Articles from the February 23, 2012 edition


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  • Community feeling more frustrated following town hall meeting

    Suzanne Ashe|Feb 23, 2012

    “Justice was not served tonight,” said Petersburg City Councilman Don Koenigs, following an hour and a half-long town hall meeting to discuss the breakdown in communication and lack of services from the Juneau District Attorney's Office. The meeting, held on Tuesday evening at Wright Auditorium, brought community leaders and members together, to share opinions and ask questions regarding lack of communication and the seemingly high number of cases dismissed by the D.A.'s office in Juneau. A rep...

  • Five cases of head lice found at elementary school

    Suzanne Ashe|Feb 23, 2012

    A handful of cases of head lice have been reported at Rae C. Stedman Elementary School. The outbreak is limited to five students and has been contained, said Principal Erica Kludt-Painter. School officials were notified earlier this month by parents of a preschooler, who has a sibling at Stedman. Both the pre-schooler and the Stedman student had lice, Kludt-Painter said, adding that four more children were also found to have lice. “All of the cases so far are from the same group of kids that spend time together,” Kludt-Painter said. Head lic...

  • Illuminated ice

    Feb 23, 2012

    Sunny skies illuminated the majestic LeConte Glacier on Sunday. Local jet boat operator Breakaway Adventures led its first trip of the year to the enormous glacier with about 14 passengers. Since last summer, Breakaway Adventures owner and this weekend’s boat captain Eric Yancey, said the center portion of the face of the glacier has pushed forward about 200 to 300 yards. Once warm weather creeps into LeConte Bay, that ice will begin to break off from the glacier and join the other many b...

  • Yesterday's News

    Feb 23, 2012

    February 24, 1982 - The new Petersburg Ferry Terminal opened Tuesday, and Monday was moving day for the office crew. Boxes of office supplies sat outside the new ticket counter area which is surrounded by a plush, roomy waiting area for ferry travelers. The new ferry terminal is about 3 times the size of the old facility. February 27, 1992 - The U.S. Forest Service is trying to find out if local residents and agencies are interested in a proposed road that would connect Sandy Beach and Cabin...

  • Elementary students read their way to much needed funds for Ethiopia

    Suzanne Ashe|Feb 23, 2012

    On a wall at Rae C. Stedman Elementary School are rows and rows of red, brown and orange construction paper bricks – each boasting a student's name. The bricks are a representation of accomplishment for the Reading with a Meaning campaign, and they also mean the promise of building new classrooms for a kindergarten in Ethiopia. “By the end of the month, this whole wall will be covered,” said fifth grade teacher Greg Kowalski, motioning to the space above several students who sat at long table...

  • PIA election results released

    Suzanne Ashe|Feb 23, 2012

    The Petersburg Indian Association (PIA) held elections on Friday for a board of director chair position and four open board seats. According to election results, Ronelle Beardslee will serve as the new chairman. This is a one-year term. Beardslee ran uncontested. Christina Sokamoto, who also ran uncontested, took the one available one-year term as board member. Mary Ann Rainey and Chris Lopez nabbed two of the available two-year terms. Derek Lopez, who was a write-in candidate, took the last available two-year term. Serving one-year terms on...

  • Letters to the Editor

    Feb 23, 2012

    The plow man is missing To the Editor: What ever happened to the city’s road grader? We know the plow man retired years ago. Why haven’t we replaced him? I’ve seen (working in his place) as many as four men, two trucks, one loader and two shovels, wow. How is that as effective or inexpensive as one man and one grader? It’s not. Our streets are horrible. Ira II looks like a dry river at the bottom of the Rockies, 6th Street like area 51 bomb range, and 8th Street more like prairie dog mounds in Nebraska. We could save an enormous amount of mone...

  • Editorial

    Ron Loesch|Feb 23, 2012

    While we understand the reasons many feel the Town Hall Meeting with Deputy Attorney General Richard Svobodny was not productive, the meeting did benefit Petersburg. Face-to-face meetings are good for all parties. It’s easier to deal with people you know and with those who know you. It is pretty evident that folks attending the meeting will be calling Mr. Svobodny in the not too distant future. Frankly, there seems to be undisclosed reasons why Juneau D.A. David Brower has sidestepped any efforts to improve communications with Police Chief J...

  • Peggy's Corner of the House

    Representative Peggy Wilson|Feb 23, 2012

    Hello again from the Capital. We’ve now completed the first thirty days of the session. There’s a lot to be done yet, and I’m concerned about whether we’ll get all the important legislation accomplished. These ninety-day sessions are a real stretch. The week began with a rush and ended with a new piece of legislation being introduced that will be of great interest to District 2. I have joined with a group of coastal legislators in introducing Coastal Management Program (ACMP) legisla...

  • Police Report

    Feb 23, 2012

    Feb. 15 - Fire alarm activated on 100 block of N. Nordic. Fire dept. responded. Officers reported to a possible intruder on Wrangell Ave. It turned out to be a contractor. Caller complained of youths yelling and jumping on cars on 3rd Street. The youths were gone by the time officers responded. Officers responded to a family dispute on S. Nordic. Officers reported to a possible intruder on Sandy Beach Rd. Feb. 16 - Caller requested EMS, officers assisted. Caller reported an angry driver who sped-off from the High School. Officers issued a...

