Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 124
With the M/V Matanuska going out of service last week, ferry service via the Alaska Marine Highway has completely shut down. According to a press release from the Alaska Department of Transportation, new issues have been found with the ferry's reduction gear system. The Matanuska, at the time of writing, is being towed to Ketchikan for repairs. "AMHS is aware of travel needs for upcoming school and community tournaments in March and is exploring options for alternative service in the event...
Petersburg and Wrangell both saw an overall increase in population from 2010 through 2019, but while Petersburg's population rose between 2018 and 2019, Wrangell's population saw a drop in the same timeframe, according to data from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. There were 3,203 residents living in Petersburg in 2010 and in 2019, there were 3,226, according to the ADLWD. Those figures equal to a .08 percent growth for the decade and 1.12 percent growth in the last...
January 16, 1920 John Bruce is now engaged in taking the fourteenth census of Petersburg and district, having been appointed to that duty by Charles W. Hawkesworth, of the Bureau of Education. All facts as to the number of residents occupations, businesses and everything pertaining to census statistics will be compiled under date of January 1st, 1920. The number of people listed for Petersburg by Mr. Bruce will determine the listed population of the town for the next ten years. January 12, 1945 With fine reports in on the Sixth War Loan drive,...
January Following the shutdown of the U.S. government on Dec. 22, 2018, the U.S. Coast Guard stated it would continue offering essential services. The borough assembly approved $600,000 for a new baler. The USCG located debris from an overdue medivac aircraft that had three people onboard that was due to land in Kake several nights before. A decrease in air cargo coming into Petersburg affected the timely arrival of residents' packages after the retirement of Alaska Airlines' combi 737-400...
January 9, 1920 Petersburg is experiencing one of the mildest winters for years. The temperature has ranged around thirty to fifty above zero for the past two weeks. Early in December a touch of cold weather was experienced when a light fall of snow covered the ground and the temperature dropped to zero for a few hours one night, but this soon passed away and rain has cleared the ground of its snow. The old reliable early bird, the elder berry bushes are bursting into bud, and unless they get a setback will soon all sprout green leaves....
WRANGELL - Mayor Steve Prysunka travelled to Washington D.C. last week to speak before the Senate Committee on Energy and National Resources. He was invited to speak on behalf of the National Association of Counties, an organization that works to advocate county priorities in federal policymaking. Prysunka spoke last Thursday, Nov. 21, on the importance of the Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funds. "We're somewhat unique because we're actually the third...
WRANGELL - With the recent resignation of Principal Virginia Tulley, Evergreen Elementary School has found itself in need of new leadership. However, the school district itself is also facing tight finances, with the recent passage of a "no fat" budget. This budget does not allow for the hiring of a new principal, according to Superintendent Debbe Lancaster. In response, the school board determined that a new leadership position was required. The board met in a special meeting last Friday, May...
WRANGELL — Members of the Wrangell School District and the borough assembly came together for a joint workshop on the school district’s recently adopted budget. As Superintendent Debbe Lancaster said in the past, and repeated in Monday evening’s meeting, this was a “no fat” budget that was operating very close to the district’s bare minimum. The FY 2020 budget is assuming $6.34 million in revenue, and almost the same in expenses. In comparison, this is a decrease from the FY 2019 budget whic...
WRANGELL — Lean times are ahead for the Wrangell School District, according to the budget that was adopted on April 30. Funding for the district has been a topic of much concern ever since Governor Mike Dunleavy released his proposals for the state budget. One of his proposals was a major cut to the Base Student Allocation, a program that gives schools money for every student in their district. It has been very challenging to prepare a budget for the new school year without knowing for sure w...
April 25, 1919 US Department of the Interior: Notice is hereby given that Olaf Arness of Petersburg, Alaska has filed notice of his intention to submit final five year proof in support of his homestead, located on Mitkof Island, Scow Bay, Wrangell Narrows. Proof will be submitted along with the following witnesses: Ole Benjaminson, J.M. Bjorge, I.M. Hofstad and P.M. Bjorge all of Scow Bay. April 21, 1944 Under the direction of Mae Stephenson, district home demonstration agent, 4-H Club work in Petersburg got off to a good start this week. A...
March 28, 1919 At a Caucus held at the S. of N. Hall to nominate men to run for Council for the coming year the following names were mentioned; R. Enge, P. Sommers, Hans Wick, Paul Lund, L.C. Berg, Andy Anderson, T. Elsemore, E Ness, L. Kracke, J. Otness, C. Otness, C. Tveten, K. Stenslid. E.P. Reflecting Peter Lund and Mrs. Elsemore, were nominated for the three year term on the school board and Dr. O.A. Braafladt for the unexpired two year term made vacant through the resignation of John Thormodsater. March 24, 1944 With fine weather to...
WRANGELL — A sentencing hearing was held Monday afternoon, March 19, for Kelly Gunderson. Back in October, Gunderson was charged with selling marijuana to a minor. The incident happened on Oct. 1, 2018, according to Wrangell Police Chief Doug McCloskey. They became aware of somebody selling marijuana to underage persons when a 15-year-old boy, who will not be named as he is a minor, was caught high by his parents. The teen was brought to the police, and he informed officers where he had received the marijuana from, and helped them to catch G...
