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The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department Association elected Jim Stolpe as its new fire chief on Thursday following the retirement of the previous fire chief, Doug Welde. Assistant fire chief Dave Berg took on the responsibilities of fire chief until a new fire chief was elected when Welde retired after 50 years with the department. Both Berg and Stolpe were candidates for fire chief position, but the department ultimately elected Stolpe. Berg has since resumed his position as assistant fire chi...
Borough manager Stephen Giesbrecht submitted a list of potential budget discussion items to the borough assembly on Monday that outlines possible cuts in funding to services as the assembly begins talks on the 2020 fiscal year budget. “The direction that I’ve heard from the assembly prior to today via informal conversations and various meetings is not that we don’t want to consider cuts if the budget’s balanced. What I was hearing from the assembly is we need to reduce the size of the borough government,” said Giesbrecht. One suggestio...
January The borough assembly received a proposed update to its zoning code that would introduce a new form of affordable housing, an expansion of the historical and industrial districts and the end of a requirement for businesses to include parking downtown. The borough assembly held a work session to discuss a plan to impose restrictions on the senior tax exemption. A possible annual fee to sales tax exemption card holders was agreed upon ranging between $50 and $60. Police Chief Kelly Swihart...
We all too often make the mistake of only focusing on our challenges rather than all the good things going on in our Community. In this vein, I asked the Department Heads to give me two statements each for this last meeting in 2018: “Your work-related accomplishment you are the proudest of this year,” and “Your work-related thing you are the most thankful for.” Starting with mine: I am the proudest of our Department Heads who are new or who have taken on new challenges; Chief James Kerr, Karl Hagerman, Chris Cotta and Deputy Clerk Daniell...
November 15, 1918 War is over. With the signing of the armistice by the Germans the world war was terminated. Hostilities have ceased and under the terms it will be impossible for their resumption. The former government has been overthrown and a number of independent states have been formed. Germany has been given 24 hours to evacuate all invaded territory and to withdraw all troops across the Rhine. This does not stop the registration of all men between the ages of 18 and 45 years old in Alaska. The registration will continue just the same...
Many new events and activities, along with old favorites, will be featured during this year's 60th celebration of Petersburg's Little Norway Festival. At 4 p.m. Thursday at the public library, the Storyteller Pole Unveiling will be celebrated. Master Tlingit carver Tommy Joseph, from Sitka, created the work for the library. The Mitkof Mummer's play "Bigfoot," featuring a cast of zany characters guarantees a laugh a minute. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Wright Auditorium on Thursday, Friday and...
Great emergency services team To the Editor: Years ago I was a member of the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department. I remember some big fires downtown where everyone in the department was on the fireline for days. Here the community jumped out to help move hoses when asked and then stepped back from the scene until their help was asked for again. (The new police chief from down south was shocked that there was no need for crowd control.) I remember stopping at the fire hall during those events to change out of my soaked bunker gear into...
March 8, 1918 Joe Hall, of the Alaska Clam Canning Company reports the new enterprise as progressing satisfactorily. Clams in fair supply and of excellent quality are now being received at the company’s cannery near Tonka. They expect to make the first shipment of four hundred cases of the canned product next week. March 5, 1943 Enjoyed alike by Elks and Emblem Club members, was the trip to Wrangell last week-end. More than 40 Petersburg people made the trip aboard the Triton, the Star and the Zarembo. Arriving at Wrangell about 5 o’clock, the...
Experience Matters To the Editor: It is my understanding that the borough assembly wants to combine PMP&L and Public Works. There is a big difference in the management of the electrical industry and the management of the public works. Both are important departments, each providing a service to the community. I agree with those who contend that experience matters when it comes to selecting a replacement for the Superintendent of PMP&L. The experience goes beyond just managing employees. That in its self is a task, especially if you don't have...
The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department responded to two more boat fires this week. Two engines responded to the South Boat Harbor last Thursday, where a fire aboard the Carolyn Ann was likely ignited by an electrical mishap. “A harbor officer saw smoke in the early stages of his rounds around the harbor,” said Ed Tagaban, administrative assistant with the harbor department, adding that it was Ben Hinde. “He extinguished the flames.” Volunteer firefighters responded at 10:00 a.m. and battled the smoke and hot spots for about 30 minutes...
