Articles from the November 2, 2017 edition


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  • Four PHS swimmers qualify for State swim on Nov. 3

    Ben Muir|Nov 2, 2017

    The Petersburg Swim & Dive team was in Juneau last weekend for the Southeast Regional Championships, where four athletes qualified for the state meet on Friday. "It went really well," said Coach Andy Carlisle. "Even the kids who didn't make it to state were lights-out swimmers." Sophomores Maddy Whitethorn and Maria Pfundt, along with seniors Britton Erickson and Van Abbott, qualified for the state meet in Anchorage starting Friday. Regionals were split into preliminary races on Friday and...

  • F/V Moonshadow boat fire extinguished quickly last Sunday

    Nov 2, 2017

    Arnold Enge’s F/V Moonshadow caught fire Sunday evening while moored in the North Boat Harbor. A malfunctioning oil stove was believed to be the cause of the fire. Enge said damage to the boat was minimal and added that he’s performing clean up duties following the fire. Some Formica sheets will have to be replaced on the ceiling that bubbled from the heat of the fire, but no structural damage occurred according to Enge. Enge said he had shut down the oil stove before leaving the boat on Sunday, but added that the oil stove carburetor may hav...

  • Long Term Care visits Oktoberfest

    Nov 2, 2017

  • Walker presents plan to address crime increase in Alaska

    Nov 2, 2017

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Alaska Gov. Bill Walker unveiled a plan Monday to address a rise in the state's crime rate and said a stable economic process would help. People training to put their lives on the line in state jobs connected to fighting crime should be assured they will not be repeatedly targeted for layoff notices every May during state budget deliberations, Walker said. “Alaska needs fiscal certainty,” the governor said at a news conference in Juneau. “They need to know now and into the future they're not going to have another...

  • Yesterday's News

    Nov 2, 2017

    November 2, 1917 – Machinery and a supply of cans reached here on the Al-Ki for the Alaska Clam Canning Company, a new enterprise which is to be established across the Narrows from Tonka in the saltery buildings formerly owned by Hungerford Bros. P.C. Horley, manager, and others connected with the company arrived Tuesday from Seattle. It is planned to have the cannery in operation within fifteen days. November 6, 1942 – With the coming of wintry weather Point Agassiz farmers have had time to consider how much food has been grown in that are...

  • Sexual assault response team forms in Petersburg

    Ben Muir|Nov 2, 2017

    Medical staff, an advocacy group and the police station in Petersburg have created a three-pronged approach to sexual assault cases. "Understanding what sexual assault is, it's kind of eye-opening," said Annette Wooton, the executive director of a Petersburg advocacy group called WAVE, or Working Against Violence for Everyone. "For a lot of people, when you look at the statutes, you realize 'oh, I've been assaulted.'" The Sexual Assault Response Team, or SART, is headed by local police, medical...

  • Bible Church pastor settles in after long wait

    Ben Muir|Nov 2, 2017

    Tom Gregoire, a northern California pastor with five kids, had wanted to work in Petersburg the last three years, and in Alaska for decades. "I've been trying to figure out how to get back to Alaska since I was 17," said Gregoire, sitting in his study at the Petersburg Bible Church. "And it took me until I was 40 to make it." Gregoire was born in Kodiak but moved to California before he could remember much. He became a part-time pastor while working in construction. He had three children with hi...

  • First Baptist Church begins search for new pastor

    Ben Muir|Nov 2, 2017

    The First Baptist Church in Petersburg started its search for a new pastor last week, coming after Don Higgins resigned due to health reasons. The first step for the search committee is to find an interim pastor to replace Pastor Higgins. Butch Young, who is the chair on the search committee, said the Southern Baptist Convention in Anchorage will assist in finding a likely retired pastor to step in. "We are praying that Don Higgins recovers completely and is able to return to preaching," Young s...

  • To the Editor

    Nov 2, 2017

    Fish and Game board process is a public process To the Editor: Dear Alaskans, As your chairs to the Alaska Boards of Fisheries and Game we want to take this time to update you on our upcoming meeting season for 2017-2018. For those new to Alaska or our state’s fish and game regulatory process, the Boards of Fisheries and Game are composed of seven individuals from around Alaska who meet each year to enact changes to your fish and game management system. For example, by passing a regulation the Board of Game might open a new moose hunt in wester...

  • Cody Litster: from alternate recruit to trooper of the year

    Ben Muir|Nov 2, 2017

    Trooper Cody Litster was about to pack everything he needed for the day into his truck one Thursday morning when he got a phone call about a shooting in his jurisdiction, 50 miles away. "It seems like it's all making sense now that I've asked a few more questions," said Litster, on his first call with a school administrator in Kake, who reported the shooting. Litster, a wildlife trooper, was in Petersburg when he first heard from Kake, a small village with no local police that's two hours away...

  • Trooper report

    Nov 2, 2017

    On Oct. 25, AST was notified by the Phoenix Logging camp on Prince of Wales Island that Brian Stanton (64 of Ketchikan) was deceased do to a gunshot. It was reported that they were at Keete Inlet approximately 15 air miles from Hydaburg on Prince of Wales Island. Investigation revealed Timothy Murphy (26 of Ketchikan) had confessed to shooting Stanton and had made multiple incriminating statements to employees of the logging camp. Murphy was arrested and charged with one count of Murder in the 1st Degree and lodged at the Craig Jail. The next...

