Articles from the December 6, 2018 edition


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  • Assembly, community against drafted letter

    Brian Varela|Dec 6, 2018

    On Monday, the borough assembly voted against sending a letter drafted by Mayor Mark Jensen to Viking Cruise Lines stating that Petersburg isn't ready for larger cruise ships to come to town. In the letter, Jensen said the town isn't ready to handle more than 250 tourists from ships in any given day, and he is concerned with an increase in traffic flow during the busy, summer months on Nordic Dr. He also writes that he is worried that larger cruise ships could lead to Petersburg becoming a touri...

  • The Christmas Bazaar

    Dec 6, 2018

  • Residents caught in Anchorage earthquake share their stories

    Brian Varela|Dec 6, 2018

    Although Friday's earthquake in Anchorage was too far away to be felt on Mitkof Island, Petersburg resident John Havrilek and members of the Petersburg Indian Association were in Anchorage when the ground began to shake at about 8:30 A.M. "The shaking was so severe I could barely stand," said Havrilek. He was in Anchorage to visit his daughter Courtney who was hosting an after school conference for troubled youth at the Sheraton Hotel. He was in his room on Friday morning when the earthquake...

  • Correction:

    Dec 6, 2018

    The page one story in the November 29 edition of the Pilot incorrectly referred to Molly Giesbrecht as the daughter of the Petersburg Borough Manager. Her name was Marie Giesbrecht.... Full story

  • Yesterday's News

    Dec 6, 2018

    No papers were published this week in 1918. December 3, 1943 Two local business houses have changed hands this week. On December 1 Ernie Carter, of Sitka purchased Willie’s Cocktail Bar from Willie Johnson and Martin Olsen. At the same time Mrs. Marie Tenfjord became the new owner of the Sweet Shop, purchasing it from Mrs. Willie Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been in business for seven years and will go south after the holidays. Carter and his wife own Ernie’s Cocktail Bar in Sitka and will take up their residence in Petersburg. Until tak...

  • Borough to begin land exchange negotiations

    Brian Varela|Dec 6, 2018

    In a 4-3 vote, the borough assembly gave permission to the borough manager to begin land exchange negotiations with Petro 49, Inc. At 703 S. Nordic Dr., Petro 49, Inc. owns borough land that includes a small warehouse and covered loading dock and office. Petro 49, Inc. leases borough land at 100 Dock St. and 902 S. Nordic Dr. that includes a warehouse and gas station that is being subleased. Petro 49, Inc. wants to trade their owned land for the borough's land that they lease. "I've been...

  • Borough assembly postpones capital projects, budget discussion and vote

    Brian Varela|Dec 6, 2018

    On Monday, the borough assembly approved to postpone discussing and voting on the 2020 fiscal year capital projects list and budget policies until the Dec. 17 assembly meeting. Mayor Mark Jensen cited a busy agenda and a desire to have a separate meeting to discuss and vote on the budget. “There is no real urgent deadline for this,” said Jensen. “It would be nice to get it done before the end of December.” The submitted capital project document listed a combined total of over 50 capital project needs in the Harbor Department, Parks and Recreat...

  • Empire, CCW get new general manager

    Mollie Barnes Juneau Empire|Dec 6, 2018

    The Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly have a new general manager. Sound Publishing, Inc. announced Monday that Robert Monteith will be moving to Juneau to oversee the daily newspaper and the weekly arts publication in Alaska's capital city. Terry Ward, vice president of Sound Publishing, Inc. and publisher of the Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly, made the announcement in person to staff on Monday morning. "I am pleased to put the day-to-day operations of the Juneau Empire and Capital...

  • Borough assembly appoints Lynn and Larson to SEAPA board

    Brian Varela|Dec 6, 2018

    The borough assembly appointed Bob Lynn as Petersburg’s voting member on the Southeast Alaska Power Agency board of directors and Robert Larson as the alternate member for 2019 at an assembly meeting on Monday. This will be Lynn’s second year serving as Petersburg voting member on the SEAPA board. In his letter of interest, Lynn said he wanted to continue working on a long-term plan to replace the high-cost structural portions of a grid that has reached the end of its life span, a project that began during his first year on the board. He sta...

  • Editorial: Room for growth

    Ron Loesch Publisher|Dec 6, 2018

    The borough assembly wisely voted against sending Mayor Jensen’s letter to Viking Cruise Lines asking them to refrain from bringing their ships here until Petersburg can determine what level of tourism it can handle. The letter suggested that Petersburg can only handle 250 visitors per day. In fact, Petersburg regularly handles much larger numbers throughout the summer in addition to summer cannery workers and visitors arriving on the airlines and ferries. Sales tax revenue from visitors is needed to replenish the borough coffers as more and m...

  • Borough removes camper and garbage from Mitkof Highway

    Brian Varela|Dec 6, 2018

    On Friday, a camper parked at the 3.8 mile mark of Mitkof Highway was impounded after Wayne Collins, who was in possession of the camper, ignored several warnings from officers to move it. Multiple officers had seen him throwing garbage on the ground surrounding the camper, which he refused to clean up. Collins, 58, was cited for littering over five pounds under title 46, according to Officer Louis Waechter who was the responding officer along with Police Chief Jim Kerr. Collins didn't show up...

