Articles from the November 23, 2017 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 25 of 27

  • PHS Vikings Volleyball wins region title

    Ben Muir|Nov 23, 2017

    It took three games and nine sets for the Petersburg volleyball team to inflict a sweeping championship run at the region tournament last weekend. The Vikings didn't drop a set on their home court. Petersburg rolled over Klawock on Friday, Craig on Saturday morning and then secured the region title against Wrangell that night. "The win confirms to the team that they belong in the state tournament," said Jaime Cabral, Petersburg's head coach, when asked if this was a statement weekend. "Also a tr...

  • Governor signs Petersburg land bill at the Sons of Norway

    Ben Muir|Nov 23, 2017

    At the Sons of Norway Hall on Thursday, in front of about a dozen people, Gov. Bill Walker signed a bill that gave the Petersburg Borough more than 14,000 acres of land. The borough was entitled to about 1,400 acres before Walker came to Petersburg, a number that was personal to the Alaska-born governor. "I don't know the history of what happened, but [Petersburg] didn't get all the land that it was entitled to," Walker told the Pilot. "And I have a personal issue with the federal government...

  • Correction:

    Nov 23, 2017

    In a story last week, the Pilot incorrectly referred to Sealaska Heritage as Alaska Sea Heritage. Also, in its first reference, a book illustrated by Janine Gibbons was referred to as “The Woman Carried Away by Killers.” It is “The Woman Carried Away by Killer Whales.” And due to a production error, a photo was credited to Ben Muir when it should have been credited to Nathaniel Stephens....

  • Yesterday's News

    Nov 23, 2017

    November 23, 1917 Some time last Saturday night the steamer Mariposa ran on a reef at Strait Island. The first-news of the disaster was received here Sunday noon in a message to the local agency of the company calling for two gas boats and lighters. The Fanshaw, Capt. A.W. Nickerson, left at once, and the Laddie, Captain C.M. Leines, and Baltic, Capt. Victor Swanson, followed shortly after, with Charles Norberg’s scow in tow. The latter two boats returned here Tuesday afternoon with five of the Mariposa’s lifeboats in tow. They had left the...

  • Assembly approves more funding for P&L

    Ben Muir|Nov 23, 2017

    The assembly approved a bid award on Monday to spend about $59,000 on the electrical portion of a power outage response project, which raised questions from members as to why it can’t be done by Power & Light linemen. The award was given to Engineered Solutions Group, Inc., which is tasked with installing a new sectionalizing switch in Circuit 63, so the utility can isolate Icicle Seafoods and the Trading Union during outages and other line work, said Karl Hagerman, the Public Works Director, in a letter to the borough manager. It’s called the...

  • PMC CEO reports to the Assembly

    Ben Muir|Nov 23, 2017

    After two months without a hospital board meeting, the medical center CEO gave a report to the assembly on Monday that highlighted its newest staff, projects, in-house statistics and a board that recently added two new members. Liz Woodyard, the Petersburg Medical Center CEO, spoke to the assembly on Monday, starting with a note to long term care. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave the nursing department a five star rating based on health inspections, staffing levels and quality...

  • Borough manager wants casual public meetings to hear cost-saving ideas

    Ben Muir|Nov 23, 2017

    The Petersburg Borough wants to hear ideas from the community that could save the public money, and it’s offering a stage without an assembly meeting tone. “I hear from people all the time that this meeting scares people,” said Steve Giesbrecht, the borough manager, speaking at an assembly meeting. “They don’t want to come and talk because it’s very formal, so I am going to try to go the other way with this.” Giesbrecht is referring to his proposal to host a series of public open houses, or gatherings, which he said could facilitate in...

  • To the Editor

    Nov 23, 2017

    Community strong To the Editor: The evening of November 11th helped me realize again what a fantastic town I live in. The community held a fundraiser for a wonderful family. Hundreds of people showed up donating monies, time, talent and much hard work to put on an evening of giving, fun and togetherness. For all of you that attended you know that any words will fall short of the camaraderie, the sense of neighbor coming together for neighbors and the enjoyment of doing something for someone other than ourselves. Thank you Petersburg for...

  • Firefighters spend hours on South Harbor boat fire

    Ben Muir|Nov 23, 2017

    Petersburg volunteer firefighters and police spent about three hours knocking down a boat fire in the South Harbor on Saturday. At about 8:40 p.m. Saturday, Petersburg police responded to an electrical fire aboard the F/V Defiant. Ryan Welde, the fire marshal, confirmed that the fire department responded at the same time. He could not confirm when the department left, but the last report for the police was about 11:50 p.m., according to police Captain John Hamilton. Harbor officials were also...

  • Police Report

    Nov 23, 2017

    Nov. 15 — Suspicious activity was reported on Harbor Way. Police made traffic stops near the T.U. Hardware store and at the airport. Nov. 16 — Extra patrols were requested on Birch St. Domestic violence was reported at a Skylark Way location. Traffic stops were made at mile 2 Mitkof Hwy. and in the 900 block of Nordic Way. Police made a process service on S. Second St. Nov. 17 — Police received a disturbance call at the high school. A theft was reported at the Harbor Bar. A motor vehicle accident was reported at Haugen and Nordic. Suspi...

  • Court report

    Nov 23, 2017

    Oct. 26 — Danny Rusk entered a No Contest Plea to a charge of Illuminating deer from a motorized vehicle. The court sentenced the defendant to a $300 fine and a $10 surcharge. On a charge of hunting without a Harvest Permit the defendant entered a Not Guilty Plea. Nov. 14 — Magistrate Burrell found probable cause for stalking and granted the Ex Parte order sought in the case of Diana Bell vs. Stephen Waddle. Judge Carey dismissed the stalking petition in the case of Nick Boggs vs. Renee Hertless. Nov. 17 — Thomas McKeown III entered a No Conte...

