Sorted by date Results 3964 - 3988 of 5587
The Sons of Norway Hall has given Jill Williams plenty of good times and fond memories during her lifetime. And now, artifacts recently found in the local landmark have her sifting through old newspaper articles in an attempt to learn more about individuals that called Petersburg home during the early-1900s. Three carpenters remodeling the upstairs of the community hall started finding the artifacts in May, and immediately called Williams. "I think the first thing they found was the board, with... Full story
Petersburg’s Local Marijuana Regulations Advisory Committee will meet in the coming months after the state released its regulations regarding the marijuana industry. The local committee met twice since Alaska voters chose to legalize the consumption and sale of marijuana almost a year ago. Committee Chair Jeigh Stanton Gregor said the committee decided to adopt a “wait and see” policy. The state regulations address topics such as licensing fees, retail store, cultivation and manufacturing requirements among others. The state’s marijua... Full story
Patty Biggers moved to Petersburg in 1989, and went right to work at the Children's Center. For 12 years, she worked as a cook, a teacher and office helper, basically filling whatever need the Children's Center had. The best part of the job was playing with kids, but it was no cake walk, she says. Biggers left that job after finding out that Petersburg Medical Center's (PMC) Long Term Care facility had a position called, activities coordinator, and she immediately started hounding PMC to get the... Full story
Ongoing vandalism in the ball field is forcing Petersburg Parks and Rec Director Donnie Hayes to consider erecting a locked gate to block vehicle access to the area after hours. Hayes said it appears a vehicle caused roughly $900 worth of damage last Saturday night or Sunday after spinning donuts, losing control and running into the ball field fence. “It’s mangled,” Hayes said. “We’re finally at that point where we are all looking at gating off that parking lot because of the damage that cont... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted unanimously to give Aaron and Katrina Miller nine months to remove their stored fishing gear and other items from their residential lot at 107 Arness Heights Drive. The decision came after the Borough Assembly voted last week to affirm an appealed Planning and Zoning nuisance order issued against the Millers for storing gear on their lot, which violates the borough’s zoning regulations. According to borough zoning regulations, storing commercial gear on a residential lot is considered “accessory use...
The summer results are in for taxable income received by the Borough from charter boat services, retail stores, hotels and bed and breakfasts. The bed tax figures continued to increase for the third straight year growing over $8,000 from 2013 to 2015, and just over $3,000 from 2014 to 2015. This year brought in $43,884 from visitors staying in Petersburg establishments from May to the end of October. The increase in 2015 comes despite what some considered a disastrous start to the season due to ferry schedule conflicts and cancelations. The...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved at its Nov. 2 meeting a resolution that urges the state of Alaska to amend the Mariculture Revolving Loan Fund to allow non-profit shellfish hatcheries to apply for loans with the state. The state’s revolving loan fund provides long term loans for Alaska owned mariculture operations. According to the resolution, the Petersburg Borough Assembly “believes that it is in the best interest of the State of Alaska and the mariculture industry that non-profit shellfish hatcheries be eligible to utilize the fun...
The Alaska State Historical Society awarded the Petersburg Public Library and the Petersburg Pilot certificates of excellence last month for its archival and digitization of Petersburg’s historical newspapers. Petersburg Public Library Director Tara Alcock said the certificate of excellence came as a surprise, and the library finished up the process in 2013 after a contractor scanned newspaper microfilm and converted the files into PDFs. “It’s exciting to see how many people use it,” Alcock said. “We’re dealing with someone in Norway usin...
Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association, Inc., (NSRAA) will hold its Fall Board of Directors meeting at 9 am on Nov. 12 – 13 in the NSRAA conference room at 1308 Sawmill Creek Rd., Sitka. Meetings are open to the public. Copies of the agenda will be available in the NSRAA office....
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted 5-1 during a public hearing to affirm an appealed nuisance abatement order issued by the borough’s building official against property owners who store commercial fishing gear on their residential lot. Oct. 26’s hearing landed on a long list of interactions between Aaron and Katrina Miller and borough staff and officials dating back to 2006 when the Millers first purchased the lot at 107 Arness Heights Drive where they began storing commercial fishing gear. According to borough zoning regulations, storing co... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Assembly sent a letter to Lt. Governor Byron Mallott requesting state support in asking the International Joint Commission (ICJ) to get involved in mining activity in the Alaska-British Columbia Transboundary Region. The Borough Assembly passed a resolution last October supporting the same thing along with municipalities in Wrangell, Sitka and Juneau. “The transboundary rivers that empty into our region provide the life-blood to our economies and quality of life,” the letter states. “The extensive and somewhat risky... Full story
United Fisherman of Alaska members gather in the Sons of Norway hall this week as it conducts its 2015 Fall Board Meeting. Board members representing 35 Alaska commercial fishing organizations began their meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27 where representatives of Lt. Governor Mallott, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, University of Alaska Anchorage and other independent commercial fishing agencies gave presentations to the board. Much of the time was devoted to internal discussion regarding seafood...
