Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 141
The San Francisco Bay Area has long fostered singers and musicians and last week Petersburg High School music students had a chance to experience the good vibes – and bring home two awards. Music director Matt Lenhard, and five other adults escorted 46 Concert Choir, Concert Band and Jazz Band performers on a three-day, four-night journey to the Heritage Music Festival. There the students had an opportunity to perform and compete against about 800 students from seven other schools. There were no...
Blood will flow this week at the Petersburg Medical Center, but it's for a good reason as health care professionals and community members prepare for the upcoming Health and Safety Fair. A blood draw and registration for the fair began this week. Participants can print out a registration form at http://www.pmc-health.com/healthfair.html. Last names beginning with the letter A through J, have drop-in times this week from 7 to 9 a.m. for the blood draw. Last names beginning with K through R can have their blood drawn April 3, 4 and 5 from 7 to 9...
Retailers are already voicing concern for the upcoming Nordic Drive road improvement project, a project that will replace not just the concrete road, but the sidewalks as well. The project, which is scheduled to begin in September and be completed by the end of October 2013, will disrupt business as usual downtown. According to Greg Lockwood project manager for Alaska's Department of Transportation, reconstruction of the the road, sidewalk replacements and accessibility upgrades, as well as stor...
Despite the possibility of losing out on thousands in sales tax revenue May 5, 2012 has been declared Tax Free Day by the Petersburg City Council. The resolution had been discussed, and delayed during the Monday, March 5 council meeting, and it was very close to being delayed again, but was later passed by the City Council. The resolution's intent is to stimulate commerce by allowing consumers to purchase goods and services, while avoiding the 6 percent local sales tax. Jody Tow, City Finance Director, voiced concern saying that the finance...
Petersburg High School Senior Julia Buschmann cracked a few eggs before nabbing several awards at the Southeast Alaska Regional Science Fair in Juneau, held March 9 and 10. A student in Joni Johnson's AP biology class, Buschmann, 17, was inspired to enter her project at the science fair as a first-time competitor. “I was always interested in organic food versus modified food,” Buschmann said. So, which came first the idea or the egg? “When [Johnson] introduced the project to me at the begin...
Alaska Wildlife Troopers arrested Jay Thomassen, of Seward, on Saturday, March 17, for multiple alleged violations pertaining to the Commercial Golden King Crab fishery in Registration Area A. According to Trooper Cody Litster, Thomassen was charged with commercial fishing in closed waters, having undersized king crab, possession of illegal crab, and providing false statements on a logbook. The catch, estimated to be worth $88,622 was seized by troopers. An arraignment is scheduled for April 18, in District Court in Petersburg. “This is the l...
Petersburg City Manager Steve Giesbrecht said that letters are being sent out to local business operators who advertise on Facebook's “It's My Business” page, without a business license filed with the City and without filing sales tax returns. “It's just kind of a reminder letter to let people know that if you are going to run a business you need to have a business license, that doesn't cost you anything. But you do need to file your sales tax,” he told the City Council on Monday. “We've had some people do that, and some people pretty up...
Over the years the Sons of Norway Hall has served a multitude of functions in the Petersburg community. As the hall celebrates its 100th anniversary, several improvement projects are planned for the future. According to Sons of Norway member Sally Dwyer, a grant for $300,000 has been submitted to Sen. Bert Stedman for the 2012 legislative budget. The latest grant would allow for improvements to the upstairs including a covered stair chair lift for better accessibility, replacing doors,...
The Petersburg City Council on Monday voted in favor of supporting the Alaska Marine Highway (AMHS) Bellingham run, and the replacement of current ferries. According to the resolution, AMHS has been serving Alaska's coastal communities with vehicle, freight and passenger transportation for about 50 years. As in the hard-link road and rail system throughout the interior of Alaska, the ferry system relies on State and Federal funding. But also similar to the roadway, it will never be...
The Local Boundary Commission (LBC) extended the deadline to receive comments on the proposed Petersburg Borough boundary lines by two days, from March 28 to March 30. “This actually benefits us,” said City Manager Steve Giesbrecht. “Juneau had some delays getting their petition turned into the LBC staff, and we wanted to be able to see their report before we finalized our comments to the LBC staff preliminary report. This two day extension actually was a slight help.” The LBC issued, on Feb. 27, a report giving recommendations regardi...
It's spring break for Petersburg students, but maintenance workers and other facilitators have been busy during this student-free week. Tye Petersen, facility maintenance director for the Petersburg School District reported to the School Board on Tuesday that the he and his staff have been working on several projects at the three schools. As part of keeping up the grounds Petersen and his team of five workers are doing some concrete repairs between the Voc. Ed. building and the High School, and making other safety improvements to school...
Alaska Congressman Don Young spoke about a program to revitalize Southeast schools, local businesses and sea otter pelt market possibilities during a brief stop in Petersburg on Tuesday. Young met with the Economic Redevelopment Council on Tuesday in City Council chambers. The hour-long round-table invited members of the council and the community to speak their minds. Young first spoke about the importance of the fishing industry in Southeast Alaska: “You can't just build up a work-force over ni...
