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A public comment period is currently underway for two draft documents released as part of the Comprehensive Plan process-a land use map and a document outlining the financial state of the Borough's harbor facilities. Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht explained that the latter document details the financial component of the Waterfront Development Plan, which is being drafted alongside the Comprehensive Plan and will guide future decisions about Petersburg's harbors. In addition to examining the... Full story
Staffing changes at the Petersburg Police Department (PPD) have led to a new scheduling model that will have police officers filling in on dispatch shifts as part of their weekly duties. Police Chief Kelly Swihart said that the idea for the new schedule came after receiving notice that two dispatchers would be leaving the department, including head dispatcher Doc Lopez who’s retiring after 21 years with the department. Instead of replacing those positions with dispatchers, Swihart said they’ll be recruiting sworn officers who will serve in bot... Full story
The US Forest Service and Korpela Construction crews have broken ground on a new half-mile portion of the Raven's Roost Trail. Construction began July 17 on the section which will connect the new trailhead that was built last year-beginning across from the Sandy Beach parking lot-to the existing trail that winds through the muskeg behind the airport up into the Tongass National Forest. The new portion of trail will be similar to the half-mile portion of easy-grade, gravel trail built last year.... Full story
July 31, 1915 – John A. Einmo, for the Pacific Mildcure Company, on Tuesday purchased 182 barrels of herring from Louis Seiversen, of the seine boat John P., and 31 barrels from R. Enge. The price paid was $9.00 per barrel. The fish were repacked and started on the way to Eastern markets Thursday. Fifty-five barrels of herring were also shipped to other purchasers. July 26, 1940 – Three aids to navigation were relighted during the past week and one permament change will be made, according to the weekly notice to mariners issued by the Coa...
School enrollment will be a little bit easier for parents and staff this year as the Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) was selected to pilot a program that will transmit vaccine records, sports physicals and other pertinent medical information directly to the school. “We’ve been asked to pilot a program through AeHN (Alaska eHealth Network), which is a state-affiliated program,” said PMC Informatics Director Jill Dormer at last Thursday’s hospital board meeting. “They are going to pay us…to set up an interface connection with the school dist...
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in raising funds to travel to Mae Wang Lampang, Thailand for my Rotary Youth Exchange. People came to each fundraiser showing complete support of my exchange and have offered an endless amount of help. Petersburg is the most kind and supportive community, and I am really thankful for having the privilege of living here. Thank you for being a part of my world experience, and for helping me to meet the goals that I have set. I leave for Thailand on the 6th of August, and yes, I’m nervous. but I...
July 22 An officer responded to multiple reports of a barking dog. A caller reported two near-accidents with drivers on Mitkof Highway. Police received a report of trespassing. Possible gunshots were reported near Skylark Way. An officer issued a warning to a driver for speed requirements on Mitkof Highway. July 23 Police issued a warning to an individual for cultivating personal-use marijuana in public view. An individual reported the theft of a wallet. July 24 A board with nails sticking out of it was reported in the roadway of Hammer’s S...
WRANGELL — The jury in the trial of Greg Salard found the former family physician guilty of two child pornography charges, for receipt and distribution. A lesser, third count was not deliberated by jurors. Judge Anthony Burgess presided over the proceedings, which lasted seven days. Jury selection began last week, and the trial included five days of testimony. Prosecutors finally rested their case on Monday, after the court heard from a federal investigator, arresting officers and a computer specialist. Evidence shown during the trial i...
July 23 Marybeth Johnson appeared before Magistrate Judge Desiree Burrell for an arraignment on a minor offense charge of Dogs at Large. The defendant pled no contest to the charge and was sentenced to pay a $50 fine and a $10 surcharge. July 28 Magistrate Judge Desiree Burrell presided over a bail review hearing for Jacob Sturgeon. The defendant is charged with Violating Conditions of Release set in three cases. Bail was previously set at a $1000 performance bond, and two possible scenarios of release were discussed: post bond or a release to...
July 19 James Vick and Julie Ruhle were cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers for Dungeness Crab Marking Requirements. Vick and Ruhle are the registered permit holders on the F/V Midnight Ryder. They were documented fishing with crab gear marked with tags that were previously reported as lost and therefore voided. Arraignment is set for Sept. 1 in the Petersburg District Court. July 22 Ila Marie Cantrell, 60, of Petersburg, was cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers for making a false statement on her 2015 resident sport license application. Cantrell...
Eighteen-year-old Skipper Erickson was the most recent in the Petersburg troop to join the rank of Eagle Scout. Erickson took the scouting oath for the rank in a ceremony on July 3, capping off six years of involvement in the local scouting program. "I've been in the boy scouts here since 6th grade; that's when you can join," Erickson said. "And I've been working to get my Eagle badge until now, getting all the badges and requirements done." Over the years, Erickson has been working on...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Tourists who want to look at seal pups resting among Alaska’s glacial fjords may be making things harder for the marine animals. Cruise ship traffic in the glacial fjords an import nursery area for harbor seal pups has increased ten-fold in the past 30 years, the Juneau Empire reported. Biologists like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admistration’s John Jansen have been collecting data on seals in the fjords of southeast Alaska. Jansen has been studying harbor seals in Disenchantment Bay, one of the fjords among...
WRANGELL — On Sunday Alaska Native and Canadian First Nations groups will mark the first anniversary of the Mount Polley tailings dam collapse in a ceremony on the Stikine River. On Aug. 4, 2014, a rupture in the tailings dam servicing the British Columbia mine released billions of gallons of metals-tainted effluent into waters that fed into the salmon-rich Fraser River system. Earlier this month the mine’s owner, Imperial Metals, received a restricted permit from the provincial government allowing it to reopen Mt. Polley, using an alt...
Shock and dismay were heard from Bristol Bay fishermen when they finally got word last week that major buyers would pay 50 cents a pound for their sockeye salmon. That’s a throwback to the dock prices paid from 2002 through 2004, and compares to $1.20 advanced last year ($1.33 on average after price adjustments). A late surge of reds produced catches of nearly 13 million in its final week, bringing the total by July 23 to 34.5 million fish. The fish were still trickling in, and state managers, who called the season an ‘anomaly,’ said the final...
JUNEAU (AP) — Gov. Bill Walker said he believes his bill to expand Medicaid would have passed the Legislature if brought to a vote but that the legislation never seemed to be progressing toward that end. Walker announced this month his intention to accept federal money to expand Medicaid, calling the move his “final option” after lawmakers had tabled his bill for further review. In an interview Monday, Walker said that every day the state waits to expand Medicaid it is saying “no” to people who could be getting health care coverage. Estimates...
A humpback whale that was first sighted in Lynn Canal in 1972 was re-sighted by researchers earlier this month feeding off Cape Fanshaw in Frederick Sound. The 44-year span between the two sightings of the whale, dubbed "Old Timer" by researchers, is the longest re-sighting span of an individual humpback in the world. Dr. Adam Pack, a marine mammal researcher at the University of Hawaii (UH) at Hilo, and photographer Jim Nahmens spotted the whale on July 12 while doing research aboard the M/V...
