Articles from the December 14, 2017 edition


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  • TIGER Discretionary Grant application opposed by primary Scow Bay hauler

    Ben Muir|Dec 14, 2017

    The Petersburg Borough recently applied for a federal grant worth about $6.6 million to develop a boat haul out near town, and a man who does business there is retracting his support for the project after reading the application. John Murgas publicly endorsed the Borough’s application for a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER Discretionary Grant, before reading it. If Petersburg was selected, it would fund nearly all of the project costs around a plan to build a haul out and boat yard at the Scow Bay Turnaround. T...

  • School district strategic 4 year plan highlights preparedness, health, diversity

    Ben Muir|Dec 14, 2017

    The Petersburg School District updated its strategic plan for the next four years, with a focus on health, diversity in the classroom, future readiness and co-curricular activities. A Planning Team with 16 people, including school staff, board members, students, and other community members took two days in mid-November to finish the strategic plan that will run through 2021. “[We talked] about what a school district will look like for the next four years,” said Mara Lutomski, “what our high aspirations are even though we may not end up there...

  • PHS wrestlers place on top individually at Regionals

    Ben Muir|Dec 14, 2017

    The Southeast Regional Wrestling Championship was last weekend in Ketchikan, where Petersburg was at full health and controlled most top spots across their weight classes, but the team is still beset by its roster size. Ten Petersburg wrestlers traveled to Ketchikan, and six of them finished in the top two in their weight class. The Viking girls, with two wrestlers, finished second, and the boys, with eight, finished fourth. Jolyn Toyomura, a Petersburg sophomore, finished first, but only one other wrestler matched-up in her weight class....

  • Yesterday's News

    Dec 14, 2017

    December 14, 1917 The launch Redfish, with Captain Jack Fraizier in command, and William Carl acting as engineer, sailed last Friday for Seattle, where she will be overhauled during the winter and brought north early in the spring for use in connection with the Big Port Walter cannery of the Alaska Pacific Herring Company. The Redfish, which was recently purchased from Jack Hadland, is one of the real old-timers of Petersburg’s mosquito fleet, but is still a very staunch and reliable craft. December 11, 1942 At the meeting of the Chamber of C...

  • School food program nets profit in 2017

    Ben Muir|Dec 14, 2017

    Petersburg School's food service program gained about $3,300 in last year's fiscal year, a striking result that is mostly accredited to the nutrition director cutting costs and the district cracking down on unpaid bills. The Petersburg food service program, a department the school usually has to add about $25,000 into every year, actually saw its revenues outweigh its expenditures in fiscal year 2017, said Karen Quitslund, the district finance director. "This is not a money making venture,"...

  • To the Editor

    Dec 14, 2017

    Do the job To the Editor: I have been on the Petersburg City council for years dating back to the late 90s. That was a time when the timber industry was in its last gasp for survival, which for the most part died. There was a lot of disagreement and discussion with meetings that went past midnight on many occasions. The thing I remember most about those times was that no matter how much we might have disagreed over resolutions, ordinances or appointments, there was always the willingness to get the subject on the floor for discussion and...

  • Alaska sees record-high temperatures in December

    Dec 14, 2017

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An unprecedented heat wave has toppled weather records across Alaska. The Juneau Empire reports the National Weather Service thermometer Friday at Juneau International Airport hit 54 degrees, tying the highest temperature recorded in December there. General forecaster for the Weather Service in Juneau Devid Levin says the heat wave in Alaska is due to a big ridge of upper-level high pressure. With the jet stream moving to the north, warm air from the tropics has moved north, covering the state. Records kept by the W...

  • Meat from illegal moose goes to burger bank

    Ben Muir|Dec 14, 2017

    Hunters around Mitkof Island who shot a moose illegally this year have helped provide more than 1,400 pounds of meat - doubling last year -- to 10 service organizations and the school district in Petersburg. The five moose that were shot and then surrendered to state troopers this season were processed last week. Major Lonnie Upshaw with the Salvation Army, and Cody Litster, an Alaska Wildlife Trooper, recently were at the Petersburg Community Cold Storage with a small group, loading more than...

