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Disagreement over salmon virus in Canada

An independent British Columbia researcher is accusing the Canadian government of covering up years of positive tests for the potentially deadly Infectious Salmon Anemia virus.

“Fish disease has become a federal secret in Canada,” fish researcher Dr. Alexandra Morton said. “I believe it is because it is everywhere and no one wants to admit it.”

Canadian officials have refuted Morton’s claims.

In a letter to Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Keith Ashfield, Morton said the Canadian government’s lack of action has failed its constituency.

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Customers in the dark about late night GCI service shutdown

A capacity upgrade to GCI’s cable and internet left about half its Juneau customers without service Thursday, but if you were not awake for it, you may not have known.

Rolling outages affected customers in Lemon Creek, downtown Juneau and parts of Douglas from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m. Thursday morning. Individual customer outages lasted for about two hours each, GCI spokesman David Morris said.

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Norwegian Cruise Lines to schedule new sailing to Alaska

With a total of three ships scheduled to cruise Alaska’s waters in 2013, Norwegian Cruise Lines will offer its passengers expanded capacity, new lands packages and a stop in Hoonah.

The Norwegian Sun will sail seven-day itineraries between Vancouver, British Columbia and Whittier, beginning in May 2013. Sailing north through the Inside Passage, the 1,936-passenger ship will visit Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier and make stops in Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau.

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NOAA to boost recreational fishery through restoration

Southeast salmon may soon enjoy a surprise home makeover. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently announced it will begin evaluations to find Alaska salmon streams most in need of restoration.

The restoration project stems from the agency’s recently announced national plan to get recreational saltwater fishers engaged in improving stocks of some of nation’s most prized sport fish.

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Salmon virus allegations elicit B.C. ire

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently said that its continued testing of BC salmon has not turned up the deadly and highly-infectious Atlantic salmon virus.

“Based on the final results, there are no confirmed cases of the disease in wild or farmed salmon in BC,” according to the Agency. The Agency did not release the raw data from their tests.

Canadian researchers reported in October that they may have detected Infectious Salmon Anemia in wild sockeye salmon on the Pacific coast of British Columbia.

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From the ashes rise custom cabins at Icy Straits

When an explosion and fire destroyed vital equipment at Icy Straits Lumber & Milling last year, owners Wes and Sue Tyler decided to keep their mill alive. Since then, they’ve purchased new mill equipment, filled old orders and took on new projects and saved much-needed jobs in the Hoonah area.

However, though the smoke of the fire has cleared, the skies remain a little cloudy for the small, value-added lumber mill.

Fire, explosions didn't stop SE mill

However, though the smoke of the fire has cleared, the skies remain a little cloudy for the small, value-added lumber mill.

“Every day has been and continues to be completely full of various challenges,” Wes said.

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Bobcat of Juneau stretches out

Juneau’s only dealer and servicer of Bobcats is growing, with more space for its shop and showroom floor at a new location in Lemon Creek.

Bobcat of Juneau finalized the deal last month on a new 4,700-square-foot showroom and shop on nearly two acres near Lemon Creek. The brown and tan building is located at 5450 Glacier Highway across from Tyler Rental.

New OfficeMax designed to address Juneau's needs

With more room on the showroom floor for display and extra space in the back for stock, Juneau’s new OfficeMax aims to send customers home with the item they want and prevent the long wait times associated with shipping out of stock items to Alaska.

Office Max plans to open its new location in the Nugget Mall in mid-February, said Nicole Miller, manager of public relations for Office Max. The company is planning a store opening celebration “with details coming,” she said.

Miller said the office supply store does not have an entry directly into Nugget Mall.

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Eagles in blast zone of proposed Glacier Highway work

Construction on Glacier Highway near mile 30 could distress or damage seven or more eagle nests by fly rock from blasting.

“Potential impacts to bald eagles include loss of two year’s productivity for up to eleven breeding pairs,” according to an Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities permit for an eagle take, signed by Russell M. Oates, chief of the Division of Migratory Bird Management for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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