Articles from the June 18, 2020 edition


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  • People can attend public meetings

    Brian Varela|Jun 18, 2020

    Public health mandate #3, which suspends in person participation of public meetings, was amended by the borough assembly at their meeting Monday to allow assembly, board and commission members the opportunity to hold a quorum in person. The health mandate was issued on April 3 and was extended on June 1 and will be in effect until terminated. While assembly, board and commission members would be allowed to meet in person during meetings, the public and department heads would not be allowed to...

  • Fatherhood: Something so good

    Brian Varela|Jun 18, 2020

    Jake Hammer wanted to wait until he was a little older and better prepared to have kids. He first left Petersburg to join the United States Marine Corps, and then spent some time in California with his wife, Kasey Hammer, camping, surfing and enjoying the state. It wasn't until he was 32 and had bought a house in Bellingham that he had his first child, Isabelle. "You couldn't imagine something so good happening to you," said Jake. During the pregnancy, Jake had already begun his fishing career....

  • Test samples collected at Petersburg airport

    Brian Varela|Jun 18, 2020

    On Tuesday, Petersburg Medical Center staff were ready to start collecting test samples from passengers flying into town as of the afternoon jet to be tested for COVID-19, said PMC Director of Patient Care Services Angela Menish. As passengers get off the plane and exit the tarmac, they are greeted by borough employees. If an individual is arriving from another part of Alaska, then they can enter the community. If the individual is arriving from outside of the state or country, then they are dir...

  • Scow Bay shipwright business gets approval

    Jun 18, 2020

    The borough assembly approved Joatmon Enterprises LLC's request to lease tidelands at Scow Bay Turnaround at their meeting Monday to establish and operate a vessel maintenance business. The business will be built on a 6,400 sq. ft. section of the Petersburg Borough's lot two in the Scow Bay Turnaround Subdivision. In a written statement to the borough, Raleigh Cook said he plans on using the property to build a fabrication machine shop specifically designed for boat repair and building that...

  • Borough to purchase additional public restrooms

    Brian Varela|Jun 18, 2020

    The borough assembly approved resolution #2020-10 at their meeting on Monday, which approves the purchase of two handicap accessible restroom trailers for a total of $92,870. The purchase of the trailers from Comforts of Home Services, Inc. will be covered by the funding the borough received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, according to the resolution. The borough is able to purchase the restrooms with CARES Act funding because they have hand washing capabilities...

  • State issues guidance for school districts

    Brian Varela|Jun 18, 2020

    The Petersburg School Board reviewed a guidance document released by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development at their school board meeting last week that lays out a framework on planning and strategies for reopening schools in the fall. The Alaska Smart Start 2020 document uses a three tiered risk/color system to allow each school district to react to the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in their municipality. The framework provided by the Alaska Smart Start 2020 document is not m...

  • Assembly extends, updates vessel docking mandate

    Brian Varela|Jun 18, 2020

    The borough assembly revised and extended public health mandate #5 at an assembly meeting on Monday, which now requires all vessels arriving in Petersburg harbor to meet requirements for out of state passengers as laid forth in state health mandate #10. On May 18, the assembly extended the deadline of public health mandate #5 through June 30, but on Monday it was extended through Aug. 31 to correspond with state health mandate #10. The state health mandate affects intrastate and interstate...

  • Petersburg Fishing Report

    Patrick Fowler ADFandG Area Management Biologist|Jun 18, 2020

    King Salmon As of June 15, fishing for king salmon is now open in the majority of our local waters. Due to reduced nonresident harvest in the sport fishery related to COVID-19, the Southeast Alaska regional king salmon bag, possession, and annual limits were increased last week. Updated king salmon regulations as of June 15th are listed below: Alaska resident: • Daily bag and possession limit of 3 king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. Nonresident: • Daily bag and possession limit of 1 k...

  • Wrangell up to three total COVID cases, one recovered

    Caleb Vierkant|Jun 18, 2020

    WRANGELL - After last week's announcement of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Wrangell, two other cases were confirmed shortly after. Wrangell now has three total cases of the virus. One case has been declared recovered. However, there is some question about the source of the third case. Public Health officials state that Wrangell's third case was a contact with the first case, but the first case said she does not know how that could be. The first case was announced on Sunday evening,...

  • Wrangell assembly responds to Open Meetings Act question

    Caleb Vierkant|Jun 18, 2020

    WRANGELL - During the June 9 meeting of the borough assembly, Wrangell resident Ryan Howe was appointed to fill a vacant position. A seat on the assembly was left empty after Drew Larrabee announced his resignation, brought about by his plans to move to pursue a new career opportunity. The unexpired term, now filled by Howe, comes to an end this October. However, the appointment of Howe has led to some question of whether or not the city violated the Open Meetings Act. The Open Meetings Act,...