  • Court Report

    Feb 23, 2012

    Jan. 26 The court heard from Ian R. Hamilton at a representation hearing. Hamilton is looking for representation on negligent driving charges. The case is held-over to April 23. Justin Patrick entered a plea of not guilty to criminal mischief. He was appointed a public defender and will be back in court on April 23. Jan. 30 Dereck Michael Knudsen entered a plea of guilty to disorderly conduct. He received one year probation and was told to stay out of Kito's Kave. David T. Janzen entered a plea of guilty. He was sentenced to 3 years probation...

  • Litsheim to move Romiad Building to downtown lot

    Suzanne Ashe|Feb 23, 2012

    If all goes as planned, the Romiad Building will soon be moved about 600 feet, and face a different direction. The Petersburg Economic Development Council recommended, and Petersburg City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved, a loan of $210,000, at 5 percent interest, to local businessman Pete Litsheim. Litsheim plans to move the 29-year-old building from its current location near the corner of 2nd and Haugen to across the street, down and over a block to an empty lot next to Scandia House on...

  • Council approves Raven's Roost trail head and Wastewater office

    Suzanne Ashe|Feb 23, 2012

    After years of planning and negotiating, the Raven's Roost trail will soon have a new trail head. The Petersburg City Council on Tuesday voted to approve of an easement to connect the U.S. Forest Service’s Raven’s Roost Trail with a location near Sandy Beach Park. The proposed access to the trail will be located behind the dog shelter. The new trail head will not interfere with the dog shelter. “This has been going on for years,” said Planning Director Leo Luczak. But the U.S. Forest Service has secured the funds from the state and Alaska...

  • Ketchikan officials say welding caused ferry fire

    Feb 23, 2012

    KETCHIKAN (AP) — Welding accidently caused a recent fire on the Alaska state ferry Malaspina, according to an investigation report by the Ketchikan Fire Department. The Feb. 7 fire caused an estimated $750,000 of damage, according to the report obtained by the Ketchikan Daily News (http://bit.ly/zuwDQd ). Alaska Marine Highway spokesman Jeremy Woodrow said the ferry system has not calculated the exact amount of damage, but cleanup costs are estimated at about $300,000. No one was injured when the fire broke out while the 372-foot ferry was i...

  • Seniors appreciated during Vikings last home game

    Orin Pierson|Feb 23, 2012

    The Vikings played their final home series of the season against the Metlakatla Chiefs last weekend. The Vikings pillaged the court during Friday night’s first quarter, outscoring the Chiefs 17-8. In the second period the Metlakatala boys cranked up their defensive pressure, effectively stopping Viking scoring for a solid four minutes. The Chiefs knocked down two crucial threes right before the half withering the Viking lead to one point. The two teams were evenly matched through the third q...

  • Middle school wrestling championship results

    Feb 23, 2012

    Petersburg took 5th place at the Southeast Middle School Wrestling Championship that took place Feb. 17 – 18 in Juneau, according to coaches Rob Schwartz and Ed May. Champions - Buddy Stelmach-75 lbs. Buddy had an outstanding tournament and found a way to win against tough competition. He’s a smart, determined wrestler. Ethan Bryner-210 lbs. Ethan has worked hard improving his strength and wrestling skills. He is a smart competitor and that helped him win in the semi-finals and finals. Runner-up - Isaiah May-127 lbs. Isaiah wrestled a great tou...

  • Alaska Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|Feb 23, 2012

    It’s a mixed bag in America in terms of bankrolling ‘the best available science’ for our nation’s fisheries. Based on the preliminary federal budget released last week, funds for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration went from $4.7 billion to $5.5 billion, an increase of about $750 million. Within the NOAA budget, funding for the National Marine Fisheries Service comes in at $1 billion - a drop of $15 million from its actual budget for the last fiscal year. Out of NMFS’ FY13 budget, $174 million will fund science and managemen...

  • Rasmuson Foundation now accepting Distinguished Artist Award nominations

    Feb 23, 2012

    Rasmuson Foundation is now accepting nominations for its 2012 Distinguished Artist Award. Rasmuson Foundation offers one $25,000 Distinguished Artist Award annually in recognition of creative excellence and superior accomplishments in the arts. The award is intended as a validation of the artist's creative output and contributions to the state of Alaska. Anyone can nominate someone to receive the Distinguished Artist Award and an application package from the artist is not necessary to receive the award. Eligible artists have created an...

  • Barton Austin Sollars Sr., 83

    Feb 23, 2012

    Barton Austin Sollars Sr. died at age 83 on February 11 in the family’s winter home in Yuma, Ariz. He passed away five weeks after being diagnosed with stage 4 renal cell cancer. He was born in Klamath Falls, Ore. on November 9, 1929. Barton moved to Sitka when he was 13 yrs. old with his father Albert Sollars. They fished on the boat “Higill”. He married Carol Ann Johanessen in 1950. Together they raised four children in Sitka, Barton Sollars Jr., Lorna Sollars, Thomas Sollars and Lyman Sollars...