Olivia Ebertz
News ReporterOlivia is a News Reporter for KYUK. Before coming to Bethel, she worked in film in New York City. Her documentary films have screened at festivals worldwide. In 2020 she was an artist-in-residence in Petrozavodsk, Russia. She speaks English, Norwegian, Italian, Spanish, and Russian with decreasing fluency in that order.
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Chum and Chinook counts continue to trend downwards overall. Some fishermen hope that reds will take the place of chums on the river. -
The council also introduced a ballot proposition measure and a budget amendment.
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The openers are June 29 to June 30, and July 3 to July 4. Residents must keep their set nets near the riverbanks where Chinook and chum are less likely to swim.
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The ballot proposition will decide whether the City of Bethel has the authority to issue mask mandates. A budget amendment could reallocate over $50,000 to the fire department.
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A federal court ruled that the State of Alaska cannot issue gillnet openers for all Alaskans in the federal areas of the Kuskokwim River, at least for now. A local Tribal group requested the order favoring federal management following disagreements between state and federal managers.
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An air quality specialist sent one device to St. Mary’s while smoke from the East Fork Fire was threatening their community. It’s the first one in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
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The Pilot Station sonar has counted 843 summer chum salmon as of June 21, which ADF&G says is below the median of 1,737 fish. And on the Kuskokwim, ADF&G says that this year’s chum run is tracking nearly identically to last year’s record lows.
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People are flying home despite a smoke advisory and fires still burning close to their villages.
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“It's a risk to try to go back because the winds can change, but we really miss home,” St. Mary's resident Maureen Andrews said.
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St. Mary’s village officials who stayed in their village during a massive tundra fire are working tirelessly to keep their community safe. Meet St. Mary’s School District Superintendent Dee Dee Ivanoff.
