Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
The borough assembly awarded the Motor Pool Shop repair design bid to WJE, Associates, Inc. based out of Washington in an amount not to exceed $50,000 at their meeting on Monday. The cost of the design work will be covered by the borough's liability insurance provider. The design process will be the first steps in rebuilding the borough's Motor Pool Shop, which went up in flames in August. The fire displaced motor pool staff to an adjacent garage until the original building can be repaired....
The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved a declaration of disaster emergency at Monday's assembly meeting in response to the COVID-19 outbreak across the country and state. Additionally, the assembly approved an emergency ordinance that would allow the assembly to declare a quorum by calling into an assembly meeting instead of being present. By declaring a disaster emergency, the borough is putting itself in position to better receive state and federal emergency funding should the borough requir...
March 26, 1920 K. L. Steberg, local agent for the Standard Oil Co. has received notification of a raise of prices amounting to 2 cents per gallon on gasoline and distillate and 1 cent per gallon on Fuel Oil, effective immediately. These advances in prices of petroleum products are the natural and direct result of a shortage in petroleum supply, with an increased demand, not only in California but throughout the country. March 23, 1945 Mrs. Jeanne Simmonds is planning the opening of a flower shop in the Worth Building. Both Mrs. Simmonds and...
Dave Ellis showed up at our office last Friday suggesting a mistake had been made in our Yesterday’s News column that appears on page 2 each week. Dated March 18, 1970, the Petersburg Press reported Petersburg Public Schools announced the establishment of a $100 per year scholarship for a graduating senior planning to go to vocational school. The scholarship was provided by Ellis Machine, a local machine shop and Detroit Diesel dealer in Petersburg. Ellis said the scholarship was for $1,000/year, not $100. He added that no one ever applied f...
The borough assembly failed to pass a letter to Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Commissioner John MacKinnon requesting DOT revise their plans for the Kake Access Road project to end the road directly across from Petersburg on Kupreanof Island instead of at Twelvemile Creek. Mayor Mark Jensen, who requested the letter be put on the agenda, said ending the road at Twelvemile Creek was not a good plan and it should end closer to Petersburg in the Wrangell Narrows. "I...
WRANGELL - The Wrangell Borough Assembly held a special meeting on Tuesday afternoon, March 17. In response to the global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), which recently reached Alaska, the assembly decided to meet to determine how best to handle the situation, and mitigate chances of the virus spreading locally. There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wrangell as of March 17, but the assembly felt it was important to be proactive. As part of an effort to encourage social...
As our nation and the world experiences the life-altering impacts of the novel coronavirus pandemic, I wanted to take a moment to speak to you directly. If you’ve followed our many press conferences this week, you know that Alaska is rapidly preparing for an outbreak, and that an emergency was declared prior to our first confirmed case. Now that the inevitable first case has occurred, our schools are safely closed, testing requirements have been liberalized, and steps have been taken to protect our seniors. Visitation has been suspended or l...
In just two weeks the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in which we live. Sheltering in place and social distancing are the new means of protecting us, and others, from person-to-person contact with the virus, which for the elderly could be fatal. With this in mind, we are taking action to protect our employees, and our customers from potential COVID-19 transmission. Our office supply store and newspaper office will be closed to walk-in customers effective today (Thursday) at 1 p.m. Orders for office supplies can be taken over the phone,...
This year's Petersburg High School senior baccalaureate service and scholarship ceremony will be held separately on the same night, as opposed to last year when both ceremonies were conducted one right after the other. On Tuesday, May 19, the senior baccalaureate will start at about 6 P.M. in the Wright Auditorium. Once the graduating seniors have each been honored, a brief intermission will be held in the high school commons. The seniors will then be awarded their scholarships back in the...
Effective immediately public access to most Petersburg Borough offices will be limited, by order of Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht. A press release put out by the borough states the action is taken to keep employees safe and to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Borough offices in most cases will put in place alternate delivery of services that will eliminate or reduce direct interaction between individuals. Contact phone numbers for borough offices can be found on the borough’s website, www.ci.petersburg.ak.us Both the library and t... Full story
March 11 — Authorities responded to a disturbance report at the 300 block of N. Nordic Dr. A dangerous driver was reported at a location on Haugen Dr. March 12 — Criminal mischief was reported at a location on Mitkof Highway. A motor vehicle accident occurred on S. Nordic Dr. Authorities responded to a disturbance report at a location on S. 4th St. A civil complaint brought a police response. March 13 — Theft was reported at South Boat Harbor. Authorities responded to suspicious activity at a location on S. Nordic Dr. Authorities respo...
