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After leading the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department for 14 years, Fire/EMS Director Sandy Dixson celebrated her retirement at an event last week in the fire station. Current and former PVFD volunteers, Petersburg Borough Assembly members, borough staff, and other community members gathered to mark the occasion and present Dixson with a plaque to recognize her time with the department. Dixson gave her final address to the assembly during its June 20 meeting where she shared her story and...
Assembly Members Dave Kensinger and Bob Lynn were appointed to help finalize conceptual plans for proposed improvements to the Papke's Landing Marine Facility at the June 20 Petersburg Borough Assembly meeting. The two assembly members will work with Alan Murph of Harai & Associates who came up with the initial conceptual design. The total estimated cost of the project according to the plans presented to the Harbor and Ports Advisory Board on April 15 is $6,410,000. That plan is broken up into p...
During Monday's meeting, the Petersburg Borough Assembly voted 6-0 to appoint Assembly Member Bob Lynn as chair for the next three assembly meetings. The motion was brought forward as Mayor Mark Jensen will be absent fishing and Vice Mayor Jeigh Stanton Gregor will be attending the meetings remotely if available. Stanton Gregor said Monday that he would prefer having someone in person in the assembly chambers facilitate the meetings rather than him running the meetings over Zoom and he...
July 7, 1922 For the first five months of this year, shipments from Seattle to Alaska totaled 77,936 tons as compared with 34,410 tons for the same period last year, a gain of 43,526 tons or 126 percent. The shipments this year represent virtually 39 cargoes of 2,000 tons each, a gain of 21 cargoes over the same period last year. July 4, 1947 Salmon continues to come in slowly. Approximately 18,000 pounds of salmon, from trollers and packers, has been brought into Petersburg this week. This is a small catch and reflects the present scarcity of...
The final coat of paint was put on the surface of the leisure pool Monday according to Parks and Recreation Director Stephanie Payne. The leisure pool was closed last month after leaks were discovered during the community center's annual closure. It was painted an ocean blue color and will take a week to cure. Parks and Recreation plans to partially fill up the pool with water on July 11 to see if there are any more bubbles indicating a leak. If all is well, Payne expects the pool could reopen...
The Petersburg Medical Center Hospital Board unanimously approved its FY23 budget during last Thursday's meeting. According to PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter, the hospital faced many challenges and unknowns while crafting its "creative budget" as the healthcare industry comes out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the budget's total operating revenue of $23,925,927 is 11.1% up from the FY22 baseline, a value based on the hospital's year-to-date financials through March 31, 2022 plus an average over the...
Beer and wine have been available at the bars on board the state ferries Matanuska and Kennicott since late May after the amenities were closed seven years ago, reportedly to save money. The ferry system “has collected feedback on the bar reopening through customer surveys answered by Kennicott and Matanuska passengers — all positive comments,” Sam Dapcevich, Department of Transportation spokesman, said last week. “I’ve also heard from a few Southeast Alaska residents who are happy to see the bars reopened.” There is no additional staff expense...
Within the scope of their duties To the Editor: Police Chief Kerr’s recent complaint of harassment by two assembly members, Jeff Meucci and Dave Kensinger, resulted in a finding that no harassment occurred. The Pilot gave us only the gist of the complaint and the borough’s findings, and the article raised a lot of unanswered questions. But one feature of Chief Kerr’s complaint stands out: he perceived it as harassment when assembly members “questioned the police department hiring process,” had contact with department employees and asked the...
In early 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, we knew almost nothing about COVID-19. How did it spread? Who would get sick? How could we protect ourselves and each other? We saw hospitals being built and overflowing, first in China, then Italy and New York. Morgues filled across the world as health care facilities made desperate pleas for ventilators, personal protective equipment and additional health care workers. Here in Alaska, we scrambled to make our own testing supplies and to quickly build up our health care capacity. Public health w...
This week was an experiment at Five Finger Lighthouse. The experiment's hypothesis: "There is much for students to learn at the Lighthouse." Participants included whale researchers, lighthouse keepers, and a bright, brave and curious thirteen year old named Isabella. Bella (or Izzy) thought she might want to research whales. Now, after a week of life at the Five Finger Lighthouse, she knows she wants to research whales. Here are her comments on the visit: "Before coming to Alaska, a week felt...
