Seward Public Radio

Seward Public Radio Public Media for Seward, Moose Pass and the Eastern Kenai Peninsula Kenai Mountains Public Media, Inc.

d/b/a Seward Public Radio
11447 Seward Highway
Seward, AK 99664

91.7, KIBH-FM, Seward
VHF 7, K07PG-D, Seward
UHF 17, K17IX-D, Bear Creek
106.1 Seward
97.1 Crown Point
96.1 Moose Pass
99.9 Hope

Officers, Board of Directors
-Jeff Wolf, President, Compliance officer
-Wolf Kurtz, Vice President
-Sara Dietrich, Secretary
-Elizabeth Dunn, Treasurer
-William Lapinskas
-Sean Ulman
-George O'Dell
-Dolly

Wiles
-Melissa

State of Alaska Entity #10021787
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cbp/Main/Search/Entities

Suspect search, Herman Leirer closed at gateAfter a medium speed chase in a stolen Subaru like vehicle, the search is on...
06/01/2026

Suspect search, Herman Leirer closed at gate

After a medium speed chase in a stolen Subaru like vehicle, the search is on for a suspect beyond the park gate on Herman Leirer Road.

According to sources, the pursuit took place from at least Cooper Landing to the Exit Glacier area.

The road into the park is closed until further notice as the Alaska State Troopers are asking the public to avoid the neighborhood.

AST and other law enforcement officers are currently searching for the vehicle theft suspect who fled on foot.

Along with the ground search, there's two bears in the air, all canvassing for a man described as 6-foot-tall with red hair, a red beard, and a black jacket.

If you see anyone matching this description, do not approach them. Call the Alaska State Troopers immediately at (907) 262-4453.

05/29/2026

Alaska Moves To End Use Of Psychiatric Hospitals As Foster Care Placements

A bill designed to prevent Alaska foster children from being housed in psychiatric hospitals when they do not require psychiatric care is headed to Governor Mike Dunleavy after winning unanimous approval in the Legislature.

The measure would require a court hearing within seven days when a child in state custody is placed in a psychiatric facility, significantly shortening the current timeline of up to 30 days.

It would also guarantee legal representation for affected youth and create a new licensing system for specialized treatment foster homes.

Supporters say the legislation addresses a longstanding problem in Alaska's foster care system.

Advocates and former foster youth testified that psychiatric hospitals have sometimes been used as temporary placements when foster homes are unavailable, even when children do not meet the criteria for psychiatric hospitalization.

Supporters of the bill say children should be placed in the least restrictive setting appropriate for their needs and that judges should review placements quickly to ensure their necessity.

Representative Andrew Gray of Anchorage, who sponsored the legislation, called unnecessary psychiatric placements a violation of children's rights and noted the facilities can cost the state more than one thousand dollars per night.

The legislation also aims to expand alternatives by creating treatment foster homes for youth with complex behavioral and emotional needs.

The bill now awaits action by Governor Dunleavy.

Seward Public Radio | Juneau | Dorene Lorenz.

05/26/2026

A beautiful Memorial Day morning

Under blue skies, Seward's American Legion Post 5 conducted the annual Memorial Day service on Monday morning at the American Legion Cemetery.

05/26/2026

A beautiful Memorial Day morning

Under blue skies, Seward's American Legion Post 5 conducted the annual Memorial Day service on Monday morning at the American Legion Cemetery.

Hwy closed at mile 80. Expect delays. 1545: Girdwood responding to MVA M80 please avoid this area. Highway closed. Traff...
05/26/2026

Hwy closed at mile 80. Expect delays. 1545: Girdwood responding to MVA M80 please avoid this area. Highway closed. Traffic being rerouted slowly thru Portage Train station parking lot. Medic 9, Engine 9 covering Girdwood. Whittier Police, USFS LEO on location. APD enroute.

Correction/Clarificiation:On May 20, 2026, a post on this page was made announcing upcoming meetings. It contained these...
05/25/2026

Correction/Clarificiation:

On May 20, 2026, a post on this page was made announcing upcoming meetings. It contained these two sentences:

"On May 27, the Bear Creek Community Association will host its first community meeting at the Rae Building in downtown Seward. A major topic will be an initiative to defund the Bear Creek Fire Service Area."

This ended up being read by some as describing the promotion of defunding the Bear Creek Fire Service Area by the Association/Council.

Grammatically, the sentences are separate and don’t force the Council to be the proponent.

Which describes how it was read here as part of a brief announcement of known facts.

However the impact on "the streets" was more about implicature or suggestion than grammatical error. Which, pragmatically, is the nature of social media.

The goal here is maximum clarity at which we failed in the name of brevity.

We regret not writing that announcement with all of this in mind and will strive to our utmost not to implicate convenors of public meetings in the positions of known participants.

We are sorry for any distress this failure to interdict discourse-level inference may have inflicted on the innocent.

Bear Creek Community Council first member meeting WednesdayThe first member meeting of the newly formed Bear Creek Commu...
05/25/2026

Bear Creek Community Council first member meeting Wednesday

The first member meeting of the newly formed Bear Creek Community Council will take place in downtown Seward at the Rae Building this Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

This meeting is open to the public but participation in official council business will be restricted to voting members and there will be an ID check and sign in.

Voting members are those registered with the State of Alaska to vote in the Bear Creek Census Designated Place (CDP), the borders of which are determined by the Federal Government.

The council is a non-governmental entity and, according to State of Alaska records, has yet to incorporate legally.

The elected governing body operates under bylaws adopted at the previous meeting at which the first elections took place.

As noted on the attached flyer, the only highlighted topic of discussion is the Bear Creek mill rate, although discussions and comments on other topics will apparently be accommodated.

For properties in Bear Creek the only tax authority is the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the total property tax rate is 9.40 mills for tax year 2025 (FY2026).

Breakdown

General fund: 3.85 mills (reduced from 4.30 in the prior year)
Bear Creek Fire Service Area: 3.25 mills
Seward-Bear Creek Flood Service Area: 1.00 mills
Road Service Area: 1.30 mills

Total: 9.40 mills

A mill rate of 9.40 means $940 in annual property tax on a $100,000 assessed value (before any exemptions or credits).

Actual taxes depend on your property's assessed value and applicable exemptions (e.g., residential, senior, disability, or veteran).

A prefatory town hall conducted by the KPB Mayor's office at the Bear Creek Volunteer Fire Department on May 21 can be viewed at our YouTube channel:

youtube.com/watch?v=tUsT3n0MI7o

Bear Creek Town HallTo be livestreamed and recorded on our YouTube channel:Today, May 21, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.At the Bear C...
05/21/2026

Bear Creek Town Hall

To be livestreamed and recorded on our YouTube channel:



Today, May 21, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

At the Bear Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

Address

11447 Seward Highway
Seward, AK
99664

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 4pm
Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+19072243997

Website

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