophomore infielder Jude Gluth, softball junior pitcher/2B/1B and senior outfielder/infielder/pitcher Josh Gluth hold the team's 2025 state championship trophies Saturday at Anchorage's Mulchay Stadium. (photo courtesy Heather Gluth)

Sitka Wolves Sweep State Championships in Baseball and Softball

Baseball By KLAS STOLPE For the Sentinel With just one out waiting to be closed on Saturday, Sitka senior Bryce Compagno-Calhoun looked down from the pitcher’s mound toward senior catcher Tanner Steinson.   “It was, I don’t know,...

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Sitka Yesterday June 18, 2025

20 YEARS AGO

June 2005

Photo caption: South Korea’s MBC Broadcast camerawoman Mi Young Lee films inside the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi. The Asian film crew is visiting tourist sites in Sitka for a travel feature to be aired by the TV and Web company. The crew also watched Sitka dance groups, visited the Dog Point Fish Camp and hiked local trails.

50 YEARS AGO

June 1975

The annual Sitka Summer Recreation Program begins Monday. Program Director Jon Tatum said activities include an archery program, races and other athletic competition, and a variety of arts and crafts.

Read previous Sitka Yesterdays

Around Alaska

How a raid in SC freeing 700 slaves became a Pulitzer Prize-winning book

Edda Fields-Black was working on a book about rice plantations when she came across the story of a raid in Beaufort that freed more than 700 slaves from Lowcountry plantations. The Carnegie Mellon University professor decided to pursue the story and, nearly a decade later, published “COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black […]

UAA’s College of Health empowers Alaska’s future, one nurse at a time

At the University of Alaska Anchorage, we understand the health of our communities depends on the strength of our workforce. As Alaska’s flagship institution for health education, UAA’s College of Health is not only preparing students for high-demand careers — it is transforming lives and strengthening communities across the state.  Nowhere is this impact more […]

Federal land sales, more logging and more oil revenue: What’s in the big federal bill for Alaska?

Members of the U.S. Senate last week proposed a major sale of federal land as part of the “Big, Beautiful Bill” proposed by Republicans to fund the U.S. government. If adopted, the proposed sale could be significant for Alaska, where the federal government owns and manages 61% of all land in the state. Under language […]

The big, the bad and the ugly, even for Alaskans

The Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill, or BBB, is a boon for America’s ultrarich at the expense of the poor and the working class. And with adding $3.4 trillion to the national deficit, this boon for the wealthy could also be at the expense of an economy rattled by Trump’s on-and-off again tariffs.   According to […]

Four new bills become law in Alaska, two with governor’s signature

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has signed a bill expanding the exemptions that allow some Alaskans who are absent from the state to receive Permanent Fund dividends. House Bill 75, from Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan, was one of four bills that became law last week. “We were pleased to see that it was signed into law,” said […]
Workers install panels at a solar project Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Galena, Alaska. (AP Photo/John Locher)

In rural Alaska, a village turns to solar and biomass energies to cut diesel and save money

On a former military base in Galena, Alaska, a school that houses about 200 high school students teaches sustainability among many things. One of the recent graduates is helping to build the …

ACLU of Alaska launches online reporting tool for tracking immigration enforcement actions

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska has launched an online reporting tool to gather information around local and federal law enforcement agencies increasing immigration enforcement actions around the state. The civil rights group is seeking to monitor Alaska immigration enforcement actions, as the Trump administration has ramped up arrest quotas for U.S. Immigration and […]

Coast Guard investigates storm-caused near-collision between two cruise ships in Juneau

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a near-collision between two cruise ships in the Port of Juneau that occurred Monday, when one of the two ships broke loose from its moorings and drifted toward the other. “Our investigations division, they’re running with a standard investigation, just like we would do with any similar such incident, […]

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From the Associated Press
National news

Russian activist who helped Ukrainian refugees jailed for 22 years

A Russian activist who helped Ukrainians flee Moscow’s invasion has been sentenced to 22 years in prison on charges of treason and financing terrorism. Nadezhda Rossinskaya ran a volunteer group …
FILE - Tony Berastegui Jr., right, and his sister Giselle Berastegui drink water, July 17, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

How to stay cool in the heat wave hitting parts of the US --even without air conditioning

The first big heat wave of 2025 has arrived, coinciding with the official start of summer. More than 40 million people in the U.S. were under heat alerts Friday. That is according to the National …
Israel has attacked Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, Iranian state television said Thursday. The report said there was “no radiation danger whatsoever” and that the facility had already been evacuated before the attack.

