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Petersburg City Councilors Mark Jensen and Don Koenigs have filed with the Division of Elections to run for the position of Borough Assembly Mayor. “This is my sixth year on the council and I’ve been mayor pro-tem for most of those years and I’d just like to see the transition process through,” Jensen said. “It will all depend on the vote, but I believe I can help it go smoothly.” Koenigs, who briefly worked as Petersburg’s City Manager in the early 90s and was Petersburg’s Mayor in the early 80... Full story
The Petersburg City Council unanimously approved a renewal contract for Petersburg City Manager, Steve Giesbrecht, during its regular meeting Monday evening. The current contract held an annual salary of $105,000 and with the renewal, Giesbrecht’s salary would increase to $108,675 with a 3.5 percent salary increase. Another change proposed by the renewal is a severance package increasing from six to nine months of salary should Giesbrecht be terminated from his position with the City. This renewal will also provide an annual family m... Full story
The Petersburg Viking swimmers traveled to Juneau over the weekend to compete against Juneau Douglas, Ketchikan, Thunder Mountain and Sitka. The Viking team, as a whole, finished in fifth place for the weekend competition. The girls finished fourth for Friday and Saturday’s events. The boys finished third in Friday’s events and fourth Saturday. “We swam pretty well this week,” Head Coach Andy Carlisle said. “We were a little tired after a long ferry ride and sleeping on the ground for a couple... Full story
The possibility of streamlining the operations of Thomas Bay Power Authority and Ketchikan Power Utility into a single operator was brought before the Petersburg City Council Monday evening. “The operations and management report was commissioned by SEAPA to see how we are doing with our business,” Trey Acteson said. “We are hoping to see if there are any opportunities for savings in the near future.” Acteson also explained that with the addition of the Swan Lake and Tyee intertie, the dynamics have changed as to the management of the power r...
October 20, 1982- An unfamiliar building, a strange view from the front window, a new bed-it can be disquieting to an adult, let alone a child. Maria Estelle, director of the Petersburg Children’s Center, is getting nervous thinking about helping 40 children adapt to a new day-home. She is nonetheless looking forward to the move into the new Petersburg Children’s Center. The actual move won’t be made until Nov. 1, but a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. across from the elementary school. Construction of the cente...
Using a $245,000 grant from the Alaska Energy Authority, the City of Petersburg improved the energy efficiency of their city shop building, harbor office, Scow Bay fire hall and the community gym. According to Community Development Director Leo Luczak, the city kicked in an additional $50,000 from the city’s building maintenance fund to complete additional work on some of their buildings. Luczak said $85,000 of the funds were used for weatherization and insulation upgrades to buildings and the balance went to upgrading light fixtures in each o...
John Hoag was appointed to the recently vacated seat of John Jensen during the regular meeting of the Petersburg City Council Monday evening and immediately took his position. Appointments of vice mayor and committee members were taken care of at this meeting as well. Mark Jensen will remain as Petersburg Vice-Mayor and will also continue in his role as liaison to the Harbor and Port Advisory Board and Motor Pool Funding Committee. Hoag will take the liaison position on the Public Safety Advisory Board and Sue Flint, Nancy Strand and Rick...
It’s no wonder borough formation efforts have taken more than 10 years to culminate in a determining vote in December. Initial council discussions over borough formation began about 2002 as the body debated whether to annex land into the city’s corporate limits or to establish borough boundaries. This week a letter writer charges that this newspaper and the city failed to correct information that was printed, challenged and corrected over two years ago. There is certainly enough information in the city’s borough petition that provides fodde...
More borough government To the Editor: Is now the time for more government? It sounds like the City of Petersburg is having trouble rounding up candidates for the proposed borough Assembly. Who would be foolish enough to sit on an Assembly that is dead set on more purchases and more spending? That person would be eaten alive if he or she tried to stop the spending. Why extend this kind of government to a huge borough area that will require more government? Extra staff will be needed for such a large area. That will only be the beginning; there...
October 10 Harbor representative requested a vehicle be impounded for overtime parking. An individual allegedly violated court conditions at Nordic Drive and Dolphin Street. October 11 A driver was speeding while texting on Rambler Street. A request was made for information on obtaining a restraining order on Haugen Drive. Harbormaster requested a boat be impounded. October 12 An individual reported fuel or oil all along Haugen Drive. Foam coming from a culvert was reported at North Harbor. Officers responded to a call regarding loud music...
October 15 Jace H. Cunningham, 30, appeared before Judge William Carey for an arraignment on the charges of seven counts of third degree assault – cause fear of injury with a weapon; one count of driving under the influence; one count of refusal to submit to a chemical test; one count of fourth degree misconduct involving a weapon and two counts of fifth degree criminal mischief. Cunningham entered a plea of not guilty and a bail review hearing was set for Oct. 17. Joshua J. Franklin, 24, appeared before Judge William Carey for an a...
Petersburg Bible Church welcomes Demer Webb as a new pastor for the growing congregation. Webb and wife, Dana, have been married for 14 years and have three children, Ethan, 10, Ella, 7 and Elijah, 2. The Webb family moved here from Atlanta and hopes to make Petersburg their home. The Webbs arrived Aug. 5 and will move into their permanent home in November. “I lived in Anchorage for 14 years as a young man,” Webb said. “Until about eight months ago, Petersburg wasn’t even on my radar. The onl...
