Articles written by chris basinger


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  • PIA moving forward with ARPA-funded capital projects

    Chris Basinger|Feb 23, 2023

    The Petersburg Indian Association Tribal Council approved a motion during its meeting on Tuesday to pursue three projects that would open commercial and residential revenue streams for PIA using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. PIA has almost $3.9 million in ARPA funds, of which $3 million is budgeted for capital projects, that they now plan to put toward remodeling part of the PIA building, constructing a new building and parking lot on a PIA-owned lot, and buying two parcels of land...

  • Vikings dominate on their home court

    Chris Basinger, Pilot writer|Feb 23, 2023

    The Petersburg High School boys basketball team claimed three victories at home last weekend. The Vikings outscored their opponents in every quarter as they looked to close out their final home games of the season strong. "I thought our kids did a great job of being ready at the beginning of each of the three games to play the way we wanted to play and take away the other team's strengths," Head Coach Rick Brock said. The Vikings started the action Thursday night against Juneau-Douglas' junior...

  • Lady Vikings compete in Petersburg round robin

    Chris Basinger|Feb 23, 2023

    The Petersburg High School girls basketball team played in their final home series last weekend in preparation for the regional tournament but fell short in each of their three games. The Lady Vikings were missing a few players due to travel and illness but despite their challenges Head Coach Dino Brock said he was pleased with the weekend's action. "I was really happy with how hard we played and the way we battled and I thought...we definitely got better over the weekend," Brock said....

  • Sing Lee Alley Books named 2023 Business of the Year

    Chris Basinger|Feb 16, 2023

    Community members and guests attended the annual Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Banquet at the Sons of Norway last Saturday night where they heard from speakers and celebrated award presentations under the lights of the historic hall. Much to the delight of the audience, Petersburg's local bookstore, Sing Lee Alley Books and Gifts, was named the 2023 Business of the Year. The bookstore, owned by Nance Zaic, serves as a welcoming place for ship passengers visiting Little Norway and offers a cozy...

  • Harbor Board recommends live-aboard cap, stronger wake violation fines

    Chris Basinger|Feb 16, 2023

    The Harbor and Ports Advisory Board held its first meeting of the year last Thursday where members voted to recommend raising the fine for wake zone violations, capping the amount of live-aboards in the harbors, and banning use of the harbors for vacation rentals. During the meeting, Harbormaster Glo Wollen presented an ordinance she plans on bringing before the assembly that would amend the live-aboard policy and prohibited acts in the harbors. The ordinance would limit live-aboard vessels to...

  • Assembly prioritizes new PMC facility, Scow Bay projects

    Chris Basinger|Feb 16, 2023

    The Petersburg Borough Assembly prioritized its top three projects to seek federal funding for during its Feb. 6 meeting. After two rounds of voting, the assembly approved ranking the new Petersburg Medical Center project as its top priority followed by the Scow Bay standby diesel generation project and the Scow Bay haul out and wash down pad. The assembly voted 5-2 in favor of putting the new PMC facility at the top of the list with Mayor Mark Jensen and Assembly Member Donna Marsh opposed....

  • Borough Manager earns mostly positive performance evaluation

    Chris Basinger|Feb 16, 2023

    Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht received mostly positive marks as part of his 2022 Performance Evaluation, which was approved by the Petersburg Borough Assembly during its Feb. 6 meeting. The evaluation was filled out by assembly members who judged Giesbrecht in various categories. Giesbrecht scored highly-mostly receiving scores of meeting expectations or exceeding expectations-in communication, planning, and managing resources. Assembly Member Donna Marsh wrote that she appreciates the manage...

  • Metlakatla Chiefs take down Vikings on the road

    Chris Basinger|Feb 16, 2023

    The Petersburg High School boys basketball team took their first conference losses of the season at Metlakatla last weekend. It was a tough road environment for the Vikings to compete in as the Chiefs showed over their two homecoming games why they are regarded as one of the top teams in the state according to Head Coach Rick Brock. "That being said I was real impressed with and happy with the way we competed in both games," Brock said. The Chiefs conquered the court on Friday, winning 70-49....

