Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Water has issued a nuisance abatement order giving the Petersburg Borough Public Works Department 48 hours to clean up a spillage of waste. The Wastewater Utility transports and buries piles of solid waste at the borough’s landfill. This week, while digging a hole with an excavator, Public Works Director Karl Hagerman said, sludge sitting to the side to be buried slid down a hill to a creek that runs to the Sandy Beach Park a...
A 22-year-old Juneau woman was indicted in a residential burglary and is a suspect in other cases, police say. A grand jury indicted Brittany Lynn Martin on a Class B felony charge of burglary in the first degree on April 24. An arrest warrant was issued for her on April 16. According to the indictment, Martin allegedly entered a residence in mid-February with the intent to commit the crime of theft. Petersburg Police Chief Kelly Swihart said there was video surveillance in that case and, according to court documents, Martin was identified in... Full story
Petersburg High School shop teacher Nick Popp took eight students to Sitka for a three-day welding performance exam April 15-17. All eight students passed at least two of three positions tested as part of the American Welding Society's steel plate credential. "It's a real-world test that a welder would take if they're going to work in a shipyard or work construction," Popp said. "It's not a written test, it's all just welding skills." Students were assessed on flat, vertical and overhead steel... Full story
Mara Lutomski became "fired up" to get involved with the community through the school board during talks surrounding the state's budget shortfall and local impacts. "I am impressed at the responsible fiscal choices that this district has made and I want to be a part of that decision making process," she wrote in her letter of interest. The Petersburg School Board approved her as its new member during a special meeting Monday evening at the District Office. Former board president Jean Ellis'... Full story
April 24, 1915 – Senator Sulzer has introduced the following memorial, to the Alaska road commission, asking for the improvement and building of roads in the First division: Your memorialists, the senate and the house of representatives of the Territory of Alaska, do most earnestly and respectfully represent and request that, Whereas, there are great and crying necessities for the improvement and construction of roads and trails in the First division of Alaska for the transaction of the affairs of the people of the first division and to e...
They’re everywhere in Alaska and they’re useful in sometimes surprising ways. Karen Dillman, a botanist with the U.S. Forest Service, spoke to a crowd of about 10 at the Petersburg Public Library on Thursday, April 23, about coastal lichens. For these particular lichens, “the beach has created a niche so they can be successful,” she said. Some thrive in areas of ocean spray or right along the water. Dillman went over several different types during the Petersburg Science Series presentation, such as the verrucaria maura she named her daughte...
New state forest To the Editor: A couple of weeks ago now, Mr. James Schwarber from the State Division of Forestry (DOF) visited Petersburg to gather citizens' views on upcoming DOF actions on Mitkof Is. He got an earful. This event was not covered by the radio station or the paper which was surprising considering the serious impacts of the DOF proposals. Part of the new Southeast State Forest; containing 49,000 acres, are the south facing slopes of Mitkof Is., that face Sumner Strait, also several odd shaped units right in the middle of...
Work on the new incubation building at Crystal Lake Hatchery continues, with completion expected in June. Though that's behind the original estimated completion date of March 2015, Loren Thompson, manager at the facility, said that's well before the building is needed again for incubation. "We're not using that building right now...The first thing we need it for is to incubate eggs for our returning adults," Thompson said, adding that the typical timeline for that is early August. Thompson said...
April 22 Officers made contact with a suspicious individual. A caller requested assistance with contacting a family member. A burglary from a vessel in South Harbor was reported. An officer contacted the owner of an unlicensed trailer parked on Haugen Dr. The owner agreed to move the vehicle. April 23 Police received a report of garbage on the roadway en route to the baler. An officer contacted the driver of the vehicle responsible and the owner agreed to backtrack and pick up the trash. A caller spoke with an officer about an illegal grow...
April 22 Superior Court Judge William Carey presided over a status hearing for Martin Odegaard and Sandi Medina. Child custody, visitation and child support agreements were discussed. The court will make finding for an order based on the parties agreements. April 24 Magistrate Judge Desiree Burrell presided over a Change of Plea hearing for Ralph Strickland. The defendant accepted a plea agreement, pleading guilty to Disorderly Conduct, a class B misdemeanor. Two other charges, Assault in the 4th Degree and Criminal Trespass, were dismissed....
