Sorted by date Results 2540 - 2564 of 5574
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Division of Elections has certified a ballot initiative that aims to strengthen state law that protects salmon habitat, officials said. The Stand for Salmon initiative could appear on the ballot for either the primary election in August or the general election in November, depending on when the state Legislature ends its session and how the state Supreme Court rules, Alaska’s Energy Desk reported. The initiative would create a more stringent permitting process for development projects on salmon habitat in Alaska...
WRANGELL — The second phase of site reclamation work at the former Byford junkyard has been put on another hold, as the state’s environmental agency responds to a new project report prepared on behalf of Wrangell’s tribal government. Wrangell Cooperative Association has taken an opposing stance to a monofill the Department of Environmental Conservation has been preparing to construct at a state rock pit, which will situate 18,500 cubic yards of treated soil removed from the Byford yard. Privately run for decades as a repository of junked vehic...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The bodies of two experienced mountain climbers who are presumed dead likely won’t be recovered for months, a spokeswoman for the Alaska State Troopers said. Megan Peters said summer is the soonest that authorities could launch a recovery effort in southeast Alaska, though even that depends on snow and ice conditions and the risk to crew members. “We like to be able to provide closure to families also,” Peters said. “There are times where unfortunately we’re just not able to do so.” The agency said earlier this week tha...
WRANGELL - The public will have the opportunity to view redesign plans for the Anan Creek bear observatory on Thursday evening, March 22. Just to its south on the mainland, Wrangell's most popular tourist attraction provides a unique opportunity to view bears reasonably up close and in the wild. Perched over one of Anan Creek's falls, the earliest portions of the structure date back to the 1960s, with sections added on during the intervening decades under US Forest Service management. Most...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A new forecast from the state anticipates additional revenue of more than $200 million this fiscal year and next amid higher anticipated oil prices. But Revenue Commissioner Sheldon Fisher says that even with the extra money, the state continues to face a deficit of more than $2.3 billion. The state Revenue Department, in its spring forecast, expects an increase in unrestricted general fund revenue of about $255 million this year and about $210 million for the fiscal year starting July 1. Those increases compare to a d...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The recent discovery of the USS Juneau in the depths of the South Pacific has provided some closure to people with connections to the ship, which was blown apart during World War II. Hundreds died, including the five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa, whose story was chronicled in a 1944 movie. An expedition backed by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen reported finding the wreckage over the weekend. David Reams, senior director of maritime operations for Allen, said the team’s primary aim was to fin...
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — A former state ferry has departed from Alaska after serving in the Alaska Marine Highway System since 1963. The Taku left Ward Cove in southeast Alaska Tuesday morning and is headed for Singapore, the Ketchikan Daily News reported. The Alaska Department of Transportation transferred ownership of the vessel to Jabal Al Lawz Trading Est., a Dubai-based company, in January. It was sold for $171,000. Some people gathered to say goodbye the vessel on Tuesday including Bill and Wynn Hopkin, who both worked aboard the Taku. B...
The Petersburg assembly last week ratified a collective bargaining agreement with a union that represents most borough employees. The assembly approved a three year deal with the Petersburg Municipal Employees Association last week. The deal has to be voted on by the association as well, which occurs March 20. Among the changes in the agreement, according to the borough, is a 2 percent wage increase to the Step C salary classification. Those receiving the increase have had to be represented by...
The Petersburg Medical Center has narrowed its search for a new CEO down to three applicants from Alaska and one from Missouri. CEO Liz Woodyard is closing-in on retirement after 44 years in the medical field. Her possible successors include Jennifer Bryner, of Petersburg; Philip Hofstetter, of Nome; Patrick Williams, of Sitka; and Jeff Jones, of West Plains, Missouri. There are scheduled Skype interviews in the coming days, and it’s hoped a decision could be made next week on which finalists will be invited to Petersburg, said Doran H...
A story last week said the Petersburg electrical reorganization of the public works and power and light departments would save the borough about $105,300 in salary and benefits. The precise amount is $105,103....
WRANGELL — City Hall jumped a notch on its alert level Tuesday, declaring a Stage III water shortage watch. The third stage is the most severe in Wrangell’s water shortage management plan, adopted last year by the Borough Assembly. The city was previously on a Stage I alert due to dwindling supplies of raw water in the treatment plant’s two reservoirs. In its notice to the public, Public Works explained that Wrangell has received no considerable rainfall over the course of the past month. Precipitation has mainly been in the form of snow,...
On March 7, Alaska Wildlife Troopers from Klawock, Petersburg, and Wrangell concluded an investigation which began in December 2017, according to a news release from Alaska State Troopers. Investigation determined Jonathan McGraw Jr., 43, from Naukati; Keith Wagner, 52, from Naukatil and Curtis Looper, 27, from Naukati were commercially harvesting sea cucumbers from closed waters including from the sea cucumber preserve in Whale Pass. McGraw’s boat the F/V Bottom Time, a 19 foot aluminum work skiff, his dive gear, and 1263 pounds of sea c...
