Sorted by date Results 4198 - 4222 of 5553
The Petersburg Borough Public Works Department has met a 48 hour nuisance abatement order issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for a spillage of waste, but an investigation continues. The Wastewater Utility transports and buries piles of solid waste at the borough's landfill about once a week. Last week, while digging a hole with an excavator, Public Works Director Karl Hagerman said, sludge sitting to the side to be buried slid down a hill to a stream that runs to the... Full story
A new special revenue fund, instead of the general fund, will now house Transient Room Tax (TRT) revenue, meaning the TRT committee and grant process they once oversaw will be dissolved. Assembly members unanimously approved the change at Monday’s meeting. The TRT, also known as the bed tax, is collected from the lodging industry and is used to fund visitor-related services in the borough. In the past, the majority of TRT monies have been allocated to the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, and remaining funds were doled out via... Full story
Borough Assembly members chose a remodel design option for the Petersburg Municipal Power and Light (PMPL) building after hearing a presentation from architect Linda Millard at Monday's regular meeting. The new design incorporates changes to bring the building into compliance with fire and ADA codes, improve the building's insulation, and increase visibility for drivers at the intersection of Haugen Dr. and Nordic Dr. PMPL Superintendent Joe Nelson said the building dates back to the late...
One of Alaska’s largest seafood processing companies, Icicle Seafoods, Inc. has named a new Chief Executive Officer. CEO Chris Ruettgers began May 1, according to an Icicle press release, while former CEO Amy Humphreys will remain with the company in some capacity. Humphreys, who resigned to join Seattle-based dairy company Darigold, will now serve as Icicle’s Board of Directors chairman. Icicle’s shift in leadership will also include Chief Financial Officer LaDon Johnson’s move to president. Ruettgers has served as the company’s executive...
The City of Kupreanof has asked the state to reconsider its proposed Southeast State Forest Management Plan. City Councilor David Beebe wrote a letter on the city’s behalf and submitted it during a public comment period that ended April 30. Representatives from the Division of Forestry traveled across Southeast Alaska to collect feedback and provide information on the plan during public meetings last month. It would affect over 3,800 acres on Mitkof Island. Beebe wrote that the plan “relegates the Southern Southeast State Forest to that of an i...
It's got humor, romance, revenge and redemption. The Mitkof Mummers Theater Company's "Shipwreck on Cannery Island" hits the stage next week during the Little Norway Festival. It's writer/director Orin Pierson and co-writer Mary Koppes' first play, and a portion of proceeds will go toward the Mummers' newly founded Vara Wright Memorial Scholarship for high school students who plan to continue performing arts in college. Wright, a Mitkof Mummers founder who wrote and directed their plays for... Full story
Looking to start up a business or expand one? Have ideas that are full of planet, people and profit possibilities? There’s a contest going on right now that could benefit someone just like that. For the third year, the Haa Aani Community Development Fund, Inc. and Nature Conservancy are holding the Southeast Alaska Path to Prosperity (P2P) contest. Haa Aani Office Administrator Shawn Blumenshine said they work with both existing small businesses and new startups during the entrepreneurial competition. Two winners receive $40,000 each to go t...
ANCHORAGE (AP) — Three men have been accused of stabbing a young moose to death at a park in Alaska's largest city, and police said witnesses reported seeing the men punching the animal and walking away. The men were arraigned Wednesday in the death of the yearling moose near a bike trail in Anchorage's Russian Jack Springs Park. All three were arrested on charges of animal cruelty, wanton waste of big game and tampering with evidence. Three witnesses called police shortly before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to report the moose under attack. Assistant D...
KETCHIKAN (AP) — Officials have confirmed a case of paralytic shellfish poisoning from a mixture of clams harvested from a beach north of Ketchikan. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services officials confirmed Monday that a person became sick on the evening of April 24 from a mixture of horse, manilla and butter clams, reports he Ketchikan Daily News reports The leftover clams showed elevated levels of saxitoxin when tested at the state Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Health Laboratory. DHSS says the person had t...
Petersburg’s Market received a big boost in the form of an U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant. “It’s a really awesome opportunity for us to support as many businesses as possible,” Market Manager Chelsea Tremblay said. The Market will use a portion of the roughly $26,000 two-year grant to help those interested in selling items locally get started, along with assisting micro businesses in growing. The grant’s purpose, according to the USDA, is to develop and improve outreach, training and technical...
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Water has issued a nuisance abatement order giving the Petersburg Borough Public Works Department 48 hours to clean up a spillage of waste. The Wastewater Utility transports and buries piles of solid waste at the borough’s landfill. This week, while digging a hole with an excavator, Public Works Director Karl Hagerman said, sludge sitting to the side to be buried slid down a hill to a creek that runs to the Sandy Beach Park a...