Ever glance outside and think ‘Today just isn’t the day for a picnic’? There really aren’t many ideal days in a rainforest. But the Petersburg Ranger District is adding cover to the back loop picnic table area at Blind River Rapids Trailhead, similar to what can be found at Manmade Hole Picnic Site, said Brad Hunter, District Recreation manager. “The idea is to have a dry place to picnic there,” he said. Phase one includes tearing up existing decking and building a new foundation to support more of a load with 20 feet deep muskeg. Phase 2 wil...
The Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) has moved to protect patients and itself against any potential cyber attacks. The hospital’s Board of Directors approved the purchase of CPM (cyber, privacy and media) liability insurance, underwritten by Lloyds of London CFC Syndicate, in the amount of $6,666.45 per year, including taxes and fees, during its regular board meeting Thursday, April 23. The $2 million policy will cover the hospital if there’s a breach of information, or an accusation of one, said IT Specialist Don Bieber. “The risk we have...
Sport fishing regulations for king salmon will be liberalized in marine waters of District 8 near Petersburg and Wrangell according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The following sport fishing regulations for the marine waters of District 8 will be in effect as of 12:01 A.M. Friday, May 1, 2015 - 11:59 P.M. Wednesday, July 15, 2015: Sport fishing for king salmon may be conducted with the use of 2 rods per angler with no more than six lines fished from a vessel. Resident anglers will have a bag limit of three king salmon 28 inches or...
Each year more than one third of all the salmon caught in Alaska begin their lives in a hatchery. There are 31 hatchery facilities in Alaska: 15 privately owned, 11 state owned, two federal research facilities, one tribal hatchery at Metlakatla, and 2 state owned sport fish hatcheries. Alaska’s hatchery program is very different from fish farming, where salmon are crammed tightly into net pens until they’re ready for market. All salmon born in Alaska’s hatcheries come from wild brood stock, and are released as fingerlings to the sea. When...
The Petersburg School District has found a new way to assist its students in becoming better readers in a short amount of time. For the second year, the district is using Fast Forward, a computer delivered brain fitness program that not only improves reading, but concentration, processing and even math skills. Each student's time with the program varies, but many finish an assignment, such as reading or literacy, in about nine weeks, and 90 percent of them improve, Activities Director Jaime...
Tourists and local marine mammal lovers alike can now enjoy an updated, interactive Marine Mammal Kiosk at the Petersburg Visitor’s Center. The kiosk is a collaboration between the Visitor’s Center and the Petersburg Marine Mammal Center (PMMC), awarded a $1,700 grant last year by the Petersburg Community Foundation to make upgrades to the kiosk’s computer. “The equipment, computers being what they are, don’t have a long lifespan,” said Don Holmes, PMMC board member. “So the new grant enabled us new hardware, and we had a volunteer, Je...
Jeffrey (Jeff) Lin Avery, 57 passed away suddenly while visiting family in Boise, Idaho on April 12, 2015. Jeff was born in Council, Idaho on August 14, 1957. He lived a few years in Boise and then moved to Petersburg, Alaska with his family in 1966. While attending school in Petersburg, Jeff wrestled on the wrestling team and also played saxophone in the high school band. Jeff graduated from Petersburg High in 1975. After graduation, Jeff went to work as an oiler/ mechanic on the Alaska... Full story
The Petersburg Pilot earned second place for Best Weekly at the Alaska Press Club's 2015 award ceremony held last weekend in Anchorage. "Beautiful photos, and well-written and reported stories. Bravo," was the judge's comment. Reporter Mary Koppes won second place for Best Health Reporting for her story "Making sisters out of strangers: A kidney transplant brings two Petersburg women together." The judge commented, "Nicely told tale of kidney transplant in a small town. Clear, concise writing...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has announced further openings for the spring troll fishery. The following Terminal Harvest Areas (THA) will again open at 12:01 a.m. Friday and remain so until further notice: Neets Bay, Anita Bay, Port Armstrong and Hidden Falls. Frederick Sound, which initially opened April 16 and closed today, Thursday, will reopen on Friday and remain so until May 7, along with all of the Ketchikan area, the Icy Strait/North Chatham areas, Ernest Sound in the Wrangell/Prince of Wales area and Stag Bay in the...
