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A recently proposed revision to the borough's zoning code is slated to introduce a new form of affordable housing, an expansion of the historic and industrial district, and the end of a requirement on businesses to include parking downtown, officials say. The Petersburg Borough is rolling out a fresh development code that it hopes will streamline zoning approval processes and sure-up any vague and "blurry" language that exists now. There are significant changes that, if approved, could be in...
A coffee shop fundraiser in Petersburg last week in memory of an 18-year-old girl who died in 2016 raised thousands of dollars and sparked an outpouring of online support from across the country. Guylynn Etcher, owner of Glacier Express Cafe, and Britni Birchell, owner of Common Grounds & Alaska Island Coffee, organized a fundraiser last Thursday on behalf of Molly Parks, who wanted to be a special education teacher. She was an athlete, a daughter and a sucker for the underdog. She loved...
January 11, 1918 At Monday night’s regular meeting the council voted that its members and representatives selected by the fishermen meet the next afternoon to look up the most suitable place for a fishermen’s municipal float and get an estimate of cost of construction of same. At Tuesday afternoon’s special meeting, a committee composed of Councilmen Jorgenson, Israelsen, and Steberg, and Erick Ness and Olaf Tenfjord as representatives of the boat owners, was instructed to make specifications and find the cost of putting in a float in front of...
The borough assembly held a work session on Monday to discuss a plan to impose restrictions on who's eligible for senior sales tax exemption, along with a shorter talk on a passenger fee for cruise ships. In a public discussion, hosted by the assembly to hear community member input, an agreement was made that an annual fee ought to be charged to those who'd like a sales tax exemption card. The goal would be to offset costs that go into processing exemption cards for those 65 or older. The...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska state Sen. Mike Dunleavy plans to resign his seat to focus on running for governor. In a statement released Monday, the Wasilla Republican said the best way for him to advocate for his constituents’ values is to devote his full time and attention to ensuring that a new governor is elected this year. A Dunleavy campaign spokeswoman, Amanda Price, said the resignation will be effective Jan. 15 — the day before the new legislative session begins. State Republican party Chairman Tuckerman Babcock said he expects local...
WRANGELL - A Wrangell store owner was surprised to discover her shop had been entered during the night last week, with some items stolen. Located on the back side of the Churchill Building, Silver Liningz Boutique had apparently been broken into sometime during the evening of January 3. One of the town's newer businesses, the shop deals mainly in women's apparel, decorative coffee mugs and exotic scents. Store owner Terie Loomis had recently been working through her year-end inventory, so had a...
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska lawmaker is seeking to change the state law that allows a person as young as 14 to marry. State Sen. Berta Gardner is planning to introduce legislation to increase the legal age of marriage to 18 in Alaska, the Ketchikan Daily News reported. The Democratic senator’s legislation would also allow emancipated minors above the age of 16 to marry. Under current state law, a person between the age of 14 and 18 can marry with permission from a superior court judge. After a hearing with the parents and the minor, the...
The police chief and deputy clerk in Petersburg announced they plan to retire in July, a decision the married couple made together after a year of pondering. The police chief, Kelly Swihart, and his wife, Melinda, the deputy borough clerk, said they plan to retire after the chief’s contract expires on June 30, he said. “We have been debating for the past year on whether or not we wanted to renew my contract in Petersburg,” said Mr. Swihart, who says his leaving is not a resignation. “Or look in other law enforcement opportunities in Alaska,...
Jan. 3 — Officers received mortar fireworks from a passenger at the ferry terminal. Officers undertook a drug investigation. A verbal warning was issued for inoperable taillights. A canine was struck by a vehicle on S. Nordic Drive. Dog was okay. Officer spoke with a complainant on S. 4th St. about a civil matter. Jan. 4 — A caller reported theft of a prescription medication. Suspicious drug activity was reported at a local business. A report of a boat fire at the South Harbor, B Float was unfounded. Headlight reflections could have looked lik...
The Petersburg girls basketball team started its weekend series against Wrangell on Friday with its first win of the season, coming after a pair of free throws put the Vikings up one with seconds left. The second half of the lady's game on Friday saw two key Viking scores at the end of each break. A last second shot by Petersburg at the end of the third gave the team the lead heading into the fourth. And then again, with 4.9 seconds left in regulation, Petersburg was down two and Nina McCay was...
Petersburg boys basketball split two games with Wrangell last weekend, losing on Friday and coming better prepared for the rivalry matchup on Saturday, the coach said. Petersburg had to reach into its bench early in a game against Wrangell on Friday, which caused for a stop-and-go night with recurring scoring lulls. Petersburg lost 44-50. Mark Neidiffer, a Petersburg senior and one of its highest scorers, was benched after being whistled for two fouls early in the first quarter. Dale Strong,...
WRANGELL - Before the 30th Alaska Legislature meets for its second regular session next Tuesday, Sen. Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) stopped in Wrangell last week to meet with constituents. Visiting with the city manager and staff on January 4, Stedman's visit came on the heels of meetings with officials in Petersburg and was to be followed by a trip to Ketchikan. "Before every session I try to come down and run through the district, talking to city hall, finding out what's going on with the city...
On Friday Harold Medalen motored his tug beneath the Sing Lee Alley Bridge and pulled the tilting remains of his family warehouse apart and onto the beach. Medalen said he will salvage the lumber and possibly rebuild the warehouse someday. The structure was built in 1968 by Arnie Espeseth, according to Medalen. The pilings were pushed just a couple of feet into the beach, not driven into the ground by a pile driver. Medalen recalled the then building inspector Louie Seversen warned Espeseth,...
Jeffrey (Skipper) Erickson of Petersburg, Alaska was named to the Dean’s List at Lehigh University in the fall 2017 semester. Erickson is studying Mechanical Engineering....
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Bills introduced ahead of the new legislative session could complicate Gov. Bill Walker’s plans to address Alaska’s budget and tackle infrastructure projects. Two new Senate proposals — one each from a Republican and Democrat — seek to enshrine a dividend from the Alaska Permanent Fund into the state constitution. Similar measures were introduced last year but pushed aside as legislators delayed action on a plan that would use fund earnings to help pay for state government and change how dividends are calculate...
