industry

Unalaska is waiting on a free infrastructure report card, courtesy of the U.S. military. 

That report will be compiled by civil affairs officers, including U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. 

Gabbard, a former Democratic presidential candidate, visited the island as part of a team last week in her capacity as an Army Reserve major, for meetings and an assessment of Unalaska's future infrastructure needs.

City officials reported a new positive case of COVID-19 in Unalaska Friday, bringing the positive local case count to 101.

The individual testing positive is a UniSea employee and has been in quarantine since arriving on the island on Aug. 23, the city said in a statement. 

In compliance with the company's COVID-19 mitigation plan, the employee received a negative COVID-19 test before traveling to Unalaska, and the positive result was received at the mid-point of their quarantine period.

Bering Sea pollock fishermen had a close encounter Wednesday with Russian military vessels conducting pre-planned exercises, according to industry officials and a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman.

"They are telling American fishing vessels to move out of the way," said Brent Paine, executive director of United Catcher Boats, an industry trade group. "They've got some submarines and destroyers and nobody knows anything about it."

The City of Unalaska reported a new positive case of COVID-19 Wednesday, bringing the positive local case count to 100. 

The individual testing positive is a family member of a UniSea employee, and has been in quarantine since arriving on the island by Dena'ina charter flight on Aug. 21, the city said in a statement. 

The individual is now in isolation and is being monitored by staff from Iliuliuk Family and Health Services.

The community of Unalaska/Dutch Harbor has been without reliable air service since a fatal plane crash on the island late last year. 

Long before that, however, Unalaskans, fishermen, and other industry workers trying to get to and from the island have faced travel woes from harsh weather to a short runway at the base of a steep mountain to ever-changing airlines selling consistently high-priced seats.