Sorted by date Results 1 - 17 of 17
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...
March 23, 1962 (Wrangell Sentinel) - Construction was started Monday on the Mitkof highway extension to Dry Strait after the winter shut down. About 20 men were on the job, mostly men called back from last season's operations with the addition of several mechanics and a shovel operator. Between 65 and 70 men will be employed during the summer, according to Supt. Joe Hanus. Preliminary work involves removal of fallen trees, rocks and boulder drilling. Additional equipment is being added. A barge...
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...
Sea Otter Crafts To the Editor: Under the Marine Mammal Protection of 1972 Alaska Natives are exempt and allowed to harvest marine mammals for subsistence and to make and sell crafts made from the animal parts. This exemption was included to protect and insure that our traditions, culture and art can continue. The Fish and Wildlife Service is implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act by using gray area regulations that we can't understand with severe legal penalties that is causing many to not participate in sea otter hunting and skin...
March 14 Caller reported suspicious activity in the South Harbor. Officers responded to a call regarding an intoxicated, aggressive individual. March 15 EMS responded to a call at the air terminal. An abandoned 4-wheeler was found in the forest off a trail behind the ball field. March 16 Daniel Torrence, 53, was cited for improperly backing up and causing a minor accident in the Middle Harbor parking lot. Caller reported smoke in the area of Haugen Drive. Suspicious activity was reported at a business on Hungerford Hill Road. March 17 A...
March 19 Jake Cunningham pleaded guilty to criminal mischief, a fourth degree misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 90 days, with credit for 89 days served. The court ordered Cunningham to not consume alcohol to excess and to pay a $200 fine. George D. Marlow III, 24, entered a plea of “not guilty” to charges of burglary, a first-degree felony, assault, a second-degree felony and criminal mischief, a fourth degree misdemeanor. A trial date has been set for May 21. Taylor Homer, 23, entered a plea of “not guilty” to charges of burglary, a first-d...
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...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The owners of a Juneau restaurant have agreed to pay a penalty for buying subsistence-harvested halibut. The Juneau Empire says the owners of the Zen Restaurant will pay a civil penalty of $18,000 over the next 12 months for purchasing halibut they knew was subsistence-caught. Residents living in rural areas are only eligible for subsistence hunting rights on federal land. The Northern Pacific Halibut Act prohibits the sale, offer for sale, trade or barter of subsistence-harvested halibut. It was not immediately known i...
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...
The Pacific halibut fishery gets underway on March 17 and if the dynamic of supply and demand holds true, there will be an upward push on prices. The coast wide halibut catch was reduced by more than 18% this year to 33.5 million pounds, following a 19% cut to the catch last year. Alaska’s share of the harvest is 25.5 million pounds. That will be shared by roughly 2,200 Alaska longliners who hold quota shares of the halibut catch. fresh halibut of the season will undoubtedly fetch over $6/lb at major ports. The average price for halibut d...
Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced the non-pelagic rockfish bag, possession and the mandatory retention for the sport fishery during 2012 in the Southeast Outside Waters and Southeast Inside Waters. Nonresident angler annual limits of yelloweye rockfish have also been established for the 2012 season. The following regulations are effective on March 16, 2012. Southeast Outside Waters: • All non-pelagic rockfish caught must be retained until the daily bag limit is reached. • The resident daily bag limit is two non-pelagic roc...
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...