The 39th Annual Oktoberfest Artshare was held last weekend, and the theme this year was "Christmas Magic." Around 54 vendors participated in the event, and event coordinators Naomi Welde and Cathy Harris dressed up in costumes for the 14th year in a row. The two dressed as the "Christmas Magic Grandmas," which delighted many youngsters and garnered a couple laughs and looks from adults, too. The two are members of the Muskeg Maleriers, an art based non-profit group in Petersburg. "I think...
Alaska author and historian James Mackovjak's latest book, "Alaska Salmon Traps" details the sordid history of salmon traps, and the lasting impression they left within the state. This week, Mackovjak traveled to Petersburg to give a presentation about his book to over 20 locals at the Public Library, and then took time for a book signing and reception hosted by the Clausen Museum. In 1889, Congress outlawed barricades as a means for catching fish, but salmon traps slipped through the cracks...
A new support group for mothers of young children met for the first time this month. Mothers with children ranging from birth to five-years-old are encouraged to attend, and any expecting mothers are also more than welcome to join the group. Petersburg Mom's Support Group held their first meeting on Oct. 9, and the second meeting for the month was held last week. The group will continue to meet for an hour, twice a month for the foreseeable future to gauge local interest and find out if the...
WRANGELL — Two Wrangell fishermen have pleaded guilty to charges related to falsified commercial catch reports. In documentation submitted to the U.S. District Court in Juneau on Oct. 19, federal prosecutors alleged Charles Petticrew Sr. and Charles Petticrew Jr. conspired together to submit falsified Individual Fishing Quota records over a three-year period. Petticrew Jr. was alleged to have knowingly submitted IFQ reports that falsely specified the Gulf of Alaska statistical areas where around 3,977 pounds of halibut were caught, valued in a...
Over a dozen volunteers showed up two weekends ago to help Petersburg Parks and Recreation and Petersburg's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints finish a trail improvement project in the Borough. This was the second weekend volunteers from the church and individuals from the Borough worked alongside each other on the William Musson Memorial Pathway, and community support was noticeable. Volunteers formed a "wheel barrow brigade" in order to finish the portion of the trail ending just...
Petersburg recyclers must exclude glass from their comingled bags beginning November 1 after the Petersburg Borough’s recycling vendor found an excess of glass, along with blue recycling bags in the co-mingled stream. Petersburg Public Works Director Karl Hagerman said earlier this year the borough’s recycling vendor Republic Services broke apart a recycling bale to determine a breakdown percentage of each recyclable material. “When we have a large percentage of the blue plastic which is not a... Full story
A team of scientists is analyzing samples from a dead orca whale to determine the cause of death after a moose hunter reported the freshly dead animal beached near Portage Bay on Kupreanof Island last week. Scientists were able to reach the orca Monday between storms where they found evidence of infection in its jaw, but no external injuries, said NOAA Fisheries spokesperson Julie Speegle. The scientists aren't certain the infection was a cause in the whale's death. "The teeth were flattened to... Full story
Public Works Director Karl Hagerman reported the following information to the Petersburg Borough Assembly in lieu of Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht’s absence: The underground cable connecting the Blind Slough hydro plant to our distribution system failed, and that portion from the plant to the hatchery had to be replaced. Harbor staff continues to remind people to give them a call so they can keep an eye on your boat when owners leave town. It is also important for folks to check their skiffs during our very wet weather. The Public Works c...
The Petersburg School Board voted in its first reading a district memorial policy last week—the lack of which caused some confusion and conflict between district staff and members of the public two years ago. The policy would, in part, limit the display of student memorials for a two-week period. Petersburg School District Superintendent Erika Kludt-Painter said her predecessor, along with district staff, removed a memorial to Jake Madsen, a Petersburg High School student athlete who died in a... Full story
Regional hunters brought home 103 bulls this season, but set a new record of highest number of illegally harvested moose as well. Thirteen of the 103 moose failed to comply with local antler restrictions and had ADFG considering whether or not to close the hunt in the third week of the season. No illegal moose were reported to ADFG after the third week. ADFG Wildlife Biologist Rich Lowell said the majority of moose legal and illegal were hunted on Kupreanof Island—a continuing trend from past y...
Petersburg Medical Center staff and board members are trying to decide whether or not to extensively renovate the facility or build a new hospital after an architectural firm presented a draft assessment showing that much of PMC’s architecture and mechanical and electrical equipment are well beyond their lifespan. Representatives from Jensen Yorba Lott Architects presented the draft plan to the PMC Board two weeks ago after it hired the firm to complete the condition assessment last July. “We’re looking at a subtotal of about $16 million to br... Full story
Petersburg saw more weather records broken this year as Hurricane Oho brought warmer tropical weather to the region. October 8 and 9 saw record highs and warmest lows. October 8 the record setting high was 60 F and October 9 was 61 F. The previous record was set in 1993, with temperatures of 59 F and 57 F respectively. High lows also broke records on the same days. October 8 saw 53 F and October 9 saw 50 F beating 1976s 48 F and 49 F on the same two days. Juneau’s National Weather Service Meteorologist Geri Swanson said Oho originated n... Full story
