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As Christmas draws ever closer, people are shopping for friends, families and strangers as another season of Operation Christmas Child closes, set to send shoeboxes of sundries across the world. The program, operated under the international auspices of Samaritan’s Purse, a non-denominational evangelical Christian organization, has been running since 1993, aiming to deliver boxes of toys and essentials to children of impoverished nations around the globe — since its inception, the group has reported more than 113 million shoeboxes sent to famili... Full story
A thorough discussion of public services under the Borough charter was had at Monday's regular Assembly meeting. Member John Havrilek broached the matter at the last meeting and asked for a public comment period wherein discussion and clarification of services for outlying areas would be addressed. Since then, Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht worked with department heads to assemble a matrix outlining services offered before and after Borough formation. According to that matrix, no services have been discontinued due to Borough formation. That'...
Four local hikers on their way to Raven’s Roost cabin on Sunday got much more than they bargained for, returning by helicopter after an unanticipated night outdoors. “They got caught in darkness and a little turned around, so we helped them make it through the night and were able to helicopter them early, early with the breaking dawn of Monday morning,” S&R Captain Bob Carter said. “One of them … got ahold of Search and Rescue and we made a decision that they could survive the night – we really don’t want to send people up the mountain at n...
October was Fire Prevention Month for Alaska, following a decree from Gov. Sean Parnell, and Petersburg has stayed on track, with the police department reporting no stray fires, aside from a campfire in the wrong location, during October. The total number of structure fires can vary dramatically, year to year, ranging from about two to more than ten in his experience, Fire Marshal Ryan Welde said. “Sometimes, I’m sure, there were years we had more, but there are fewer nowadays.” Last year was ab...
Borough Manager Steve Geisbrecht presented the following report to the assembly at Monday’s regular meeting: Medicaid recertification for the Mountain View Manor is approved. We’re good for two more years. Final touches are being put on the ten recently installed windows at Elderly Housing. Liz Cabrera met with Bob Weinstein from Senator Begich’s office on federal issues of interest and arranged for a tour of the Police Department. There was some progress on the dismantling of the Ellingstad/Triem house at 1011 Wrangell Avenue. The roof and a...
Sept. 17 Caller reported suspicious individuals going through a donation bin. Officers made contact with an individual on the matter on Haugen Drive. Caller reported a vehicle blocking a driveway near Excel Street. Another vehicle was reported by a caller along S. Nordic Drive as having a flat tire, to be moved the following day. Police responded to a report of found property. Officers were dispatched over a reported dispute over a bicycle, which ended without charges. Sept. 18 Officers responded to a caller’s report of their wallet being t...
Foul play is suspected as the cause of two vehicle fires that occurred last Monday evening. Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) firefighters responded to a call Monday around 10:30 p.m. about two fires on Twin Creek Road. PVFD spokesperson David Berg said responders first came upon a container van that was fully engulfed in flames. About one quarter mile down the road, firefighters found another vehicle completely destroyed by fire. “The late model SUV vehicle was almost out and the fire had completely burned everything in it,” Ber...
Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported the following during the last Borough Assembly meeting: New ordinances have been forwarded to the court for inclusion in the Courtview and TrACS systems. This will allow the court to recognize the revisions and ultimately allow for more efficient processing of citations. Preparation for the annual FERC inspection of Blind Slough has begun and includes installation of a flange and plat over the low-level outlet to facilitate the FERC mandated operation of the outlet valve. The valve hasn’t been o...
A kitchen fire last Friday in an apartment above Lee's Clothing left one man with minor burns and the dwelling uninhabitable. Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) Spokesman David Berg said a man living in the apartment fell asleep after heating a pot of oil on the stove. The oil heated to the point of overflowing and started the fire "The fire went up the wall and caught the cabinets and ceiling on fire," Berg said. "The smoke was coming down pretty good. He woke up fortunately. He tried... Full story
Petersburg hosted 117 participants in this year's Southeast Region EMS Symposium. EMS Director Sandy Dixon said this is the first year Petersburg has hosted the symposium and that the community support along with a good weekend of weather ensured a smooth event. "I told everybody I sent Mother Nature a limo," Dixon joked. "The weather helped. It was pretty tremendous." Medical workers from emergency medical technicians to physicians attended the symposium where various classes and lectures were... Full story
Bob Carter, Captain Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department Search and Rescue “Be prepared” is the famous motto of the Boy Scouts. All of us who enjoy hiking, hunting, fishing, kayaking and other outdoor activities would be wise to heed the Scout’s wisdom. Unfortunately, each year in Alaska a number of people become lost. Some are found safe and sound while others sadly succumb to the elements before rescuers can locate them. Petersburg Search and Rescue would like to offer the following survival tips: • Let someone know where you are going a...