  • Police Report

    Dec 14, 2017

    Dec. 6 — Reports of suspicious activity were made at two locations. An assault was reported at a Lumber St. location. Abandoned property was reported at a S. Nordic Dr. location. Michael P. Cottrell, 51 was cited for Expired Registration. Police received a wildlife incident report. Dec. 7 — Harassment was reported at a Lumber St. location. A parking complaint was reported at a Kiseno St. location. Police arrested Stephen L. Waddle, 41 on charges of Violating DVRA or stalking and Violating Conditions of Release. A Motor Vehicle Accident was rep...

  • Chinook outlook not so good for 2018

    Dan Rudy|Dec 14, 2017

    WRANGELL - A preseason forecast for next year's king salmon return to the Stikine River has come up worryingly short, boding ill for local fisheries. Released last week by Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the preseason terminal run size forecast for the Stikine River was at only 6,900 fish, less than half the lower threshold of the stock's escapement goal range. The Stikine EGR is between 14,000 and 28,000 Chinook salmon, and such a low forecast does not allow for an allowable catch under tre...

  • Final decision on Wrangell Island timber sale announced

    Dan Rudy|Dec 14, 2017

    WRANGELL — The regional forest supervisor with the United States Forest Service issued a final decision on the Wrangell Island timber sale project on Monday. Addressing a number of objections to the project as it was proposed last year, the scope of the sale approved by the Tongass National Forest supervisor’s office in Ketchikan will be but a fraction of what it had been. Among five alternatives presented, it was Alternative 2 which the USFS opted for. Of the plans, it had the greatest amounts of acreage and timber deemed to be sus...

  • Fish processors struggle to find enough workers

    Dec 14, 2017

    KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — Kodiak’s seafood processors are facing staff shortages as older employees reach retirement age and a younger generation is showing little interest in joining the workforce. James Turner, plant manager at Ocean Beauty Seafoods, said that over the salmon season, they were roughly 100 employees short. The processor usually requires about 350-360 workers, but this summer they were down to roughly 230-240. Though this didn’t inhibit the amount of fish that Ocean Beauty processed, it did affect the ways in which the fish was p...

  • Rescued disabled puppies travel from rural Alaska to Juneau

    Dec 14, 2017

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Every morning, Cathy Dobson walks into her kitchen to make breakfast. The moment she steps into the room, her slippers are covered in rollicking puppies. “I love it,” she said. From her home in the Mendenhall Valley, Dobson is one of the most reliable volunteers for Southeast Organization For Animals, a network that connects abandoned animals with new owners. This week, she has some special guests: A litter of 6-week-old puppies from Prince of Wales Island. Most of them are blind. One is both blind and deaf. For SOFA, as t...

  • Fish Factor: Alaska pollock is the nation's largest food fishery

    Laine Welch|Dec 14, 2017

    Alaska pollock is the nation’s largest food fishery, usually producing more than three billion pounds each year. The flaky whitefish dominates in fish sticks, fast food sandwiches and surimi “seafood salad” blends - but most Americans don’t even know what a pollock is. Trident Seafoods is intent on changing that by bringing the fish directly to the people. “It is the most abundant, certified sustainable species in the world. It’s our mission to show how this delicious, cousin to the cod fish can be enjoyed one serving at a time,” said Lo Reich...

  • PHS hoops Friday versus Metlakatla

    Ben Muir|Dec 14, 2017

    The 2017 Vikings basketball season will begin Friday night in Petersburg, and the coaches say the matchup will likely be the toughest of the year, along with a state championship rematch in the boys game. "It's an interesting team for us to match up with first," said Richard Brock, the boys head coach, offering a preview into Petersburg's state championship rematch from March 2017 with Metlakatla. "I am sure they will be ready to come back in here and try to set the tempo for how the league is...

