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Already facing funding challenges from this year’s legislative session, schools were hit with another potential blow when the Senate Finance Committee proposed a 4.1 percent base student allocation cut. It was done “literally under the cover of darkness” Superintendent Erica Kludt-Painter said during a school board meeting Tuesday evening. The cut would result in an approximate loss of $235,000 for the Petersburg School District, Finance Director Karen Quitslund said. It’d add onto the $150,000 loss the district is already facing because... Full story
Borough Clerk Debbie Thompson said she will be certifying the most recent application for petition submitted by Angela Davis and Wes Davis, which includes a resolution to continue the blue bag recycling program. The application was submitted in response to the Assembly’s March 16 vote to move to the recycling collection in house and replace the blue bags with carts. The Davis’ submitted the application last Wednesday after a previous application was found to be insufficient due to unenforceability. The resolution included with the most rec... Full story
Last week’s article about the Petersburg Borough Assembly passing an amended resolution allowing for the Southeast Alaska Power Agency’s (SEAPA) bond refinancing and new bond sale incorrectly stated that all member utilities, including Wrangell and Ketchikan, will have to vote on the revised resolution for the bond sale to proceed. The Pilot regrets the error.... Full story
It’s winding down, but it’s not over yet. “A big upswing” in type B influenza cases has served as a reminder that “the flu never truly goes away,” Public Health Nurse Erin Michael said. During the week of April 6, there were three type B cases and one type A reported in Petersburg. It drove Michael to send Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tips to the school district for parents. It’s not just here in Petersburg, the upswing in type B cases has been a national trend, according to the CDC. Michael said Petersburg’s... Full story
April 17, 1915 – Governor Strong on Tuesday signed four bills. The new laws are: By Senator Millard: Prohibiting boys under the age of sixteen loitering around pool halls and cigar stores. H.B. No. 52, by Snow: Providing for secret ballot on prohibiting sale of alcoholic liquors in November, 1916. H.B. No. 16, by Noon: Allowing merchants, contractors and laborers ninety days in which to record leins. H.B. No. 50, by Snow: Providing an eight-hour day for employees in underground workings of all placer, gypsum and other mining properties. S...
The 2015 spring troll fishery got its early start this week. The fishery opened in select locations at 12:01 a.m. today, Thursday. Last year, the first spring troll fishery opened on May 1. Frederick Sound, Ernest Sound, the Neets Bay Terminal Harvest Area and the Hidden Falls Terminal Harvest Area opened and will remain so through April 30, according to an Alaska Department of Fish and Game press release. “Frederick Sound has always been a good area,” Sitka Troll Fishery Biologist Pattie Skannes said during a public meeting in Petersburg las...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly sat as the Board of Equalization (BOE) for 2015 property assessment appeals on April 6. There were 66 appeals this year, most of which were settled privately with the Borough’s assessors Mike Renfro and Arne Erickson from the Appraisal Company of Alaska out of Anchorage. Renfro said the appeals process was straightforward this year. “Most of the appeals were people that had legitimate issues and we addressed all of those concerns,” said Renfro. Five appeals went before the BOE for consideration. The BOE denie...
Influenza information To the Editor: Due to several recent influenza type A and type B cases in Petersburg this week I wanted to reiterate the importance of key flu prevention measures. CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first step in protecting against flu viruses. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a...
A statewide fundraiser, Pick.Click.Give. saw a 25 percent increase in donors and a 20 percent increase in dollars raised this year, benefitting six of Petersburg’s own organizations. Pick.Click.Give. gives Alaskan residents the chance to make a donation to an organization of their choice when they file their Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) online. The $3.3 million pledged statewide this year was a record amount for the seven year program, according to Interim Program Manager Kathy Day. The Petersburg Humane Association (PHA) was one that b...
The Petersburg Police Department is investigating a string of burglaries—the latest reported just a week ago. Beach Bum Tanning reported a break-in to the police department at 10 a.m. on April 9. Chief Kelly Swihart said the burglar took products and cash. The Beach Bum burglary, along with about five others that have occurred since January, are still being actively investigated, he said. “There’s not a lot of property crime here, but we do go through spurts,” Swihart added. He noted that the Piston and Rudder ship store has been burglar...
