Regional

Stories from the KUCB Newsroom from the Aleutian Region, the Pribilof Islands, the Alaska Peninsula, and beyond.

75 Years After The Battle Of Attu, Veterans Reflect On The Cost Of Reclaiming U.S. Soil

By • May 10, 2018
Alaska State Library, Aleutian/Pribilof Project Collection, ASL-P233-V111

Seventy-five years ago, Japan and the United States were locked in one of the bloodiest battles fought on American soil: the Battle of Attu.

Army veteran Allan Serroll served on Attu Island, which sits at the westernmost end of the Aleutian Islands — closer to Japan than Seattle.

Serroll is now 102. But he’s still haunted by the experience of staring down young men like himself.

“Some of the guys noticed that it was bothering me,” Serroll said. “They said, ‘Look, it’s kill or be killed. It’s your life you’re protecting.’ And they were right.”

Coast Guard Suspends Search For Man Overboard South Of Sand Point

By • Mar 26, 2018
Courtesy of Hans Rosenkranz/MarineTraffic.com

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a man who reportedly fell overboard from an oil tanker traveling past the Aleutian Islands.

Air crews spent 14 hours searching for the 22-year-old mariner, who went missing from the M/V Challenge Prelude on Sunday afternoon.

"Due to the length of time, and with the extreme environment, the District 17 Command Center made the call to suspend the search," said Petty Officer Lauren Dean.

Coast Guard Searches For Man Missing From Oil Tanker South Of Sand Point

By • Mar 26, 2018
Courtesy of Hans Rosenkranz/MarineTraffic.com

About 24 hours after he went missing from an oil tanker, the U.S. Coast Guard is deciding whether to continue its search for a man who reportedly fell overboard in Aleutian waters.

The master of the M/V Challenge Prelude noticed the 22-year-old mariner was missing Sunday afternoon when the vessel was 110 miles south of Sand Point.

The tanker turned around to search for the man, while Air Station Kodiak sent two aircrews to assist.

New Vessel Will Bolster Oil Spill Response In Western Alaska

By • Mar 23, 2018
Courtesy Paradigm Marine

 

Western Alaska will have better oil spill response capabilities with a new vessel. The OSRV Ocean Liberty was expected to arrive in Unalaska by the end of March, but the ship is awaiting modifications and clean up of an oil spill in Shuyak Straight near Kodiak has delayed the process.

Unalaska Mayor Frank Kelty is excited for the added layer of safety the vessel will bring to the region. In a given year at America’s top fishing port, he says local fuel docks can pump up to 60 million gallons of fuel. Plus, large vessels pass through the region on major shipping routes.

GCI Launches 4G LTE In Unalaska

By • Mar 19, 2018
Laura Kraegel/KUCB

Less than a week after delaying the launch of 4G LTE in Unalaska, GCI has the service up and running.

“We’re just happy to have LTE turned on," said GCI Vice President Dan Boyette. "I know we made a lot of promises and gave a lot of dates over the last several months and we finally got it done.”

GCI first promised a faster, more reliable mobile network — including data — by the end of 2017. But construction snags and testing caused multiple launch delays.

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