  • Trooper report

    Nov 23, 2017

    Nov. 14 - Juneau based Alaska State Troopers responded to Kake for a report of a male discharging a firearm in a neighborhood amongst the public. Investigation revealed Tyrone Paul, 43 of Kake, discharged a .243 caliber rifle into the sky multiple times from a sidewalk in a heavily populated neighborhood. Paul was arrested without incident and transported to Lemon Creek Correctional Center charged with 4 counts of felony Assault III. Nov. 14 - Juneau based Alaska State Troopers were notified of a death at a Totem Way residence in Kake. A...

  • PHS wrestlers place second in Klawock

    Ben Muir|Nov 23, 2017

    The Petersburg wrestling team spent three days wrestling last weekend in Klawock and Craig, where a Viking freshman came off injury and finished on top for most of the trip. Ruby Massin was kept out of the home meet last weekend because of an ankle injury. She started her return in Craig on Thursday with a first place finish. In Klawock on Friday, Massin finished second with two pins. On Saturday, she took first place again in her weight class with two more pins. She finished the weekend 6-1, said Dan Swearingen, the Petersburg head coach....

  • All State Music Festival

    Nov 23, 2017

  • MV Malaspina repairs force change in winter AMHS service 

    Nov 23, 2017

    (JUNEAU, Alaska) – The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) announced Wednesday that extended repairs needed on the MV Malaspina will change winter ferry service for Southeast Alaska and Prince Rupert. The Malaspina went in for its annual overhaul and certification on October 1, 2017 and was scheduled to return to service on December 22, 2017. During the overhaul, engineers determined that extensive steel replacement was needed and that both propeller hubs must be repaired. Because shipyard space is limited and propeller hubs will take s...

  • Report: Alaska Marine Highway System should increase rates

    Nov 23, 2017

    KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — A report by Alaska’s Southeast Conference calls for the state marine highway system to increase its ticket prices. The recommendation is part of a 25-year plan that Gov. Bill Walker asked the conference’s stakeholders to put together for the struggling Alaska Marine Highway System, the Kodiak Daily Mirror reported Thursday. The major part of the plan is to turn the marine highway into a public corporation. The system’s Reform Steering Committee is pursuing legislative changes to make that happen. Stakeholders estimat...

  • Ruffled feathers

    Nov 23, 2017

  • Congress debates drilling in AK wildlife refuge

    Nov 23, 2017

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Sometime next April, pregnant cows in the Porcupine Caribou Herd in Canada will take the lead in an annual migration of nearly 200,000 animals north to Alaska. From winter grounds in Canada’s Yukon Territory, the caribou traveling in small and large groups will cross rivers and gaps in the mighty Brooks Range on the 400-mile (643-kilometer) journey. Their destination is the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a strip of flat tundra between the mountains and Arctic Ocean. The plain provides food and a v...

  • Report: Management, labor issues complicate ferry service

    Nov 23, 2017

    KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — A report by an Alaska regional development organization indicated that the success of the state ferry service could hinge on repairing the troubled relationship between its management and labor force. The Southwest Conference found that the relationship was strained, inefficient and ineffective, causing financial problems for the Alaska Marine Highway System, the Kodiak Daily Mirror newspaper reported Friday. “Management and labor need to have a realignment so they’re working toward a common goal,’’ said Robert Venables,...

  • Fish Factor: Man-made salmon is proving to be a flop for investors

    Laine Welch|Nov 23, 2017

    The biggest year classes of Alaska fishermen are phasing out of the business and fewer young cohorts are recruiting in. The Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit has convened over a decade to help stanch that outward flow, and facilitate a future for fishing leaders. The average age of a commercial fisherman in Alaska was 50 in 2014 compared to 40 in 1980. At the same time, the number of Alaskans under 40 holding fishing permits fell to just 17 percent, down from nearly 40 percent of total permits across the state. The Summit coming up this year A...

  • Winter duck

    Nov 23, 2017

  • Prosecutor sees workaround for crime bill concerns

    Nov 23, 2017

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — While constitutional questions swirl around a crime bill recently passed by the Alaska Legislature, the director of the state Department of Law’s criminal division thinks the courts will work out a solution. John Skidmore said courts will find a way to interpret the law in a way that avoids constitutional issues, KTOO radio reported. But Tara Rich, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, believes the courts will invalidate a provision dealing with Class C felonies. She also expects legal cha...

  • Community tree

    Nov 23, 2017

  • Wrangell court temporarily closed over air concerns

    Dan Rudy|Nov 23, 2017

    WRANGELL - Until further notice is given, the clerical offices and courtroom at the Wrangell Public Safety Building have been closed down temporarily. The closure began Monday morning, with the Alaska Court System citing air quality concerns for staff using the premises. The space is rented from the city, which maintains the entire facility and surrounding property. "We've got some water issues that need to be addressed," explained Neil Nesheim, area court administrator for the First District...

  • Wrangell hospital submits letter for third party partnership

    Dan Rudy|Nov 23, 2017

    WRANGELL — Following talks earlier this month with the city, the hospital board drafted a letter requesting that it move forward with finding a third party partnership. At their November 15 meeting, Wrangell Medical Center governing board members discussed the pros and potential cons of partnering up with another organization. A major reason for considering the move is seeking out project support for construction of a new medical facility, an elusive goal for much of the past decade. Among the board’s more immediate concerns is maint...

Page Down