Local News

The Alaska Shield drill meant a busy weekend for Unalaska's emergency responders. They faced simulations involving power outages, extreme cold, and -- yes -- even a potential axe murderer at sea.

KUCB's Alexandra Gutierrez has this story.

Icy conditions on Friday contributed to three car accidents and thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Over the past couple of weeks, the Unalaska Department of Public Works has had to deal with snow, wind, ice, and rain. Now, they’re battling avalanches.

The Unalaska Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is focusing its attention in 2012 on increasing ferry and cruise ship traffic.

The ferry brought just over 800 people to Unalaska during last year’s summer season, which CVB Director Alyssa Sensky says is an increase from previous years.  Since 2010 the ferry has been making two runs a month out to Unalaska, which Sensky says helps generate traffic.  She’s hoping 2012 will be even busier.

“This year, this is the first time we’ve been in a winter schedule planner and this technically would be the first summer that it’s been advertised, that people know so they can plan better.”

Gov. Sean Parnell announced his state board appointments today, and his list includes one Unalaska resident. Public Safety Director Jamie Sunderland has been selected to serve on the Alaska Police Standards Council.

That council sets the regulations governing conduct in the field of law enforcement. They also handle cases where police and corrections officers are accused of living up to those standards.  

Sunderland says that it’s been a while since anyone from the community has served on the board, and that he thinks it will be helpful having someone there who is familiar with this region.

“I just thought it would be nice to get some rural law enforcement perspective on one of those boards, and I was happy to serve,” says Sunderland.

About a dozen people are responsible for making sure that Unalaska’s roads are passable every morning, a task that isn’t easy given the amount of snowfall this year.

KUCB’s Alexandra Gutierrez went out with the roads crew one frosty morning to find out what exactly goes into that process.

A faulty sensor was likely to blame for the hour-long power outage on Friday morning, according to Public Utilities Director Dan Winters. 

The recently installed CAT C280 engine had a ‘high crank case pressure’ alarm that tripped the system, shutting down the engine.  The total grid load at that point exceeded the generating capacity of the two smaller CAT engines, causing them to shut down as well.

The City of Unalaska is advertising for a new ports director. 

Alvin Osterback held the position for five years, through several major projects, including construction of the Carl E. Moses Small Boat Harbor.  His departure comes at a moment when more big projects are being considered.  

The Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment on the proposed landfill expansion project.  The project would move Summer Bay road to the coast and add two additional waste cells next to the baler facility.

The expansion was permitted back in the late 90s, but Corps Project Manager Jack Hewitt says the original construction date has passed and since it’s been a while since the permit was issued, they wanted to give the public an opportunity to comment again.

Public Safety has concluded there was no foul play involved in the death of Alaska Warrior crewmember Sui Filisi.

The 36 year old was found dead by crewmates aboard the vessel in early November.  

Public Safety Director Jamie Sunderland says the autopsy results indicate his death was due to heart problems,with potential complications from drug and alcohol use.  Public Safety has closed the investigation.