Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
Building permits have increased since last year, according to a Petersburg Community Development report. The borough issued 86 building permits in 2013, 22 more than 2012, bringing in $9,435 in revenues and bringing project valuation to more than $2.6 million. “That’s quite a bit of value that’s coming into the community,” said Leo Luczak, community development director. “It increases the tax base and creates an awful lot of jobs.” Luczak said these numbers help shed some insight into the local economy based on what types of building pe... Full story
The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department is recruiting new volunteers and is offering a Fire Fighter One class this spring. Dave Berg, assistant chief, said the fire department is looking for ten volunteers to fill the class, which would bring the overall roster to 35 members. The class teaches basic fire fighting skills including information about fire behavior, equipment handling, hazardous materials and also features live fire exercises. Berg said becoming a volunteer fire fighter doesn't... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Assembly will decide again on whether residential lots in the Olsen Subdivision should be rezoned to commercial after the ordinance failed due to a lack of a second motion in its first reading last week. Richard Burrell had been previously cited for a zoning violation for storing commercial equipment for his business, Rock-N-Road Construction, on his lot at 105 Arness Heights Dr. Since then, the planning and zoning commission voted to approve Burrell’s request to change the zoning designation to a commercial lot p... Full story
January 31, 1914 – Commissioner Smith, of the bureau of fisheries has completed his annual report which will soon be submitted to the department of commerce. In the report a recommendation is made for the purchase of a fleet of small boats to patrol the Alaska coast, visit the fisheries and otherwise help to enforce the laws in regard to the fishing industry. Besides the commissioner urges the establishment at Seattle of a laboratory for research work similar to those on the Atlantic coast. The fisheries of the Pacific coast including A...
The Petersburg Rotary Club is sponsoring sophomore Kyla Willis' trip to Chile where she will spend her next school year as an exchange student. Willis, Sven Heinrichs, the Rotary exchange student in Petersburg from Dortmund, Germany, as well as other students in Alaska from around the world attended the Rotary District 5010's Winter Orientation in Anchorage earlier this month. Local Rotary Club member Dave Berg said students meet with their peers from Alaska and abroad to help determine where...
Traditional in-person voting will likely remain during local elections after the borough received feedback from citizens and reviewed cost comparisons between traditional and mail-in elections. The borough assembly sent out surveys last month through Facebook and email inquiries. The majority of respondents preferred in-person voting. “One of the reasons we even considered this is because we weren’t sure if it would be a benefit for those folks living off the road system,” Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht said during last week’s assembl...
Decreased enrollment numbers in Petersburg schools is playing a big role in how district staff prepare next year’s budget. Student enrollment has steadily dropped for more than a decade. During the 2004-2005 school year enrollment was up to 630 students. Next year though, the district’s numbers are approaching a low enough number—424 students—that would change its classification in a state funding equation called the ‘foundation formula’. According to state guidelines, school districts receive funding based on enrollment and the student cou...
While walking through Sandy Beach Park this week I found a plastic grocery bag on the ground, about 20-feet from a trash can provided by the Parks and Recreation Dept. I marveled that someone didn’t care enough to walk a short distance to properly dispose of the bag, rather than throw it on the beach. Trash cans are quite plentiful and appropriately spaced throughout the park. As I followed the driveway to Sandy Beach Road, I continued to gather trash strewn along the route, and to make a long, sad story short, by the time I covered less than t...
January 22 A caller reported being harassed by an individual. January 23 A caller reported hearing a young girl screaming the night before in the Leconte RV Park between the hours of 2:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. A caller reported a suspicious vehicle parked on the premises. January 24 A caller reported harassment. January 25 Police issued a speeding citation to Joseph Schultz. A caller reported taking the wrong vehicle from a location. January 26 A caller reported a loud argument and threats. Officers arrested Ryan Helmer, 18, on charges of Driving...
Petersburg Police and Southeast Alaska Communities Against Drugs (SEACAD) seized 3.5 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $28,000 according to a press release. During the January 28 search of a Petersburg residence, police discovered evidence of commercial marijuana distribution, several hundred dollars and a loaded handgun. The investigation is ongoing but charges of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance, Misconduct Involving Weapons and Endangering the Welfare of a Minor are expected to be filed against multiple...