April 8 An officer provided extra traffic patrols on Dolphin St. A caller requested assistance with a civil matter. April 9 Police received a report of a fender bender. An individual reported receiving harassing phone calls at all hours. A burglary on N. Nordic Dr. was reported. A Lumber St. resident reported someone stole gas from their residence. An assault was reported. April 10 An officer responded to a report of a person being attacked. A driver received a speeding warning from an officer during a traffic stop. An officer responded to a...
Next week is National Infant Immunization Week, and the Petersburg Public Health Center will be waiving administrative fees for those who stop in. “It’s just kind of a reminder to people how important it is to get infants vaccinated,” Public Health Nurse Erin Michael said. Held each year, the week highlights the need to protect infants from vaccine-preventable diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though those of all ages are welcome to get vaccinated in Petersburg. Michael said it’s a great week for those w...
Petersburg High School senior Shalie Dahl will swap her Vikings jersey for a Gators uniform as she takes to the basketball court this fall for Green River College in Auburn, Wash. "I've always wanted to play college basketball. It's always been my dream since elementary school," Dah said. That's when she first took to the court through the local parks and rec program. She continued to develop as a player in the middle school program, and she started playing club basketball during those years as...
Six Petersburg High School students travelled to Wrangell to participate in Artfest last week, and three students earned "Best of Workshop" awards. Julia Murph took home the honor for jewelry making, Tayla Wilson for copper etching and David Galaktionoff for spoon carving. Sydney Guthrie earned an honorable mention for her pottery work and Murph earned the same title for leather mask making. Joec Randoph and Gus Petersen also attended. Over the four-day event, a combination of visiting and...
The Petersburg High School Track and Field team is in full swing practicing for their season that starts May 1. Head Coach Brad Taylor said this year’s team is comprised of about 40 runners, jumpers and throwers. A group of about 25 traveled to Ketchikan last weekend for a scrimmage, giving Taylor a chance to assess his team before the regular season begins. Taylor said several from the team set personal records and the boys team finished first in every event except for three. “They just did really well…I can’t believe we’re actually further a...
JUNEAU (AP) – Heading into the legislative session in January, two of the big issues were Gov. Bill Walker's desire to expand Medicaid and the suddenly more urgent need to confront Alaska's budget deficit amid a crash in oil prices. Here is a rundown of some of the unresolved issues as the Legislature's nears its scheduled adjournment this coming Sunday: THE BUDGET It's been said repeatedly this session that no one could have predicted the free-fall in oil prices that exacerbated Alaska's deficit, leaving projected multibillion-dollar holes thi...
Caribou instead of corn dogs…salmon instead of Trout Treasures… seal meat in place of spaghetti – all could soon be available to more Alaskans if traction continues on a new bipartisan bill before the Alaska legislature. The bill - HB 179 - allows schools, senior centers, hospitals, child care centers and other facilities to accept and serve fish, game, plants and eggs that are donated by subsistence and sport users. Currently, well-meaning state laws intended to prevent the commercial sale of wild game make the practice illegal if a progr...
KETCHIKAN (AP) – Alaska Marine Highway System officials say more than 9,200 travelers have bought tickets for some ferry sailings this summer that might have to be canceled if funding is not restored to the proposed budget for fiscal year 2016. The Ketchikan Daily News newspaper reports the Marine Highway System could face about $11 million in cuts to its budget. Officials say that if that happens, the Taku, Chenega and Malaspina ferries would have to be sidelined from July through September of this year. Deputy Alaska Transportation C...
ANCHORAGE (AP) – An iconic Alaska tree may warrant protection as a threatened or endangered species due to climate warming, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday. The agency will begin a status review of yellow cedar, a tree revered and used by Native Alaska cultures and valued as of high value to the timber industry. The decision is great news for the Tongass National Forest and for yellow cedar, said Rebecca Noblin, an attorney in Anchorage for the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the groups that petitioned to list the...
The Petersburg School Board is still seeking a new member after the deadline to turn in letters of interest passed without anyone turning one in. Mara Lutomski announced at Tuesday evening’s meeting she’d like to submit a letter if the board decides to continue its search. “Yay,” was Vice President Sarah Holmgrain’s response. Former board president Jean Ellis’ resignation was effective on March 18 and the board set a deadline of 5 p.m. on April 9 for letters of interest. It was set to discuss whether or not to continue seeking that new member,...
