Sorted by date Results 1 - 22 of 22
On Thursday, a cruise ship docked in Petersburg that sent several passengers to the ER. The first patient was tested positive for influenza. Petersburg Medical Center was waiting until the end of September or Oct. 1 to start immunizing staff members. "On Thursday, we decided to do it that afternoon," said director of nursing Jennifer Bryner at a Petersburg Medical Center board meeting on Wednesday. About 75 staff members were vaccinated on Thursday, and there are only a few left who needed to...
United States Postal Service officials estimate the Petersburg Post Office will reopen this Friday, Sept. 20. Officials had previously expected the post office to resume normal retail and PO box operations by this past weekend. The Petersburg Post Office has now been closed since late Thurs., Sept. 13 after a package leaked mercury inside the facility, according to a statement issued by the United States Postal Service. "Out of an abundance of caution, we are temporarily suspending operations...
According to documents provided by Erin Michael, the public health nurse for Petersburg and Wrangell, opioids were involved in 42,000 deaths in the United States in 2016. In Alaska, in 2017, there were 108 opioid-related deaths. The National Institute of Drug Abuse said that opioids are highly addictive and can be found in illegal substances like heroin. It is also found in prescription pain medications such as OxyContin and Vicodin. To combat the increasing abuse of opioids in the area, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services has...
September 20, 1918 The greatest entertaining body ever in Petersburg was the Chautauqua which was here last week, composed of sixteen talented artists and speakers. Without an exception those taking part in this program were excellent performers. The business men of Petersburg are to be congratulated on securing the first Chautauqua for Petersburg, and for signing the contract for their return. September 17, 1943 With ideal hunting weather the deer season opened Sept. 15. A number if hunting parties went out to take advantage of opening day....
Community and economic development director Liz Cabrera gave the borough assembly a presentation on the draft for a development code revision at an assembly meeting on Monday. “A lot of the boundaries that we currently have in our zoning, where residential areas are, where commercial areas are, industrial, those really do not change,” said Cabrera on Monday. “The fundamental changes are really going to be in the code.” The code changes will improve downtown zoning and strengthen downtown as a destination for residents and visitors, expand...
Last week at Southeast Conference, Petersburg’s nomination for the board of directors seat, assembly member Jeff Meucci, wasn’t elected to the seat. Petersburg’s nomination for the board of directors seat was a contentious issue in the borough assembly as both Mayor Mark Jensen and Meucci sought the nomination. “I think the assembly needs to address some of the issues regarding that controversy,” said Meucci at a borough assembly meeting on Monday. “Hopefully, we’ll do that when the mayor gets back.” Jensen is Petersburg’s representative to...
Fair Share To the Editor: 574 seniors have been given tax free cards, 89 of them get some form of assistance. That leaves almost 500 seniors that don’t really need a hand out. I don’t understand why people that have huge homes, million dollar homes, multiple homes feel they deserve not to be taxed just because they are 65 or more. To me that is the same is saying since I’m 65 or older I don’t have any pride in my community and I shouldn’t have to pay my fair share. Show you still do have pride and support your community. Pay your fair shar...
WRANGELL — On Aug. 31, the Supreme Court of Alaska gave on opinion on a property dispute between two Wrangell residents, DeWayne Tomal and Jeannette Anderson. The opinion came down after a trial in superior court between the two Wrangellites, after their domestic partnership came to an end and the question of how to divide their property came to trial. The case is an interesting one, the opinion reads, because Tomal and Anderson both reportedly continued to live together for some time after their relationship had come to an end. “Alaska has...
September 12 — A disturbance was reported to authorities from to a noise complaint. An abandoned vehicle was reported on Reservoir Rd. On Sandy Beach Rd, a dog was lost, but later found by its owner. A prisoner was transported. Suspicious activity was reported on 14th St. Jason Ratliff, 40, checked into the Petersburg police station to serve time for previous charges. September 13 — A hit and run was reported to authorities at 1300 Howkan St., but there were no witnesses. At the post office, a suspicious package was reported that closed the...
This Saturday, the Petersburg High School cross country team will be competing in Juneau at the Regional championships. “It’s just been a great group to work with all year and now we’ll see if the training has paid off,” said head coach Tommy Thompson. Only seven boys and seven girls who were selected for their times, eligibility and involvement in the program this season will be competing at Regionals this weekend, said Thompson. On the boys team, Tolin Eddy, Brennan Skeek, Chase Lister, Kole Sperl, Koren Sperl, Uriah Lucas and Julian Cumps w...