The Latest: Israeli military says it carried out airstrikes in western Iran

Israel’s military says it carried out airstrikes Friday targeting the areas around Kermanshah and Tabriz in western Iran. The military says 25 fighter jets struck “missile storage and launch …

Pilot killed in small plane crash in North Carolina raised a wheel to avoid a turtle, NTSB says

A National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report says the pilot of a small plane that crashed at a North Carolina airport runway this month raised a wheel after landing to avoid hitting a …
International
FILE - Italian Coast Guard's Luigi Dattilo patrol boat, left, assists the multi-purpose floating work barge Hebo Lift 2 monitoring the stretch of sea off Porticello, near Palermo, Sicily, Italy, Sunday, May 4, 2025, where the British superyacht Bayesian sunk on August 19, 2024 as the operations for its recovery start. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli, File)

British superyacht Bayesian resurfaces for 1st time since August sinking ahead of recovery

The British superyacht that sank off Sicily last August killing seven people has resurfaced for the first time. The white top and blue hull of the 56-meter (184-foot) Bayesian emerged from the …
FILE - Giorgio Armani gestures at the end of the Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Spring Summer 2025 collection in Paris, on Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File).

Giorgio Armani, 90, will not attend runway shows during Milan Fashion Week

Giorgio Armani will not be present to take his bows after the Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani runway shows at the upcoming Milan Fashion Week. His fashion house announced his absence on Friday, …
People walk in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Friday, June 20, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Asian shares are mixed and oil gains as world waits to see if US will join Israel's war against Iran

Crude oil prices have climbed and Asian shares are trading mixed as markets await more clarity on whether or not the U.S. will join Israel’s war against Iran. Investors remained wary after the …
Powerful Hurricane Erick made landfall in Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca early Thursday as a major hurricane before moving inland and weakening to a tropical storm. (AP/Luis Alberto Cruz and Amaranta Marentes)

Mexico assesses damage from Hurricane Erick as rising rivers leave at least 1 dead

Authorities in southern Mexico were still assessing damage and watching rising rivers as rain from the remnants of Hurricane Erick doused the region. Authorities reported landslides, blocked …
National Sports
FILE - Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Robinson (50) controls the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker, File)

Carolina Hurricanes re-sign Eric Robinson for 4 years after his most productive NHL season

The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed depth forward Eric Robinson to a four-year contract worth $6.8 million. Robinson will count $1.7 million against the salary cap through the 2028-29 NHL season. …

FILE - Coastal Carolina's Caden Bodine (17) celebrates hitting a solo home run during an NCAA super regional college baseball game against Auburn, Friday, June 6, 2025 in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)

Coastal Carolina all in on keeping baseball program a national power in new era of college sports

Though many athletic programs outside the power four conferences are expected to drop off competitively when scholarship limits are removed and revenue sharing begins July 1, College World Series …
FILE - Celta's Fer Lopez, right, and Real Madrid's Dani Ceballos challenge for the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, on May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton, File)

Wolves sign attacking midfielder Fer Lopez from Celta Vigo on 5-year contract

Wolverhampton has signed attacking midfielder Fer Lopez from Spanish La Liga side Celta Vigo on a five-year contract. The 21-year-old Spaniard is the first summer signing for Wolves. He follows …
Entertainment

US-Best-Sellers-Books-PW

US-Best-Sellers-Books-PW Week ending 6/14/2025

This image released by Peacock shows a scene from "Jaws." (Peacock/Universal Pictures via AP)

AP WAS THERE: 'Jaws' and the parental debates it set off

It didn’t take long for “Jaws” to make an impression. The movie that launched the summer blockbuster season and changed how people view sharks and the ocean also created a dilemma for parents. …
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows a scene from "A Minecraft Movie." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

What to Stream: 'The Bear,' Lorde, 'Smoke,' 'A Minecraft Movie,' 'Nosferatu' and Nelly and Ashanti

The Jack Black-led movie phenomenon “A Minecraft Movie” and Lorde’s fourth studio album, “Virgin,” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also …
Health
FILE -Banners are held by pro-assisted dying campaigners as they gather outside Parliament ahead of Fridays report stage in the Commons on The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which is expected to see MPs vote on further amendments, in Westminster in London, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

UK lawmakers to vote on allowing terminally ill adults to end their lives

British lawmakers are set to vote on whether to back a bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales. The vote Friday could be one of the most consequential social …

Register now: Localize It federal changes workshop series (next event is Monday, June 23, 2 p.m. ET)

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS: With sweeping federal changes underway, AP has launched a new series to help you stay ahead. Localize It workshops offer practical support to AP customers covering the …

Register now: Localize It federal changes workshop series (next event is Monday, June 23, 2 p.m. ET)

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS: With sweeping federal changes underway, AP has launched a new series to help you stay ahead. Localize It workshops offer practical support to AP customers covering the …
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