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Dozens of Petersburg residents participated in a Choose Respect parade and rally on Thursday, March 28 as part of a statewide effort to put the spotlight on domestic violence, dating violence and bullying. The participants,including students, teachers, city officials and even a few pets began at Trading Union and ended at the Sons of Norway Hall where refreshments were served. The master of ceremonies for the rally was Jo Ann Day; speakers included School Superintendent Rob Thomason, Deputy... Full story
The Borough Assembly on Monday voted unanimously to deny the appeal filed by Tamico regarding the award of the North Harbor Reconstruction contract to a Ketchikan company. During an hour-long hearing on Monday, Tamico’s Vice President Jim Martinsen gave testimony regarding the legality of going with a vendor that is outside of Petersburg. Tamico had submitted the second lowest bid overall, about $100,000 higher than Western Dock and Bridge. Last month Martinsen sent a letter to Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht protesting the decision to a... Full story
The Sitka Sound Herring fishery total harvest to date is approximately 5,600 tons leaving just under 6,000 tons remaining to be harvested of the season’s 11,549-ton guideline harvest level, according to a news release from the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game. Major spawning in Sitka Sound began on March 28 and peaked on March 31 with 28.2 nm of shoreline with active spawn. On April 2, active spawn included 6.6 nm of shoreline indicating the major spawning event is concluding. The total cumulative shoreline with spawn documented to date is 42 n... Full story
Petersburg Borough Assembly announced during a regular session meeting on Monday the formation of an Ad hoc Sea Otter Management Committee to address the ongoing sea otter population. The committee will be chaired by Assembly Member Kurt Wohlhueter. Members of the committee include Joan Koutzer, Mike Bangs, Andy Knight, Frank Neidiffer, Dave Somerville, Jason Duggen, John Jensen, Dave Beebe and Brenda Louise. The committee will hold its first meeting at noon, on Friday in Assembly Chambers.. The agenda will include reviewing past support and...
April 6, 1983 – In response to requests from Congressman Don Young and others concerned about the development of ocean resources, president Reagan signed a proclamation establishing an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending 200 miles from the shores of the United States and its overseas possessions. The presidential proclamation affirms U.S. sovereign rights over living and non-living marine resources (except for highly migratory tuna). Congressman Young had sought a presidential proclamation of this nature to provide greater opportunities f...
In July 1936, Petersburg’s main street was under construction. The previous street was built on piling and was surfaced with wooden planks. At this time, planks were removed and the street right-of-way was filled in with gravel. The building at the extreme left of the image, with a wood-rail balcony across the front was the local hotel, located where the Scandia House sits today. The construction firm of Stock and Wright which did the street construction work, offered to move the Wheeler Drug b...
During Monday’s meeting, Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported that the Petersburg Library has digitized local newspapers from 1913 to 1931, they are now online and searchable. An eagle strike, the second of the year, was responsible for taking out power from Scow Bay north. There is now a new procedure for handling the carcass which should be in compliance with Fish and Game regulations. “There were some issues regarding our guys picking up the eagles and having them in their possession,” Giesbrecht said. FERC has agreed not to charg...
Consider local preference To the Editor: Thank you and kudos to the Borough Assembly for having a noon meeting. It allowed me to attend without fear of being caught in the dark on my way home although it looked like the fog was going to make it difficult. I know nothing about contract law but it appears that, once again, Manager Giesbrecht is going to send a substantial amount of money out of our community. He urged the Assembly to deny Jim Martinsen’s appeal against awarding a several million-dollar contract to a Ketchikan contractor for w...
No EIS done on Tonka To the Editor: The March 28, 2013 Petersburg Pilot article on the Tonka log sorting and storage facility did not inform the public with all of the facts. On March 28, 2012 the Tonka Timber Sale FEIS was released and the Record of Decision (ROD) was signed which provided for the construction of a new Sort Yard of 5 acres. On April of 2012 the USFS performed a Change Analysis to expand the area another 11 acres which now total 16 acres (a 16 acre loss of productive old-growth, deer winter habitat, and an important wildlife...