Services suspended To the Editor: There will be no public celebration of Mass across the Diocese of Juneau or other large gatherings effective through Friday, March 27. This includes all public Liturgies, Masses, Benedictions, Stations of the Cross, faith formation classes, and other types of church activities. Today’s directive was made for the common good and for the people of God entrusted to our care - many of whom are considered high risk and vulnerable. In light of my directive, I want to let you know that you are temporarily dispensed f...
The Lady Vikings took first place in the Regional basketball tournament last week in Juneau and brought back the Region V Championship title for division two. Petersburg was seeded third at the tournament and played against Wrangell last Wednesday for the chance to compete in the championship game. Head Coach Dino Brock said that the first game of the tournament started off strong, but the game soon became a low-scoring, defensive bout. The Lady Vikings had played the Lady Wolves in four...
The Petersburg High School boys basketball team was named Region V Champions among Southeast Alaska's 2A schools at Regionals last week after beating Wrangell and Haines in two high-energy games. The Vikings went into the tournament with the number one seeding position and didn't play until the second day of Regionals last Thursday. Their first game of the tournament was against the Wrangell Wolves who had just beaten the Craig Panthers the previous day. Head Coach Rick Brock said he...
The Five Finger Lighthouse Society went into detail on their plans for the future of the Five Finger Lighthouse at a presentation last Thursday and gave an overview of the lighthouse and its history. The non-profit organization, which took over the lighthouse from the Juneau Lighthouse Association last year, looks to preserve the historic value of the lighthouse, make access to the island easier for visitors and educate the public on the lighthouse's significance. The Five Finger Lighthouse was...
The borough assembly passed an ordinance that would establish a new Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in its second reading at Monday's assembly meeting. If ordinance #2020-05 should pass in all three readings, the assembly would begin accepting letters of interest from the public and then appoint five members onto the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Those appointed to the board would serve until the borough election in October wherein duly elected members will serve on the board. Since t...
As the governor’s Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Work Group gets underway, our directive is clear: chart a sustainable, long-term path that delivers the transportation services our coastal communities need with the reliability, safety and efficiency that all Alaskans deserve. As group chair, I am fortunate to share this endeavor with experienced and talented individuals representing a wide swathe of Alaskan perspectives. While I won’t speak for my teammates, I know that each is committed to delivering a work product that positions the system f...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A pair of Alaska communities meant to receive supplemental ferry service under a state agreement with a private contractor are waiting for the ships to arrive. Gustavus and Pelican had not yet received ferry service by Wednesday despite a contract to provide temporary transportation following budget cuts and mechanical issues that halted the Alaska Marine Highway System, CoastAlaska reported. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities signed a Feb. 26 agreement with urban Native corporation Goldbelt I...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska lawmaker faces charges of voter misconduct and interference with voting stemming from elections in 2014 and 2018. State prosecutors announced the charges against Anchorage Republican Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux on Friday. Charges also were filed against Lisa Simpson, described in charging documents as a former chief of staff to LeDoux, and Caden Vaught, an adult son of Simpson. The state began investigating LeDoux after the Division of Elections reported ballot irregularities in her House race during the 2018 p...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — State museums and schools are temporarily closed; restaurants, bars and gyms in Anchorage are shuttered for the rest of March and fans are urged not to fly to Nome for the end of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. These are among the responses to concerns with the new coronavirus in Alaska. The COVID-19 illness causes mild or moderate symptoms in most people, but severe symptoms are more likely in the elderly or those with existing health problems. Three people have tested positive in Alaska. Here is a round up of other vir...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A drop in global oil prices will likely add $300 million to Alaska’s current year budget deficit, state officials said. A state Legislative Finance Division official told lawmakers the state could experience a $600 million revenue reduction in the 2021 fiscal year starting July 1, The Alaska Journal of Commerce reported Friday. Oil price forecasts in the range of $60 per barrel now appear optimistic, officials said. Prices began falling in early February as traders reacted to lower demand forecasts from China due to...
It is with deepest sorrow to say that on Jan. 2nd ,2020, Jordan Marsh Birchell, beloved son, husband, father and brother passed away suddenly... -Anyone that knew Jordan, even just a little, lost a shinning light in their lives. Jordan's life began on August 18th, 1990 as the middle child of Ed and Marsha. He grew up in Petersburg spending most of his childhood camping with cousins in the summer and snowmobiling in winter. Many of his childhood days were spent with friends fishing along... Full story