A long-time Petersburg doctor is now living and working in Antarctica. Dr. John Bergren, 50, is currently serving as the Lead Physician at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Bergren is one of only 160 residents who will stay in McMurdo over the winter months, which runs from early February thru mid-October. Bergren arrived at the beginning of winter, when the population was about 1,000, he said. “There were some exciting moments for the medical staff about two weeks prior to our arrival,” Ber...
There's a new Ranger in town. Jason Anderson, 38, is now at the helm of the U.S. Forest Service office in Petersburg. An avid-outdoorsman, the father of five, said he is welcoming the responsibility of the Tongass National Forest. “The job of forest ranger has changed dramatically in the past 100 years. It's got the same purpose, but technology has caught up,” Anderson said. “I guess the earliest rangers had a horse and a gun, or in this area their main purpose was to aid the fishing indus...
Five students from Petersburg High Schools participated in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), coming in fourth overall against 20 other teams in the region. The Petersbug team included Tyler Lantiegne, who served as team captain, as well as Kyla Compton, Diane Murph, Nicole Peterson and Kyle Hagerman. The team competed as the Cexy Cnidarians. Coaches Joni Johnson and Sunny Rice, the Marine Advisory Agent with the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, also assisted. The team delivered...
After a lengthy debate, the Petersburg City Council worked out the details of a $210,000 loan to local business-owner Pete Litsheim to move the 29-year-old Romiad building from its current location on Haugen Drive to the lot next to Scandia House on Nordic Drive. The Petersburg City Council met in a special session on Thursday to discuss the terms of the loan agreement between Litsheim and the Petersburg Economic Development Council (PEDC). The council members and the mayor, on Feb. 21, had vote...
Neighbors to Petersburg's proposed borough boundary-lines are voicing concern following a report issued by the Local Boundary Commission (LBC) last week. The LBC last week released their report regarding the petition for the City of Petersburg to dissolve and become a borough. The report included revised boundary lines, and recommendations regarding the incorporation of residents who live outside Petersburg city limits. The report also recommended the boundary lines be drawn along natural...
The Petersburg City Council will meet for a second time this week. In a special session, open to the public the council members and the mayor will discuss the terms of the loan agreement between the Petersburg Economic Development Council (PEDC) and local business-owner Pete Litsheim. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in the City Council Chambers to discuss approval of the loan agreement between PEDC and Diamante` Gift Shoppe. The council on Feb. 21, had voted to...
Beth Moreland dressed as the Cat in the Hat read the classic Dr. Seuss story to a group of youngsters and their parents as part of Pre-School Story Time on Wednesday at the Petersburg Public Library....
Petersburg City Council revised the Transient Room Tax (TRT) for the first time in 22 years. Council members on Tuesday, also approved three TRT grants for a total of $9,208. The TRT is a tax that is imposed on temporary lodging for stays of less than 30 consecutive days at hotels, motels and RV parks. Those funds can be used for the betterment of the community for visitors. The wording of the revised TRT resolution amends the guidelines for the grants, by asking for more details from organizati...
The Stanton Gregor's take the term “couples counseling” to a whole new level. For spouses Lea and Jeigh Stanton Gregor mental health is a family affair, and practice. True North Counseling & Consultation, LLC is the only private counseling practice available in Petersburg, the alternative being public-funded Petersburg Mental Health. “We found a niche that people needed, a private option. It's been great. Really exciting and very well received,” said Lea, 37. She and her husband Jeigh, 35, are...
A traveling exhibit, which includes 12 historic and recent photographs, that tells the story of the Japanese occupation of Kiska Island has come to The Clausen Memorial Museum. “[The exhibit] shows the importance of World War II history and how it relates to Alaska,” said Sue McCallum, Clausen Museum director. On June 3 and 4, 1942, Japanese forces attacked the U.S. Base at Dutch Harbor. On June 6 and 7, those forces invaded Attu and Kiska, setting up a submarine and seaplane base on Kiska. It i...
Petersburg Municipal Power & Light has purchased a new stand-by diesel generator that will assist in high-energy demand cycles, when the city is cut-off from its main power supply, Tyee. Petersburg City Council on Tuesday approved a bid from ASCR McGraw Constructors for $724,000, for the construction of a concrete platform, the construction of a control shack and installation of underground wiring. “It is a stand-alone unit that is to be used in case the city is ever cut off from Tyee,” said PMPL Superintendent Joe Nelson in a phone int...
A report released last week by the Local Boundary Commission (LBC) regarding the petition for the City of Petersburg to dissolve and become a borough, includes revised boundary lines, and recommendations regarding inclusion of residents who live outside city limits. Petersburg filed a petition with the Alaska State Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development to dissolve the city and for the incorporation of a borough with the Commerce Dept. on April 6, 2011. The Petition was accepted for filing on August 5, 2011, and the LBC bega...
Silas Flor (left) and Chris Bearly clear away the last of chimney at the Lutheran Church on Monday. The chimney has been there for about 100 years. Contractor Jesse West said the chimney was being removed due to safety concerns. Several people who watched the removal took a few bricks as keepsakes West said....
