Sorted by date Results 601 - 625 of 701
Utility Director Karl Hagerman gave a report on the Southeast Alaska Power Agency's recent board meeting to the Borough Assembly Monday. Hagerman stood in for Assembly Member Bob Lynn, Petersburg's voting member of the SEAPA Board, during the SEAPA meeting as Lynn was on vacation. Hagerman reported that the submarine cable project was complete and successful. SEAPA saved $2.2 million in contract costs by negotiating an assumption of risk related to weather delays for a cost per day of $258,000....
The Petersburg High School cross country team traveled to Anchorage to race Saturday in the state championships. The boys team placed second in Division III with 44 points, just six behind first place Haines High School. Uriah Lucas finished first in the race, ending the season strong with a time of 17:38.7 and beating out Leo Wald of HHS by nine seconds. Michael Durkin moved up from his finish in the regionals meet, placing fifth at state in 18:15.4. Also in the top 20 were Valon Weathers in...
Infection Prevention and Quality Manager Liz Bacom gave a presentation during Thursday's Petersburg Medical Center Hospital Board meeting on the status of the COVID-19 outbreak in the community. At the time of the board meeting there were 19 cases of COVID-19. That number has climbed to 32 as of Wednesday. Bacom's report included details on how the virus has spread, age demographics of positive cases, testing information, and contact tracing. Of the then 19 cases, one was travel related and...
The Petersburg Medical Center Foundation's cancer fundraising committee Beat the Odds hosted its 21st annual 5K run/walk Saturday. One hundred racers came out to participate and 14 Petersburg High School cross country runners competed virtually because they were traveling to a meet the day of the event. Participants gathered on the basketball court outside of Stedman Elementary School and enjoyed breakfast treats before the race. Pia Reilly, one of the event's organizers, said the event is held...
Voters will decide the future of Crystal Lake hydroelectric power in Petersburg on October 5. Proposition 1 aims to raise an amount not to exceed $7.8 million in electric utility revenue bonds to refurbish the Blind Slough hydroelectric plant and add additional standby diesel generation at Scow Bay. Though the borough will incur long-term indebtedness for a term not to exceed 25 years, supporters of the proposition say the upgrades are necessary and will benefit Petersburg. The plant was built...
Petersburg Borough's Service Area One boundaries could shift depending on how people vote on Proposition 2 on the October 5, 2021 ballot. The proposition seeks to remove Frederick Point East Subdivision from Service Area One by reducing the service area's boundaries. The proposition can be voted on only by residents of Service Area One. The proposition requires a majority of residents in Service Area One and a majority of residents in Frederick Point East to vote yes to pass. Proponents of the...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly candidates took part in a virtual forum Monday night hosted by KFSK and the Petersburg Pilot. The candidates were asked about a range of topics including the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction of a new hospital, and projects the candidates want to see completed. Paul Anderson, Lars Christensen, Thomas Fine-Walsh, Bob Lynn, Marc Martinsen, Brandi Thynes and Dana Thynes each gave an opening statement after which, each candidate began answering quest...
The Petersburg Medical Center Board unanimously approved a motion Thursday to have PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter extend an invitation to Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium leadership to give a presentation at a future meeting. The aim of the motion was to hear what SEARHC’s vision for the future of health care in Petersburg is and their ideas regarding a new facility. “We need to get ahead of this and have that discussion with them, get that communication out there so that the public can hear some of that presentation and try to work thr...
Comments from Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht's performance evaluation reflects strong support from the assembly. The ratings on the evaluation suggest some of Giesbrecht strongest skills are managing resources and problem solving. Assembly Member Dave Kensinger said Giesbrecht has done an excellent job with the borough's budget. Vice Mayor Jeigh Stanton Gregor said his Parks and Recreation fee schedule was a great idea that allows children to access all the facilities. Assembly Member Jeff...
The Petersburg High School cross country team competed Saturday in Juneau at the Capital City Invitational. The team had a solid performance on the day with multiple students getting personal records on a course known for its twisty trail and steep hill. Uriah Lucas finished sixth among the boys with a time of 17:28. He started out strong with a pace-pushing first mile, but Thompson believes he may have overexerted himself. "It's hard to not get wrapped up in the excitement, but it caused him...
Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht issued an emergency proclamation Friday recommending actions to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Petersburg. The proclamation recommends masking and social distancing in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, it encourages organizations and businesses to reduce capacity and avoid large gatherings. It recommends people to get vaccinated, saying they are safe, effective, and free, and get tested if they plan on traveling, are exp... Full story
The Borough Assembly voted for Manager Steve Giesbrecht to begin discussions with the state about the future transfer of ownership of the dock at Papke's Landing during Monday's meeting. Though the conversation began with the Entrance Island dock, Kupreanof dock, and Papke's Landing dock, which are all in varying states of disrepair, the focus shifted to gaining ownership of the dock at Papke's Landing. Similar to a discussion held at the September 7 meeting, Assembly Member Jeff Meucci wanted t...
