(L to R) Orlando, Fla.-based tourist Zoran Kojic helps Gastineau Guiding Company Naturalist Audrey Benson hold down a deer Wednesday, after they saved the animal from drowning. (Photo courtesy of Jasna Kojic)
While passing the west side of Juneau’s Shelter Island on Wednesday, an 18-passenger tour vessel saw more than just whales.
Audrey Benson, a naturalist with Gastineau Guiding Co., was on the tour when the crew got some news over the radio.
“We heard that there were two deer that were swimming across in the water,” Benson said. “So after we watched the whales for a bit our passengers were curious and wanted to see the deer, and so we motored over to them and it turns out there was only one.”
And it was struggling to stay above water. After a larger tour boat tried to rescue the animal a few times, it gave up. But Benson, along with the passengers and crew, decided to keep trying. They were eventually able to lasso the deer and pull it onto the boat.
“The deer was immediately bewildered and disoriented and it was shaking a lot, it was shivering a lot,” she said. “Its teeth were chattering. It tried to stand up but collapsed because it was so weak.”
The crew was able to drop the deer off at Shelter Island—but not before it tried to swim back into the water again.
“It was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen on any of my tours,” Benson said. “I mean, you never know what’s going to happen but for a deer rescue—I’ve never even been that close to a deer, I’ve never touched one—and to have an opportunity to assist this struggling animal, it was very intense.”
The other deer disappeared before the group reached it, and is presumed to have drowned.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game said it’s very uncommon for deer to drown, adding that deer regularly swim from island to island.
A view of the 2015 Southeast state fair from the Ferris wheel. This year’s fair begins Thursday. (Photo by Greta Mart/KHNS)
Haines’ biggest event of the year begins Thursday. The Southeast Alaska State Fair draws thousands of people to enjoy diverse musical acts, delicious food and classic fair staples like a carousel and Ferris wheel.
There are some performers who experience the fair once, and keep coming back. The Lack Family Band from northern California is in that category.
“We love Haines,” said Paula Lack. “We call it our third home.”
The “family” part of the Lack Family Band isn’t a metaphor. Paula and Scott are the mom and dad — Paula’s on keyboard, Scott’s on the mic. Their three daughters, Deborah, Sarah and Chloe all play instruments and sing.
They first performed at the fair by accident four years ago. They were on their way to Fairbanks when that gig got cancelled. The fair was happening, so they showed up and found the event coordinator.
“And [we] followed her around with her clipboard, and said ‘would you like to have any other bands at the fair?’” Scott recounts. “And she said ‘I don’t know.’ And then she finally gave us a spot and we ended up playing on all the side stages for two or three days. Since then we’ve been coming back for four years.”
This year, they’ve earned a spot on the Main Stage Friday night.
“We have amazing entertainment this year,” said fair director Jessica Edwards.
She said a lot of people are excited about this year’s main headliner – singer-songwriter Martin Sexton.
There are also some more eclectic acts, like a one-man circus act from Hawaii.
“Our entertainment coordinator saw him in Hawaii performing on the street and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this guy would be perfect for the Fair,’” Edwards said. “And he approached him and he didn’t think it would go anywhere, he gave him a card, and this gentlemen, Noah Moore, was in touch and said, ‘I want to come.’ And so here he is.”
Other acts include John Brown’s Body, Bad Tenants, Wet City Rockers, Denali Cooks and Sitka Cirque – formerly known as the Sitka Silkies.
The fair has also maintained its tradition of craft exhibits. People from around Southeast send in everything from quilts to canned goods to Native arts, and the exhibits are judged and displayed during the fair.
“It’s like Christmas for me,” said Dena Stout, the exhibit manager. “When these boxes come in from other places or when these items come in the door, it’s just seeing people’s creativity and their joy in doing what they’re doing, it’s wonderful, I love it.”
Stout said the overall number of exhibits has dwindled this year. But there are some categories, like wearable art, that are bucking that trend. Stout points out one wearable art piece called ‘Coho Antoinette” from a Ketchikan artist.
“It’s a dress that’s made of a blue tarp along with fishing line and fishing netting and buoys and a fish,” Stout said.
The elaborate costume made from recycled materials will get its turn on the catwalk during the wearable art show Friday evening.
And let’s not forget the food. Fair Director Edwards said interest from vendors has increased, so there will be about 20 booths this year.
That’s good news for The Lack Family Band. They say they keep coming back to Haines because of the people. But the food might have something to do with it too.
“The Chilkat Bakery, they have buttermilk doughnuts, and they are bomb. Like, they are so good,” said Deborah Lack.
