Week of February 12, 2026
Week of February 12, 2026
Young growth Sitka spruce from Mitkof Island, milled at Alaska Timber and Truss and shipped via the Alaska Marine Highway, now forms the timber-frame structure of an outdoor learning shelter at Pacific High School in Sitka. The impressive posts and beams of the pavilion showcase what Southeast Alaska's 50 to 60-year-old second-growth trees can produce. The structure will serve as an outdoor classroom for the alternative high school's garden-based education program. Andrew Thoms, executive...
American Cruise Line's long-discussed cruise ship dock project in Petersburg took another step forward last week when the borough assembly approved the first reading of an ordinance rezoning a 22,500-square-foot parcel at the end of Dock Street to accommodate ACL's proposed facility. The ordinance, which must pass two additional readings before final adoption, changes the parcel from un-zoned to Industrial with Marine Industrial Overlay. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended the...
After their acclaimed but ominous rendition of "Dracula" last fall, Petersburg High School's drama program is ready to brighten up the vibe with a Victorian-era romantic farce, "The Matchmaker," opening Feb. 19 at Wright Auditorium. The Thornton Wilder comedy - best known as the basis for the Broadway musical "Hello Dolly" - features a large ensemble cast navigating love, loss and the search for joy in 1880s New York. Director Elsa Wintersteen said she deliberately chose the play to give...
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Art teacher Ashley Lohr leans in for a moment of instruction during last week's enamel earing art workshop she led in the Helmi Jensen Community Room at Petersburg Public Library. 19 participants learned from Lohr the art of blending colors and melting glass as she shared insights into her distinctive style of enamel earing creation. Heather Conn melts colorful powdered glass onto her soon-to-be earrings using a handheld butane torch provided by...
Roughly a year ago, Petersburg senior Gabriele Whitacre began her powerlifting journey in Anchorage, where she set the USA Powerlifting State record at 165 pounds for bench in the age 16-17 group. About a year later, Whitacre continues to break records and ascend to new heights this past weekend at the USA Powerlifting State Championship, in Anchorage. With her trainer Chris Peterson, Whitacre has been on the grind since June with an emphasis on benching and back strength. "Squat, bench and...
Four Mitkof Middle School wrestlers will be representing Petersburg at the Tanana Invitational for its 50th anniversary. The kids representing will be Thomas Slaven, Freya Fenner, Ethan Edward and Declan Olsen. Slaven went 2-0 in the 161 weight bracket this past weekend. "[I] worked my breakdowns [and] got my points circling," Slaven said regarding what the catalyst was of his two wins. Slaven finished top first in his weight bracket, something he always expects of himself. "My own rule is, if...
The Alaska Marine Highway System has never fully paid its own way with ticket revenues; it’s always needed state money to cover the gap between what it costs to operate the fleet and what it can collect from travelers. It’s just like asphalt and concrete highways, which need funding in the state budget to cover expenses. The dilemma is that the gap between ferry system revenues and expenses has widened over the years as service has been cut back — fewer tickets sold for fewer sailings means less revenue. The other dilemma is political....
Peter Schultz was born in Lübeck, Germany, on March 22, 1939, the youngest child of Willi and Else Schultz. His oldest brother Jürgen is still living. His brother Klaus, sisters Erika and Almi, and his parents have died. His father was a master blacksmith on a big farm, maintaining the farm machinery and shoeing the huge Hanover work horses. Peter's boyhood was an apprenticeship in smithing and farm work. He learned mechanical skills and how to fix almost anything – skills he used all his... Full story
LeeRoy "Lee" Newton lived a life marked by resilience, work and a connection to the natural world. Born on June 17, 1938, at home near Bend, Oregon, Lee was the fifth of Barney Derice and Dovie Bell (Summers) Newton's nine children. Lee's youth was defined by the rugged landscapes of Deschutes County, Oregon. His passion for the outdoors remained strong despite the enduring effects of battling polio when he was nine. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and a natural operator of heavy machinery...
Samuella Mae Grimmesey was born to Walter and Gladys Grimmesey on August 25, 1931, in Oakland, California. Growing up, her sister Patty would play the piano and Sammy would sing. She had a beautiful voice and was encouraged by her teachers to keep singing. After graduating high school she attended college until she married and started her family in Southern California. After a brief move to West Texas, she moved back to California until the mid-1960s when she settled in the Pacific Northwest....
February 4 – An officer conducted extra patrols. Suspicious activity was reported. A protective order was served. Suspicious behavior was reported on S 2nd St. February 5 – An officer responded to a parking complaint on Charles W St. February 6 – An officer assisted a citizen who felt threatened by a neighbor on S Nordic Dr. A false fire alarm was reported. A welfare check was conducted in South Harbor. February 7 – Suspicious activity was reported on Mitkof Highway. An officer assisted Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with an assault...
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