  • Lady Vikings suffer two losses to Miss Chiefs

    Chris Basinger|Feb 16, 2023

    The Petersburg High School girls basketball team traveled down to Metlakatla last weekend but left empty handed after suffering two losses on the road. The two games were the Miss Chiefs' first home games of the season, which also served as their homecoming games, and were played in front of a packed house. "Overall I thought it was a very good weekend just playing against a very good team," Head Coach Dino Brock said. The Miss Chiefs made their intentions clear on Friday night, winning the...

  • Petersburg deer hunt lengthened by two months

    Chris Basinger|Feb 16, 2023

    The Alaska Board of Game approved a proposal to extend the deer hunt in the Petersburg Management Area by two months during its Southeast region meeting in Ketchikan last month. The change bumps the start date for the bow hunt up from Oct. 1 to Aug. 1. The bag limit will remain at two bucks and the season will run until Dec. 15. Kaleb Baird, who proposed the change, wrote that he was very glad to see it receive unanimous support from the board. "My goal in opening the PMA deer hunt August 1 was...

  • Assembly gives Housing Task Force go-ahead on three concepts

    Chris Basinger|Feb 9, 2023

    The Petersburg Borough Assembly gave approval to the Housing Task Force to continue working on three ideas to potentially expand local housing opportunities during Monday's meeting. With the assembly's support, the task force will continue pursuing the possibilities of creating a Petersburg Land Trust, identifying easily developable lots, and finding a new area in Service Area 1 suitable for manufactured homes. The assembly's decision does not ensure that these ideas are going to come to...

  • Assembly supports commercial trollers

    Chris Basinger|Feb 9, 2023

    The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Southeast commercial Chinook troll fishery during Monday's meeting. The resolution of support comes in the wake of a judge's recommendation to suspend the fishery as part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC), a Washington-based nonprofit conservation organization. Western District of Washington Magistrate Judge Michelle Peterson's report and recommendation concluded that the National Marine...

  • Viking Travel charts new path

    Chris Basinger|Feb 9, 2023

    After 42 years of leading Viking Travel, Dave and Nancy Berg are ready to hang up their hats while a familiar young couple takes over the helm. The travel business has changed dramatically since 1981 when Dave and Nancy started their business-from spending hours on the phone with Alaska Airlines and building relationships with the cruise ships to navigating the new world of the internet and persevering through the pandemic. The pair met when Dave made a stop in Ellamar, Alaska while sailing up...

  • PIA will not buy TU properties

    Chris Basinger|Feb 9, 2023

    Amid much speculation, it was announced during Monday night's Tribal Council meeting that the Petersburg Indian Association will not be purchasing the two properties owned by the Trading Union. According to Tribal Administrator Chad Wright, Trading Union General Manager Barry Morrison rescinded his offer to sell the properties that house the Trading Union and Evergreen Market Monday morning. PIA had the two commercial properties at 401 N. Nordic Drive and 404 N. Nordic Drive appraised and would...

  • Board of Game votes against Petersburg Creek bear hunt proposals

    Chris Basinger|Feb 9, 2023

    Two proposals to open Petersburg Creek to black bear hunting failed at the Alaska Board of Game’s Southeast regional meeting in Ketchikan last month. The Petersburg Creek Closed Area, measuring 44 square miles, has been closed to black bear hunting since 1975 in order to provide a recreational bear viewing area near Petersburg and because of public safety concerns, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The area, however, is open to the hunting of other species. One of the f...

  • Southeast commercial Chinook trolling fishery threatened by environmental lawsuit

    Chris Basinger|Feb 2, 2023

    This summer's commercial Chinook trolling fishery is in jeopardy following the recent release of a judge's recommendation to suspend the fishery as part of an ongoing lawsuit, leaving Southeast trollers in uncertain waters. Western District of Washington Magistrate Judge Michelle Peterson's report, released in December 2022, concludes that the National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS), also known as NOAA Fisheries, violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act...

  • Lady Vikings level up against Craig Lady Panthers

    Chris Basinger|Feb 2, 2023

    The Petersburg High School girls basketball team fell twice at home last weekend against the seasoned Craig Lady Panthers. Though the Lady Vikings have yet to chalk up a win this season, they showed considerable growth over the two games. Craig won Friday's game 54-19, led by top scorer Alissa Durgan with 22 points. Petersburg scored consistently in the first half, netting six in each quarter, and were only down 18-12 at the half. Though the Lady Vikings maintained their offensive aggression in...