  • Alaska residents to get $992 from PFD

    Jun 18, 2020

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Permanent Fund dividend was finalized at $992 and distribution is expected to begin early this year because of economic impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic, state department officials said. The state Department of Revenue made the announcement Friday, saying payments are expected to begin July 1 instead of in October. “We are in extraordinary times. We need to make sure that the people of Alaska have cash in their hands to help in this economy,” Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in May. “I can’t t...

  • 2020 Regulations revised for charter halibut anglers

    Jun 18, 2020

    On May 20, 2020, the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) met in a special session to recommend changes to the charter-caught halibut size and annual limits in IPHC Regulatory Areas 2C and 3A. These regulatory changes were recently approved on June 15, 2020, and are effective immediately: • In Area 2C the charter angler daily bag limit remains at one halibut per day, but the halibut must be less than or equal to 45 inches OR greater than or equal to 80 inches in length. • In Area 3A the charter angler daily bag limit remains at two...

  • All systems are "go" for Alaska's fisheries

    Laine Welch|Jun 18, 2020

    All systems are go for keeping close tabs on fish and crab stocks in waters managed by the state, meaning out to three miles. While constraints from the coronavirus resulted in nearly all annual stock surveys being cut in deeper waters overseen by the federal government, it’s “closer to normal” closer to shore. “While it’s not business as usual, we are conducting business in as close to normal fashion as we can,” said Forrest Bowers, deputy director of the commercial fisheries division of the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game. “We have kept all...

  • Alaska company to pay Justice Department $1.3M in fraud case

    Jun 18, 2020

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A subsidiary of an Alaska Native corporation has agreed to pay $1.3 million in a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice over a fraud scheme allegedly involving a former employee. Manufacturing company Alutiiq International Solutions told the agency in a non-prosecution deal that former manager Elmer Baker received cash and other kickbacks over several years in connection with a project to modernize the Harry S. Truman Federal Building in Washington, D.C., the Anchorage Daily News reported. Alutiiq International S...

  • Obituary: Jerry Niel Hegar, 78

    Jun 18, 2020

    Jerry Niel Hegar, 78, of Petersburg, Alaska, passed away May 14, 2020 after a lengthy illness and battle with cancer. He was born in St. Helens, Oregon on Oct. 30, 1941, the son of Stanford (Jake) and Dorothy Hegar. He joined the Army in 1959 and became a tank driver in the 7th Army, 11th Armored Cav, which was one of his fondest memories. After leaving the military, he returned to Oregon where he lived for many years before making his way to Alaska. He fell in love with Alaska and spent several... Full story

  • Letters to the Editor

    Jun 18, 2020

    Highway robbery To the Editor: Senator Stedman's so-called "Kake Access" Road is a colossal and shameful waste of $40 million dollars of public funds, which could be better spent on legitimate needs-especially during Alaska's protracted fiscal crisis. Construction mobilization is reportedly underway, despite the construction contract being listed as "pending" on the project awards page (http://dot.alaska.gov/procurement/awp/awp-cas.cfm). The lucrative contract is poised to go to out-of-state...

  • On the move

    Jun 18, 2020

    The M/V LeConte makes its way north on the Wrangell Narrows Monday to prepare for its first sailing of the season, a round trip voyage from Juneau to Pelican on Wednesday....

  • Police report

    Jun 18, 2020

    June 10— A hit and run at a location on Howkan St. was reported to authorities. Authorities responded to a disturbance report at a location on Mitkof Highway. Welfare checks were conducted at locations on Sing Lee Alley and Mitkof Highway. June 11 — Authorities responded to suspicious activity at locations on S. Nordic Dr. and N. Nordic Dr. and at the South Mitkof Ferry Terminal. A sex offender registered with the Petersburg Police Department. A dangerous driver was seen on PFI hill. Authorities responded to a report of harassment at a loc...

  • Yesterday's News

    Jun 18, 2020

    June 11, 1920 The Petersburg Hospital Association has secured the services of two trained nurses and they are both now on duty at the local institution. Miss Nellie Thomas of Ketchikan and Mrs. Flower of Wrangell are the two who are on duty. Miss Thomas has spent several years in Ketchikan and has recently completed her course of training in the Swedish Hospital training school at Seattle. She comes highly recommended by all of the doctors in Ketchikan. Mrs. Flower is well known here having been in charge of the hospital during the time Dr....

  • Trident Seafoods employee tests positive for COVID-19

    Jun 18, 2020

    An employee with Trident Seafoods has tested positive for COVID-19 on the individual's tenth day of quarantine after arriving to the community, according to a press release from the Petersburg Emergency Operations Center. All Trident Seafoods employees that travel to Petersburg are tested for the virus prior to arriving in town and are quarantined in a bunkhouse upon arrival, according to the press release. The workers are then tested again on the tenth day of a 14 day quarantine. The... Full story