A superior court judge has granted a conditional injunction against the City of Seward’s demolition efforts at the site of the historic Jesse Lee Home. Judge Lance Joanis ruled yesterday that the current restraining order against the city be replaced by a preliminary injunction if the non-pr…

A jumper on the Chugach Electric power line to Seward failed at around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning, causing power outages throughout the city. Crews were notified, and power was restored at around 5 a.m. via city generators. Senior Power Plant Operator Asa Turner maintained the generators until C…

In 1918, New York artist Rockwell Kent and his nine-year-old son embarked on an adventure to Fox Island that would provide the inspiration for much of Kent’s most celebrated work. An upcoming short film by Alaskan filmmaker Eric Downs and his team at Downstream Films seeks to depict Kent’s a…

The fate of the historic Jesse Lee Home remains uncertain after yesterday’s hearing on a proposed injunction against the City of Seward’s demolition efforts at the site. The non-profit Friends of Jesse Lee Home (FJLH) is seeking to convert the current restraining order to an injunction, allo…

The Seward Chamber of Commerce continues its ongoing $5 Subway gift card giveaway for U.S. Census participants at the Seward Community Library and Museum. To be eligible, participants may bring census confirmation numbers or printed confirmation pages to the library. Additionally, the librar…

On Tuesday Superior Court Judge Lance Joanis granted a hearing on the injunction sought by the Friends of Jesse Lee Home (FJLH) against the City of Seward. The order comes one week after the FJLH raised the $72,000 bond required to extend the restraining order preventing the city from taking…

City Council Seat Available for Appointment – Deadline Friday, Oct. 16, 5 p.m.

The City of Seward has taken delivery of 18 new dumpsters. The city council approved the acquisition on April 13 to replace the dumpsters previously rented from Alaska Waste. Harbormaster Norm Regis said the move away from rented dumpsters promises to save the city thousands over time. 

The Seward Community Library & Museum is excited to announce a new window display all about American artist and author Rockwell Kent’s book “Wilderness: A Journal of Quiet Adventure in Alaska.” Kent’s book celebrates 100 years since its original publication in 1920.

Public Safety Report

On Wednesday the Friends of Jesse Lee Home (FJLH) posted the $72,000 bond necessary to keep their restraining order against the city of Seward. The order prevents the city from taking further action to demolish the remaining structures on the site of the historic Jesse Lee Home, the birthpla…

On Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Lance Joanis gave the non-profit Friends of Jesse Lee Home (FJLH) 24 hours to post $72,000 in order to preserve a restraining order preventing demolition of the historic Jesse Lee Home site.

Those wishing to obtain new or temporary water, sewer, or electric service from the City of Seward must make requests for service connections no later than September 25, and must have paid all fees and be ready to receive service by October 16. Work orders and requests received after Septemb…

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved an agreement on Tuesday between the Bear Creek and Lowell Point Volunteer Fire Departments that could significantly reduce response times for firefighters providing aid to their neighboring jurisdiction. Under the terms of the automatic aid agree…

Public Safety Report

On July 7, Seward City Manager Scott Meszaros submitted a resume and letter of interest for the position of Matanuska-Susitna Borough Manager. The submission came 14 months after Meszaros first assumed his city manager post in Seward. 

After reaching its $2 million goal to avoid permanent closure, the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) continues fundraising efforts with the announcement of a new donation matching campaign and an upcoming charity event. 

For the first time in the history of the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), five seals have been released together. On Aug. 27, the center released five seals at Kenai North Beach. In additional to the five seals released on Thursday, a harbor seal pup was released near Juneau on Aug. 20.

Rockwell Kent, painter, printmaker, illustrator, writer, sailor, adventurer and voyager was honored at this year’s Founders’ Day celebration on Aug. 28 at the Branson Pavilion. Writer and historian Doug Capra presented information about Kent’s stay in Seward and on Fox Island on the 100th an…

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has adopted an emergency order limiting the waterfowl bag limit statewide to a daily bag limit of two birds with a maximum of six birds in possession. The department says the change is a result in changes to federal regulations and is expected to be mad…

The US Navy has awarded Seward Shipyard the repair contract for the Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug USNS Sioux (T-ATF-171). JAG Industrial and Marine Services won the bid at $4.2 million, with provisions for another $1.3 million inclusive of options. JAG Executive Vice President Tim Jagielski…

The Seward High School Pool will open for limited access by the public on September 1. The pool will be open for lap swim only and reservations are required. To register, call (907) 224-9050 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. An over the phone pre-health screening will take place when registering fo…

Last week the city council approved a contract to proceed with the demolition of the historic Jesse Lee Home on Swetmann Ave. The city awarded the bid to Coldfoot Environmental Services in the amount of $484,940 for “hazardous material removal, salvage of materials, and site demolition.” The…

Providence Health and Services Alaska and Providence Alaska Foundation are offering $200,000 in grants for community-based organizations in Seward that address the community health needs Providence identified in it’s 2018 Community Health Needs Assessment to help meet Providence’s value of, …

The Public Safety Report is compiled from numerous sources, both official and unofficial, including police, fire, and EMS dispatches, press releases, official reports, court documents, interviews, and other sources. 

