Articles from the April 22, 2021 edition


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  • Hammer & Wikan celebrates 100 years

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    Hammer & Wikan, Inc. kicked off a year's worth of celebrations on April 17 with their Founder's Day event to commentate the business's 100-year anniversary. The festivities began at the grocery store. Every person who entered the building was given a balloon, which could be redeemed for a gift. Guests were also given cake and coffee in a commemorative mug. They were also given the opportunity to enter a raffle to win a new barbecue. Later in the afternoon, the party continued at the hardware sto...

  • A second retirement

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    In 2000, Richard Sprague sold his practice and retired, but two years later he was back in his office practicing dentistry again. Now in 2021, Sprague will again be retiring at the age of 81. Sprague first moved to Petersburg in 1973 after graduating from dental school at the University of Oregon. At the time, Phil Beardslee had recently moved to town from Bethel and was practicing dentistry but was inundated with patients. Beardslee contacted the University of Oregon to see if any of the gradua...

  • Interstate travelers not required to test for COVID

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    The Borough Assembly approved an amendment to the interstate and international travel mandate on Monday to allow anyone coming into the community from outside of the state who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to forego testing and isolation requirements. The Emergency Operations Center recommended that Public Health Mandate #10 stay in place due to slow vaccination rates in other parts of the country but be amended to do away with testing and isolation requirements for incoming travelers...

  • AMSEA training offered

    Apr 22, 2021

    The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) will offer Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor class in Petersburg on May 4, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM at The Scandia House. Interested mariners may register online at www.amsea.org or call (907) 747-3287. Instructor Chris Angel, will cover cold-water survival skills; EPIRBs, signal flares, and mayday calls; man-overboard recovery; firefighting; flooding and damage control; dewatering pumps, immersion suits and PFDs, helicopter rescue, life rafts, abandon ship procedures, and emergency drills....

  • Yesterday's News

    Apr 22, 2021

    April 22, 1921 A chapter of the Mooseheart Legion will be installed in Petersburg within a short time by Mrs. Pritchett of Wrangell. The Petersburg women organized and applied for a charter some time ago and it is expected to arrive on every boat, the chapter to be instituted as soon as possible after it arrives. At the meeting held at the home of Mrs. Pete Jorgensen recently, Mrs Charles Pautzke was elected Senior Regent of the new chapter, and Mrs. Wm. Worth as Recorder. The new organization will have between twenty and thirty members. April...

  • Four active cases of COVID-19 in town

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    Five cases of COVID-19 were reported in the community in the last seven days, one of which has been removed from the active local case count, according to the Petersburg Borough's COVID-19 Dashboard. The first four cases were reported on April 15. Three of the cases were limited to one household and were travel related, according to a joint press release between the borough and Petersburg Medical Center. The fourth case and fifth case, which was reported on April 16, are thought to have been...

  • PMC to keep vaccinating with Pfizer, Moderna vaccines

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    Petersburg Medical Center Director of Nursing Jennifer Bryner said at the COVID-19 community update on April 16 that the hospital will continue to vaccinate residents with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is under review. PMC will likely receive more information this week about whether it can resume administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Bryner said PMC currently has 120 doses of the vaccine. "For those people that have recently received the Johnson &...

  • Intrastate travel mandate now a health alert

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    Anyone arriving in Petersburg from another Alaskan community are no longer mandated to test for COVID-19 before and after their arrival in town after the Borough Assembly voted in favor of terminating Public Health Mandate #9 at their meeting on Monday. Instead, the assembly approved Public Health Alert #4. The health alert includes most of the same language as Public Health Mandate #9, but it recommends, not mandates, all intrastate travelers arriving at the James A. Johnson Airport and at the...

