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The forest service in Petersburg was hardset on waiting to decide on a recent controversial guide permit for moose hunting issue, saying on Wednesday it would hold-off until next week, only to change its mind minutes later. A retired forest service employee on Wednesday said the Petersburg Ranger District was close to making a decision on a guide permit for moose hunting in the area, and it was doing so without public input. Jim Schramek, a retired forest service employee of 37 years, told the Pilot Wednesday at about noon that a hunting guide...
Researchers at a lighthouse near Petersburg have been conducting behavioral studies of humpback whales, trying to understand their diverse communication system, and this summer the humans are ready to talk back. Dr. Fred Sharpe, a research biologist with the Alaska Whale Foundation and part-time Juneau Lighthouse Association keeper of the Five Finger Lighthouse in Frederick Sound, gave a talk in Petersburg to about 100 people last Thursday. Sharpe has spent 30 summers at the lighthouse and was...
April 5, 1918 John Allen, who returned from Juneau last Friday on the Admiral Watson, brought word that Petersburg has been granted a customs office. His informant was Collector of Customs Pugh, who stated that he would be down here shortly to arrange for establishing the office. A letter of like purport was also received by Martin Kildall from Grand Trunk officials, who further stated that the steamers of the Canadian line would, when the office is opened, call at this port for business. April 2, 1943 It’s here at last, folks! Yes, the time fo...
The CEO of Southeast Alaska’s wholesale power provider stopped by an assembly meeting on Monday to update Petersburg on its projects and financial wins so far this year. Trey Acteson, CEO of Southeast Alaska Power Agency, the primary electric provider for Wrangell, Petersburg and Ketchikan, explained multiple ways on how the organization is cutting costs, mostly from fighting strict regulatory proposals. “As many of you know,” Acteson said, “I’m pretty active in that arena.” SEAPA saved $30,000 annually when the Federal Energy Regulatory...
The Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery closed Tuesday for the remainder of the 2018 season after two days and about 8,300 tons short of guideline harvest level. The Alaska Department Fish and Game closed the Sitka fishery after the roughly 30 boats hauled in 2,800 tons of fish. “The last fishery occurred on March 26,” read a Tuesday press release from Eric Coonradt, area marine biologist with the Alaska Department Fish and Game Division of Commercial Fisheries. “And since then the department has not been able to identify a body of good quali...
With this week’s edition the price of both the Wrangell Sentinel and Petersburg Pilot increases to $1.50 from the $1 price charged for nearly two decades. The Sentinel price went from $.75 to $1 in 2000. The Pilot price was last adjusted in 1995. “We’re producing papers filled with local news produced by staff members that are recognized for the quality of their work each year,” publisher Ron Loesch noted this week. Just this past year the Sentinel earned four Alaska Press Club honors including 2nd place for Best Weekly, while the Pilot e...
A story last week said that Jeffrey Jones, a candidate for CEO of the Petersburg Medical Center, served in the United States Air Force for about six years. Jones also served as a healthcare administrator from 1990 to 2007, which was not reflected in the article.... Full story
A non-profit group's theme for sexual assault awareness month focuses on how to educate and talk about sexual violence in Petersburg. The group, Working Against Violence for Everyone, is using April to engage the community with an "Embrace Your Voice" theme. "Individuals," reads a press release provided by WAVE, "can embrace their voices to show their support for survivors, stand up to victim blaming, shut down rape jokes, correct harmful misconceptions, promote everyday consent, and practice...
Since June 2017 this newspaper has received three price increases totaling $167 metric/ton from our Canadian newsprint supplier. This newspaper, along with other Alaskan publishers, purchases their newsprint from Canadian manufacturers because there are not enough U.S. paper mills to meet the demands of the newspaper industry. The Trump administration has levied a 22% tariff on newsprint imported from Canada based upon the complaint of a single paper mill (North Pacific Paper Company) that is accusing Canadian mills of engaging in dumping...
The Petersburg Borough is a month into recruiting for a police chief, and about 10 applications have been submitted as of Monday, the manager said. The borough is advertising a salary range from $80,000 to $95,000 for the police chief position, which becomes vacant when Kelly Swihart retires in July. “We may get a really good applicant that just wows us,” said Steve Giesbrecht, borough manager, “who wants more money that is offered, and at that point, I’ll go back to the assembly.” After reviewing about six applicants so far -- none from Pete...
A Petersburg man is facing a burglary charge after he allegedly stole more than $2,000 worth of merchandise from The Trading Union, Inc. on Saturday. Stephen Lee Waddle, 41, appeared before Magistrate Judge Desiree Burrell in Petersburg District Court for a felony first hearing on Monday. Waddle was charged with one count of burglary in the second degree. On Sunday, April 1, the Petersburg Police Department received a burglary report at The Trading Union. An investigation revealed that Waddle...