The new Petersburg Public Library construction continues. The roof is ready to be shingled and the cement board siding has been installed under the roof overhang. The siding is starting to be placed on the outside back wall. Inside the building the walls are up and it's becoming easier to envision the completed library. Individual rooms are now separated from a sweeping central space where bookshelves will eventually be installed. “Storefront windows will separate a small meeting room and a c...
March 21 — The fire department was dispatched to Sing Lee Alley after a caller reported alarms going off and smelling smoke. A caller reported an individual driving without a license. Police arrested Anthony L. Hansen, 34 on charges of domestic violence assault. A S. Nordic caller reported a camera stolen. The harbormaster reported a boat alarm at 11:17 p.m. March 22 — PMP&L reported street lights in the Excel St. area would be off for several days. A power outage occurred after an eagle struck a power line in the vicinity of Petro Marine. The...
The borough manager reports that 60 persons have applied for the Chief of Police position. Manager Steve Giesbrecht said Wednesday the borough’s consultant has advised him by email that six Alaskans have submitted applications. Richard Fursman told Giesbrecht his firm will conduct video interviews with the top 18 candidates and narrow the search down to three candidates to be brought to Petersburg with their spouses for face to face interviews on the weekend of April 27. Giesbrecht said he hopes to offer an employment contract to the f...
The Salvation Army of Petersburg is hosting the 2013 Salvation Army's Alaska Congress. The Congress will be held from April 5-7 and will include worship, fellowship, meals, a couple of workshops and also “time for members throughout southeast to just celebrate the Salvation Army,” according to Lt. Caleb Fankhauser, Corps Officer of the Salvation Army in Petersburg. Over 200 participants from all over Alaska are expected to come to Petersburg for the event. The Congress used to be annual but is now held every two years and is in a different loc...
For Grazyna Froehlich, quilting was never about sewing, it was about art. The owner of Wildcat Quilts since 2005, Froehlich said she has finished so many quilts she doesn't remember all of them. Froehlich, 60, earlier this month sold her business to hair stylist, and fellow quilter Kim Randrup, who has already transformed the Sing Lee Alley location into a hair salon and quilting shop. “I've been a lifelong sewer. I sewed ever since I could hold a needle and thread, but I mainly made clothes f... Full story
PHS Seniors Eva Kowalski and Patricia Jackson last month participated in the Distinguished Young Women program in Ketchikan. Eight young women participated in a week-long event formerly known as Junior Miss. The competition is to promote and reward scholarship, leadership and talent. The winner of the local event will compete on the national level in Mobile, Ala. The competition, was open to young women who have never been married or given birth, and met GPA and other requirements. Competitors...
A new plan is being crafted by federal managers for Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries that will reduce bycatch by trawlers, and it will very likely result in a catch share plan. Now is the time for fishing residents to make sure the new program protects their access to local resources and sustains, instead of drains, their coastal communities. Currently, the plan includes trawlers in the Central Gulf and both trawl and pot cod gear in the Western Gulf. “Catch share programs certainly can benefit the long term viability of the resource in a f...
John Silva, Jr. a resident of Petersburg and Angoon, Alaska, passed away on March 3, 2013 at the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle, Wash. from a short battle with cancer. John was born in Petersburg to John Silva, Sr. and Maria Perez-Silva on May16, 1949. John was a very quiet and reserved person who took his job very seriously working as the Water Plant Operator—taking care of the City of Angoon water for 34 years. He was looking forward to retirement, but instead, due to his c... Full story
Juneau — The Douglas-Dornan Foundation of the Juneau Community Foundation, will accept applications for funding support from April 1 through June 1, 2013. The Foundation offers financial grants to organizations that benefit and enhance the health, education and welfare of individuals in Southeast Alaska . Examples of possible Foundation financial support include, but are not limited to: - Charitable organizations, foundations or other non-profit 501(c) (3) organizations, or child care institutions in Southeast Alaska , foster parent p...
