Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
Police Chief Jim Agner warned the Petersburg Rotary Club members on Wednesday that a jump in heroin use in town is likely to cause property crimes to increase. “We have a heroin problem in town and it’s epidemic in Alaska,” Agner said. He estimated that Petersburg is consuming as much as $750,000 a year of heroin. “With that level of heroin use, we’re going to have a huge increase in property crimes. The money has to come from somewhere. If you have a $300 a day habit, you’ve gotta come up with $300 a day,” the Chief stated. He added that ho...
Negotiations have fallen flat regarding funding for the relocation of the 29-year-old Romiad building, and the two-story building will now most likely be torn down as soon as next week. Talks between the Petersburg Economic Development Council (PEDC) and local business-owner Pete Litsheim, who had asked for a loan of $210,000 to move the building from its current location near the corner of 2nd and Haugen to an empty lot next to Scandia House on N. Nordic Drive, have stalled do to a disagreement over collateral and other contractual obligations...
Schools students and public officials participated in a statewide Choose Respect event – with a march downtown and a rally at the Sons of Norway hall. Choose Respect is a campaign sponsored by Governor Sean Parnell to raise awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual assault and bullying. The students marched on Nordic downtown and then gathered for snacks and to share thoughts and comments on what 'Choose Respect' means to them. “Sometimes we're a little too polite when we see...
April 7, 1982 - Before construction even begins on the new small boat harbor, it appears that the $5.25 million currently appropriated for the project may not be enough, according to Bob Beck, harbor design and construction specialist with the Department of Transportation. At a public meeting held in Petersburg last week, Beck estimated that the first phase of the project, which consists of groundwork, will cost $2.709 million; and the second phase, or the actual construction, will cost $4.126...
Petersburg will be ready once again to go to court against the Alaska Redistricting Board in order to stay in the district with Sitka, the City Council decided during a regular meeting Monday. The council opposes the plan because they say it reduces, disproportionately the representation of Petersburg voters in the House and Senate District. Also, the district Petersburg would be in with Juneau under the new plan is not compact enough to be lawful under the state constitution. The city last...
Fundraising drive a success To the Editor: Rae C. Stedman Elementary recognizes the combined efforts of many toward the success of our fundraising drive entitled, “Reading with a Meaning.” From local businesses to community members, from parents to students, we linked efforts and stood as one to give the gift of a lifetime to the children of Wondo Genet, Ethiopia--an education. Our brightly decorated little yellow donation boxes were accepted and displayed at local businesses. Many businesses then showed their support with a generous don...
Last year the Sons of Norway Fedrelandet Lodge #23 celebrated their 100th birthday as an organization. This year, the SONs celebrate the 100th year of their hall’s construction. The amazing thing about the Sons of Norway Hall is that it was built in just three months. That is an incredible feat given the state of construction technology in 1912. Given the size of the structure, an incredible number of volunteers must have showed up for the work party to get such a project completed in such a short time. Today, the same can-do attitude prevails...
Hello again from the Legislature. Now that we’re down to the last two weeks of session, the pace is really picking up and the hours getting longer. I was very pleased that my resolution to recreate the state’s dedicated transportation fund received approval of the House on Friday. House Joint Resolution 4 would put a constitutional amendment before the voters in November to amend the Alaska Constitution - reinstating a dedicated Alaska Transportation Infrastructure Fund (ATIF). As the state’s po...
March 28 Officers responded to a welfare check on Haugen Drive. Caller reported the theft of property and harassment. Russ A. Johnston, 50, was arrested on charges of suspicion of criminal trespass. Johnston is suspected of breaking into a residence on N. Nordic. An individual reportedly broke a wire on a utility pole, PMP&L responded. March 29 A caller reported the theft of a child's tricycle from a path. Caller reported an intoxicated person on Chief John Lott. Kenneth J. Hammer, 61, was arrested on charges of DUI on 12th Street. March 30 A 4...
March 26 Martin Baker was arraigned in Trial Court on charges of assault, a fourth degree misdemeanor. Baker was released on his own recognizance. A hearing date is set for April 17. March 29 Russ A. Johnston was arraigned in Trial Court on charges of criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor. Johnston entered a plea of no contest. Accepting the plea Magistrate Desi Burrell ordered Johnston to 20 days in jail, with 20 days suspended, a fine of $500, with $350 suspended and other fees totally $100. Johnston was also ordered to one year...
Just when you thought it was safe to turn on the TV, another reality show hits the little screen. But this time, the new show Dangerous Waters, which premiered at 7 p.m. Tuesday on GCI channel 1, has local ties. The show chronicles the adventures of outdoor enthusiast and California-native Steven Moll who came up with the idea to take a group of guys on SeaDoo personal watercraft from Washington state through the Alaskan inside passage and onward toward Russia. Dangerous Waters Season 1 will las...
On Monday, April 2, the Sitka Sound herring sac roe fishery was opened in the northwest portion of Sitka Sound and brought in an estimated catch of 5,610 tons. The fishery opened at 11:30 a.m. and closed at 4:40 p.m. The preliminary harvest for the first opening on March 31 is 4,730 tons for a total harvest this season of 10,440 tons. This leaves approximately 18,390 tons remaining of this year’s guideline harvest level of 28,829 tons, according to a release from the Alaska Dept. of Fish and G...