  • The Mitkof Dance Troupe Presents

    Dec 14, 2017

  • US petroleum reserve lease sale in Alaska draws just 7 bids

    Dec 14, 2017

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – President Donald Trump’s efforts to make the United States “energy dominant’’with help from Alaska got off to modest results Wednesday. The Interior Department made its largest-ever lease offering within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska: 900 tracts covering 16,100 square miles (41,700 sq. kilometers), roughly the size of New Hampshire and Massachusetts combined. But oil companies submitted bids on just seven tracts covering 125 square miles (324 sq. kilometers). The bids totaled $1.16 million, to be split bet...

  • Kake man charged with assault and reckless endangerment

    Dec 14, 2017

    On Dec. 11, at about 10:40 p.m., Juneau based Alaska State Troopers received a report of an assault at a Church Street residence in Kake. The next day State Troopers responded to Kake and investigated. Aaron Lee Loges, 32, of Kake is alleged to have assaulted three separate family members, two of which were small children, recklessly endangered a third child, and damaged the property of another family member. Aaron was arrested on three counts of Assault 4-DV, Reckless Endangerment, and Criminal Mischief 5-DV. He was transported to Juneau and...

  • Obituary: Keith Alexander, 66

    Dec 14, 2017

    Keith Alexander, 66, died at home in bed on July 26, 2017 in Petersburg, Alaska. He loved cribbage, music, silly jokes, his friends-not necessarily in that order-but above all else, he loved the Lord. He was fearless in sharing his faith and stood up for his beliefs, often at personal cost. He ever wanted to bring all our churches together. Keith was born in Washington, DC on Dec. 3, 1950 to James and Nadine Alexander. He excelled in school and was recognized for academics, sports, and music.... Full story

  • Obituary: Carl K. Nordgren, 72

    Dec 14, 2017

    Carl K. Nordgren, 72, passed away in Georgetown, Texas in November 2017. He was born Dec. 26, 1944 to Kurt and Clara (Stolpe) Nordgren in Petersburg, Alaska. He was a Vietnam War veteran. He is survived by his daugher Ricarda Owens and his brother Ole Nordgren. The VFW in Temple, Texas held a service.... Full story

  • Obituary: Melanie Erin McAdams, 42

    Dec 14, 2017

    Melanie Erin McAdams, 42, passed away peacefully in Anchorage, Alaska on Nov. 29, 2017. She was born on Sept. 17, 1975 in Mobile, Alabama, the daughter of "Mac" and Sharon McAdams. In October of 1979, when Mel was just four, the U.S. Coast Guard transferred Mac and his family from Mobile, Alabama to sunny Oahu, Hawaii. Mel spent 10 wonderful years in Hawaii where she attended 1st - 8th grade. In 1989 her mom Sharon McAdams moved with Mel and her brother Matthew to Petersburg, Alaska to be...

  • Stork report

    Dec 14, 2017

    Nolan Hugh Durst was born to Logan and Jenna Durst on Nov. 23, 2017 at Bartlett Regional Hospital, Juneau AK. He weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz and was 19 ¾" long....

  • Stork Report

    Dec 14, 2017

    Raymond Scott Gillen was born at 6:50am, in Sitka, Nov. 17, 2017 to Geoffrey and Camie Gillen. He weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces and was 22 inches long....

  • Pet owners asked to be wary

    Ben Muir|Dec 14, 2017

    The furbearer trapping season is open in Petersburg and the Alaska Department Fish and Game is asking pet owners to control their animals to avoid legally set traps. “Leash laws, where applicable, should be followed,” said Richard Lowell, an area management biologist with the department, who issued a press release on Wednesday. “A person may not obstruct, hinder, or disturb a lawful trapping effort.” The department is asking hunters to use discretion when setting traps near trails, recreational or residential areas where there are people...

  • The contest winners

    Dec 14, 2017

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