Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 265
January 11 – A subpoena was served. An officer conducted a welfare check on South Nordic Drive. Officers assisted the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) with a structure fire on Mitkof Highway. January 12 – An officer responded to a report of gunfire on Mitkof Highway and found a citizen was training their retriever to be a hunting dog. Petersburg Police Department (PPD) received a report of trespassing. An officer assisted a citizen on South Nordic Drive. An officer responded to a noise complaint on Gjoa Street, the individual had...
The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department responded to a house fire near 4.7 Mile Mitkof Highway on Wednesday, which destroyed the interior of the building. The fire was in an older two-story home constructed with logs at 471 Mitkof Highway on property owned by Michael Boggs. Though the investigation is ongoing, the fire is believed to have been caused by a wood stove according to Assistant Fire Chief Dave Berg. No persons were in the building when the fire broke out. The smoke from the building...
Community Emergency Response Team in the works To the Editor: The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) Auxiliary committee has been looking for training to further assist the PVFD in its mission of Public Safety. After some careful digging, Chief Stolpe found a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program through FEMA. Through the PVFD Auxiliary, Chief Stolpe and I hope to establish a Community Emergency Response Team. This team’s mission would be to provide lay responder support to first responders in the event of a large-scale e...
The famous Salvation Army red kettles, manned during the holiday season by volunteers armed with silver bells, raised a combined $13,206.43 in Petersburg according to Capt. KV Saengthasy. The donations will be used to fund the Salvation Army's social services budget and also went toward purchasing a couple of Christmas presents for local children. Though they finished just short of their fundraising target, both red kettles stationed outside of Hammer & Wikan stores were filled on Christmas...
January Petersburg experienced record snowfall on New Year's Day with 17.5 inches of new snow on the day, bringing the total snow depth to 40 inches according to the National Weather Service. The Petersburg Borough Assembly passed a resolution requesting a discussion with the U.S. Postal Service about providing additional services in Petersburg following continued issues with staffing, irregular hours, and long lines. All-purpose vehicles became legal to drive on roads in Alaska, including in...
December 7 – An officer conducted a welfare check on Nordic Drive. An officer responded to a report of a disturbance on Sing Lee Alley and determined it was non-criminal. An officer spoke with an individual on South Nordic Drive about a civil issue. Officers responded to a report of gunshots in Middle Boat Harbor. An individual reported losing property on Howkan Street; it was later found by the owner. An officer responded to a minor vehicle accident on Haugen Drive. Petersburg Police Department (PPD) received a report of a stranded motorist a...
November 30 – An officer responded to a report of suspicious activity on Fram Street. An officer responded to a report of downed trees, possibly on power lines on Wrangell Avenue. Power and Light (P&L) was notified and responded. Petersburg Police Department (PPD) received a report of downed trees on power lines on Sandy Beach Road. P&L were notified and responded. An officer spoke with an individual concerning a third party complaint. An officer responded to a report of harassment and determined it was unfounded. An officer spoke with an i...
Sigrid Medalen passed away peacefully on October 12, 2022 after a short illness. Sigrid Carol Dokken was born on March 8, 1931 to Syvert and Clara (Oium) Dokken, one of 7 children. She grew up on their family farm along the Mouse River at Towner, North Dakota. She attended school through eighth grade in a one room country schoolhouse. After graduating from high school in 1949 in Towner, North Dakota Sigrid went to summer school in Minot, North Dakota and got her teaching certificate. She taught... Full story
Stedman Elementary School students got an education in fire safety last week from members of the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department who visited the school to give demonstrations and show instructional videos. The Learn Not to Burn program has been on hiatus for the last couple of years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students were able to visit the fire station for some instruction last year, but this was the first time since the pandemic that PVFD members have been back in the school as...
September 28 – An alarm activated at pump station #5. Water Wastewater (W/WW) was notified and responded. An officer conducted foot patrols on Dolphin Street. A citizen reported an automated fraud call to “U.S. citizen” claiming the recipient’s identification had been compromised. A run-away canine on the airport access road was returned to its owner. An officer assisted Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with an individual in need of assistance on Scow Bay Loop Road. Petersburg Police Department (PPD) received a report that minors were throwin...
Aaron Hankins was officially hired as the new Fire/EMS/SAR director during Monday evening's Petersburg Borough Assembly meeting with unanimous approval. Hankins said he was initially hesitant to apply for the position and try to follow in the footsteps of former director Sandy Dixson, but after receiving encouragement from friends and family he decided to give it a shot. "My dad is the one who sat me down and said, 'listen the worst they can say is no, from what I've see you have what it takes...
