Jennifer Gibbins

More than 100 commercial fishing vessels turned out Friday to raise awareness and speak out against the U.S. Navy's upcoming training exercises in the Gulf of Alaska. Vessels paraded from Cordova's harbor to the local fuel dock, where they tied up in a protest against the Navy's "war games."

In the Cordova area, the USFS maintains 15 hiking trails covering 35 miles and 15 recreation cabins from the tip of Montague Island to the eastern Copper River Delta. The Cordova Ranger District is also an active participant in international migratory bird conservation programs.

James Woods has been described as one of the sport's most stylish skiers, but his first time heli-skiing the "big arena" of the Chugach Range made him quake in his boots.

Millions of television viewers across the country heard the pitch for Alaska Glacial Mud Co. and temporarily crashed the company's servers while Alaska entrepreneur Laurie Padawer's social media audience tripled. Online retailers saw a dramatic spike in orders for Cordova mud.

Cordova's Lauren Padawer doesn't own a TV nor watch one. Still, she'll be making a pitch on TV this week to self-made tycoons, seeking help in building her Alaska Glacial Mud Co. into a more-successful Alaska business.

Cordova's Volunteer Fire Department is no ragtag group of amateurs -- rather, they're a well-oiled machine constantly looking at ways to bolster their emergency response numbers and improve their training.

Commercial fishermen working Alaska's Copper River area are told that potential market threats, in the form of resurgent and re-branded farmed fish, won't matter if they continue to deliver high-quality salmon.

Last year, the U.S. Forest Service determined that there was enough interest in commercial heli-skiing in the pristine Chugach Mountains to expand the area permitted.

Wildlife biologist Charlotte Westing, a former commerical fisheries biologist in Dillingham, is taking over in Cordova and blending into the community. The fact that she's an avid duck hunter doesn't hurt.

Alaska's Childs Glacier and the famous Million Dollar Bridge are not accessible by car this summer, but thanks to two local guide services, a day at the glacier is still possible.

Many Cordova residents said the popular Alaska bridge wasn't being replaced fast enough. Tourism, subsistence, research stations and other related local businesses are all feeling the impact.

Fast-moving Copper River currents, a depth of up to 70 feet and access challenges leave Alaska engineers searching for a way to construct a replacement for bridge #339.

Alaska Student Activities Association creates seasons, sponsors state competitions, and sets student eligibility criteria for 33 extra-curricular activities ranging from sports, to music, art, drama, debate, language and student government.

Thane Thomas instilled Cordova students with a love of music and raised money himself to bolster his music program at the elementary school.

Residents of small Alaska towns like Cordova are bemoaning cutbacks at the U.S. Postal Service that have disrupted businesses.