Sorted by date Results 401 - 425 of 596
The Petersburg Borough Assembly bumped sea mammal issues up on the list of federal budget priorities during its last meeting. The proposed list includes projects and funding mechanisms the assembly wants its lobbyist to fight for in Congress. “Very rarely do any of those things mean somebody writes us a check for something,” Steve Giesbrecht, borough manager, said. “The priority list tends to be one of those ongoing things.” The sea mammal issue, including sea otters and sea lions, has been towards the bottom of the list—below issues such as oc...
The Irish acoustic quintet Lúnasa will kick of its U.S. tour in Petersburg next Wednesday at the Wright Auditorium. Lúnasa is an all-instrumental band. Band members play fiddle, low whistles, flute, tin whistles, uilleann pipes, double bass and guitar. Band member Cillian Vallely said their music transcends traditional Irish music, according to a press release. "We play a very diverse selection of music, including our own compositions, melodies from other Celtic regions such as Brittany, G...
With less than two weeks to go before the borough’s recycling program begins, more than half of residential customers have signed up. As of Tuesday morning, 630 people signed up for the program, roughly 57 percent of total residential customers. According to a report Public Works Director Karl Hagerman presented to the borough assembly in October, the community needs to increase its recycling rate to at least 30 percent—roughly 760 tons of material—to pay for the program. The more the community recycles, the less the borough has to pay for s...
The Hawai’i Police Department announced yesterday that a body found January 2 in Kalapana is that of missing Petersburg man Boaz Johnson. A Hawai’i police media release states police determined Johnson ended his own life after he strangled his girlfriend, Brittany-Jane Royal, whose body was discovered last May by fishermen in line along waters off the coast of Kalapana. “A composition book was found near Johnson’s body,” the media release states. “In three handwritten pages, the writer—who identified himself as Boaz Johnson—confe... Full story
Petersburg Parks and Recreation staff is reaching out to the community for information related to recent vandalism at the Mort Fryer Sports Park. Donnie Hayes, parks and rec director, said the most recent bout of vandalism will cost more than $500 and eat up valuable staff time. "For us in parks and recreation it (the ball field) is the facility that gets vandalized the most," Hayes said. "There's a lot of use out of these facilities but when we're spending hours and hours trying to fix the...
Petersburg Borough has launched a new comprehensive community engagement website (http://petersburgborough.mindmixer.com), developed by MindMixer, where citizens can engage, communicate and collaborate with community decision makers and other residents on the future of our community. The goal is to get the community involved in the upcoming planning process. Along the way, this will be used as an online tool to generate new ideas and feedback from citizens using this interactive and accessible new platform. Feedback from the engagement website...
Petersburg police apprehended Chase Martin, 19, last Friday evening from a residence on Lumber Street after he escaped custody earlier in the week. Chief Kelly Swihart said an officer originally arrested Martin Tuesday evening on charges of Theft and Violating Conditions of Release. He later complained of a medical issue so the officer escorted Martin to Petersburg Medical Center where he then fled and escaped at about 10:30 p.m. Swihart said police issued a $25,000 outstanding arrest warrant. Officers also became aware that local residents...
Petersburg Public Works staff is delaying the demolition of the building owned by Fred Triem and Karen Ellingstad on 1011 Wrangell Ave., pending a recommendation from the borough attorney. The building’s foundation failed in September 2009. In June of 2012, Community Development Director Leo Luczak sent notice to Karen Ellingstad that the structure had been deemed a dangerous building—a designation the borough assembly agreed with after a non-compliance hearing and subsequently December 2 issued a 30-day order mandating the owners repair the...
The Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood is requesting donated space in the parks and rec community gym to host its Grand Camp convention in early October. Ross Nannauck III, ANB Camp 16 president, said between 200 to 400 people will attend, including delegates from Oregon to Anchorage. “It’s a very big thing,” Nannauck said. “The last time we had a convention here was in 1971…it’s been awhile and something we’ve been working towards for a long time.” In a letter to assembly members ANB and ANS officials wrote, “We plan to wor...
The Tongass Democrats announced yesterday its process for selecting three nominees to fill the Juneau House District 32 seat vacated by Rep. Beth Kerttula. Interested individuals should send a cover letter and resume to tongassdemocrats@gmail.com no later than January 27, according to a Tongass Democrat press release. The organization has elected a committee that will review the prospective candidates. It will then send Gov. Sean Parnell a list of three candidates by February 4. Parnell will select one of the three individuals proposed by the...
The stuff you flush down the toilet might spruce up town if Petersburg Indian Association's new compost plan works out. "It's a lot less gross than you think," said Jason Wilson, PIA tribal resource director. Justin Haley, wastewater-operating supervisor, and his staff calls it sludge and Wilson took a tour of the facility earlier this week. "Sludge is what we refer to it as until we take the water out," Haley said. Haley said an average of 400,000 gallons of sludge per day flows from...
Erin Michael is now Petersburg's official public health nurse after the regional nurse manager out of Juneau offered her the job last week. Michael has been the acting public health nurse since she arrived in town last September. "I'm very excited," Michael said. "It's a big relief. I really like the community so I was hoping to get to stay." Michael says now that she knows she will be sticking around for a while she will start thinking about future plans for the community. She said she'd like...
