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. 

The City of Seward is now advertising for a new finance director only weeks after Lakewood, Ohio’s Jennifer Pae assumed the role in March. Pae, who has been working remotely from Ohio since her March orientation visit, will continue to fulfill her duties as finance director remotely until Ma…

On March 29, 1989, Prince William Sound became the site of the most environmentally damaging oil spill in world history when the Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef, spilling 10.8 million gallons of crude oil into Alaskan waters over the following several days. Over 30 years since the disaster, t…

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game (F&G) says to “Clean Up Your Act Now” to prevent bear issues this summer and ramp up your bear etiquette. As the snow melts bears are starting to stir and Alaskans need to clean up food around the home that attract bears.

On Saturday, April 24, the Mermaid Grotto Café and Boutique played host to the 2021 Seward Chamber Community Awards, presented by the Seward Chamber of Commerce. This year the Chamber awarded four awards to local individuals and organizations in recognition of their various contributions to …

On Saturday, April 10 the Seward Volunteer Fire Department recognized those firefighters who provided outstanding service to the Seward area during the 2020 calendar year. Among the awards bestowed this year was a Alaska State Firefighter of the Year award, personally presented by Alaska Sta…

Last week firefighters responded to a blaze in the Eadsville area of the Bear Creek fire service area. Bear Creek firefighters were joined by Lowell Point and Seward fire departments as well as the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SVAC) in response to a 1:51 p.m. call regarding a structure …

On April 15, the Seward Department of Motor Vehicles office temporarily ceased operation due to the departure of all city employees trained in DMV procedures. Not officially part of the Alaska DMV, the City of Seward is contracted by the state to address the needs of its citizens, and the lo…

The name Michael Moriarty has been synonymous with excellence in dentistry in Seward for thirty years. Practicing here since April of 1991, this month Dr. Moriarty begins his fourth decade of service to the people of Seward and to their smiles. As long as he has been a mainstay of the commun…

On April 10, at the finals of the TYR Pro Swim Series in Mission Viejo, California, Seward swimming sensation Lydia Jacoby attained a new personal best time in the 100-meter breaststroke at 1:06.38, placing her second behind Olympic gold medalist and current world record holder Lilly King. J…

Earlier this month the Seward City Council unanimously approved the sale of 3.31 acres of land on the Ft. Raymond property to the Chugachmiut Tribal consortium for the construction of a new medical center. After hearing a 10-minute presentation by Chugachmiut’s Kelley Baker, the project rece…

Providence Seward Medical Center (PSMC) recently completed installation of a new imaging suite, completely replacing the aging radiology equipment in use at the facility since 2003. In addition to state-of-the-art low-dose replacements for the medical center’s X-ray machines and CT scanners,…

Concerned spectators gathered along Waterfront Park on Sunday to witness a barge that was listing as it floated into Resurrection Bay under supplemental tug support. The stern port quarter of the 300' x 100' SeaTac Atlas appeared to be dipping into the water as the barge was escorted over th…

Public Safety Report

A resolution will come before the Seward City Council tonight to approve the sale of land on the City’s Ft. Raymond property to Chugachmiut, the Tribal consortium which serves the seven Native communities in the state’s Chugach region. If sold, the 3.31-acre parcel of land would become the s…

Public Works crews are continuing efforts Friday afternoon to clear three avalanche sites along Lowell Point Road. High winds are forcing a continual snow surge from Bear Mountain onto each site along the road, which now requires ongoing attention to remain open to traffic.

The Seward Chamber of Commerce has reported that its Shop Seward CARES Act fund program proved a tremendous success for area businesses and nonprofits. Over 200 households participated in the program, each spending over $200 on participating businesses, which granted them another $100 in vou…

Seward is now less than two months from welcoming its next city manager. At a special meeting of the City Council last Thursday, the Council voted unanimously to approve the terms of hire for Janette Bower, set to assume her new post on May 24. Currently serving as the city administrator for…

The Solarize the Kenai campaign has secured a vendor to provide solarization services to the Kenai Peninsula at discounted group rates. Anchorage-based Renewable Energy Systems (RES) has been selected to provide the 82 potential customers who signed up in Seward and Moose Pass with solar pow…

Rodger May and wife Lisa May, owner of Peter Pan Seafood Co., LLC have donated a Douglas R4D-8Z (Super DC-3) aircraft to support Alaska’s nonprofit VIPER Transitions’ veteran programs.

Seward has once again played host to another successful Alaska Tsunami Ocean Sciences Bowl. Conducted virtually this year, the annual quiz bowl-style marine science academic competition pits teams of students against one another from high schools across Alaska. From Friday through Sunday, ei…

On Thursday Seward will move one step closer to hiring Janette Bower as its next city manager.  At noon on Thursday, April 1 the City Council will hold a special meeting to approve the terms of Bower’s hire. Council Members Sue McClure, John Osenga, and Ristine Casagranda formed the team neg…

Of the 40,000 or so active-duty members of the U.S. Coast Guard, some people just stand out.

Providence Health & Services Alaska’s Region Executive Council and Providence Seward Medical & Care Center’s Health Advisory Council (HAC) has awarded $200,000 in grants to six local organizations that provide support the health and wellness of the Seward community. 

