Author: Angela Denning, CoastAlaska

“It’s just such a tight-knit community that you know, you always know somebody or somebody affected by whatever happened during a tragedy on an island like this,” said Mike Lewis who owns Tiny Taxi.

There have been helicopters and drones doing aerial surveys, looking for the three missing people. There are folks in the slide area working through the mud and downed trees, crews with chainsaws and search and rescue dogs on the ground, as well.

The new municipal code language would allow homeowners to establish separate living quarters near their homes. Proponents say the units could be used for rentals or family members.

“We’re currently harvesting moose in areas where they weren’t harvested just 10-15 years ago. For example, Kuiu Island 10-12 years ago, there was a nominal harvest if any harvest at all. Last year, nearly 30 bulls were harvested Kuiu, it made up 25% of the total harvest,” said Frank Robbins, area wildlife biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

“There has been a shift with some of these organizations with wanting to return items,” said Carter Price, who writes grants for the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska. “I think there’s a recognition that housing some of these items isn’t morally correct. So we’re seeing more work with the tribes and trying to get the artifacts back.”