January 29 David Estes appeared before Magistrate Judge Burrell on a charge of Misconduct Involving Weapons in the 3rd degree. The defendant entered a guilty plea. The court sentenced the defendant to 120 days in jail with 90 days suspended, 18 months of probation along with other conditions. Clifford Squartsoff appeared before Superior Court Judge Carey on a charge of Violating Conditions of Release. The court entered a not guilty plea on the defendant’s behalf. The court set bail at $250 among other conditions. Julie Glaspey appeared b...
The Lady Vikings lost two close home games last weekend against the Mt. Edgecumbe squad. The Lady Vikings faced similar challenges as the boy's team in its conference games. "We struggled shooting the basketball both nights, but other than that we did a nice job defensively," Head Coach Dino Brock said. Although the Lady Vikings started off slow they took the lead in the third. Mt. Edgecumbe took the lead after making a run and maintained it the rest of the night. The girl's squad lost Friday...
The Petersburg Vikings battled through four long conference games last weekend and brought home two wins. The varsity squad had a rough start against Sitka High School on Wednesday evening. “We really struggled to score,” Head Coach Rick Brock said. “We were getting very good looks at the basket but the ball would not drop for us.” The Vikings only put up three points on the board during the first half but managed to hold Sitka to seven points through most of the half. Sitka hit their stride during the middle of the second quarter though...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly bumped sea mammal issues up on the list of federal budget priorities during its last meeting. The proposed list includes projects and funding mechanisms the assembly wants its lobbyist to fight for in Congress. “Very rarely do any of those things mean somebody writes us a check for something,” Steve Giesbrecht, borough manager, said. “The priority list tends to be one of those ongoing things.” The sea mammal issue, including sea otters and sea lions, has been towards the bottom of the list—below issues such as oc...
It was reported in last week’s edition of the Pilot that solid waste customers who choose not to recycle will see their rates rise by 20 percent when the program takes effect next week. It should be clarified that this only applies to customers using the 32-gallon rate....
A big man who was truly an unforgettable individual passed from this world to the next on January 23, 2014. William F. Love Sr. was born on Valentine's day in 1927 in Arlington, Va. to William and Agnes Love. Bill spent his first five years in Edinburgh, Scotland, and grew up in Washington D.C. He attended Briarly Military Academy and joined the navy at the age of 17 after Pearl Harbor. After the war, he and his young bride, Celine Corriveau, moved to Petersburg, Alaska in 1947 to spend time... Full story
Gonzaga University President Carolyn Kvernvik was named to the Gonzaga University President's List for fall semester 2013. Gonzaga University President David Marifern was named to the Gonzaga University Dean's List for fall semester 2013....
Dolores Lund was born in Strandquist, Minnesota on February 20, 1921 to Ed and Ida Ramstead and lived 92 ½ years to the fullest until she passed away peacefully October 16, 2013 surrounded by her loving family and devoted caregiver Nellie Zagrean in Kenmore, WA. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mom, aunt, "grandma great" and friend to many. Her parents were true pioneers and moved from Minnesota to Alaska in 1925 with Dolores (4) and 4 other children, heading to Pt. Agassiz across the... Full story
The Irish acoustic quintet Lúnasa will kick of its U.S. tour in Petersburg next Wednesday at the Wright Auditorium. Lúnasa is an all-instrumental band. Band members play fiddle, low whistles, flute, tin whistles, uilleann pipes, double bass and guitar. Band member Cillian Vallely said their music transcends traditional Irish music, according to a press release. "We play a very diverse selection of music, including our own compositions, melodies from other Celtic regions such as Brittany, G...
A measure aimed at banning salmon setnetting is being held afloat by backers. The ban includes the Anchorage area, much of the Kenai Peninsula, Valdez and Juneau. It would completely eliminate Cook Inlet setnetters and affect roughly 500 fishing families in all. Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell decided two weeks ago to not allow the question to go before Alaska voters as a ballot initiative in 2016. The newly formed Kenai-based Alaska Fisheries Conservation Alliance followed up with an appeal filed in Alaska Superior Court. “In a measure based on co...
WRANGELL — The Thomas Bay Power Authority commission elected Wrangell borough assembly member and TBPA commissioner James Stough to the commission’s presidency Monday. Stough also briefly served as chairman of the borough’s special energy committee. The election marks the transfer of the presidency from John Jensen of Petersburg, who’d held the presidency since he joined the board in 2007. Stough was appointed to the board in December. Stough has since September been publicly critical of the transfer of an operations and maintenance contrac...