  • To the Editor

    Apr 22, 2021

    A deep dive To the Editor: The author of the Letter to The Editor entitled “Regulatory malfeasance” in the April 15 edition of The Pilot appears to be following her unfortunate practice of citing scientific studies, historical facts, or analogies that do not actually support her positions on issues ranging from fluoride in our drinking water, to face coverings to vaccines. In this letter, the author cited the thalidomide debacle for the reason to be distrustful of regulatory agencies such as the FDA, that “failed the public they are suppo... Full story

  • PHS baseball has first games in two years

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    The Petersburg High School baseball team played their first games of the year in a preseason jamboree in Sitka last week. Although the Vikings lost the three games, Coach Jim Engell said the team had a strong showing in their first outing of the season. In Sitka, the Vikings were able to play on a ball field for the first time in almost two years. Last year's season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the weather this year prevented the team from practice on the Petersburg ball...

  • Repair in progress

    Apr 22, 2021

    A Public Works crew replaced planks in the Sing Lee Alley Bridge over Hammer Slough on Wednesday....

  • Police report

    Apr 22, 2021

    April 14— A vessel was illegally moored in Petersburg Harbor. Extra patrols were requested at an undisclosed location. Loud music was reported at a location on Lumber St. A vehicle was blocking roadway construction at an undisclosed location. A set of keys was found at a location on Cabin Creek Rd. and turned over to authorities. A fraudulent scam caller was reported to authorities. An individual who is known to have a revoked license was seen driving a vehicle. Intoxicated individuals were creating a disturbance at a business located on N...

  • Court report

    Apr 22, 2021

    April 15 — Donald Fincher entered a guilty plea to charges of assault 4. The court sentenced the defendant to 365 days in jail with 60 days suspended, levied a fine of $25,000 with $25,000 suspended. All items seized in this matter are forfeited to the state and probation will be in force for three years. $150 in surcharges were levied. April 14 – Malcom Bernard Ware admitted to a petition to revoke probation and was ordered to serve 10 days in jail. The defendant also entered a guilty plea to assault 4 charge after a disorderly conduct cha...

  • Artifact Archive: Ellis Airlines

    Apr 22, 2021

    Commercial aviation in Alaska dates back to 1927. In 1936, Ellis Airlines was formed in Ketchikan by Bob Ellis. The fleet of 10 Grumman Goose amphibious aircraft were well-suited to travel in Southeast Alaska. Alaska Coastal Airlines of Juneau merged with Ellis in 1962, creating the largest fleet of Grumman Goose in the world. In 1964 one of the planes, which had a 50 foot wingspan, had an accident in Petersburg when a plane hit some wires. The airline's "West Coast" run included Ports...

  • Preliminary land decision issued

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    The State of Alaska is proposing to convey and reject land selected by the Petersburg Borough in Thomas Bay as part of a general grant land entitlement in a preliminary land decision. The borough has selected 701 acres of land near the Patterson River, according to the state's preliminary decision. The state's Land Conveyance Section is proposing to convey approximately 616 acres of state owned vacant, unappropriated, unreserved general grant land to the borough. Of the total acreage selected...

  • Patrick Wilson to retire from OBI

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    Since the fall of 1989, Patrick Wilson has been the plant manager for Icicle Seafoods, later OBI Seafoods, but this summer he'll be leaving Petersburg to enjoy a retirement split between the Bahamas and Washington state. Originally from the greater Seattle area, Wilson got his start in the seafood business in 1975. He took a job working for Cossack Caviar in Seattle, because he heard the company sent workers to Alaska during the summers. "I thought that was pretty exciting," said Wilson. "It...

  • OBI hires new plant manager

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    Nikolai Wendel has taken over as plant manager at OBI Seafoods, bringing 13 years of cannery experience with him. He arrived in town in late January, and following a two week quarantine, began transitioning into the role of plant manager. Wendel is taking over from longtime plant manager Patrick Wilson who will be retiring this summer. Wendel first experienced Southeast Alaska on a cruise through the Inside Passage after graduating from high school in 2007. It was then that he discovered that th...

  • Start of cruise ship season pushed to June

    Brian Varela|Apr 22, 2021

    The Petersburg Borough will have to wait until June 2 to see its first cruise ship of the season following a change to the local tour ship schedule. In December, eight ships were expected to make a combined 85 stops in Petersburg. As of April 10, seven ships will be making a total of 66 stops. The Alaskan Dream will be the first cruise ship to stop in Petersburg on June 2. Previously, National Geographic's Venture was going to dock in town and kick off the local cruise ship season on May 11....