Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 26
The Borough Assembly voted 5-2 in favor of delaying the purchase of a new sanitation truck for the recycling program. Though the Assembly approved the transition to a cart-based system on March 16, an as-yet unresolved citizen initiative to retain the blue bag system for two more years gave several assembly members pause on moving forward with the truck’s purchase. Angela Davis and Wes Davis filed an application for initiative petition with Borough Clerk Debbie Thompson on March 31, which outlined a two-year, blue bag program with a c... Full story
The first phase of the $8.6 million Nordic-Haugen road project is expected to kick off soon with utility work. Originally slated to begin in the summer of 2014, the project was pushed back to this spring with the construction bid recently awarded to Secon, of Juneau, according to Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spokesman Jeremy Woodrow. “We’ve actually combined four projects into one,” he noted. It’s to be a two season project, with an expected completion date of fall 2016. Phase one will see utility work, consist... Full story
Though the Borough has a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year (beginning July 1, 2015), they have begun preparing for leaner times ahead. Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht has tasked the Parks and Recreation department to cut $100,000 from their budget over the coming two fiscal years (FY), compared with the $887,334 budget for 2014-15. “It’s never pleasant,” said Giesbrecht. “With the combination of state and federal cuts, we’ve got to start working on this.” Parks and Rec Director Donnie Hayes said they’ve already eliminated on... Full story
April 10, 1915 – A total of $2,831,517 has been expended within the past ten years by the Alaska road commissioners in the building and upkeep of roads in the territory. Of this amount, $1,500,000 was appropriated direct from the public treasury by congress, and the balance of $1,331,517 was from the Alaska fund, which is derived from business and trade licenses outside of incorporated towns. April 12, 1940 – At Wednesday's Chamber of Commerce meeting a letter from Forester J. M. Wyckoff, in regard to the construction of a peat plant here, said...
It used to be difficult for some, so they just wouldn't get out and about. But now that Mountain View Manor has a new set of wheels for its residents to spin around in, ridership has doubled. "We do get a lot more people going than would've gone," Activities Director Jordan Stafford said. The new van has an 800 pound capacity wheelchair lift that makes it easier for those in chairs and with walkers to get on. The van can fit about 15 people, including two wheelchairs, while the old one couldn't...
The Juneau-based troupe Theatre in the Rough will bring Shakespeare’s The Life of King Henry V to a Petersburg audience this weekend. Director Aaron Elmore said the production is brought to life by a troupe of eight actors who collectively fill 40 roles. To keep the action moving along, characters transform on stage before the audience. In addition to quick wardrobe changes, another key costume element aids in distinguishing the characters. “All of these characters are pretty comic. They tend to be laggards or cowards or drunks,” Elmore said....
State of the State To the Editor: I am greatly concerned that our local entities are not taking the fiscal crisis seriously. We, as Alaskans have permanently lost 60% of our income yet we keep spending as if this is a short term problem. Would this make sense if as a family you knew from now on that you would be bringing home 50-60% less each paycheck? Would you feel it was okay to spend all your savings to keep the same lifestyle? We as a state and borough are not borrowing from our savings. We are permanently depleting it. We are not all of...
With the filing of the second initiative petition comes additional time to continue discussion on the Borough’s recycling program. Yes, it delays the purchase of recycling equipment, but it does allow citizens, the assembly and the borough staff to reach consensus on how the program may be carried out. The report this week by Karl Hagerman noted the diverse range of pricing of recycled materials. Glass is priced at a negative $30/ton while aluminum comes in at $1,500/ton. Currently the Borough receives a $67/ton value for their mixed loads, o...
Police arrested Lars D. Christensen, 56, on a charge of felony assault following two motor vehicle accidents on N. Nordic on April 1. According to the criminal complaint filed by police, witnesses saw Christensen driving a Ford Ranger on N. Nordic, which veered close to parked vehicles on the street before hitting a car parked in front of Petersburg Rexall Drug. Christensen allegedly continued driving after this incident and veered to the right again, hitting the back of a full-size pickup parke...
April 1 An unattended vehicle was discovered by an officer in an odd location on the highway. After receiving a report of a vehicle accident, police arrested Lars D. Christensen, 56, on a charge of felony assault. A caller reported harassment. A parking violation at the airport was reported. A civil issue was discussed between an individual and an officer. An Alaska State Trooper made a traffic stop on Mitkof Highway. Police responded to a report of an assault. Upon police arrival, the suspect had left. April 2 An officer made contact with...
