Southeast Alaska saw some major trends and events in 2017. They ranged from cruise ship passenger increases to budget decreases to labor battles to murder investigations.
Timber
Tongass in Transition: Wolves and logging both cut into Prince of Wales deer
This deer season has been the worst in recent memory for a lot of hunters on Prince of Wales Island. Large-scale industrial logging has damaged important winter habitat, and some locals believe a rapidly growing wolf population is also devouring the deer.
Four Alaska firefighters dispatched to battle California blazes
Four Alaska wild fire professionals are working on blazes in southern California. Alaska Division of Forestry spokesman Tim Mowry said the Alaskans deployed south have special skills.
Tongass in Transition: Striking a chord with old growth trees
Alaska Specialty Woods uses salvaged trees to make instrument tops. But this sustainable company still wants the timber industry to stick around.
Tongass in Transition: An uncertain future for Alaska’s last big mill
Logging old growth trees in the Tongass National Forest was supposed to be phased out. The owner at Viking Lumber has struggled to see a future where the business could survive. But this past year has restored some hope.
Nikiski family spends holidays selling Christmas trees in New York City
For the past 21 years around Thanksgiving, a Nikiski couple travels to the Big Apple to spread some Christmas cheer. When Tom and Michele Gilmartin first drove from Nikiski to New York, it was just the two of them.