The Petersburg Borough has offered Aaron Hankins the position of Fire/EMS/SAR Director according to Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht. Hankins, a Petersburg resident, has volunteered with the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department since 2016 and has earned ETT, EMT-1, and EMS LT certifications. He beat out a field of six candidates who interviewed for the position, which has been vacant since former director Sandy Dixson retired at the end of June. Though Hankins has accepted the borough's offer,...
Bob Lynn What is your age? 76 What experience do you have? I've had 8 year's experience on the Petersburg Assembly. I have been fortunate to serve as Petersburg Assembly Board representative to Southeast Alaska Power Authority (SEAPA.) In that role I have served as Board Chair and voting member to replace submarine cable serving Petersburg. I have also served 6 years as the Assembly representative to the Hospital Board. Having been an EMT years ago has provided me much needed background to serve...
Tom Laurent's EMS career began in the mid-70s when he was 16 and joined the Juneau Ski Patrol. He came from a ski-bum family and fit right in at the Eaglecrest Ski Area where his job was to take "people that injured themselves off the hill." Since then, he has spent a total of 46 years involved with EMS and 32 of those were dedicated to volunteering in Petersburg. Unfortunately, during that span volunteerism itself has been falling off, not just locally, but across the entire United States and...
Two months after former Fire/EMS/SAR Director Sandy Dixson retired, the Petersburg Borough is restarting its push to hire a new director. The borough held panel interviews on Wednesday and Thursday for the six candidates up for the position—including four current Petersburg residents. Following the interviews the candidate pool will be narrowed down to two who will progress to another round of interviews and a possible meet and greet with community members. Candidates include Daniel Bird, Aaron Hankins, Alan Malone, and Joshua Rathmann of P...
It takes teamwork To the Editor: Your Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank those businesses that allow our members to leave work to respond to calls for help from their customers, neighbors, and friends. Stay Safe. Thank you. Jim Stolpe, Fire Chief Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department Available for your questions, ideas, and concerns To the Editor and to the Community: What a summer! I hope you have been able to enjoy our beautiful home no matter what the weather had to say about it. As we shift into fall, it’s also c...
August 10 – An officer assisted a citizen on Fram Street. An officer attempted to find the source of a 911 call that initiated in the North Boat Harbor but hung up. A driver on South Nordic Drive was issued a warning for driving with an expired registration. A deer was struck and killed on Mitkof Highway. It was unsalvageable. An officer responded to a report of counterfeit cash at a local business but determined the cash was authentic. A runaway dog was returned to its owner on Kiseno Street. An officer responded to a report of a dog hanging o...
August 2 – A citizen reported that a bear is returning regularly to the area around 7th and Kiseno Streets looking for garbage. The Alaska Wildlife Trooper (AWT) and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) were notified. An officer conducted a welfare check on Chief John Lott Street and found the individual of concern was okay. A fire alarm on Harbor Way activated. Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) responded and found all to be okay. An officer spotted a bear in the area of South 2nd Street eating trash. An officer assisted a c...
After leading the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department for 14 years, Fire/EMS Director Sandy Dixson celebrated her retirement at an event last week in the fire station. Current and former PVFD volunteers, Petersburg Borough Assembly members, borough staff, and other community members gathered to mark the occasion and present Dixson with a plaque to recognize her time with the department. Dixson gave her final address to the assembly during its June 20 meeting where she shared her story and...
Volunteers, many from the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department, spent the week leading up to the Fourth of July preparing the annual fireworks show. They gathered at the ballfields Sunday evening to set up the shells, mortars, and a new wireless firing system. The system is being used this year partially thanks to $1,000 in prize money awarded to Dave Berg by the Petersburg Community Foundation after he was named Petersburg Community Volunteer of the Year. Prior to the show, Berg linked up a...
5 students in the Class of 2022 will graduate next Tuesday in a ceremony which will run similar to those before the pandemic. It will be held at 7 p.m. in the high school gym and will be open to everyone with no assigned seating. It will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person and the link has been posted on the school's website. PHS Principal Rick Dormer said staff and seniors will organize around the community center and will be welcomed into the gym as the band plays Pomp...
Forty-five years ago, Kathi Hammer was helping Carol Hall at a concession booth downtown, during Little Norway Festival. When, all of a sudden, Hammer got kidnapped by Vikings. Shortly after earning her freedom she was holding her daughter, Cari, when a photographer came up and asked who they were. Hammer thought he was just a tourist, until a few weeks later when she saw a picture of them on the front page of the Southeastern Log, a popular publication in Southeast at the time. Under the image... Full story
The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire in Middle Harbor on Monday after smoke was spotted coming from a docked boat. The fire was on the Lady Lou, owned by Terry Slafter, and came from the oil stove on board, according to Assistant Fire Chief Dave Berg. Berg said the stove may have had an installation problem that was a result of age and use and it appeared to have fallen down on one side. The area underneath and surrounding the stove was charred. According to Berg, it... Full story
