Articles written by jess field


Sorted by date  Results 326 - 350 of 417

Page Up

  • Tracking down illegal moose meat distribution

    Jess Field|Dec 17, 2015

    There are many positive and negative aspects to hunting moose in Petersburg, and one of the most notable negatives is dealing with the strict antler restrictions imposed on hunters. At times, it seems like hunters afield are literally rolling the dice when they pull the trigger. If the moose is legal, there is celebration, but if the animal is illegal it leads to a $300 fine. Thirteen moose were killed in the region this season that failed to meet the antler restrictions, and their meat was distributed to charity organizations and those in... Full story

  • Putting together the puzzle of historic homes in Petersburg

    Jess Field|Dec 17, 2015

    Twenty years ago Patty Parr Simpson took approximately 280 photos of older homes in and nearby Petersburg, and she compiled a photo album of her work. Then with help from Colleen Nicholson, who also knew a lot of the people that had lived in the older homes, the pair documented their ownership history, but the project did not stop there. Parr Simpson lent the photo album to the borough mapping department where Susan Christensen and Valerie Allen used old tax maps to add block numbers, lot...

  • Viking wrestlers take third among 2A teams at Regions

    Jess Field|Dec 17, 2015

    For wrestling fans attending the Region V Tournament in Petersburg last weekend it was long, loud and action packed. The hometown team earned a 2A third place finish in points and six Viking wrestlers qualified for State. "For the young Viking wrestling team, it was a weekend of triumph and hardship as they enjoyed some great victories and humbling losses," says assistant coach Robert Schwartz. "It's hard fought victories and tough losses that they learn the most from, and there were plenty of l...

  • Petersburg Borough boundaries remain intact after court decision

    Jess Field|Dec 10, 2015

    The Alaska Supreme Court, Alaska's highest court, ruled in favor of keeping the Petersburg Borough's northern boundary the same on Friday. The ruling upheld the Local Boundary Commission of Alaska's 2012 decision to approve the northern boundary expansion request of the Petersburg Borough. The decision also means no further appeals can be heard on the matter. In June, Juneau filed an appeal with the Alaska Supreme Court after a Superior Court Judge previously ruled in favor of the Local Boundary... Full story

  • Viking volleyball finishes third at State

    Jess Field|Dec 10, 2015

    Petersburg volleyball only lost one match last weekend to earn third place at the State Tournament in Anchorage. However, the outcome was somewhat disappointing for the six seniors on the team but only because their ultimate goal was to win the whole thing, according to head coach Jaime Cabral. Junior Emma Chase earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Chase was also named to the All-State Tournament Team along with teammate Adanna Kvernvik. The Vikings also won the Sportsmanship Award for... Full story

  • Viking wrestlers hitting their stride heading into Regions

    Jess Field|Dec 10, 2015

    The Petersburg wrestling team tied with Sitka High School last weekend to earn fourth place at the 2015 Sitka Tournament. The team will host the Regional Tournament in Petersburg this weekend, and many of the young wrestlers continue to show great improvement, according to assistant coach Robert Schwartz. “They are starting to wrestle with more grit and confidence than earlier in October,” he says. “They are also getting more technical every day.” Buddy Stelmach is heading into Regions with a ton of motivation after taking a disappo...

  • Assembly deals with budget and land auction

    Jess Field|Dec 10, 2015

    The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously approved a resolution on Monday to establish budget policies with the intention of providing sound management of borough funds. The adoption of the document means setting guidelines to assist with annual budget preparation and current administration requirements. Document guidelines include policies regarding how to handle the general fund balance, capital projects and employee travel, among others. The only amendment to the resolution was brought forth by assembly member Nancy Strand concerning the...

  • School Board approves memorial policy

    Jess Field|Dec 10, 2015

    The memorial policy has received much debate for and against the removal of memorials from the Petersburg school grounds and Petersburg School District properties. The policy was approve unanimously by the board in a room filled with almost 30 people, including many school staff members. The policy was in its final reading, and the only amendment to the language was the removal of “temporary memorials” and changing it to “temporary memorabilia.” The approved policy states the conditions that are acceptable when dealing with memorial activit...

