Air Force One landed in Kotzebue just before 5 p.m.
President Obama is now the first sitting president to visit the U.S. Arctic. The President’s schedule is tight, the White House agenda notes he will speak at the Kotzebue high school around 6 pm and then tour the Shore Avenue project that has protected the westward shoreline from storm erosion. It isn’t clear how much or if he’ll have time to speak with local people. He’s scheduled to fly out between 8 and 9 pm.
KNOM’s Matthew Smith has been reporting from Kotzebue for the last few days. I spoke to him earlier this afternoon and asked him about the atmosphere in the community
Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.