  • Police report

    Dec 6, 2018

    November 28 — A dog chasing a deer was reported to authorities on 1st St. The Department of Transportation removed a boulder at Twin Creek. Stephen Waddle, 42, was issued a citation for criminal trespassing in the 1st degree. An officer responded to a verbal argument on Kiseno St. November 29 — Loud talking was reported on S. Nordic Dr. David Estes, 28, was issued a citation for trespassing. A fraudulent phone call was reported on N. 12th St. Criminal trespassing in the harbormaster bathroom was reported. November 30 — Authorities respo...

  • Mayor recaps municipal conferences in Anchorage

    Brian Varela|Dec 6, 2018

    At a borough assembly meeting on Monday, Mayor Mark Jensen gave description of some of the information he heard at the Alaska Conference of Mayors (ACOFM) and the Alaska Municipal League annual conference in Anchorage from Nov.14 - 16. The Alaska Conference of Mayors (ACOFM) is the parent organization of the Alaska Municipal League (AML). Both organizations work together to establish a municipal consensus on state and federal issues that affect local governments in Alaska. At the ACOFM, Jensen was elected as the officer for municipalities with...

  • Joint meeting approves 40 million chum eggs to Thomas Bay

    Brian Varela|Dec 6, 2018

    A joint Regional Planning Team (RPT) meeting was held on Thursday between the Northern Southeast Regional Planning Team (NSERPT) and the Southern Southeast Regional Planning Team (SSERPT) to discuss and vote on items regarding fisheries and salmon eggs in Southeast Alaska. “I want to give you a perspective on how unique and successful this enterprise is,” said an RPT representative at the meeting. One vote that hits close to Petersburg was the approval of Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association, Inc.’s (NSRAA) permit alter...

  • REAL ID compliance coming soon

    Caleb Vierkant|Dec 6, 2018

    The Alaska DMV is working to reach compliance with the federal REAL ID Act. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s website, the act sets a minimum standard for identifying documents, such as a driver’s license or a passport. Marla Thompson, Director of the Alaska DMV, said that what this means for Alaskans is that the DMV will be offering licenses and state IDs that meet a higher standard of federal requirements. Thompson added that old IDs will remain valid, and the new IDs are not mandatory to have. It is simply an option ava...

  • USFS to reconstruct Raven Trail, relocate Raven Roost cabin

    Brian Varela|Dec 6, 2018

    The United States Forest Service will be reconstructing two miles of the Raven trail and decommissioning the last mile that leads to the Raven's Roost Cabin. A new Raven's Roost Cabin will be built at the end of the third mile of the trail, just before the decommissioned fourth mile. It will be a brand new design. The second and third mile of the current Raven trail will be reconstructed to address steep, muddy and slippery locations on the trail, according to a decision memo released by the...

  • Setting up holiday cheer

    Dec 6, 2018

  • Alaska Fish Factor: Pacific halibut stock from California to Bering Sea continues decline

    Laine Welch|Dec 6, 2018

    Alaska fishermen are bracing for more cuts to their halibut harvest next year. Results of this year’s surveys showed that the Pacific stock from California to the Bering Sea continues to decline, and will likely result in lower catches. “We estimate that the stock went down until around 2010 from historical highs in the late 1990s. It increased slightly over the subsequent five years and leveled out around 2015 or 2016 and has been decreasing slowly in spawning biomass (total weight of mature fish to catch) since then,” said Ian Stewart, lead...

  • Obituary: Corinna Joyce Avery (Clelland), 83

    Dec 6, 2018

    Corinna Joyce Avery (Clelland), 83, beloved mother, grandmother, great- grandmother and great- great- grandmother went to be with her Angels, surrounded by family and friends, on November 13, 2018, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Known as "Joyce", to all that knew her. She was born in Midvale, Idaho, on November 3, 1935, to the late Andy and Inez Clelland. She lived in many places from Midvale, Idaho; Council, Idaho; Winnemucca, Nevada; Boise, Idaho; Petersburg, Alaska; Anchorage, Alaska;... Full story

  • Obituaries: Phillip A. Funk, 91

    Dec 6, 2018

    Phillip A. Funk, 91 of Petersburg, Alaska passed away peaceably October 29, 2018 in Steilacoom, Washington. He was born February 12, 1927 to Phillip C. and Ann Funk in Everett, Washington. He was a U.S. Army veteran and worked as a carpenter in the Everett area. He built a 54 ft. steel boat in his spare time. He fished out of Neah Bay when young and later fished for 15 years in Alaska on the boat he built. He is survived by Adelyn, his loving wife of 59 years; sons Phillip W. "Skip" (Donna),... Full story

  • After-hour donations disappearing from thrift store

    Brian Varela|Dec 6, 2018

    The Salvation Army Thrift Store has been receiving donations after hours, but individuals have been taking the donations thinking they are free. “There’s people out here that think because it’s donated outside that it’s free stuff and they can go through it,” said Salvation Army Major Loni Upshaw. After the thrift store has closed for the evenings, people will leave donations outside the building to be processed the next day by staff. However, Upshaw said there are video recordings of people ba...