The new exhibit at the museum in Petersburg showcases homemade skis and sleds, footage of the original ski hill and a string of literature, vintage gear and photography over a 60-year period. The exhibit, Winters Past, at the Clausen Memorial Museum celebrates the sense of fun and adventure in a Petersburg community that's often sunken in hard work, said Anne Lee, the curator. "It's a good time to do this in the winter time when people are not so busy," Lee said. "And also when people are out...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Alaska is among a handful of states in the West that doesn’t mandate smoke-free workplaces statewide, and one powerful lawmaker is standing in the way of that changing. State Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux chairs the House Rules Committee and decides which bills make it to the floor. She has balked at moving the bill, which overwhelmingly passed the Senate last year and enjoys widespread support in the House – half the body’s 40 members have signed as co-sponsors. But LeDoux told a news conference last month that the state should...
WRANGELL -The Federal Communications Commission last week approved the transfer of licenses from Wrangell Radio Group to CoastAlaska. A nonprofit radio and television service based in Juneau, CoastAlaska provides administrative and technical support for public broadcast stations in Wrangell, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg and Ketchikan. Citing financial difficulties, last December Wrangell Radio Group – the entity which manages local radio station KSTK – filed a petition with the FCC to allow a tra...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Senate was supposed to consider a measure Wednesday saying the federal government's new enforcement policy on marijuana is an affront to Alaska voters, who voted to legalize recreational use. Instead, a member of the Republican-led Senate majority offered something quite different. The Senate refused to consider Senate Minority Leader Berta Gardner's proposal, which was a response to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinding Obama-era guidance that allowed legalized marijuana to flourish by limiting f...
WRANGELL — The Forest Service held a public input session with Wrangell residents last week, as it puts together ideas for a 10- to 15-year project to benefit the Wrangell and Petersburg districts of the Tongass National Forest. The Central Tongass Landscape Level Analysis would plan for a major project on a large scale that would increase the number of activities authorized in a single analysis and decision. It reflects a larger effort nationwide to improve the USFS environmental analysis process, and the approach is hoped to allow site-specif...
About five weeks ago a 16-year-old South African stepped onto a tarmac in Alaska wearing flip-flops, ready to spend 11 months in Petersburg. It was the first time Clarisa Boshoff had experienced snow, and she was hooked. "I literally arrived and I'm like 'I'm not going back,'" said Boshoff, whose home city is populated with about eight million people. "I'm staying here." Boshoff, now equipped with Xtratuf boots, will stay in Petersburg through Christmas as part of the Petersburg Rotary Club...
Police this week seized items from a residence in Petersburg that are consistent with the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine, according to a release from the department. On Thursday and Friday, Petersburg officers served multiple search warrants at a residence on Cornelius Road, and “another location,” according to the release. Officers seized glassware, listed chemicals, materials used to package controlled substances for distribution and other suspicious substances, which will be submitted for official identification. The sus... Full story
The Petersburg assembly gave its final approval of a reorganization of borough departments on Monday, coming after a petition to reject it was signed about 270 times by 270 residents. In a 4-2 vote, the assembly finalized the borough manager’s revise leadership of the electric utility. Those against the reorganization circulated a petition over the weekend that received 272 signatures in support of appealing the decision. “That’s a pretty good percentage of the 1,110 people that voted in the last election,” said Mayor Mark Jensen, who has opp...
Petersburg Medical Center board of directors recognized the long term care department for its recent five-star rating on a Medicare network, along with a quality of excellence award from 2017. The Petersburg Medical Center Long Term Care department was given a five-star overall rating from Nursing Home Compare, a branch of The U.S. Government Site for Medicare. Long term care also received the “Recognition of Quality Achievement Award” in September 2017, presented by Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, a Medicare quality organization for Ala...
In last week’s Court Report the sentencing and dismissal of charges against Joshua Hall Blewett were attributed to Kenneth Lee Birch. The court dismissed charges of Assault in the 3rd Degree, Sexual Assault in the 1st Degree, Kidnapping, and 2 counts of Assault in the 4th Degree against the defendant Joshua Blewett. He entered a guilty plea to a single charge of Assault in the 4th Degree and was sentenced to 365 days in jail and payment of 2 - $50 surcharges. The court released Blewett after giving credit for time served. The case involving K... Full story
Mike Bangs, who helped pioneer commercial diving in Alaska and was chair of a regional advisory council and Petersburg harbor board, died last week at 62. About 250 people filled the Sons of Norway Hall for the Celebration of Life program on Sunday. Nearly 20 friends and family members told stories about their time with Mr. Bangs. "For many of us here today, the world is already a different place without our friend Mike Bangs," said Glo Wollen, giving remarks at the program. "He passed far too y...
A Petersburg man in his second round of proceedings with the borough assembly has been approved to build a Scow Bay boat ramp that he will pay for. John Murgas, a boat hauler and owner of Island Ventures LLC, was green-lit by the assembly on Monday to lease tidelands and construct a temporary boat ramp at the Scow Bay Turnaround. The Petersburg Harbor Board, Planning Commission and Economic Development Council all recommended the assembly approve a lease for Murgas. The purpose of the ramp is...
Two Petersburg teens last week pleaded not guilty to charges of harassment in connection to chasing and hitting multiple deer with a pickup truck in early February. Jasmine Ohmer, 17, and Sebastian Davis, 17, appeared before Judge William Carey in the Petersburg District Court for an arraignment hearing last week. Ohmer pleaded not guilty to harassing game. Davis pleaded not guilty to harassing game, as well as reckless driving. According to court documents, on Feb. 5, Davis allegedly used a...