The Hammer & Wikan Convenience store celebrated its reopening Thursday after three months of being closed. To commemorate the store's reopening, the first fifty people to enter the store received a free mug developed for the 100-year anniversary of Hammer & Wikan. "The reason why it's extremely important to reopen is because it's the original store," Hammer & Wikan General Manager Jim Floyd said. The store, which started out selling dairy products and groceries, was the first store built by...
The five Petersburg Medical Center Hospital Board candidates took to Zoom Tuesday night to participate in a forum hosted by KFSK and the Petersburg Pilot. Questions presented to the candidates ranged from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of a new medical facility in Petersburg, and the prospect of SEARHC in town among other subjects. Heather Conn, Al Gross, Donna Marsh, Kathi Riemer, and Jim Roberts each began the forum with an opening statement after which each candidate began...
The Borough Assembly approved the 2021 municipal election report presented by Borough Clerk Debbie Thompson during Monday's meeting. The report included all 21 seats and term lengths on this year's ballot and the two propositions that will be voted on. A list of borough residents who will serve as election officials was also provided for approval. The first proposition on the ballot is the electric utility revenue bond issue which can be voted on by all voters. The revenue bonds would help fund...
Paul Anderson Name: Paul Anderson Age: 76 What experience do you have? Petersburg City Council: elected 1987 to 1990, appointed May 1991 to October 1991, elected 1991 to 2000, Mayor Pro Tempore December 1998 to 2004, elected 2004 to 2007 Wrangell-Petersburg Federal Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) - Federal Appointment, Co-Chair Appointment 2002-2010 Thomas Bay Power Authority: Commissioner January 1988-2002, President 2002-2008 Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 10002 Why do you seek...
The 2021 Petersburg Invitational swim meet was hosted on Friday and Saturday by the Viking Swim Club. Schools from Juneau to Ketchikan converged on Petersburg to compete in the two day meet. The Petersburg High School boys started strong on Friday in the second event of the meet. Sean Spigelmyre, Rik Cumps, Caleb Pfundt, and Elijah Whitacre finished fourth in the boys 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:58.20. The same four raced in the boys 200-yard freestyle relay later that night and...
The Petersburg High School cross country team competed Saturday in the 2021 Sitka Invitational meet. The girls team finished fifth with 129 points and an average time of 25:31.83. The boys team placed fourth, amassing 104 points and averaging a time of 19:05.92. "I think our boys are kind of coming into their own as far as what they need to do to be successful," Head Coach Tom Thompson said. Uriah Lucas returned to the boys team and finished third overall with a time of 17:30.20. His finish is s...
The Borough Assembly voted in support of Ordinance #2021-16 Monday during its second reading. The ordinance would allow the borough to place liens on properties for the purpose of securing payment for utility fees and the abatement of nuisances. It serves to update local language based on legislation passed by the Alaska Legislature giving municipalities the power to create liens for such purposes. There was a public hearing for the ordinance during the meeting, but no members of the public spok...
The Borough Assembly approved Ordinance #2021-13 in its third and final reading Monday, allowing assembly members to be counted to determine a quorum if they are participating via teleconference. The ordinance was proposed after the August 2 assembly meeting was postponed due to a lack of quorum by Assembly Member Dave Kensinger. Though the ordinance allows for programs such as Zoom to act as an alternative to in person participation, it requires that members make a reasonable effort to come to...
The Borough Assembly unanimously approved of Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht's 2021 performance evaluation Monday. Giesbrecht was assessed in categories including leadership, communication, planning, managing resources, problem solving and decision making, and relations with the community, staff, intergovernmental departments, and the assembly. "Member Lynn and I went over the performance evaluation with the manager and I really appreciated the healthy discussion," Vice Mayor Jeigh Stanton Greg...
The Petersburg School Board voted to amend COVID-19 regulations set by the district's Moderate Risk Plan during Tuesday's meeting. The amendment eased the school's masking policy and made changes to color designations, travel policy, and quarantine rules outlined in the plan. The amendment passed with a vote of 4-1 with Cheryl File opposed. Most of the changes were made to the yellow status of the Moderate Risk Plan. Indoor masking is required for all K-12 students regardless of vaccination...
Medical professionals spoke at the Petersburg School Board meeting Tuesday night about the impact that COVID-19 is currently having on the state of Alaska. Dr. Jennifer Hyer with the Petersburg Medical Center provided a medical update to the board. She agreed with the board's number one stated goal of maintaining in person learning and said Petersburg is fortunate to have a low number of cases and proceeded to provide context for the rest of the state. "I wish I could deliver better news but...
First responders, veterans, and members of the community memorialized the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on Friday and Saturday. The events commemorated the 2,977 innocent lives that were lost on September 11, 2001 when planes hijacked by members of the terrorist group al-Qaeda crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. A fire truck was parked outside the school with a flag of the United States draped across...
Joe Bertagnoli celebrated his retirement at the end of August after 30 years of service with the borough, most recently as the building official and code enforcement officer. Bertagnoli has spent most of his life working in construction. He first came to Petersburg in 1979 for what was originally going to be a three month visit after he worked building houses in Michigan. "Going to be home by Christmas, didn't make it until the following Christmas, went back to visit my parents," Bertagnoli...