“Sarah J’s is gonna be there, I’m gonna get all her bagels,” Chloe Lack chimed in.
The fair starts Thursday and continues through Sunday afternoon. More information about tickets and the schedule is at seakfair.org.
Joe Yuhas and brothers Steve and Larry Banwart were stranded in Petersburg after the Columbia ferry broke down on Wednesday. (Photo by Abbey Collins/KFSK)
Nearly 200 passengers were stranded in Petersburg this week after a mechanical issue on one of Southeast Alaska’s main ferries caused it to stall there Wednesday morning. KFSK’s Abbey Collins met a few of those passengers before they left town late Thursday night.
Larry Banwart and his brother Steve were living the dream – riding their motorcycles up the Alcan from Phoenix.
“I had a three-week vacation, my brother came down to meet me,” says Banwart. “And we decided we were going to ride our bikes to Alaska.”
“It’s our bucket list,” says Steve Banwart.
They reached Alaska and boarded the Columbia ferry to head back down to Bellingham, Washington. That’s when they hit a snag.
“I called my boss this morning and told him I’m going to be a few days back to work,” says Banwart.
That’s because they were stuck in Petersburg after the ferry broke down Wednesday morning. Banwart says passengers have been told the best case scenario gets them to Bellingham, Washington Saturday evening.
“Best Case. Worst case we have no idea,” says Banwart. “Live here.”
Alaska Marine Highway System spokesman Jeremy Woodrow says a mechanical issue with the ship’s starboard engine required the ferry to remain moored. That issue has since been resolved and the boat sailed to Ketchikan late Thursday night. It’s expected to depart for Bellingham about 48 hours behind schedule.
The Columbia is one of Alaska’s main ferries, running routes between Skagway and Bellingham. It will now be running on a revised schedule through the end of the month. The ferry will then be dry docked in Ketchikan for a few days while an oil leak is repaired. It’s expected to be back up and running on August 3.
While waiting in Petersburg, passengers were provided free meals. As far as sleeping goes, Woodrow says people are given staterooms if they are available. But some, like the Banwart brothers, slept in tents – others wherever they could find a spot.
Steve Banwart says he doesn’t mind the camping or the delay.
“I don’t have a job so I have nowhere to go. Doesn’t matter to me if we get stuck here for another week,” says Banwart.
Joe Yuhas, a motorcyclist from Minnesota, says he’s not too concerned about getting home later than expected, but he did have to cancel all of his reservations for his road trip back.
“So based on whenever we land I’ll reschedule everything to get home,” says Yuhas. “All my hotels have been cancelled. I’m freewheeling it all the way home from here.”
There were a few alternatives for people – other ferries and some flights. But for those headed to Bellingham, the Columbia is only ferry option.
Yuhas and the Banwarts have their motorcycles on the ship, so they stayed on board until the engine started running.
Three cruise ships dock in downtown Juneau at the height of the tourist season on July 14. (Photo by Ed Schoenfeld/CoastAlaska News)
Alaska’s cruise industry is on track to hit the magic million-passenger mark this year.
Industry leader John Binkley said that many passengers are projected to sail to the 49th state by the end of the season. That will be the first time in half-a-dozen years.
Binkley, president of Cruise Lines International Association Alaska, said the number is about 2 percent higher than last year.
“Worldwide, it’s about a 8 percent annual growth. … So we see a smaller percentage, but we’re kind of moving along with the trend in the industry,” he said.
The Celebrity Millennium and a smaller cruise ship doubled Unalaska’s population for a day when about 3,800 people disembarked from the vessels. (Photo by John Ryan/KUCB)
The trade group said Alaska-bound ships used to carry about 8 percent of the worldwide cruise market. That’s almost double the current amount.
Binkley said global competition is the reason for the change.
He said the fastest-growing market is in Asia, which is attracting new customers, especially from China. He said that could help Alaska in the long run.
“Once that capacity and that growth is seen in Asia, then the hope is that in later years it will be a source for cruise passengers coming to Alaska. So, initially competition. Later, a market that will increase more dramatically visitors to Alaska,” he said.
He said anecdotal evidence and market research show many new customers in the Asian market also want to cruise to Alaska.
Other factors could affect the state’s cruise industry in the coming years. One is an improved marine link.
“With the Panama Canal expanding in size, larger vessels can now move from the Atlantic, for example the Caribbean trade in the wintertime, through the Panama Canal into the Pacific and up to Alaska for the summer trade,” he said.
Binkley said overseas terrorism is another factor. He said that could make more Americans want to travel closer to home.
