Articles from the April 15, 2021 edition


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  • 1.26 million pounds of tanner crab harvest in SE

    Brian Varela|Apr 15, 2021

    The 2021 tanner crab harvest in Southeast Alaska was the fourth largest tanner harvest in the last 15 seasons, according to preliminary data from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. In Registration Area A, which includes the inside waters of Southeast Alaska, the preliminary estimate of harvest for the 2021 tanner crab fishery is 1.26 million pounds of reported landings among 70 permit holders. Additionally, the harvest exceeded the 2020 run by 52,500 pounds, according to preliminary data....

  • Cannery employed locals for crab season

    Brian Varela|Apr 15, 2021

    OBI Seafoods employed about 90 local residents for the 2021 tanner crab season in an effort to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 in the community, according to Plant Manager Nikolai Wendel. Additionally, the production season lasted just 10 days. Any employees who would have been brought into town from outside of the community would have had to arrive two weeks prior to the season to quarantine themselves. "To bring a crew up this early and quarantine them for two weeks for ten days worth...

  • Changes to health mandates to go before assembly

    Brian Varela|Apr 15, 2021

    The local Emergency Operations Center will be presenting the Borough Assembly with recommendations to change some local health mandates at their meeting on Monday. Incident Commander Karl Hagerman said the EOC's recommendations tie into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention move towards loosening COVID-19 protocols for Americans who are fully vaccinated against the virus. The recommendations also come at a time when Petersburg is reporting zero active cases of COVID-19 for the first tim...

  • Correction:

    Apr 15, 2021

    On page 12 in last week’s issue of the Petersburg Pilot, a headline for a story about Alaskans unhappy with planned upgrades to the airport in Gustavus incorrectly stated the airport was in Juneau....

  • Yesterday's News

    Apr 15, 2021

    April 15, 1921 That the water power development on Cascade Creek, Thomas Bay, fifteen miles from Petersburg is among the largest projects in Southeastern Alaska, is shown by the report on Mining Developments and Water-Power investigations in Southeastern Alaska just issued and copies of which have been received. The investigation of the water resources of southeastern Alaska was begun by the Geological Survey in operation with the Forest Service in 1915 and was designed to determine both the location and the possibilities of water-power sites....

  • Groundskeeper retires after 24 years with city

    Brian Varela|Apr 15, 2021

    The lawns and flower beds around town have been immaculately kept for the last two decades thanks to the Petersburg Borough's groundskeeper, but, at the end of the month, Jesse O'Connor will be retiring. He first joined the City of Petersburg in 1996 as an assistant groundskeeper. Several months later he transferred over to the city's bailer facility where he worked until 2000 when he became the head groundskeeper for the city. "Once I started doing the gardening, I didn't want to do anything...

  • New policy will set boundaries between students, staff

    Brian Varela|Apr 15, 2021

    The Petersburg School Board passed a board policy that outlines professional boundaries between staff and students in its first reading at their meeting on Tuesday. Board Policy 5141.42 identifies boundary invasions that are inappropriate for Petersburg School District staff, volunteers and other members of the community to cross when dealing with a student. Examples include, taking an undue interest in a particular student, using poor judgement in relation to a particular student, becoming...

  • To the Editor

    Apr 15, 2021

    Thrift Store To the Editor: We need to ask the community of Petersburg to stop dropping off donations when the store is closed. The stealing and vandalism from our local thieves is getting out of control. Your donations left when we are closed is attracting them, and we end up having to take donations to the dump as a result of damage. They are known to urinate on items, dump liquid in the bin and recklessly throw things around and they end up broken. Please do not leave your items when the... Full story

  • Police report

    Apr 15, 2021

    April 7— Authorities conducted a welfare check at a location on Mitkof Highway. A domestic disturbance was reported at an undisclosed location. April 8— Extra patrols were requested at two undisclosed locations. A welfare check was conducted at an undisclosed location. A vehicle was abandoned at an undisclosed location. A resident found a license plate at a location on Mitkof Highway and turned it over to authorities. The owner of the license plate later claimed it. Authorities responded to a domestic dispute at an undisclosed location. A you...