Over the last two and a half years, we’ve seen the Anchorage economy transition from being strained by job losses, closures and unemployment to being stressed by a workforce shortage, with unfilled positions across nearly every industry. At the University of Alaska Anchorage, we strive to stay responsive to our state’s needs, which is why we continue to invest in our Fast Track Career and additional Occupational Endorsement Certificate programs. Fast Track Career Certificates were created to help people quickly pivot their careers mid...
June 29 – An officer conducted additional patrols on Lumber Street at a tenant’s request. A citizen reported their vehicle was stuck in a ditch on South Mitkof Highway. A towing service was contacted. An officer responded to a report of a disturbance at Eagle’s Roost Park and determined it was non-criminal. A citizen reported the loss of their flip style phone. A citizen turned in lost jewelry found at Manmade Hole. A citizen reported property lost on South Nordic Drive. An intoxicated person was escorted from Harbor Way. Found property was r...
June 16, 2022 In the Petersburg District Court, Superior Court Judge William Carey presided over a status hearing and arraignment for Jacob Sturgeon. For Failure to Appear at a recent status hearing bond was set at $100.00. Sturgeon’s conditions of release were to obey all laws, appear at all hearings and abide by all conditions previously set. The next court date for the current charge of Criminal Trespassing 2-Upon Premises was set for July 19. Additionally, the District Attorney filed Petitions to Revoke Probation for three prior c...
WRANGELL – The final inspection took place on June 16. An entirely new observation deck and shelter are still fresh with the smell of sealant. Anan Wildlife Observatory is almost ready for visitors at the start of the permit season on July 5. Even though the observatory is ready, plans are not flush to open the popular bear-viewing site, U.S. Forest Service staffers say. One thing blocks the way before people can arrive. The public toilets. "We are having complications with getting our t... Full story
Volunteers, many from the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department, spent the week leading up to the Fourth of July preparing the annual fireworks show. They gathered at the ballfields Sunday evening to set up the shells, mortars, and a new wireless firing system. The system is being used this year partially thanks to $1,000 in prize money awarded to Dave Berg by the Petersburg Community Foundation after he was named Petersburg Community Volunteer of the Year. Prior to the show, Berg linked up a...
Watermelon Eating Contest: Ages 4-8: Nick Hanner Ages 9-12: Emi Anderson Ages 13-17: Reid Ruecker Ages 18-up: Alex Shugarts Hot Pepper Challenge: Sajjan White Water Jousting: Ali Kittams, Molly Wolf, and Alex Shugarts Diving for Marbles: Tavyn Cabral & Eli Anderson Messy BBQ Wing Eating Contest: Ages 4-8: Atlas Short Ages 9-12: Emi Anderson Ages 13-17: Eli Anderson Ages 18-up: Alex Sugarts Four Legged Race: Ages 9-12: Molly Wolf, Jozlyn Turland, Eden Benavidez, Isabelle Hammer Ages 13 and up: Alex Shugarts, Kuaola Emmsley, Andrina Healy, Sam...
Sealaska Heritage Institute has made available online for the public recordings of two important treasures in the preservation of traditional Southeast Native culture, knowledge and history: Radio interviews with Native leaders that go back almost 40 years and the biennial Celebration festival. The 164 radio interviews preserved in digital files are from an hour-long program, “Southeast Native Radio,” that aired on Juneau public station KTOO 1985 to 2001. “The collection is remarkable, as it offers so many interviews with people on topic...
Scott Allen Hurtt was born on August 29, 1955 in Weston, Wyoming. He was one of seven children born to Frank and Janice Hurtt. He spent most of his childhood growing up in Casper, Wyoming. He grew up having a huge love for animals and enjoyed playing baseball. He graduated in 1973 and then moved to Montana in the late 1980s. In the 1990s, Scott moved up to rural Alaska to work remotely setting up and working in grocery stores. He loved learning the different cultures, communities, and getting... Full story
Towards the end of last month, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) held a community tour aboard the cutter Pike to help introduce the latest vessel that will continue the legacy of service in Southeast. Prior to the event, Commanding Officer Jack Loewenstein and Executive Petty Officer Kevin Chapman made sure to get off the ship and meet some people around town while spreading word about the event. "We did the rounds, we ended up walking over to the police station and meeting Jim there, meeting Glo at...
