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Another case of COVID-19 was reported in Petersburg on Monday, bringing the local number of COVID-19 cases to three, though two of the individuals have since recovered, according to a joint-statement made by the Petersburg Medical Center and the Petersburg Borough. PMC has sent out a total of 134 test samples to state and commercial laboratories to be tested for COVID-19, according to PMC Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Lauri Miller at Wednesday's community COVID-19 update. Of those samples,...
The borough assembly on Monday failed to make a motion to extend public health mandate #4, the local face covering mandate, past its May 5 expiration date. The face covering mandate first went into effect on April 21 and was set to last until May 5 at 11:59 P.M. The local face covering mandate requires all persons to wear some form of covering over their nose and mouth in certain social situations to help prevent the spread of droplets that could infect others with COVID-19. As of Monday, May... Full story
Sherry Tamone, a professor of biology at University of Alaska Southeast, held a virtual lecture this month as part of the Petersburg Science Series on her research in crab species in Southeast and the effect that warming sea temperatures has on their molt timing. Crustaceans grow in size through a process called molting, said Tamone. Molting is when a crustacean sheds its exoskeleton and builds a newer, bigger one. The process begins when they're newborn larva and lasts through adulthood. When i...
Nine sewers and artists have given new life to old pieces of clothing and curtains by repurposing them into entirely new functional items, as part of Clausen Memorial Museum's virtual art show, Upcycled. Museum Director Cindi Lagoudakis was first approached by the Reduce Plastic Use Petersburg group earlier this year with the idea of hosting an exhibit at the museum that used old fabrics from clothes, table cloths, curtains and other cloth items to create whole new items that can be used instead...
The borough assembly approved a public health emergency directive at a special meeting on Tuesday that implements a temporary quarantine and isolation program for first responders, healthcare works and homeless individuals and families to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 in the community. Borough Incident Commander Karl Hagerman said just after the formation of the Emergency Operations Center, the team identified a need to create a plan on how the borough could help the homeless populatio...
The Petersburg School Board approved the fiscal year 2020 spring budget revision at their board meeting earlier this month, resulting in a $154,037 increase in revenue over the winter revision. Director of Finance Karen Morrison said the increase in revenue was due to increases in local and student activity revenue. Additionally, the school district received $141,577 in a one time grant from the state that wasn't budgeted for. "Now we have additional revenue that we've been able to use to...
Petersburg Medical Center has received $5,769,680 in loans and grants to help cover financial expenses and losses being experienced by the facility due to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to PMC Controller Rocio Tejera at a PMC Board of Directors meeting last Thursday. "Flattening the curving that everybody is talking about has a high price tag and our financial situation has changed," said Tejera. A majority of the financial assistance has come from Medicare advances and the Payroll Protection...
WRANGELL - Local writer Vivian Faith Prescott recently announced the publication of her newest book, Silty Water People. The book is a collection of some of her oldest poems, she said, and is a look at "the effects of assimilation" on Wrangell families and the community as a whole. The poems range from the serious, to the humorous, to the intimate. The ideas of identity and culture have always fascinated her, Prescott said. She holds a doctorate in cross cultural studies. Silty Water People,...
WRANGELL - With Health Mandate 16, part of Governor Mike Dunleavy's plan to reopen Alaska's economy safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, communities across the state are considering what the near future may look like. Revenues have fallen for the city and businesses have had to get creative to stay open. While there is optimism to be found amongst some business owners, uncertainties loom for the economy in general. Alan Cummings, of All In Charters and Grand View B&B, said that they are looking...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Gov. Mike Dunleavy's administration announced plans to begin allowing this week the limited reopening of restaurants, retail stores and other businesses that were shut down amid coronavirus concerns. Starting Friday, restaurants, retail outlets, hair and nail salons and businesses that fell under the category of nonessential will be allowed to reopen, with limited services. Bars, theaters, bowling alleys and bingo halls will not be allowed to reopen yet, the state's health...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Conservationists have asked the federal government to provide better protection for a wolf population in Southeast Alaska. A letter sent to the supervisor of Tongass National Forest says a record number of 165 wolves killed by trappers threatens wolves on and around Prince of Wales Island, CoastAlaska reported Monday. The April 13 letter to Forest Supervisor Earl Stewart was signed by representatives of advocacy groups Defenders of Wildlife, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and the Center for Biological Diversity. ...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A succession of mechanical failures led to a persistent spill of oily water in Port Valdez that lasted nearly two weeks, officials said. By the end of last week, crews had recovered 14 barrels of oil from a contained area near a boat harbor at the Valdez Marine Terminal, The Anchorage Daily News reported. More than 240 people are involved in the response to the spill of North Slope crude oil discovered on April 12. The amount of oil spilled is unknown. “The outflow is currently discharging high volumes of snow melt and...