On Aug. 17, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce appointed Richard Brackin as Chief of the Bear Creek Volunteer Fire Department. Brackin, a Montgomery, Ala. Native, assumes the role after serving as acting fire chief since outgoing chief Connie Bacon’s departure earlier this year on …

With the success of its recent fund-matching campaign, the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) has now raised the $2 million necessary to prevent its closure at the end of September. A dollar-for-dollar $100,000 donation was made through a partnership between Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Royal C…

As the midday harbor alarm signaled the close of the 65th annual Silver Salmon Derby on Sunday, Anchorage’s David Frenier took home the $10,000 grand prize for heaviest fish. The 13.61-pound silver, which Frenier caught off the southern coast of Montague Island, managed to hold on to the top…

Primary elections for state and federal offices will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Send us your best shot! Did you get any good pictures this year of fishing with your family or friends? If so, consider submitting a few shots to the 2021 Sport Fishing Regulations Summary book cover photo contest.

The Public Safety Report is compiled from numerous sources, both official and unofficial, including police, fire, and EMS dispatches, press releases, official reports, court documents, interviews, and other sources. 

Beginning Aug. 11 new requirements have been issued for travelers coming into Alaska except those traveling under a critical infrastructure plan that has been approved by the state.

According to a press release from the City of Seward, an employee at the OBI Seafoods plant in Seward sought medical attention at Providence Seward Medical Center recently and tested positive for coronavirus. The care at Providence was unrelated to the virus.

The tsunami warning issued for Seward has been cancelled.

If you are located in the Seward coastal area, move inland to higher ground. Tsunami warnings mean that a tsunami with significant inundation is possible or is already occurring. Tsunamis are a series of waves dangerous many hours after initial arrival time. The first wave may not be the largest.

At an emergency meeting last night, the Seward City Council passed an emergency ordinance requiring the use of facemasks within city limits when in buildings open to the public. The ordinance was passed in response to the recent increase in the number of positive test results for the coronav…

Conflicting numbers from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and the City of Seward both indicate an increase in the number of positive cases of coronavirus in Seward.

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced today the fourth positive case for coronavirus in Seward this. The numbers are through midnight last night and bring the total number of cases for Seward residents to eight.

Health officials have announced three new positive tests for the corona virus in Seward in the past two days. One new case was reported for Wednesday, and two for Thursday. These three cases bring the total number of cases associated with Seward residents to seven. Only the tree most recent …

Denali National Park and Preserve (Denali) is moving into the 2020 summer season and increasing the opening of park facilities while monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic, said park officials. This year, in addition to the normal services and road lottery, select days will be available to drive t…

Hertz of Seward stated in a press release on Monday they are operating normally despite the filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by Hertz Global Holdings, the owner of the Hertz brand.

The Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation, the Atwood Foundation, and Rasmuson Foundation have partnered to create the Alaska Arts and Culture Emergency Relief (ACERF) COVID-19 Grant Program.

The National Park Service reported on Friday that an aggressive moose charged a park visitor and was shot and wounded by the visitor on June 6. The incident took place on the Harding Icefield Trail above the second bridge and below Marmot Meadows. After the incident park officials closed the…

The US Forest Service has determined it will not be issuing any recreational event permits for the remainder of 2020, forcing the cancellation of the Lost Lake Run.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) reports fishing is good in First Lake which has been stocked with rainbow trout. ADF&G recommends the lake as a great location to take kids.

The Seward City Council authorized City Manager Scott Meszaros to proceed with applying for a grant from the State of Alaska to replace the G, K, and L floats. The City had a study completed to assess the condition of the floats, and following the recommendation of the Port and Commerce Advi…

After local residents voiced concerns of a sea otter in Resurrection Bay with a zip tie around his paw, the Alaska Sea Life Center (ASLC) was finally able to capture the animal on May 25. The animal has appropriately been named Zippy.

The Seward City Council has scheduled two special meetings to address the COVID-19 pandemic and to interview law firms to represent the City.

The Department of Corrections (DOC) reports that an inmate at Spring Creek Correctional Center died Saturday. According to information provided by the department, 41-year-old Christopher Rogers was found nonresponsive in his housing unit sometime Saturday afternoon.

According to WXII TV in Winston Salem N.C. Leroy O’Dell Boles of Seward has been accused of hitting a pedestrian with his car and then threatening the victim while armed with a gun at a protest Saturday in Elkin N.C.