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The body of 13 year old Mackenzie H. Howard was discovered late Tuesday evening, Feb. 5 in the entrance of the Memorial Presbyterian Church by community members. “We are investigating this as a homicide,” Alaska Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Megan Peters said. “There are a lot of rumors and speculation going around and we have to weed through all of them to get to the truth.” Howard's body was sent to Anchorage for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. “The autopsy was completed Friday and we have rece... Full story
The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department hosted a Family Activity Night Saturday evening and kids and adults alike learned, enjoyed and toured the facility. A smoke house, which was borrowed from Wrangell, was set up in the parking lot. This allowed those inside to experience what it is like to go through a house full of smoke. “We fill the house up with breathable smoke,” PVFD Firefighter Devren Bennett said. “Someone has to call 911 and then make their way to the other end of the house and o... Full story
Approximately three years ago, Petersburg Police Sergeant Heidi Agner began an investigation that has taken years to finally come to fruition. Feb. 8, Federal Judge Timothy Burgess sentenced Victor Araujo, 51, to 60 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine. “Araujo was brought to my attention by an under-cover agent that was working here,” Agner said. “That agent's work not only led to the conviction of Araujo but four others who were charged, convicted and served time for felony drug related crimes.” Agner e...
The Petersburg Lady Vikings played host to Mt. Edgecumbe for the weekend and ended up winning one game and losing the other, but not by much. “We had a really good weekend,” Head Coach Dino Brock said. “I especially think that Friday night was a really good game. We struggled in the first half and were down seven to 13 at the end of the first half but kept ourselves in the game because of our defense.” Brock explained that the team has been talking about that a lot and they did during halftim...
A Transportation Improvement Program, TIP, has been established for the next five years by the Petersburg Indian Association Board during its regular meeting. PIA Tribal Transportation Director Will Ware submitted a written report for the board outlining the program, a Long Range Transportation Plan, LRTP, and projects that are ongoing for PIA. Over the next five years, the PIA Transportation Department will spend $1,630,000 on maintenance for a 50 mile range area; $25,600 will be spent on the maintenance shed; $1,355,000 will go toward...
The Petersburg Indian Association re-hired Bruce Jones after letting him go in mid-October – and only two months of service to the organization. Jones has agreed to a four-year commitment with PIA after a long career in local government. “I had all intentions of continuing on with retirement,” Jones said. “I had my name out there on the Alaska Municipal League website to be available as an interim City Manager.” Jones had just been called by the City of Whittier when he met with the PIA tribal council Wednesday evening. “I put in 28 years wi... Full story
The Petersburg Transportation Advisory Committee Chair, Dave Kensinger, attended the Marine Transportation Advisory Board meeting in Juneau and asked for more ferry service to the area. “We went to them with two proposals,” Kensinger said. “One was met with widespread support.” Kensinger asked that two vessels be rededicated out of Prince Rupert from May through September and for a fast vehicle ferry service as well. “Everyone was in support of the two vessels out of Prince Rupert. This would be of great benefit to the region, not just Petersbu... Full story
The Petersburg Borough continues to seek letters of interest from qualified residents to fill vacancies in elected offices until the first regular borough election, set for October 2014. All letters of interest should be submitted to the Mayor or Clerk no later than 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 14 for consideration at the Feb. 19 Assembly meeting. Anyone appointed to an elected seat will be required to file a Public Officials Financial Disclosure Statement, POFDS, within 30 days of taking office. Seats to be filled are two vacancies on the...
The Petersburg Transient Room Tax Committee announced the availability of $8,136 from the TRT receipts to be awarded to qualified non-profit organizations. Applications for the grants can be picked up at the Petersburg finance office, or on the Borough website, explained Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht in his report during the Petersburg Borough Assembly regular meeting Monday afternoon. Also explained in his report was news that Petersburg EMS Director Sandy Dixson has been following up on a report that the University of Alaska...
A new version of the transient room tax ordinance was introduced to the Petersburg Borough Assembly during its regular meeting Monday afternoon to address concerns voiced by fishing lodge owners, who normally charge their customers a package price that does not specify a separate rate for what are usually no-frills rooms. In the original ordinance, 30 percent of the package price was subject to being taxed. This new version will be 15 percent of the package price and the lodge owners will pay...
The Southeast Alaska Power Agency Board of Directors will meet in special session this week to discuss a possible junket for the five voting members to hash out organizational policy and the administrative oversight of staff members. The board will meet tomorrow in Ketchikan to mull over a possible board retreat where Wrangell board member Brian Ashton said they would decide whether to pursue such a trip. “Over the past year, some board members have voiced a desire to have a retreat, in order to address some foundational issues pertaining to SE...
Petersburg Medical Center had the presentation of its financial audit during the regular meeting of the PMC Hospital Board Thursday evening. Eric Campbell of Mikunda, Cottrell & Co., Inc. Certified Public Accountants & Consultants of Anchorage presented the audit. “You have a clean financial opinion for this audit,” Campbell stated. “The total assets were up $1.1 million higher than the previous year and that is cash and receivables.” Campbell also explained that PMC has $700,000 more cash and liabilities were $2.3 million and that is up by $... Full story
The Thomas Bay Power Authority Commission met Wednesday morning to get updates on the Southeast Alaska Power Agency, SEAPA, Tyee and to elect officers for the new year. Sitting Member at Large, Brian Ashton resubmitted his letter of interest for the position along with fellow Wrangell resident Mike Nash. Ashton was appointed to the position once again and a nomination was placed for the current officers to remain at their posts for another year. TBPA President for 2013 is John Jensen; Vice-Presi...
Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department has begun its own version of the Biggest Loser which is called Losing Big Petersburg. The contestants for this competition will take part in various programs through Parks and Recreation over a six week time period to learn how to live a healthier lifestyle and also lose weight. The focus is on health and wellness for the community, the participants and their families. The competition will begin formally Wednesday, Feb. 6 and continue to the final... Full story
The Lady Vikings hosted the Sitka Lady Wolves over the weekend and won Friday with a score of 60 to 51. “We did a very nice job of passing the basketball and taking care of it,” Head Coach Dino Brock stated. “This was overall one of our better efforts and we shot the ball well.” According to Brock the Lady Vikings had a great night for rebounds and had eight shots for three points each. Leading the team in scoring was Grace Weller with 16 points followed by Ruby Brock with 13 points, Kylie W...
The Petersburg Vikings traveled to Sitka to face the Wolves for the second weekend in a row. “Going into this trip and from the scores of the weekend before there were some very specific things we needed to focus on,” Head Coach Rick Brock stated. “Friday night we did all of those things.” Although the Vikings lost Friday evening with a score of 37 to 43, according to Brock they improved their defensive game tremendously. “We took care of the basketball and we limited their easy baskets from tur...
Since the formation of the Petersburg Borough, officials have been working to put together a plan to make a smooth transition. The transition will still take the better part of the year to complete. “The first big part of the process is the status of the appeal from Juneau,” Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht said. “We are looking at April or May before this will be finalized.” The City and Borough of Juneau is suing the Local Boundary Commission and the Petersburg Borough due to disagreements on the boundary line drawn for the newly f... Full story
The Petersburg Indian Association held its first official meeting after the election Thursday evening and one of the first orders of business was to accept the resignation of board member Derek Lopez. Ways in which to fill the vacated seat were tossed about before taking direction from Tlingit Haida rules. “The Tlingit Haida rules state that there are two different ways in which to fill a vacant seat on the board,” PIA Election Committee Judge Fran Jones said. “The selection can come from the candidate that received the next highest numbe... Full story
The rededication ceremony of Shakes Island and the Chief Shakes Tribal House is scheduled for May 3 and 4 in Wrangell and housing is still needed for the 1,000-plus guests that are expected to attend the festivities. “This is an historical event that is happening in our neighborhood and it is a huge celebration for Wrangell,” Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Manager Sally Dwyer said. “We are attempting to help our neighbor.” Dwyer and Marilyn Menish-Meucci of the Petersburg Visitor Center have contacted the Tides Inn and Scandia House to make su... Full story
Petersburg Police Officers assisted agents of the United States Department of Homeland Security in serving a federal arrest warrant for a Petersburg resident Tuesday, Jan. 22. Yolanda Perez, 44, was arrested in her home on the charge of illegally entering the United States after being deported. “Our SEACAD investigator came across Perez's name during the normal course of his duties as a narcotics enforcement investigator,” Petersburg Police Captain John Hamilton stated. “She was referred to the federal authorities and subsequent to that refer...
Ordinance 2013-2 will have to start all over for approval now that it has been defeated due to confusion regarding combined-price packages. The rate for a combined-price package was computed by charging the transient room tax on 30 percent of the total cost of the package price. Mike Payne of Rocky Point Resort spoke on behalf of lodge owners who charge a combination package price. “We are wanting to make the numbers justifiable for us and make it easier for everybody to figure out,” Payne said. “I would like to propose that each lodge repre...
Work on the new Petersburg Public Library continues on schedule and work on the inside has begun. “All of the concrete has been poured inside,” Petersburg Borough On-Site Construction Administrator Dan LaForce said. “We even have the upper deck concrete poured and the work on the inside of the building can go along as planned.” According to LaForce, the insulation in the roof is coming along and is scheduled to be finished this week. In an earlier article, it was reported that the floor heating...
Petersburg High School senior Mizani Rawhani was nominated for appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy by Congressman Don Young, Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Mark Begich. Each member of Congress can have five constituents attending the Naval Academy at any time. When one member leaves the Academy, a vacancy is created. “The Navy really caught my attention when the different military branches sent representatives to the school,” Rawhani said. “I have always thought I would love to fly but g...
The Petersburg Vikings hosted the Sitka Wolves for a two game fight but didn't come out the victors. “I thought we made some progress this week in a couple of areas and our intensity level was better than it was last weekend against Mt. Edgecumbe,” Head Coach Rick Brock said. “I believe also that, physically, we competed against a team that was much bigger than us but we continue to struggle putting the ball in the basket.” Brock explained that both nights the Vikings had good shots that th...
The Petersburg Lady Vikings traveled to Ketchikan and came home two games down for the season. “The first night started out really well,” Head Coach Dino Brock said. “We did a nice job defensively and offensively we were moving the ball a lot.” The girls were down 10 to eight at the end of the first quarter and 24 to 22 at half-time. “We came out in the third quarter and didn't start as strong,” Brock stated. “That became the whole separation of the game.” At the end of the third quarter the Lady Vikings were down 38 to 25 and ended up with a...