The incubation building and the generator shed at the Crystal Lake Hatchery were both destroyed in an early morning fire Tuesday. Petersburg firefighters responded and fought the blaze in 9 degree temperatures. Hatchery Manager Loren Thompson said 1.2 million incubating fish were killed. It took out about one half to two-thirds of the production and included 200,000 Coho and one million Kings. An alarm went off at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to Thompson. "I walked out the door, saw the... Full story
During the Borough Assembly’s March 3 meeting, Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported the following: Interest in Losing Big has increased this year and continues to be a great program for our community. Just short of 400 votes were cast through the competition—triple what we typically had last year. The Parks and Recreation Department is beginning plans for the whale observatory. Staff is looking at rock needs, plants and shrubbery clearing over the next year, and is working with Public Works on the project. The Parks and Recreation Dep...
The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department is recruiting new volunteers and is offering a Fire Fighter One class this spring. Dave Berg, assistant chief, said the fire department is looking for ten volunteers to fill the class, which would bring the overall roster to 35 members. The class teaches basic fire fighting skills including information about fire behavior, equipment handling, hazardous materials and also features live fire exercises. Berg said becoming a volunteer fire fighter doesn't... Full story
January 10, 1914 – Dancing being the favorite divertissement to Alaskans, many late comers from down east where this amusement is almost considered a crime, and therefore prohibited, finding themselves in a country where dancing is freely indulged in as a pleasure and a harmless recreation, have expressed a desire to learn of late. In answer to the pressing demand, Prof. F. Pruschoff, formerly instructor of a dancing club in Portland, Oregon, has decided to open a class. January 12, 1984 – Final plans for the new high school building were appro...
Luke 2:13, 14 Luke 2:13, 14: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” After receiving Jesus as my Lord and Savior in 1973 I began a journey of revelation I never expected. Like any other human on the planet my ideas don’t always match God’s. I assumed the declaration of this phrase concerning Jesus was all about world peace. Even Jesus followers had their own ideas as they were being discipled by Jesus the Messiah...
Some initial concern over the Petersburg Road Improvement Plan turned out to be less of an issue than originally anticipated. The $4.1 million dollar project began in September of 2012. According to a project report written by Bryce Iverson, SECON Project Manager, “…2,800 cubic yards of concrete were placed, over 4,800 linear feet of curbs and gutter, 3,100 square yards of sidewalk, and nearly 10,000 square yards of concrete pavement.” The initial concrete pouring phase was put on hold because of early season freezing temperatures. Barry Morri...
Emergency responders rescued a woman trapped in a wrecked SUV on Three Lakes Loop Road last Sunday evening Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Dave Berg said they received the dispatch call around 5 p.m. August 11. He said they found the vehicle in a steep embankment, the front passenger side door crumpled against a tree, about three miles down the south end of the road. Two other passengers, both males, were able to exit the vehicle. “We were able to block the car using struts to stabilize it and anchored the vehicle to our tr...
A fire in Magill’s Trailer Park killed 79-year-old Frank T. Neidiffer on Saturday, June 20. Dave Berg, Assistant Chief for the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department, says he arrived at the scene where police told him an individual might be trapped in the burning trailer. Because of heavy smoke, police didn't enter the structure. “I didn't consider it safe to enter the building either,” Berg says. Berg says a neighbor was fighting the fire with a garden hose before two engines and other emergency vehicles arrived at the scene. A crew was then...
April 5, 1966 - June 1, 2013 Remember that fellow whom you would meet on the docks or see walking on the sidewalk? Who always had a smile, a wave, or a good word for you and always had a helping hand for you? That fellow was Kevin Kivisto. He was born on the fifth of April 1966 in Upper Michigan (a genuine Yooper) to Roy and Irja Kivisto. He left us suddenly on the first of June 2013 on the boat he captained and the ocean he loved. His early years were spent in Northern Michigan growing up... Full story
Between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon a Pacific Wings deHavilland Beaver, carrying a pilot and six sightseeing passengers, crashed at LeConte Glacier. “I was able to spend about an hour and a half in the helicopter with an EMT,” Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Dave Berg said. “We were trying to find the location of the crash, but had no luck.” Along with Berg, in the Temsco craft, there were two fixed wing planes from Sunrise Aviation of Wrangell out searching as well... Full story
Petersburg High School gym was filled will people ready to witness the passing of another class from those hallowed halls as the Class of 2013 graduated 39 seniors last Wednesday evening. The graduates filed into the room with the band playing in the background placing them ever closer to that moment they have strived for so many years. PHS Principal Rick Dormer contemplated on the fact that these students were freshmen when he arrived in Petersburg and this is the first class that he has had fr...
Petersburg High School gym was filled will people ready to witness the passing of another class from those hallowed halls as the Class of 2013 graduated 39 seniors last Wednesday evening. The graduates filed into the room with the band playing in the background placing them ever closer to that moment they have strived for so many years. PHS Principal Rick Dormer contemplated on the fact that these students were freshmen when he arrived in Petersburg and this is the first class that he has had fr...