Outgoing Petersburg Vessel Owners Association executive director Julianne Curry approached the Petersburg City Council with the possibility of putting commercial fishing projects at the top of the capital improvement projects list in the future. “I have been the executive director of the PVOA for six and a half years,” Curry said. “I would like to explain what the commercial fishing industry does in Petersburg.” Recent fact sheets, put out by the United Fishermen of Alaska, were made available to the council Monday evening. “Petersburg is the n...
Moose Hunt Results (End of Season) Mitkof 4 Thomas Bay 4 Stikine River 16 (2) Kake 20 (2) Kupreanof 5 Farragut Bay 5 (1) Etolin Is. 1 Kuiu 1 Port Houghton 2 Wrangell 1 Bradfield Canal 2 Zarembo 1 Total Moose 67 Elk 3 (Arch.) 5 (Rifle) (Illegal Kills)...
Alaska Island Community Services teamed up with Petersburg Mental Health Services to perform a study regarding underage drinking and adult heavy and binge drinking. Alaska Island Community Services program evaluator Desiree Shepler, relayed results of the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant to the Petersburg City Council during its regular meeting Monday evening. The Strategic Prevention Framework Incentive Grant is a federally funded program that is awarded to different states. “Each state takes the grant and performs the s...
JUNEAU (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell has proclaimed October to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Alaska. Since taking office, combatting domestic violence and sexual assault has been a part of Parnell's legislative agenda. He has called the violence a scourge, and in his proclamation, says violence within the home and within relationships “breaks the core of the human spirit and jeopardizes the humanity that exists in every community.” He says everyone has the right to live without harm or fear of harm. Parnell asks all Alaskans to “Choo...
The young family of Carin Christensen and Emil Tucker approach the finish line at the Community Gym during Saturday Morning’s Beat the Odds Race Against Cancer....
City official continue to handle questions regarding the borough election issues. These issues are being forwarded to the two State agencies involved in the election, the Election Division and Alaska Public Officials Office, APOC. “The State is running this election,” Petersburg City Manager Steve Giesbrecht said. “We can answer some of the less confusing issues, but most of the questions need to be taken to the election officials.” The Borough Promotion Committee will hold its first official meeting at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 19. “We will be g...
The Petersburg Road Improvement Project continues along Nordic Drive and Dolphin Street. Construction progress to date includes all phase one drain pipes and storm drain structures on Dolphin Street and Nordic Drive, including the Dolphin Street outfall. “All of the pipe work has been done,” Dowl HKM Project Engineer Matt McGuan said. “We will not be putting any more pipe in the ground.” The Nordic Drive pavement, curb and gutter and sidewalk has been demolished and the D-1 base course has been placed and graded on Dolphin Street East and the...
ANCHORAGE (AP) — Human remains found ravaged by one or more brown bears on a southeast Alaska island are likely from a Sitka man overdue on a boating trip, Sitka police said Monday. Police confirmed the death Sunday and said remains found on Chichagof Island were likely that of Tomas Puerta, 54, who left Sitka in a skiff Thursday on his way to a forestry job site near Peril Strait. The death was first reported by KCAW-FM. Sitka is a community of about 9,000 on Baranof Island. Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof islands together are known as the ...
State fishery managers are asking for input from Alaskans to help solve the case of disappearing king salmon. A letter went out last week from Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Cora Campbell inviting stakeholders to a two day symposium in Anchorage later this month titled ‘Understanding Abundance and Productivity Trends of Chinook salmon in Alaska.’ The stated goal is ‘to increase understanding and develop the most complete research plan possible.’ A draft analysis by a newly appointed fisheries research team represents initial...
Southeast Alaska received a new Coast Guard cutter last week. Coast Guard Sector Juneau personnel welcomed the crew of the USCG Cutter Chandeleur during a ceremony at the Buoy Deck in Juneau on Friday, Oct. 12. The 110-foot Island Class patrol boat, which can accommodate a crew of 18 personnel, was moved from Miami, Fla., to Alaska to help support the regional response capabilities of the service in Southeast Alaska. “We welcome the crew of the Chandeleur to Alaska,” said Capt. Scott Bor...
Dan Tate, father and employee of Petersburg City Schools spoke with the Petersburg City Schools Board to add athletic programs to the middle school. “I had the opportunity to chaperone 19 middle school students from the running club to Ketchikan,” Tate said. “They are a remarkable group of young people.” According to Tate, most kids do better in school as well as in life in general, if they have some type of physical activity. “I would like you, the Board, to consider implementing a more active athletic program for the middle school students,...
Members of the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department visited the kindergarten at Stedman Elementary School to teach about fire safety and safe practices in case of fire. Above, Mike Turland in full bunker gear demonstrates what they might see if a firefighter were crawling into a burning house to perform a rescue.... Full story
Eva, a longtime resident of Anchorage passed away peacefully of natural causes October 2012. Surrounded by her loving family at Alaska Regional Hospital. Eva was born in Petersburg to Jesse Woods, (Berkeley), Keanu and John Keanu Sr. on March 8, 1933. She attended Petersburg Elementary and attended high school at Sheldon Jackson Junior College graduating in 1953. She loved basketball, being a cheerleader and song queen. She was often a soloist in the high school choir. In 1953, she married her high school sweetheart Gary H. Tennison. In June,...