Public Safety Report

The Good Friday earthquake of March 27, 1964, is a milestone in Alaskan history. The 4 minute, 32 second 9.2 megathrust devastated communities within the perimeter of a 600-mile fault line and remains the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded. The damage done to Seward, not just by t…

On Monday the City Council decided unanimously to offer the position of city manager to Janette Bower. The decision came after Bower’s March 17 visit to Seward during which the Council conducted a follow-up interview and introduced her at a public meet-and-greet event. Bower, a native of Min…

Seward ball fields and their corresponding pavilions may now be rented for free by nonprofit organizations. On Monday the City Council approved a resolution opening ball field rental to all nonprofits. The Council approved the resolution unanimously after Acting City Manager Norm Regis, who …

Representatives from the U.S. Navy appeared before City Council on Monday to present their plans for Northern Edge, a military program of joint training exercises occurring biennially since 1975. From May 3-14 the armed forces will conduct predominantly air-focused exercises over large porti…

The Alaska Railroad (ARRC) has revised its summer schedule to include daily service to Seward. ARRC revealed the new schedule in a March 11 press release, with daily round-trip service between Anchorage and Seward operating from May 29 - Sep. 6. As in previous years, the Coastal Classic trai…

A new metal sharps bin is now available at Providence Seward Medical & Care Center (PSMCC), where local residents can safely dispose of their used sharps and needles and hormone therapy, Epi-pens, and glass medication vials. 

A local insurance agency has been honored with an annual regional award. Anchorage-based Umialik Insurance Company (UIC) has named Seward Insurance Agency one of its Circle of Excellence Agencies for 2021. Seward Insurance was awarded UIC’s Alaska Region Personal Lines Agency of the Year in …

Public Safety Report

On March 4, the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) announced the upcoming Rocky Coast Discovery Pool, a 1,100-gallon exhibit comprising six touch pools and three small feature tanks, to open this spring. In development since 2017, the new pool exhibit will feature a modern interactive design inspi…

On Monday the Seward Community Library Association (SCLA) completed the month-long first phase of its newspaper archival project, cataloging hardcopies of various papers from throughout the city’s history, from 1904 to the 2010 demise of the Seward Phoenix Log. The project not only promises …

On Monday the City of Seward reported the communities’ first new positive coronavirus test in a month performed by a local provider. Previously Seward’s most recent case was recorded on Feb. 15, with no further positives arising from local testing facilities until Monday. The new case comes …

Seward native has mushed his way to a fifth victory in the 2021 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, matching the current record for most wins. On Monday at 5:08 a.m., Dallas Seavey crossed the Deshka Landing finish line seven days, 14 hours, 8 minutes and 57 seconds after setting out and over thre…

On Dec. 11, 2020, the shiny, silver research vessel Nanuq departed Seward carrying a small group of faculty and staff from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

On Wednesday the City will host a public meet-and-greet for city manager candidate finalist Janette Bower at the newly-constructed Gateway Hotel. Bower currently serves as city administrator for Wadena, Minnesota, but has previously held the city clerk position in two Alaskan cities, Bethel …

Governor Mike Dunleavy has reappointed Seward’s Andy Mezirow to a third term on the North Pacific Fisheries Advisory Council (NPFAC). The NPFAC is one of eight federal Councils created in 1976 to manage federal fisheries, from which $2.6 billion in fish are harvested every year. Though his r…

A new community initiative focused on providing affordable childcare has come to Seward. Happy Youth Programs and Educational Resources (HYPER) is a volunteer organization “committed to provide resources to caregivers, educators, and organizations that are dedicated to providing care, educat…

Seward now has a permanent finance director for the first time since April of 2020. As of last Thursday, Lakewood, Ohio’s Jennifer Pae has stepped into the position, which had been temporarily filled by Deputy Finance Director Sam Hickock for the past year. Pae obtained a Master’s in Public …

Public Safety Report

On Tuesday Governor Mike Dunleavy opened coronavirus vaccinations to anyone over the age of 16 currently living or working in Alaska. Though 16 and 17-year-olds are technically eligible, Seward Community Health Center (SCHC) currently only offers vaccines approved for ages 18 and up.

The Seward Senior Center, Qutekcak Native Tribe and He Will Provide Food Bank have partnered with the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program. The Farmers to Families Food Box program is part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which was developed in response to the COVID-19…

Last Monday Seward drew one step closer to becoming the home port for a new US Coast Guard Fast-Response Cutter (FRC). During its regular meeting on Feb. 22, the City Council voted to terminate the lease of a property currently occupied by Polar Equipment Inc. in order to redivide the proper…

Public Safety Report

A new initiative is in development which aims to teach survival and safety skills to children throughout the Kenai Peninsula area. Alaska Dreamcatchers was initially founded by Jami Fenn to provide her own children an outlet for meeting friends while learning new skills. When Alaska Dreamcat…

The City of Seward is soliciting bids for a three-tier forensic accounting audit of all utility customer bills for November and December of 2018 and February and March of 2019 through a request for proposals (RFP). Council members Ristine Casagranda and Liz DeMoss have championed the need fo…

The initial phases of renovations to the northeast launch ramp of the Seward Boat Harbor are underway. Harbormaster Norm Regis reported that the project has progressed roughly 35 percent into the engineering and design phase, which is being funded entirely by the Alaska Department of Fish &a…