The Petersburg High School swim team had their second meet of the season in Sitka on Friday and Saturday. “Our fitness levels were good because the end of our races were good, but the speed wasn’t quite there. So we’re going to work on that,” said head coach Andy Carlisle. On Friday, in the boys 200 yard medley relay, Sean Spigelmyre, Chase Lockhart, Rylan Wallace and Peter Kowalski came in fourth place. Wallace, Caleb Pfundt, Spieglemyer and Kowalski came in third place in the boys 200 yard freestyle relay. Kowalski came in fourth in the boy...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — State and federal wildlife officials have apologized to Alaska Natives for the enforcement of migratory bird regulations that failed to consider the effects on subsistence practices. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the apology Thursday for the consequences of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibited the spring and summer harvests of migratory birds and their eggs during its implementation in the 1960s and 1970s, KTVA-TV reported The prohibition caused Alaska N...
Knowledge, bonding and storytelling are the words used by the organizers to describe the First Annual Fall Adult Culture Festival that took place at Sandy Beach Park Sept. 7-9 in conjunction with the Rainforest Festival. Marsha Cook, Kayla Perry and Christina Sargent, the key organizers for the event, were inspired by their own time foraging for berries, mushrooms and other edibles. Cook had sent four years living in Kake and participating in the annual youth culture camps held there. They...
As Alaska’s salmon season draws to a close, lots of fall fisheries are just getting underway from Ketchikan to the Bering Sea. Southeast is one of Alaska’s busiest regions for fall fishing, especially for various kinds of shellfish. Nearly 400,000 pounds of sidestripe and pink shrimp are being hauled in by a few beam trawlers, and the season for spot shrimp opens October 1. Usually about half a million pounds of the popular big spots are hauled up in local pots over several months. Dungeness crab fishing also will reopen in Southeast in Oct...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The crew and passengers of a fast ferry celebrated the vessel's possible last voyage in southeast Alaska over the weekend. The ferry Fairweather traveled from Skagway and Haines to Juneau on Sunday, taking its last trip in the area for the season before continuing operation in the Prince William Sound, CoastAlaska reported this week. Two new ferries of a different class are expected to enter the service of the Alaska Marine Highway next year, casting doubt on the future of...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska man found with the cellphone of a missing 10-year-old girl was charged Monday in connection with her death after GPS coordinates of where the phone had traveled led authorities to the girl’s body. Peter Wilson, 41, of Kotzebue, Alaska, was formally charged Monday with making false statements as police tried to find Ashley Johnson-Barr, who had been missing since Sept. 6. The girl’s body was found Friday just outside the remote town located on Alaska’s northwestern coast. Wilson, 41, will make his first a...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) _ Alaska environmental managers have issued notices to eight cruise ships for violating air quality standards during the summer cruise season. The state Department of Environmental Conservation found nine violations this year, the highest number since 2014, the Juneau Empire reported this week. Four violations were found on Holland America Line ships, Princess Cruises had two, Royal Caribbean had two, and the Norwegian Cruise Line had one, according to the department. The department will forward the violation notices and its...
State Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins will hold public office hours on Thursday, September 20 from 8 - 9 a.m. at Glacier Express and from 1 - 2 p.m. at Salty Pantry. No appointment necessary. With questions or if you can’t make it to office hours, email rep.jonathan.kreiss-tomkins@akleg.gov or call the Sitka office at 747.4665....
In their first meet of the season, the Mitkof Middle School cross country team saw their girls team come in first place and boys team in second behind Schoenbar Middle School on Saturday. "Both teams did great," said Coach Joe Viechnicki. "I'm really proud of them. They did an awesome job." Seventh graders Kinley Lister and Bryana Ratliff were the top girls runners for Petersburg coming in at second and third place respectively. Lister set a new record for the Petersburg team at their home meet...
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Alaska and Canada would reduce their catch of endangered Chinook salmon in years with poor fishery returns under an agreement that spells out the next decade of cooperation between the U.S. and Canada to keep various salmon species afloat in Pacific waters. Members of the Pacific Salmon Commission recommended a new 10-year conservation plan to the U.S. and Canadian governments Monday that would run through 2028 and involve Canada, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and a number of tribal nations in both countries. The c...
The Petersburg Post Office reopened today at 11 A.M. after closing its facility last week because of a mercury spill, according to a press release from the United States Postal Service. Environmental contractors and regulators have evaluated the facility after cleaning it and have deemed it safe to reopen. "The Postal Service apologizes for the inconvenience and appreciates its customers' patience," said the release.... Full story