Cruise ships and passengers at Skagway’s railroad dock on May 23, 2016. (Photo by Emily Files/KHNS)
Skagway officials have decided it’s time to get outside help in setting a course for the town’s port.
The borough assembly last week voted to put out a request for proposals for a port consultant. The assembly will also meet behind closed doors this week to discuss strategies regarding White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, which currently controls much of the waterfront.
As Assembly member Spencer Morgan put it, the borough’s progress towards renovating its port has been “stagnant.” He said the stalemate threatens Skagway’s place in the cruise ship tourism market.
“I mean we have to evolve, or we will be left behind.”
Since a public vote last fall shot down a lease extension between the municipality and White Pass, officials have had many discussions about what to do next, with minimal results.“Having somebody from the outside that has no skin in the game whatsoever, no history, and that can just come in and look at it with a new set of eyes, I think would be a welcome approach,” said Tim Bourcy, chair of the port commission. The commission recommended hiring a port consultant.
Since the lease was rejected by voters 10 months ago, crucial goals like cleaning up contamination in the port and building a floating dock to accommodate larger cruise ships have stalled.
The consultant would work with port stakeholders to draw up recommendations for achieving the short-term and long-term goals of the Port of Skagway.
But Assemblywoman Angela Grieser asked why the borough would hire a consultant now, when they still haven’t worked out a solution with White Pass.
“I think we need to spend our energy on re-engaging with White Pass and getting this solved, not finding a planner and spending money on speculative stuff that nobody knows,” she said.
“We need to do it all together,” replied Assemblyman Tim Cochran. “We need to be hooking up with White Pass, we need to talk to AIDEA, we need to have a bunch of irons in the fire.”
The assembly will continue with another iron in the fire Wednesday. They will meet in executive session to talk with borough attorney Bob Blasco about potential strategies related to White Pass.
In the meantime, the borough will solicit port consultant contracts. The assembly approved that decision 5-1, with Grieser opposed.
Port development wasn’t the only major project on Thursday’s agenda. The assembly also talked about the $1.5 million water well and tank projects on the horizon. Manager Scott Hahn asked for direction about how pay off the low-interest loans that will fund the project. Hahn said, current water rates are not going to cut it. Relying on user fees to make payments would mean a 20 percent rate increase. But, there’s an alternative: cruise ship head tax money.
“For a town of 1,000 people, we have everything we need for 1,000 people and keeping them going, but when the cruise ships show up, the tank drops to below 40 percent,” Hahn said. “I mean, it gets really dangerously low.”
He said using cruise passenger funds may be a viable route, since the demand for the new water infrastructure comes completely from the ships. The assembly voted 5-1 to use passenger taxes to pay for the project. Steve Burnham Jr. was opposed.
Finally, the assembly considered a proposed senior center and housing facility. The project is estimated to cost about $6 million. The assembly gave the go-ahead for the Skagway Development Corporation to apply for grants that would partially fund the facility. But the assembly decided to hold off on soliciting engineering offers.
“I’m a little hesitant to go forward with any engineering on it until we have a really good idea of how we’re going to pay for this,” said Morgan.
The matter of how to fund the senior center will go to the finance committee.
The Bahamas has issued an advisory for its citizens traveling to the United States. Leonora Giovanazzi/Flickr
The Bahamas is advising its young male citizens traveling to the U.S. to “exercise extreme caution” in their interactions with police, following two recent high-profile police shootings of black men.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration has taken note of the recent tensions in some American cities over shootings of young black males by police officers,” the statement reads. “We wish to advise all Bahamians traveling to the US but especially to the affected cities to exercise appropriate caution generally.”
Two Middle Eastern countries also warned their citizens about avoiding protests. The island nation of Bahrain urged citizens to “be cautious of protests or crowded areas occurring around the U.S.” in a tweet from its embassy.
Please be cautious of protests or crowded areas occurring around the US. Emergencies call the embassy at 202.342.1111 ext9 or 202.297.0537
The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates asked citizens to “please stay away from any ongoing or planned demonstrations and protests in cities around the United States.” It encouraged citizens to “avoid crowded places when possible,” and “exercise particular caution during large festivals or events.”
This comes after five police officers were killed in an attack on a protest in Dallas Thursday night. Protesters have rallied in cities around the country since the shooting deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling.
Of course, the U.S. routinely issues travel alerts and warnings for countries facing unrest and violence. You can find a full list from the State Department here. Since the beginning of this month, the U.S. has issued warnings for Bangladesh, Venezuela, Iraq and Mali.
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.
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