WRANGELL — In an 8 ½ hour meeting Tuesday, Jan. 8, the Wrangell School Board upheld the firing of first year art teacher Shanna Mall. Starting at 4 p.m., the school board held a public hearing on the potential termination of a high school art teacher well past midnight. Shanna Mall, was hired by the Wrangell school district this school year. However, she was put on paid administrative leave and received a termination notice last November, before the end of her first semester teaching. According to Allen Clendaniel, a lawyer representing the sc...
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...
During this holiday season, the Salvation Army brought in $14,241.55 in donations through the red kettles with the proceeds going to services for the community and the Salvation Army Church's yearly budget, according to Salvation Army Major Loni Upshaw. "Considering the economy is down and everything, I think we did pretty well," said Upshaw. Over ten organizations around town volunteered to collect donations for eight hour shifts beginning with Pioneers of Alaska on Dec. 3 and ending with...
The Petersburg School District received its first score from Alaska’s system of school success, as required by the Every Student Succeeds Act, which shows all three schools scoring above the state average. “We are above average, which is often where we are,” said Superintendent Eric Kludt-Painter at a school board meeting last week. “We are not in any sort of targeted assistance or comprehensive assistance.” Rae C. Steman Elementary scored an overall school index value of 62.48, Mitkof Middle School scored an overall school index value of...
November 22, 1918 The outbreak of Spanish Influenza in Petersburg is practically under control. No new cases have been reported to the health board for the past several days and it is thought there will be no more. The doctors report that at least 800 cases developed here, without a single death, with the exception of five natives and a white man who was brought from an outside point too far gone to be saved. A quarantine station has been established in one of the houses on the prairie where five natives have been quarantined. These cases are...
WRANGELL - Students at Evergreen Elementary School have spent the past few days making Christmas ornaments. Some students drew pictures of Alaskan wildlife, others made miniature wreaths, and another class made poinsettias. All these ornaments are not only fun projects for students to work on. They will be travelling up to Juneau in the coming weeks to hang on the governor's Christmas tree. Tory Houser, with the Forest Service, said that the Wrangell district of the Tongass National Forest has...
WRANGELL - Beyond giving students as good an education as possible, one of the highest priorities for many schools is safety. This is especially true at the Wrangell Public School District, where a new crisis strategy is being prepared for implementation. According to Superintendent Debbe Lancaster, preparing students and teachers for an emergency is the best way to keep everyone safe. "The committee has gone over the crisis plan that's in place and made some changes," she said. The school...
Three teachers, a counselor and four paraprofessionals join the Petersburg School District this year. Mikalai Potrzuski will be teaching 7th grade geography, 8th grade US history and 6th, 7th and 8th grade PE. Shannon Vandervest-Whitacre will be teaching first grade after she substituted in the spring. Timothy Shumway is the 6th, 9th and 11th grade language arts teacher. Jenna Turner will be joining the district as the middle school and high school counselor. Heidi Cabral will be a middle... Full story
July 12, 1918 A mass meeting was held Friday night by a number of the residents of Petersburg and vicinity to consider ways and means of abating the reported evils of the city and particularly the alleged sale of liquor in the red light district. A committee was appointed to take whatever action they saw fit and to make a quiet investigation of local conditions. On Monday night this committee met with the city council, but no definite action was taken. Having no direct evidence of the sale of liquor they have nothing to lay before the Federal...
July 4 — A wallet was reported lost downtown. Police responded to five disturbance calls. July 5 — A deer was salvaged at Libby Straights. Police are investigating a case of criminal mischief. Trespassing was reported at a S. 2nd St. location. Police were advised that a disabled vehicle will be towed to the shop in the next hour. Illegal dumping was reported on Cabin Creek Rd. Loud music and a fireworks complaint brought a police response. July 6 — Campers were reported near the South Harbor. Donn R. Hayes II, 39, was cited for Stop, Stand...
WRANGELL - After 30 years on the bench, Wrangell's district magistrate will conclude her legal career today. Chris Ellis has served as a magistrate judge for First District Court in Wrangell for 14 of those years, with most of her preceding tenure spent in Craig. When she graduated with her bachelor's degree in 1973, law hadn't been on her mind, but Alaska was. "Basically I studied anthropology with a specialty in archaeology, and my goal was to come to Alaska," she said. Ellis found herself dra...
WRANGELL — Wrangell Public School District learned last week its secondary school principal, Bill Schwan, will be departing after the current academic year ends. His departure is the latest among the district’s top administrators. At Evergreen Elementary, school principal Gail Taylor tendered notice in January. She took off for Oklahoma earlier than expected, departing this week on Tuesday. Faculty member Therese Pempek will helm the school through the year’s end. After a search for Taylor’s replacement, the district announced it will be hiri...
WRANGELL - The Wrangell Public School District announced the selection of Debbe Lancaster for the Superintendent position on Wednesday. She begins work on July 1. The board arrived at its decision after a series of interviews and consultation with a selection committee. That committee, representing district staff, a parent and student, also had the opportunity to meet and interview the candidates. Lancaster has reportedly accepted the district's offer, agreeing to a three-year salary which...
