Articles from the April 21, 2022 edition


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  • Assembly votes to increase water utility rates

    Chris Basinger|Apr 21, 2022

    The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted unanimously in favor of two ordinances in their first readings during Monday's meeting, with Assembly Member Bob Lynn excused, which would increase the rates residents pay for water and sewage utilities. According to Utility Director Karl Hagerman, the increases included in Ordinance #2022-05 and Ordinance #2022-06 would be the first rate increases since 2018 and are needed to meet increased costs and expenses. Hagerman included a report in the meeting packe...

  • Blue ice blooms

    Apr 21, 2022

  • House approves budget with $2,600 payment for Alaskans

    James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News|Apr 21, 2022

    The Alaska House of Representatives voted last week to turn an oil-price surge into money for schools, repayment of tax credits the state has owed to oil explorers for years, and $2,600 payments for Alaska residents this fall. The House voted 25-14 to send its state operating budget proposal to the Senate, which is developing its own version. The two budget plans, which set spending for public services starting with the new fiscal year on July 1, will be negotiated into a compromise bill and...

  • PMC warns of increase in local COVID-19 cases

    Apr 21, 2022

    The Petersburg Medical Center is reporting a "significant increase" of COVID-19 cases in both the hospital and the Petersburg School District within the past week. "The community should assume COVID-19 is spreading quickly, impacting schools, daycares, and local business," the release read. The hospital also reported that the PMC Dashboard's case count is not an accurate reflection of cases in the community as it does not include the results of at-home antigen tests. At-home tests and KN95...

  • Yesterday's News News from 25-50-75-100 years ago

    Apr 21, 2022

    April 21, 1922 A reef of gold bearing ore several hundred feet in width and over five miles in length, which runs from four to twelve dollars in values on the surface, has been discovered at Muddy River by Martin Dahl and John Loseth. The ledge lays along the water and extends from Horn Cliff in a northerly direction. The discovery was made accidentally by Martin Dahl last fall and samples were sent to Juneau for assay. The returns showed the good values could be secured and active prospecting was continued throughout the winter. The ledge has...

  • Conceptual design includes new dock and ramp at Papke's Landing

    Chris Basinger|Apr 21, 2022

    The Harbor and Ports Advisory Board reviewed a conceptual design document last week for improvements to the Papke's Landing marine facility including the construction of a new ramp, a new float dock, and expanded parking. Alan Murph with Harai and Associates, who drafted the plans, presented the concepts at the meeting and said the project would be broken up into phases for a total estimated cost of $6,410,000. The document depicts a new 255-foot by 215-foot parking lot which would be built on...

  • Small cruise ships to visit Petersburg in greater numbers

    Chris Basinger|Apr 21, 2022

    Petersburg is expecting a 35% increase in passenger berths from last year as the cruise ship industry rebounds from two summers hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. This summer has the potential of seeing 11,000 cruise ship passengers across 107 port calls according to Dave Berg, president of Viking Travel and a ships agent for Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska. Some of the cruise lines that will visit Petersburg this year include Alaska Dream Cruises, American Cruise Lines, National Geographic, and...

  • Police report

    Apr 21, 2022

    April 13 – A vehicle was reported as abandoned, but was not. April 14 – An officer investigated a report of a verbal argument causing a disturbance on South Second, but the individuals had left the area. A report of a garbage issue on North Nordic was cleared up by the responsible party after they were notified. A runaway dog was found and returned to its owner. An officer responded to a report of a canine struck by a vehicle on Sandy Beach Road. An officer responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle on Mitkof Highway. The owner was contacted...

  • PMC health fair 'getting back on track'

    Apr 21, 2022

    The Petersburg Medical Center is bringing back its Health and Safety Fair after a four-year hiatus and is encouraging members of the community to come to the in-person event on June 4 and the blood draws leading up to it. The health fair, which is usually held every two years, was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the theme of this year's event is "Getting Back on Track." The in-person event will be held in the community gym from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. where booths will be set up to...