April 3 Danny Rusk appeared before Magistrate Judge Desiree Burrell for an eviction proceeding. The court was told that the defendant has already vacated the apartment owned by Webbed Foot Rentals. A damages hearing was set for April 20....
Petersburg shoppers will enjoy two Sales Tax Free Days this year: May 2 and October 3. The Assembly unanimously approved a resolution providing for the two days. Last year’s tax free days resulted in just over $19,000 in uncollected sales tax revenue for the Borough. Assembly member Jeigh Stanton Gregor said the days keep money circulating locally, which he said was a benefit for the community. “I think it makes lot of financial sense because people are spending discretionary money locally, which then gets reinvested in the community, whi...
Petersburg Borough Assembly members passed an amended resolution to allow Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) to move forward with refinancing of existing 2009 bonds and a proposed $7 million bond sale to fund an expansion of the Swan Lake facility northeast of Ketchikan on Revillagigedo Island. Though Petersburg and Wrangell municipal attorneys have vetted the paperwork for the bond sale, Peterburg's Vice Mayor Cindi Lagoudakis said she had some concerns about the resolution's wording. “My concern with this resolution is that it doesn't i...
Part of its strategic plan for 2014-2020, WAVE (Working Against Violence for Everyone) has increased advocate interest, moving from five to 13 potential advocates, seven of which are taking calls. But the group is always looking for more. The non-profit organization discussed growing membership, among other topics, during its annual meeting Monday evening at the Petersburg Medical Center. WAVE provides advocacy for victims of both domestic violence and sexual assault. One discussion revolved around the possible formation of new support groups....
WAVE (Working Against Violence for Everyone) has a fairly new service that little seem to know about. “We’re hoping we can get a little more awareness out about the online (chat),” Executive Director Annette Wooten said. “It gives people another option.” The chat service she speaks of is similar to that of Google Gmail’s chat, or of that you’d see a service provider, such as an internet company, provide for tech support. In a small community such as Petersburg’s, it gives victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault seeking help a chance t...
With some troll areas expected to open in mid-April, "a little early" as Sitka Assistant Troll Fishery Biologist Grant Hagerman put it, local fishermen are gearing up for the spring season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game held a public troll fishery meeting Wednesday afternoon in assembly chambers. An announcement regarding spring fishery plans is expected sometime next week, Troll Fishery Biologist Pattie Skannes said, after all public meetings have wrapped up on Friday. Frederick Sound...
Long time Petersburg resident John Johnson, 79, passed away in Fulshear, Texas, April 1, 2015. John Webster Johnson was born December 4, 1935 to Joe and Cora Johnson in Petersburg, Alaska. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Blashke Island just south of Petersburg. In 1938, they moved to West Petersburg where his Dad worked at the Yukon Fur Farm. They remained there until 1941 when the family purchased their own mink farm which they operated until 1954. Catching fish for mink feed and... Full story
Oregon State University Bret A. Martinsen was named to the Scholastic Honor Roll Winter term at Oregon State University....
File this fish story under the “can there be too much of a good thing” category. Alaska is expecting another bumper run of salmon this year– state managers announced last Friday a projected total catch of 221 million salmon, 39 percent higher than last year. (The numbers for Chinook salmon are still being calculated,) Regional catch projections for this summer are up across the board, according to Runs and Harvest Projections for Alaska’s 2015 Salmon Fisheries and Review of the 2014 season by the AK Dept. of Fish and Game. Driving the numbers...
As the summer season nears its start, residents interested in seeking work with the Alaska Marine Highway System or various other marine-related occupations may need to make sure they have the proper credentials first. Among these is the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), which conveniently enough can be acquired at the Wrangell Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The office was able to take on the program after filing an application through Morphotrust USA, an identity services provider. A site survey was conducted to make...
The first of the Local Marijuana Regulation Advisory Committee subcommittees met over the last week, agreeing to bring a few items to the table for discussion at the next full committee meeting May 27. On Tuesday, at the public safety meeting, subcommittee members said they’d prefer no edibles or extractions be sold in Petersburg, a dispensary sit at least a mile outside of downtown and security of the facilities selling the product. “There’s no place in town I would feel comfortable with because our kids are everywhere,” Kathy Holtzin...