March 28 — An officer responded to a theft. An officer made contact with an ATV on the shoulder of Mitkof Highway. There was no traffic offense; moving ATV from AML delivery. Abandoned clothing was reported at the corner of Lumber Street and South Nordic Drive. Suspicious subjects were reported in the N. Nordic Drive area. An officer checked the area and the subjects had moved on. An extra patrol was requested due to suspicious subject in the 4.5 Street area. A search warrant was executed. An investigation is ongoing. March 29 — A caller rep...
The Petersburg Borough recently installed two emergency sirens in the area while the EMS team is looking forward to a new vehicle. Sandy Dixson, the fire department and EMS director, said the borough is getting a new ambulance in May. One of the two operating ambulances was over 20 years old, and the borough has intended to replace it in the last two budget cycles. Dixson said it will cost about $187,000, which will be paid through the motor pool fund, a vehicle replacement pool that...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — After nearly two weeks of debate, the Alaska House has passed its version of a state operating budget. The measure now goes to the Senate, with less than two weeks left in the 90-day session. The House bill includes $19 million more for the University of Alaska system than Gov. Bill Walker proposed. It also increases funding for the Public Defender Agency to help meet caseload demands. One highly contentious provision would set this year’s Alaska Permanent Fund dividends at $1,600. Lawmakers last week voted to fund div...
WRANGELL - The city has lowered its alert stage level for water conservation, dropping from its red-level Stage III stance to an intermediate Stage II. Citing dwindling supplies at its reservoirs, on March 13 City Hall had urged residents to dial back their water usage with the Stage III announcement, jumping from a lesser Stage I. The designations were composed by the Borough Assembly last year in an attempt to organize response measures in the event of a shortage. This followed a water crisis...
WRANGELL — The Chamber of Commerce’s annual king salmon derby has been cancelled, it announced last week, following emergency management orders issued by the Department of Fish and Game (see king salmon story). A tradition for over 60 years, initially the month-long fishing derby was to be pared down to weekends this year, given restrictions ADFG had at first countenanced that would have centered around the Stikine River’s mouth in District 8. The eventual orders released last Thursday were far more expansive, encompassing nearly all inner...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A state agency and critics of the proposed Pebble Mine want the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide more opportunity for public comment ahead of an environmental review. State Natural Resources Commissioner Andy Mack has asked the corps to extend the comment period to at least 90 to 120 days. It’s currently scheduled for 30 days. The corps didn’t immediately return a message Friday. The comment period provides an opportunity for the public to share their views, cite any concerns and offer suggestions on the scope...
For the fourth year in a row, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is collaborating with The Walt Disney Company to help fund local park improvement projects across the country through the national “Meet Me at the Park” Earth Month campaign. The city or borough that receives the most nominations will receive a $20,000 grant to improve a local park. From April 1 to April 30 Petersburg residents will have the opportunity to nominate our city to receive $20,000 in grant funding to make improvements at a local park. At the end of Apr...
WRANGELL - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced late last week the extent of its expected king salmon sport fishing restrictions for this season. The region wide closure to retention of Chinook began on Sunday, April 1, to last through the first half of the summer for some waters. Citing a poor preseason forecast, ADFG has decided to close the majority of marine waters within the Petersburg-Wrangell area, not only in District 8 but also in 6, 7 and 10. (see map) The lengthiest...
Pacific halibut catches for 2018 won’t decline as severely as initially feared, but the fishery faces headwinds from several directions. Federal fishery managers announced just a few days before the March 24 start of the halibut opener that commercial catches for Alaska will be down 10 percent for a total of 17.5 million pounds. The industry was on tenterhooks awaiting the catch information, which typically is announced by the International Pacific Halibut Commission in late January. However, representatives from the U.S. and Canada could n...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska regulators, once on the cusp of allowing on-site use of marijuana at authorized retail stores, plan to take another run at the issue this week. The Marijuana Control Board is scheduled to discuss proposed rules for allowing on-site consumption, but whether the board will reach a final conclusion isn’t clear. The board is down one member; Travis Welch resigned less than two months after his appointment to the public safety seat after being dismissed from his job as a police chief. The board’s director has recommended...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska House’s populist vote earlier this week to pay Alaskans the full amount for their oil-wealth fund checks was undone Friday, as House leaders hoped to clear the way for a budget vote. Lawmakers on Friday rescinded the earlier vote after debate over Alaska Permanent Fund dividends gummed up efforts to pass and send to the Senate a state operating budget. Rather than a full payout, estimated at about $2,650, lawmakers voted for a $1,600 dividend this year. Monday’s vote for a fully funded dividend, held durin...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Bill Walker wants to spend $9.5 million for a centralized statewide 911 dispatch system. To help pay for it, Walker is proposing redirecting much of the $10 million he requested for surveying on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to better understand the oil resources there. Walker’s budget director, Pat Pitney, said money for seismic work isn’t needed now. Pitney says $8.3 million of the $10 million proposed for seismic work would be redirected to the dispatch system, with $1.5 million of the r...
