Week of June 4, 2026
Week of June 4, 2026
Retired fifth-grade teacher Dan Sullivan, a longtime Petersburg resident, has launched a campaign for one of Alaska's two U.S. Senate seats. Who is he trying to replace? Dan Sullivan. Dan S. Sullivan(R) has served two consecutive terms in the U.S. Senate and is running for reelection. The fall election is viewed nationally as an important race, as Democrats try to regain control of the Senate. Mary Peltola(D) is competing against Sullivan for the seat, as are 15 other candidates. "We need a...
Subscribers can use the link below to access this week's PDF Edition, or use the E-Editions button on the homepage for all of our current and archived PDFs. Click here to view this week's PDF. Thanks for... Full story
The proposed ordinance that would have established the Petersburg Borough's first regulatory framework for wireless communication facilities failed its second reading Monday on a 3-3 tie vote, leaving the borough with no formal controls over cell tower siting just as Tidal Network continues to pursue construction of new towers in the community. Ordinance 2026-12, which had passed its first reading unanimously at the May 18 assembly meeting, would have created new language in the Petersburg...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted 4-2 Monday to reject the sale of a small borough-owned parcel near the Haugen Drive fire hall to Tidal Network, the broadband arm of the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, in a vote that surprised some members and capped months of contentious negotiations over cell tower expansion in Petersburg. Assembly Members Bob Martin, Rob Schwartz, Jeff Meucci, and Scott Newman voted against the resolution that would have authorized the...
Petersburg's own Tracy Welch was appointed as the second commissioner of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC). Welch was approved by the Alaska State Legislature by unanimous consent on May 14. She was appointed to the position by Governor Mike Dunleavy, taking the second of two seats. After being appointed by the governor, Welch was approved by three confirmation hearings to be officially accepted for the position. Welch grew up in Petersburg and commercially fished for over thirty...
According to Alaska Airlines, their "Customer Service Legend Award" is "for those who always look up, push higher, put others first and have been doing so for more than a decade. They are the models of excellence and ones we can all aspire to be more like." 17 out of around 30,000 employees were chosen this year for the award. Lifelong Petersburg local Darcy Hedlund was one of the 17 granted the award. She was given the award after 39 years of legend-worthy customer service at Petersburg James...
Senator Lisa Murkowski came through Petersburg last week to see the Petersburg Medical Center's (PMC) new Wellness, Education and Resource Center (WERC). Murkowski had helped secure $8 million in federal funding for the project. "It was very successful on Friday," Petersburg Medical Center CEO Phil Hofstetter said about Murkowski's visit. "I think she was very well impressed," Mayor Bob Lynn said. The WERC building opened in August of 2025. It was noted for having the borough's first-ever MRI...
June 5, 1926 – Petersburg had its expressed wish fulfilled last Monday when Neil C. MacGregor was re-appointed U.S. Deputy Marshall for the district. The new U.S. Marshall of the First Division, Albert White, received so many letters, telegrams and other messages from representative Petersburg citizens that he could not mistake very well the nature of Petersburg’s wishes. Mayor Ed Locken, Ex-Mayor Ted Elsemore and U.S. Commissioner Carol Clausen were among those sending letters or wires of endorsement for MacGregor. Practically all the...
In January, Petersburg residents Rozanne Plew and Liz Bacom traveled to Seattle to attend a special sing-along screening of the classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. The event was an annual fundraiser for maintaining Seattle's historic 5th Avenue Theater. The duo had a wonderful time and realized their hometown theater Wright Auditorium, which also needs some maintenance support, would be a great venue to replicate the sing-along fundraiser. "I just thought it would be...
The sun rising behind Devil's Thumb in the very early morning hours of Wednesday, June 3,...
The Petersburg High School Track and Field team finished their 2026 campaign in a flurry at the ASAA DII State Championships this past weekend. Both the boys and girls team had strong performances to end the season. "[The boys team] did really good. Exceeded expectations. Definitely peaked at the state tournament which was great," head coach Casey Gates said. Senior Noah Pawuk finished fourth in the 110 hurdles, capping off his Viking career with a new personal best of 16.70. "He beat [James...
It’s never too late to say Thank You To the Editor: While Memorial Day was last week, I want to share a story of a powerful encounter I had with a veteran that brings tears to my eyes to this day. Years ago, I was at a craft show people-watching. I noticed an elderly couple hobbling down the aisle. They shared a striking resemblance to my own Midwestern parents: The wife had permed gray hair, polyester pants and was clutching her purse. The husband wore a flannel shirt, suspenders and a ball cap. As they (very) slowly made their way closer,...
May 27 – An officer provided a courtesy transport to the Medical Center (PMC) for a person in need of assistance. An officer responded to a report of suspicious activity on Lumber St. and determined it was non-criminal. An officer conducted a welfare check on Chief John Lott St. May 28 – An officer responded to and verified a report of a fire alarm activation on N Nordic Dr. The Volunteer Fire department (PVFD) was notified and responded. Alesa Williams was charged with allegedly violating conditions of release. Papers were served. May 29...
Petersburg Pilot... Full story
Notices published in the Petersburg Pilot and all of Alaska's... Full story