  • House budget would send extra $263,000 to Petersburg School District

    Larry Persily and Chris Basinger, Wrangell Sentinel writer and Pilot writer|Apr 21, 2022

    The state budget plan adopted by the House earlier this month includes an additional $263,000 in one-time funding for the Petersburg School District, an almost 5% boost from a state aid formula that has not increased since 2017. The one-time appropriation for a total of $57 million may be the political compromise to help Alaska's 54 school districts this next year as lawmakers continue to debate a change to the formula in state statute. Superintendent Erica Kludt-Painter discussed House Bill...

  • Elks egg hunt an Easter tradition

    Apr 21, 2022

  • Petersburg's Rainforest Festival expands to celebrate all seasons

    Apr 21, 2022

    This Friday, April 22, is Earth Day and the Rainforest Festival is celebrating the day by inviting everyone along for a field trip. The group will meet at the ballfield at 3 pm for a hike on Hungry Point Trail. Raingear and boots are recommended. The guided hike will provide a closer look at the trees and shrubs of this area, and their unique features and uses will be discussed. The event is part of the Rainforest Festival which is transforming itself this year. In 2008, the weekend after Labor...

  • Alaska Seaplanes will start Sitka- Petersburg-Wrangell service next month

    Larry Persily, Wrangell Sentinel writer|Apr 21, 2022

    Juneau-based Alaska Seaplanes will add Wrangell to its route map starting May 26. The company, which operates a fleet of 14 single-engine aircraft, mostly nine-passenger planes, will run a daily flight from Sitka to Petersburg to Wrangell and back to Sitka. Encouragement from SEARHC "was instrumental" in starting the Sitka-Wrangell service, Andy Kline, Alaska Seaplanes marketing manager, said last Wednesday. SEARHC is based in Sitka where it operates the Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center, providing...

  • State all-stars hoop it up

    Apr 21, 2022

    Grace Christian in Anchorage hosted the 1A/2A Senior All-Star Games on Saturday. Four Petersburg seniors-Kaili Simbahon, Ines Larson, Adrianna Stough, and Michael Durkin-made the trip to cap off their high school hoop careers. Coach Dino Brock reported that Larson was named MVP of the 1A/2A girls' game, and Michael won the 1A/2A slam dunk contest. Pictured above, Simbahon, playing for visitors, beat Larson, wearing 33 for the home team, to the rim for two....

  • Extra ferry sailing will pick up waitlist travelers in Bellingham

    Larry Persily|Apr 21, 2022

    With more than 260 would-be ferry passengers stuck on a waitlist for travel out of Bellingham, Washington, and sailings full until late July, the Alaska Marine Highway System has scheduled an extra run of the Matanuska to bring the people and their vehicles to the state. The additional sailing is scheduled to leave Bellingham on May 25. There was time in the ship’s schedule, which ferry management had been holding open in hopes the Matanuska could restart service that week to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, after being gone from the C...

  • Artifact Archive: New Floating Dairy Thermometer

    Apr 21, 2022

    Dairy operations require careful temperature control to protect from unwanted bacterial growth in milk products, and to achieve the desired results. Temperatures are especially critical in cheesemaking; and the back of this thermometer has markings for churning, freezing, scalding, and cheese. While thermometers can be made with alcohol, mercury, dial or the more recent digital readings, there are some who say the mercury thermometers can't be beat. The floating dairy thermometer is still used...

  • Vikings go 2-3 at Sitka Invitational last weekend

    Chris Basinger|Apr 21, 2022

    The Petersburg High School baseball team got their first taste of competition last weekend at the Sitka Invitational, getting two wins from five games. The Vikings competed against regional rivals over three days in the round robin tournament though the games were shortened with pitch and time limits. "Anytime we get a W it's a big deal for us and for them to get two wins over there in Sitka even though it's preseason with all the modifications, just to be in those games and get wins is a huge...