  • Vikings pounce on Craig Panthers last weekend

    Chris Basinger|Feb 2, 2023

    The Petersburg High School boys basketball team took care of business last weekend, claiming two wins over visitors Craig. The Vikings hit double digits in each quarter they played against the Panthers as they maintained their perfect record in conference play. "I thought both nights we did a much better job of looking for the openings instead of trying to force the basketball," Head Coach Rick Brock said. Kyle Biggers set the tone in Friday's 59-38 win, netting a season-high 27 points....

  • Crime in Petersburg hits a five-year low

    Chris Basinger|Jan 26, 2023

    The Petersburg Police Department released its annual report last week, which includes an array of statistics that give insight into slowing local crime rates. The total dispatch center calls for service, which includes calls for police, fire, and EMS, saw its lowest activity in five years with 3,356 calls-down almost 400 from 2021. That number only includes calls for service and does not represent the total number of calls dispatchers receive, which Petersburg Police Department Chief Jim Kerr...

  • South Harbor dredging going slow but steady

    Chris Basinger|Jan 26, 2023

    The South Harbor dredging is continuing to make progress as crews dig their way to the shore, having removed approximately 13,000 cubic yards of material as of Monday according to Harbormaster Glo Wollen. Western Marine is undertaking the project, which is being overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and plans to dredge a total of 83,000 cubic yards of material from the harbor. Crews are working 12-14 hours a day scooping out blue clay using a grab dredger on the dry cargo deck barge...

  • Vikings wrangle Wolves

    Chris Basinger|Jan 26, 2023

    The Petersburg High School boys basketball team ended the Wrangell Wolves' prowl last weekend, celebrating homecoming with two victories over their local rivals. The Vikings dug in on Friday to claim the first game 53-40 after struggling to find their feet. Petersburg trailed the Wolves in each of the first two quarters and were behind 23-19 at the half. Rik Cumps went down early in the first quarter, but Kieran Cabral came in to run point in his stead and scored nine in the second half. "Being...

  • Lady Vikings come up short against Wrangell

    Chris Basinger|Jan 26, 2023

    The Petersburg High School girls basketball team is still seeking its first win of the season after suffering two losses to Wrangell during last weekend's homecoming games. The team fell last Friday 39-15 as Kiara Harrison led the visiting Lady Wolves with 21 points. Petersburg scored nine in the first half, courtesy of Iris Case, Adara Curtiss, and Bryana Ratliff, but a shaky defensive performance saw the hosts behind by 14 going into the half. The Lady Vikings shored up their guarding in the...

  • ADF&G seeking comment on sport fish stocking plan

    Chris Basinger|Jan 26, 2023

    The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is currently seeking public comment on the draft of its 2023 Statewide Sport Fish Stocking Plan, which includes two programs affecting the Petersburg area-the Southern Southeast Chinook Salmon Enhancement and the Blind Slough Coho Salmon Enhancement. According to the stocking plan, Fish and Game is looking to release approximately seven million fish in hundreds of locations across the state annually over the next five years. Matt Catterson, a fishery biolog...

  • Assembly approves housing needs assessment

    Chris Basinger|Jan 19, 2023

    During Tuesday's meeting, the Petersburg Borough Assembly voted 4-2 in favor of conducting a housing needs assessment with Vice Mayor Bob Lynn and Assembly Member Donna Marsh opposed. The housing needs assessment, which was recommended by the Housing Task Force, was proposed to evaluate local housing needs, provide recommendations for improving the housing situation, and help secure grant funding. The estimated cost of the assessment is $55,040 and will be paid for with funds received through...

  • Fire, EMS, and SAR volunteers save borough over $700,000 annually

    Chris Basinger|Jan 19, 2023

    The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department released its year end report last week, which shed light on the true value of community volunteers. According to the report submitted by Fire/EMS/SAR Director Aaron Hankins, having a volunteer-based fire department saves the borough between an estimated $759,200 and $1,138,800 in personnel costs per year when compared to a full-time career fire department. The estimation is based on having 8-12 employees staffing the local fire department-enough to...

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