  • P & Z Commission deny residential net house

    Jess Field|Dec 10, 2015

    The planning and zoning commission denied the permit application for a conditional use permit to Aaron and Katrina Miller at their monthly meeting on Tuesday. Commission member Yancey Nilsen moved to approve the permit, but the motion failed to gather a second, effectively killing the application. In early-November, the Petersburg Borough Assembly voted unanimously to give Millers nine months to remove their stored fishing gear and other items from their residential lot at 107 Arness Heights Drive. The Miller family has until July 15 to comply...

  • Assembly gets update of comprehensive and waterfront master plans

    Jess Field|Dec 10, 2015

    The Petersburg Borough Assembly heard the latest update for the ongoing yearlong efforts of the consulting firm, Agnew Beck, to develop a comprehensive and waterfront master plans. Project manager Shelly Wade and land use expert Chris Beck, gave a lengthy presentation about firm's progress so far in completing the public hearing drafts of the project. The drafts have been released and are now available to the public for a comment period. Wade and Beck shared the highlights of the plans and their proposed future implementation. Over the past...

  • Petersburg retailers are busy getting in the Christmas spirit

    Jess Field|Dec 3, 2015

    With the holidays upon Petersburg and Black Friday in the rearview mirror, retailers are looking for ways to help keep shoppers local and combat online shopping. Heidi Lee of Lee’s Clothing says the holiday season really gets jumpstarted with the lighting of downtown. Lee says the store has spearheaded the Christmas tree lighting and parade for years because it helps encourage residents to get in the holiday spirit and start visiting downtown stores, in addition to making downtown look good and festive. Lee’s Clothing makes a concerted eff... Full story

  • Man convicted of Sing Lee Alley murder running out of appeals

    Jess Field|Dec 3, 2015

    Anthony Haube, convicted of the 2005 murder of Micheal Gerber in Petersburg, is down to his last option in the appeal process after his latest attempt was denied. The decision by the Alaska Court of Appeals last week means that Haube only has one move left in the state court appeal process, the Alaska Supreme Court. Court records say on April 1, 2005, a fight happened between Haube, Gerber, Thomas Lyons and Thomas Evenson while the men were in a Sing Lee Alley apartment drinking and playing...

  • Brock brothers ready to lead Viking basketball teams yet again

    Jess Field|Dec 3, 2015

    Between boys basketball head coach Rick Brock and his brother Dino, the two have 50 years of experience coaching basketball. The Vikings took to the court on Wednesday for their first practices of the season, marking the start of Rick’s 26th year coaching basketball. “I am very lucky to be a basketball coach,” Rick says. “The best part is seeing the kids grow as people and players during the year, and the course of four seasons.” Rick should have four seniors this year, and a good mix of lower and upperclassmen and he hopes to have 20 boys o...

  • Planning and Zoning Commission to hold monthly meeting

    Jess Field|Dec 3, 2015

    The Petersburg Borough Planning and Zoning Commission will hold their monthly meeting the morning of Dec. 8. Among the agenda items are a couple public hearings and multiple discussions of unfinished business. First up for unfinished business is the continued discussion from the last meeting about Gregg Townsend’s conditional use permit application. The application is for operating a gun repair business and using his Federal Firearms License to mail order guns for residents at his Gjoa Street residence. The commission postponed voting on the m...

  • Volleyballers crowned Regional champs

    Jess Field|Nov 26, 2015

    The Petersburg High School volleyball team is headed to State after winning the Regional Tournament in Skagway last weekend. The Vikings continued to dominate their 2A opponents, going 3-0 over for the tournament and never losing a set. Now, they are going to the State Tournament in Anchorage to play the last matches of the season Dec. 3-5. “It was a great weekend for the girls. Every one had great weekends,” head coach Jamie Cabral said. “Once we found our rhythm in the beginning of games we just kind of took off from there.” The Vikings... Full story

  • Statewide budget cuts result in road maintenance decline

    Jess Field|Nov 26, 2015

    After last year’s Legislative session, all state agencies are working on reduced budgets due to low oil prices, including Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT). The agency’s expenses are paid for by the state general funds and that funding goes to maintenance and operations of roads, airports and the Marine Highway System. “When we receive a reduction in our operating, really the only area in the department’s budget that we can make these reductions in, is the operations and maintenance of our roads, airports or ferry system,” says ADOT...

  • Tagging and tracking humpback whale migration

    Jess Field|Nov 26, 2015

    Earlier this month a team of Oregon State University researchers visited Southeast to tag humpback whales and track their winter migration. The four person team is part of a Marine Mammal Institute (MMI) study that began tagging the endangered species last November. The goal of the two year study is to answer questions like how wide their travel range really is, where they congregate, how long they stay in specific places, and when they depart after staying in a specific place or area. These...