ANCHORAGE (AP) — A derelict Japanese ship dislodged by last year's massive tsunami was drifting toward Alaska Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The shrimping vessel was floating slowly northwest in the Gulf of Alaska about 125 miles west of the nearest point of land _ Forrester Island outside the Dixon Entrance, a maritime transportation corridor separating U.S. and Canada jurisdictions. The ship is heading in the direction of the southeast Alaska town of Sitka 170 miles to the north, traveling at about one mile per hour, Coast Guard s...
WRANGELL Eight recall petition applications to remove all but one member of the Wrangell Medical Center (WMC) Board of Directors have been filed with the City and Borough of Wrangell. WMC Board members included in the petitions are WMC Board Chair Mark Robinson, Vice Chair Jim Nelson and Linda Bjorge, Sylvia Ettafaugh, Jake Harris, Lurine McGee, Dee Norman, and LeAnn Rinehart. The sole WMC Board member not included in the petitions is Dorothy Hunt-Sweat. Wrangell resident Gary Allen, Sr. is the main sponsor of the petitions, and Michael V....
For the first time ever, seafood industry reps were invited to brief policy makers in Congress on jobs and economic opportunities. Last Thursday the group presented a panel discussion called ‘Seafood Jobs in America’ to the Senate Oceans Caucus and an audience of 80 people. According to Seafood.com, it included representatives of twelve senators and even one from the White House, plus a large contingent from the environmental NGO community. Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich both made opening remarks at the event. “Nobody else...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sport fishing regulations for king (Chinook) salmon in Southeast Alaska and Yakutat from 12:01 A.M. Friday, March 30, 2012 through 11:59 P.M. Tuesday, April 30, 2013, are: Alaskan Resident: The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. Nonresident: The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; except during May 2012 when the bag and possession limit is two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; The nonresident...
City Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported to the City Council on Monday that several city projects are right on schedule. • Municipal Power & Light has completed “Witness testing” a new stand-by diesel generator, the city is purchasing from ASCR McGraw Constructors in Phoenix. The unit will be shipped to Seattle and then on to Petersburg. • There was a pre-bid teleconference on March 29 regarding the new library project. The deadline for bids is April 12. • The downtown road improvement bids have a deadline set for May. The good news for busin...
The USCG Cutter Hickory last week made a brief stop in Petersburg. The multi-mission cutter was docked in the South Harbor in March. During the brief visit, the crew of 43 enlisted men and seven officers got a chance to explore Petersburg before heading back out to sea. The Hickory is currently stationed out of Homer, and spends much of its time in Kachmak Bay, Cook Inlet and along the Aleutian Islands. The Hickory is equipped as a buoy tender and is responsible for maintaining up to 200 buoys....
Participants in Petersburg triathlons and 5-K runs will soon have the quickest, most-accurate race results than any other area in Southeast Alaska. With a financial gift from the Chamber of Commerce, the Petersburg Parks and Recreation has purchased a Jaguar Cubby Race Timing System from Innovative Timing Systems. The system, which costs about $4,000, uses radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to transmit data from a chip on each of the runners to a computer that tabulates race results. The RFID chips are worn usually on clothing or in...
Petersburg residents Tammy Judd and Douglas Jenny were wed March 24, 2012, at Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department Station 1 in Petersburg, Alaska. Tammy is the daughter of Dixie Myrberg, of Anchorage, and the late Donald D. Judd. Doug was born in Sitka to the late Alma and Harold Jenny. Reverend Robert Carter, a member of PVFD Search and Rescue and Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, officiated at the ceremony. Doug’s childhood friend Steve Craddick of Fairbanks was best man and Tammy’s dau...
The French Canadian band Grand Derangement performed for the second time in Petersburg on Friday. Members of the band include (left to right, above) Jean-Pascal Comeau on bass guitar and step dancing, Daniel LeBlanc on fiddle and guitar, Briand Melanson on drums and vocals, Charles Robicheau on guitar, and (pictured separately) Monique Comeau on vocals and step dancing. The concert marked the end of the Petersburg Arts Council’s 2011/2012 concert series. It was also the debut of the newly i...
The Petersburg Community Foundation’s third grant-making opportunity is now open. A total of $7000 will be awarded to a minimum of three nonprofit organizations. Applications are due April 12 at 9:00 p.m. Grant awards will be announced at the Foundation’s donor event on May 19th. The Petersburg Community Foundation recently transferred its application process to a user - friendly online format. To access, go to the Foundation’s website at www.petersburgcf.org and click on ‘grants and community projects’. Please direct your programma...
The Alaska Community Foundation has scholarships available for current and incoming college students. For more information about these scholarships, including eligibility requirements and criteria, visit the foundation’s website at http://www.alaskacf.org/GrantOpportunities/ScholarshipListing/tabid/180/Default.aspx. The scholarships include: The David E. Knox Memorial Nursing Fellowship - Deadline to apply: April 15, 2012 Shelly Szepanski Memorial Flight Scholarship - Deadline to apply: June 15, 2012 Jim Snead Memorial Scholarship - Deadline t...
Free Books for Kids/Stuffed Animal Sleep Over - Friday March 30, 10 am – 4 pm. Choose a free book and drop off your favorite stuffed animal for a wild night at the library. What trouble will your critter get in when the library locks its doors? The library's Teen Advisory Group (TAG) will leave tons of fun and exciting books for them to read and stacks of movies for them to watch. They will have the time of their lives enjoying their all-animal library sleepover. Bring one of your favorite stuffed animals to the library by closing time on F...
A large Korean ship, the M/V Jochoh has been docked at Petersburg Fisheries for two weeks. They have been here loading herring from the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery to ship overseas and are expected to leave town next week....