  • Poetry Out Loud finalists

    Apr 15, 2021

    Two students at Petersburg High School were finalists in this year's Poetry Out Loud competition. Myah Enriquez, left, recited "Enough," by Suzanne Buffam, "Rondeau," by Leigh Hunt and "The Ocean," by Nathaniel Hawthorne; Logan Haley, right, recited "Where the Wild Things Go," by D. Gilson, "Across the Bay," by Donald Davie and "Thine Own," by Josephine Delphine Henderson Heard. Enriquez said the competition helped her move past her fear of public speaking, while allowing her to express herself...

  • Stellar W252 spotted

    Apr 15, 2021

    A branded Steller sea lion was spotted near Horn Cliffs earlier this month. The female sea lion, or W252, was branded as a pup on White Sisters Island in 2004. Sightings of branded Steller sea lions can be reported to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game....

  • PHS wrestlers prepare for Regionals

    Brian Varela|Apr 15, 2021

    In the last tournament before Regionals, the Petersburg High School wrestling team saw several of their wrestlers place at the Tom Sims Invitational in Wrangell on April 10. Although overall the team placed sixth in the tournament, Coach Brandon Ware said the scores were skewed due to the low number of wrestlers competing for the Vikings. Five PHS wrestlers competed in Wrangell, while the average team size was about 15 students. Ware said despite the odds, the Vikings fought hard in their...

  • Fish Factor: Maritime industry recruits Alaskans for seafaring jobs

    Laine Welch|Apr 15, 2021

    Alaska fishermen displaced by the Covid pandemic are being recruited for seafaring jobs aboard U.S. cargo barges, tankers, towboats, military support vessels, research and cruise ships and more. The Seafarers International Union (SIU) is searching nationally for 300 apprentice workers on the vessels they are contracted to crew. Recruiters tout Alaskans as being at the top of their list. “The reason for that is people from Alaska come with a work ethic already. They've been working since they could stand up. And that's why they're so good,” sai...

  • Touring the press room

    Apr 15, 2021

  • Contract awarded for federal port facility in Ketchikan

    Apr 15, 2021

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal agency announced Wednesday it has awarded a contract to rebuild its port facility in Ketchikan, work state leaders called overdue. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it awarded an $18.8 million contract to Ahtna Infrastructure and Technologies, LLC for the project, which includes upgrades such as a new office building, a floating pier and revamped utility systems for use by visiting ships. The existing pier will be removed, the agency said in a release. The project is set for completion i...

  • Alaska health officials pausing use of J&J COVID-19 vaccine

    Apr 15, 2021

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The state health department Tuesday said upcoming appointments for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in Alaska are being canceled or delayed after federal agencies recommended a “pause” to review reports of rare but potentially dangerous blood clots. State health officials told reporters the federal recommendation shows that safety checks are working and they hope this bolsters rather than hinders confidence in the vaccine rollout. Dr. Joe McLaughlin, the state epidemiologist, said people with appoi...

  • Report sheds little light on fatal Alaska helicopter crash

    Apr 15, 2021

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A preliminary report from the federal agency investigating the fatal helicopter crash in Alaska that killed five people, including the richest man in the Czech Republic, sheds little light on the cause. The Tuesday report from the National Transportation Safety Board said the helicopter involved in a heli-ski operation in the Chugach Mountains just north of Anchorage flew multiple legs on March 27, transporting the skiers to several starting points near Knik Glacier. Data obtained from a handheld GPS unit shows the h...

  • Hilcorp ordered to replace aging Alaska pipeline after leak

    Apr 15, 2021

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Federal regulators have ordered Hilcorp Alaska to replace a 7-mile (11-kilometer) undersea pipeline after a helicopter pilot spotted a natural gas leak bubbling to the surface last week. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on Tuesday said the company must also submit and the agency must approve a restart plan before the line in Cook Inlet can resume operations. The leak is the fifth one for the line since 2014, the Anchorage Daily News reported. The line must be temporarily repaired by April 17 a...

  • Four cases of COVID-19 reported in town

    Brian Varela|Apr 15, 2021

    The Emergency Operations Center reported four new cases of COVID-19 in Petersburg on Thursday, according to a joint press release between the Petersburg Borough and Petersburg Medical Center. Three of the cases are limited to one household and are travel related, and the fourth case is still under investigation. All four individuals have been directed to isolate themselves. The four active cases are the first to be reported in the community in over two weeks. According to the press release, the... Full story