  • Petersburg Mental Health adds dedicated clinician to its staff

    Jess Field|Nov 26, 2015

    When Kate Smith moved to town she immediately found the community welcoming, and the fact she found a cute cream-colored house to live in just made it that much sweeter. Smith came to Petersburg just over two months ago to take a clinician position at Petersburg Mental Health (PMH). "I really like it a lot, everyone here is so friendly," Smith says. "It's such a wonderful community, everyone is so sweet. It's been great so far." In 2012, Smith graduated with a master's degree in social work from...

  • Shoe boxes help underprivileged children celebrate Christmas

    Jess Field|Nov 19, 2015

    The president of the Ministerial Association Bob Carter, is also the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and he oversees the Samaritan's Purse local Operation Christmas Child program. The annual program brings local churches and community members together to fill up shoe boxes with meaningful gifts for underprivileged children living in poverty. "It's been picking up every year, and the folks in town are very enthusiastic about these boxes," Carter says. "We have some people that go... Full story

  • School district receives results from a recent student and staff survey

    Jess Field|Nov 19, 2015

    The results of the 2015 School Climate and Connectedness Survey Report are in and have given the Petersburg School District a gauge of how the district is perceived to be operating. It was a survey taken last spring by students and staff. They answered a different set of questions based on multiple categories like peer climate and school safety. Funding for the survey went through the district’s healthy living grant, and was administered by the Alaska Association of School Boards. “The initial reaction is good,” says Principal Rich Dorme...

  • Petersburg wrestling gains valuable mat action in Craig

    Jess Field|Nov 19, 2015

    Viking wrestlers headed to Craig last weekend for three days of nonstop matches with teams including Craig, Ketchikan, Mt. Edgecumbe and Wrangell. Fourteen wrestlers made the trip and many of them got ten or more matches in a scramble style tournament, according to assistant coach Robert Schwartz. “It’s been kind of a rough season, but it was a good weekend,” he says. “Lots of experience and time on the mat.” Israel Collison won most of his matches with pins, and his technique continues to improve. Collison lost to the number one wrestler in th...

  • Rural Alaska National Guard:

    Jess Field|Nov 12, 2015

    In the early-2000s, the Alaska National Guard (ANG) relied upon a rural presence. Guardsmen of that rural force were deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2006, which was the first time ANG members were deployed to a combat zone since WWII, according to Guardsman Matthew Duddles. The ANG rural presence sharply declined after the deployments ended, and the decline continues to this day with the 761st Military Police Battalion of the Guard in Southeast scheduled to be deactivated by the end of 2017.... Full story

  • Local veteran refuses to get old

    Jess Field|Nov 12, 2015

    Tom Lewis recently celebrated his 94th birthday, it was a Monday, and the fact that it was his birthday didn't change his Monday routine. Every Monday morning, he takes a cake or pie up to the residents at Long Term Care. He refers to the residents as "inmates." The term isn't meant to be offensive, quite the opposite, it's just because he is so active and full of life. Lewis lives on his own, cooks for himself, and still has a driver's license and drives himself around town or out the road to p... Full story

  • Ith and Higgins barely miss out on finals at State

    Jess Field|Nov 12, 2015

    Viking swimmers Izabelle Ith and Ben Higgins, both juniors, traveled to Anchorage last weekend for the 2015 Swimming and Diving State Championships. Both managed personal bests in their individual events, but they fell just short of making the finals. At the State meet, 16 swimmers take to the pool for a preliminary race, then the top eight advance to the final round. “They swam really well, we just missed finals each time,” says head coach Andy Carlisle. “They performed a lot better at State than they did at Regions.” Ith tied for eighth...

  • Wrestlers hit the mat against toughest competition of the year

    Jess Field|Nov 12, 2015

    Four Viking wrestlers headed to Anchorage last weekend to participate in the Lime Solar/Alaska Christian Schools (ACS) Invitational. The two-day tournament showcased 673 matches and over 355 1A/2A/3A wrestlers from all over Alaska. This meant facing the toughest competition of the year for Buddy Stelmach, Mike File, Nathaniel Lenhard and Kirk Evens, according to head coach Dan van Swearingen. “It was tough, but it was good, and great experience for our guys,” he said. After taking second place at ACS last year, Stelmach had to battle back and...

Page Down