  • Police Report

    Nov 2, 2017

    Oct. 25 — Three bear sightings were reported on North 3rd St. and again along Kings Row. A burglar alarm was reported on S. 2nd St. Oct. 26 — Parking complaints were reported on Chief John Lott St. Suspicious activity was reported at Howkan St. and Mitkof Hwy. locations. Police are investigating civil matters reported on this date. Oct. 27 — Gerriann R. Collins, 24, was cited for unauthorized parking in a South Harbor handicap zone. Police served a protective order at a N. Nordic Dr. location. Police investigated suspicious activity at an un...

  • PHS senior wins highest Girl Scout award

    Ben Muir|Nov 2, 2017

    A Petersburg High School senior on Monday was given the highest honor in the Girl Scout youth organization. Julia Murph, a senior scout, was presented the Gold Award. She had to complete two projects to become eligible. The most recent was a brochure that mapped hiking trails near Petersburg. On the front is a photograph looking down on Petersburg taken by Murph when she was about 9 years old. Inside is a map of Petersburg with breakdowns of each hike and their difficulty. "Part of it was my mom...

  • Petersburg wrestling team outnumbered in Ketchikan last weekend

    Ben Muir|Nov 2, 2017

    The Petersburg Wrestling team took only five kids to the meet in Ketchikan last weekend, and its coach “didn’t even look” at the final score. “It was a tough weekend,” Coach Dan Swearingen said. “We left all of our upperclassmen and our physically stronger kids at home due to injuries, sickness or personal reasons.” As a result, rostered with two sophomores, two freshmen and one senior, Petersburg got “worked pretty well,” Swearingen said. During the matches, Petersburg had trouble staying on top and getting off bottom, Swearingen said....

  • Tribal sovereignty affirmed at AFN, ANSEP resolution tabled

    Dan Rudy|Nov 2, 2017

    WRANGELL – Wrangell delegates returned from last month's annual conference for the Alaska Federation of Natives at Anchorage's Dena'ina Center. AFN is the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska, representing 151 federally recognized tribes, 150 village corporations, 12 regional corporations, and various nonprofit and tribal consortiums. Its annual October conference, this year held between the 19th and 21st, provides AFN membership the opportunity to put forward resolutions as well a...

  • Elementary students create police station's Christmas card

    Ben Muir|Nov 2, 2017

    About 35 elementary students in Petersburg submitted drawings to local police in a contest to select its Christmas card. Three volunteer judges were in the Petersburg Police Department's training room on Saturday to select the station's next Christmas card. Teri Toland, Jeigh Stanton Gregor and Carolyn Hurtt scanned the drawings that sprawled across the table. Some were northern-lights themed, others were fish-based, and a few were bears with Santa Claus hats on. The judges quickly made a...

  • Fish Factor: Great salmon season results in buying, building new or upgrading boats

    Laine Welch|Nov 2, 2017

    It’s steady as she goes for the values of Alaska salmon fishing permits, with upticks in the wind at several fishing regions. “There’s a lot of cautious optimism,” said Jeff Osborn of Dock Street Brokers in Seattle. As well there should be after a salmon fishery that produced 225 million fish valued at nearly $680 million, a 67 percent increase over 2016. Bristol Bay drift salmon permits trade more than any other due to the sheer volume (1,800) and it’s no surprise the value is increasing after one of the best fishing seasons ever. But they are...

  • Six choir members, one band member make honors festival

    Ben Muir|Nov 2, 2017

    Six choir members and one band member from Peterburg were selected to participate in the annual Southeast Honor Music Festival in Klawock last weekend. "It's an all-star band and an all-star choir," said Matt Lenhard, the Petersburg band director who traveled to Klawock with the group. "Klawock were great hosts." The students from Peterburg who were selected included Joseph Giesbrecht, the first chair clarinet and only band member. The other six were choir members: Alex Worhatch, sophomore;...

  • SEARHC help office adds Saturday hours for health enrollment period

    Nov 2, 2017

    This year open enrollment in the state’s health insurance marketplace has been shortened to six weeks, beginning yesterday and running through December 15. Enabled through the Affordable Care Act, Americans meeting certain criteria can apply for government subsidies for participating insurance plans. Before the start of each calendar year, they are required to prepare submissions for new or renewed coverage through the HealthCare.gov website during this open enrollment period. As previously announced last month, Southeast Alaska Regional H...

  • Death notice

    Nov 2, 2017

    Harry S. Sundberg, 95, a longtime Wrangell resident died September 16, 2017 in Bellingham, Washington, as a result of a fall at his assisted living facility. A memorial service will be held November 4, 2017 at 2 pm at the Wrangell Elks Club. A later celebration of Harry’s life, as well as a remembrance of his niece Lorene (Skip) Henderson, and the spreading of their ashes, will be held in May 2018 when his nieces, nephews and families can attend. Condolences can be sent to Rose Sundberg, Box 613, Wrangell, Alaska 99929. In lieu of flowers, f... Full story

  • Contested Bristol Bay salmon ends up in Alaska landfill

    Nov 2, 2017

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Nearly 160,000 pounds of salmon from a failed Alaska fishing operation have reached an Anchorage landfill after testing declared it unfit for consumption. The Bristol Bay salmon came off of the fishing vessel Akutan last month, and its stakeholders are pointing at each other as responsible for the fish contamination, Alaska's Energy Desk reported . The Akutan was planned to be a floating custom processor that could handle up to 100,000 pounds of salmon a day for a small fleet of fishermen under Bristol Bay Seafoods L...

  • Halloween fun in Petersburg

    Nov 2, 2017