Burl Weller, 73, lost his fight with lung cancer on Dec. 7, 2017 in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was born in Sabina, Ohio to Orville and Juniata Weller on Feb. 1, 1944. He had four siblings, Barbra Jenstead, Orville Weller, Beverly Morlend, and Bobby Weller. Airman Weller served in the U.S. Air Force from 1963-1966. He received the Air Force Commendation Medal for working under extremely adverse conditions, sporadic sniper fire by day and hostile attack at night, to provide security for an important... Full story
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...
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...
Firefighters on Tuesday responded to a distress call from a woman whose front lawn had caught fire, which burned her arm and nearly ignited the front porch, until a man who noticed the escalating blaze stopped to help. At about noon on Tuesday, the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire on Philbin Lane, where the homeowner had been injured, said David Berg, the assistant chief. The owner later said she was cooking when a grease fire ignited in her kitchen. She rushed the...
The assembly approved a stipend increase last week for 13 officers of the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department. Excluding the fire chief, each officer received $20 more in their monthly stipend, equaling $3,120 in additional funds a year. The officers include: two assistant fire chiefs, two fire captains, three fire lieutenants, one SAR captain, two SAR lieutenants, one EMS captain and two EMS lieutenants....
Volunteer firefighters in Petersburg received stipend hikes this week amounting to $240 each a year, a decision made unanimously by the assembly in a meeting this week. “Without these leaders in this department, we wouldn’t have a functioning unit,” said Eric Castro, an assembly member. “They should be better compensated for everything that they put forward.” The raise will apply to all volunteers besides the fire chief. There are 13 volunteers who will receive $20 more a month. This will cost...
Name: Richard Burke Age:38 Experience: Civil Engineer. US Navy Submarine Service Vet. 1998-2003. AAS in Civil Engineering Technology, Mount Hood Community College 2005, BS Forest Engineering, Oregon State University 2010. Lived in Petersburg for 7 years. 5 years in Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department. 2 years on Petersburg Borough Planning & Zoning with a very good attendance record. I wrote Proposition 6 on this ballot. Why do you seek public office? I love Petersburg, and I think I can make...
The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire at 503 Ira II St. at 2:40 a.m. on August 18. Fire personnel cut the hood off the vehicle to gain access to the fire, which started under the vehicle, not inside it. Dave Berg with the PVFD said the fire is suspicious in nature and is under investigation. According to the police, the vehicle is owned by Randal K. Long who is currently in jail awaiting trial on Federal Drug Charges....
The Borough Assembly in its meeting last week approved a bid award to upgrade radios, renewed a lease with a fuel company and adopted two city ordinances. The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department will be upgraded with new radio operations for ambulances, fire trucks and other vehicles, according to a letter of recommendation from Sgt. Randal Holmgrain. ProComm Alaska, a Motorola certified company, will be installing the radios for nearly $45,000. The Assembly approved a new five-year lease with Petro 49, the fuel company land near South Nordic...
A shed fire in Petersburg Tuesday was extinguished within 10 minutes after the Volunteer Fire Department's arrival. The department responded with one fire engine at about 11:15 p.m. to a fully engulfed shed on Lake Street, said David Berg, a department spokesman. No one was injured and there was little damage to surrounding trees due to ongoing rain and neighbors who used hoses to trap the flames, volunteer firemen said. "There were some small propane bottles that exploded that caused a lot of...
Petersburg Police responded to an apartment fire at the Narrows Inn on Friday at 11 p.m. and rescued the tenant from the burning structure, according to volunteer fire department spokesperson Dave Berg. Berg said when the ambulance and engine arrived, police had already entered the structure and pulled a victim to safety. According to Police Chief Kelly Swihart, Derek Thorsen broke a window to vent smoke, and Kalin Rosse and Carl Tate entered the apartment and pulled the victim out. The fire...
On Tuesday, May 9 Petersburg Police and EMS responded to an ATV crash at the intersection of 13th and Gjoa Streets. Petersburg resident Michael J. Mika, age 50, was transported to Petersburg Medical Center for treatment of significant injuries. Mika was the only person involved in the crash. Petersburg Volunteer Fire Dept. spokesperson Dave Berg said Mika suffered puncture wounds, broken bones, cuts and contusions. He was treated and released with referrals from Petersburg Medical Center. Berg...
April 29th Hosted by the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department...
The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) responded to a structure fire on North Nordic Drive early Tuesday morning and successfully extinguished the blaze, according to PVFD spokesperson Dave Berg. The call came in around 8:30 a.m. and about 15 fire fighters were on scene at 1312 North Nordic within minutes. The structure, an unoccupied single-family residence off of Wrangell Avenue, was engulfed in flames when PVFD arrived. It took PVFD crew members less than 20 minutes to have the...