The Petersburg Vikings lost in the 4th quarter to the Ketchikan Kings last Thursday. The Vikings held the Kings to 27 points and the lead throughout most of the game. "We started off playing probably some of our best half court defense that we've played all year," Head Coach Rick Brock said. "We were quick to the ball, not letting them get into the spaces they wanted to." Michael Brock dropped seven points in the first quarter and the squad led the game 22-13 at the half. "In the third quarter...
Petersburg residents can eat out a little later now that a new restaurant has opened at Kito's Kave. Shelly Pope, who hails from Texas, opened up the "Southern Belle Eatery" last weekend. "Anything I'm cooking, I'm putting a southern twist on it," Pope said. Burgers, chicken wings, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans and soups are currently on the menu for the eatery's initial soft openings. "The first weekend went better than I expected," Pope said. "It's fun, I'm having a good time and it's...
Rae C. Stedman Elementary School will get a face lift after the school board awarded a $2.3 million exterior wall renovation project to Alaska Community Contractors last week. Daniel Tate, director of maintenance, said the project will better insulate the school’s paper thin walls, a need which is a long time coming. “This building really fluctuates with the weather,” Tate said. “If it’s a sunny day the folks on this side of the building just cook and if it’s gray out it gets cold and the building has a hard time keeping up with that becaus... Full story
Jake and Kacey Hammer gave birth to Nicholas Edward Hammer-Petersburg's first newborn of the year-at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau. Nicholas was born on his actual January 14th due date at 1:26 a.m. He weighs eight pounds eight ounces and is 21 inches long. The family is expected to return to town early next week. Nicholas' local family ties are his sister Isabelle, Grandpa and Grandma Ken and Rachel Hammer, Nana Kathi Hammer, Uncle Jens and Aunt Jocelyn Hammer. His local cousins include... Full story
Petersburg School District Superintendent Dr. Rob Thomason announced his retirement last week. Thomason began working for the PSD in 2009. Jean Ellis, school board president, said he was instrumental in changing the district for the better. "I've been trying to talk him out of leaving," Ellis joked."When he became the superintendent he was the sixth one in eight years. People were becoming dispirited with superintendent turnover." Ellis credited his people skills and positive attitude as main...
Former Petersburg resident, Jasmin Jones, moved back to town to open an acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine clinic earlier this month. Jones most recently worked as an acupuncturist on a cruise ship line based out of Spain. She also practiced acupuncture for several months in Nepal. Jones earned a master's degree in Chinese Medicine and Herbology from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York City and San Diego. "What acupuncture does from the Western point of view, which is... Full story
Hilary Bell and Helen Boggs won Petersburg’s first annual Rain Game Classic—a guessing game in which contestants estimate the total amount of annual rainfall in Petersburg. Chamber of Commerce Director Cindi Lagoudakis said this year’s rainfall totaled 110.19 inches according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data. Both Bell and Boggs guessed closest at 110.2 inches. Both turned in their tickets on the same day at the same event after receiving free tickets at the Chili Cook Off at the Sons of Norway Hall. “I don’t k...
The new library is buzzing since its opening last fall. “It’s been pretty steady,” said Borough Librarian Tara Alcock. “Some days are pretty manageable and other days we’re screaming busy.” As of October through December of 2013, the library checked out 18,679 items—a 40 percent increase compared to 2012. The average number of people coming into the facility has roughly doubled as well. Alcock said the most noticeable increase has been with teens stopping by after school. “The teen-room is pretty much packed,” Alcock said. “And we actually obse...
The Lady Vikings put the pressure on the Wolves last weekend and came out with two wins-putting the squad at 7-1 for the season. The squad beat the Wolves 49-36 Friday night. Head Coach Dino Brock said his team controlled the pace of the game from the get go. The Lady Vikings lead by 20 points during several different points of the game. "The key to the game was our defensive pressure," Brock said. "We were able to put enough pressure on Wrangell so we could get some steals and run." Grace...
The Vikings basketball squad nailed down two big wins against the Wrangell Wolves last weekend. The Vikings defeated the Wolves 47-35 Friday night and again 52-32 on Saturday night. Head Coach Rick Brock said his squad did well defensively against the Wolves during Friday night's game but needed to do a better job of setting the offensive pace of the game. "There were times in the game where we had opportunities to take a 10 or 11 point lead and stretch it out to 15 or 16, which is real...
The Petersburg Borough assembly and hospital board met last week to discuss proposed changes to the Petersburg Medical Center’s charter code as well as a recent memorandum written by the borough’s attorney regarding the relationship between PMC and the borough. The memo details the attorney’s opinion on various questions assembly members posed about hospital policy. Assembly and PMC board members spent much of the time discussing the question of whether or not PMC employees are borough employees—a contentious issue many of the PMC board m...
Homeowners of the collapsed structure at 1010 Wrangell Ave. have filed an appeal in Superior Court against the Petersburg Borough Assembly's 30-day order to demolish or repair the home at the owner's expense after borough building officials determined the structure to be a 'dangerous building.' The building's foundation failed in September 2009. During June 2012, Community Development Director Leo Luczak sent notice to Karen Ellingstad that the structure had been deemed a dangerous building. Sin... Full story