PALMER, Alaska (AP) — A school board north of Anchorage, Alaska has banned the teaching of five books considered literary classics used for high school English elective courses without public comment, sparking criticism from some educators. The Matanuska-Susitna School Board has voted Wednesday 5-2 to remove “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison; “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller; “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien; “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou; and “The Great Gatsby”by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Teachers are no longer permitted to...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The owner of a downtown Anchorage gallery was accused of illegally purchasing and selling walrus tusk ivory and tax evasion stemming from 2017, federal prosecutors said. Walter Earl, 75, faces up to five years in prison and multiple $250,000 fines after he was charged Thursday with four felonies in federal court, including three Lacey Act violations, Anchorage Daily News reported. The Lacey Act was passed in 1990 and prohibits the sale of wildlife or wildlife products taken or possessed in violation of state or foreign...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The Alaska ferry system is expected to receive an initial injection of $10 million in federal coronavirus recovery funding, officials said. The allocation for the Alaska Marine Highway System is part of $29 million in funding that the state received for rural transit needs from the Federal Transit Administration, CoastAlaska reported Saturday. The state had initially said the amount was $5 million but corrected the figure to $10 million on Monday without providing further...
Strict new rules are now in place for Alaska fishermen and their vessels to protect against and prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the 2020 salmon season. Effective April 24, Governor Dunleavy provided 11 pages of mandates that specifically apply to those who have not “agreed to operate under a fleet-wide plan submitted by a company, association or entity” representing them. Among other things, each independent skipper must sign a “Health Mandate Acknowledgement Form” prior to going fishing. They are required to maintain a written or time...
The family of Pete Erickson Jr. wave to him as he travels northbound onboard his tugboat near Hungry Point. Erickson's father, Delbert (Pete) Erickson, passed away on March 16 due to COVID-19 in Washington. Pete also contracted the virus and spent six weeks recovering, according to his wife Kris Erickson in an email to the Pilot. Sunday was his first time back in Petersburg, but he was unable to leave the boat, not even to hug his mother, said Kris. The community got together to wave to him and...
A banner hangs on the Stolpe residence at Hungry Point showing the family's appreciation to essential workers in town....
April 22 — A theft is reported to have occurred at Scow Bay between November 2019 and April 2020. The case was closed pending further leads. A theft was reported at a location on S. Nordic Dr. April 23 — A protective order was served at a location on Mitkof Highway. April 24 — A theft was reported at a location at North Boat Harbor. April 25 — Authorities issued a warning to an individual who was camping in a vehicle at a location on N. Nordic Dr. Authorities responded to a fuel sheen seen on a wet spot on Mitkof Highway. A dog was reporte...
April 28 — John Thomas Dupree entered a not guilty plea to the charge of commercial fishing with having more sable fish than allowed by quota. The court continued the arraignment to June. Jimmy Dee Legget II entered a no contest plea to the charge of unlawful storage of commercial Dungeness crab gear. The defendant was sentenced to a $200 fine, $20 surcharge and will release the crab gear back to the defendant. Nicholas William Anderson entered not guilty pleas to multiple charges including taking deer in closed season, unlawful method and m...
Two crows steal a kiss in the Wrangell Narrows Friday morning....
A deer enjoys a breakfast of grass on Sunday morning....