A 22-year-old Juneau woman was indicted in a residential burglary and is a suspect in other cases, police say. A grand jury indicted Brittany Lynn Martin on a Class B felony charge of burglary in the first degree on April 24. An arrest warrant was issued for her on April 16. According to the indictment, Martin allegedly entered a residence in mid-February with the intent to commit the crime of theft. Petersburg Police Chief Kelly Swihart said there was video surveillance in that case and, according to court documents, Martin was identified in... Full story
Petersburg High School shop teacher Nick Popp took eight students to Sitka for a three-day welding performance exam April 15-17. All eight students passed at least two of three positions tested as part of the American Welding Society's steel plate credential. "It's a real-world test that a welder would take if they're going to work in a shipyard or work construction," Popp said. "It's not a written test, it's all just welding skills." Students were assessed on flat, vertical and overhead steel... Full story
Mara Lutomski became "fired up" to get involved with the community through the school board during talks surrounding the state's budget shortfall and local impacts. "I am impressed at the responsible fiscal choices that this district has made and I want to be a part of that decision making process," she wrote in her letter of interest. The Petersburg School Board approved her as its new member during a special meeting Monday evening at the District Office. Former board president Jean Ellis'... Full story
They’re everywhere in Alaska and they’re useful in sometimes surprising ways. Karen Dillman, a botanist with the U.S. Forest Service, spoke to a crowd of about 10 at the Petersburg Public Library on Thursday, April 23, about coastal lichens. For these particular lichens, “the beach has created a niche so they can be successful,” she said. Some thrive in areas of ocean spray or right along the water. Dillman went over several different types during the Petersburg Science Series presentation, such as the verrucaria maura she named her daughte...
Work on the new incubation building at Crystal Lake Hatchery continues, with completion expected in June. Though that's behind the original estimated completion date of March 2015, Loren Thompson, manager at the facility, said that's well before the building is needed again for incubation. "We're not using that building right now...The first thing we need it for is to incubate eggs for our returning adults," Thompson said, adding that the typical timeline for that is early August. Thompson said...
Ever glance outside and think ‘Today just isn’t the day for a picnic’? There really aren’t many ideal days in a rainforest. But the Petersburg Ranger District is adding cover to the back loop picnic table area at Blind River Rapids Trailhead, similar to what can be found at Manmade Hole Picnic Site, said Brad Hunter, District Recreation manager. “The idea is to have a dry place to picnic there,” he said. Phase one includes tearing up existing decking and building a new foundation to support more of a load with 20 feet deep muskeg. Phase 2 wil...
The Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) has moved to protect patients and itself against any potential cyber attacks. The hospital’s Board of Directors approved the purchase of CPM (cyber, privacy and media) liability insurance, underwritten by Lloyds of London CFC Syndicate, in the amount of $6,666.45 per year, including taxes and fees, during its regular board meeting Thursday, April 23. The $2 million policy will cover the hospital if there’s a breach of information, or an accusation of one, said IT Specialist Don Bieber. “The risk we have...
The Petersburg School District has found a new way to assist its students in becoming better readers in a short amount of time. For the second year, the district is using Fast Forward, a computer delivered brain fitness program that not only improves reading, but concentration, processing and even math skills. Each student's time with the program varies, but many finish an assignment, such as reading or literacy, in about nine weeks, and 90 percent of them improve, Activities Director Jaime...
Tourists and local marine mammal lovers alike can now enjoy an updated, interactive Marine Mammal Kiosk at the Petersburg Visitor’s Center. The kiosk is a collaboration between the Visitor’s Center and the Petersburg Marine Mammal Center (PMMC), awarded a $1,700 grant last year by the Petersburg Community Foundation to make upgrades to the kiosk’s computer. “The equipment, computers being what they are, don’t have a long lifespan,” said Don Holmes, PMMC board member. “So the new grant enabled us new hardware, and we had a volunteer, Je...
The Petersburg Pilot earned second place for Best Weekly at the Alaska Press Club's 2015 award ceremony held last weekend in Anchorage. "Beautiful photos, and well-written and reported stories. Bravo," was the judge's comment. Reporter Mary Koppes won second place for Best Health Reporting for her story "Making sisters out of strangers: A kidney transplant brings two Petersburg women together." The judge commented, "Nicely told tale of kidney transplant in a small town. Clear, concise writing...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has announced further openings for the spring troll fishery. The following Terminal Harvest Areas (THA) will again open at 12:01 a.m. Friday and remain so until further notice: Neets Bay, Anita Bay, Port Armstrong and Hidden Falls. Frederick Sound, which initially opened April 16 and closed today, Thursday, will reopen on Friday and remain so until May 7, along with all of the Ketchikan area, the Icy Strait/North Chatham areas, Ernest Sound in the Wrangell/Prince of Wales area and Stag Bay in the...
Petersburg residents will get to choose whether to haul their recyclables to the curb in a cart or a blue bag, following the Assembly’s approval of a resolution Monday night that provides for the dual program. The new program is aimed at maximizing recycling participants, some of whom favor the continuation of the blue bag program and others who’d like to see a move to a cart-based system. The resolution that passed on a 5-1 vote includes all the elements of the initiative petition submitted by Angela and Wes Davis and certified as suf... Full story
Some 66 percent of Petersburg's sanitation customers pay for a 32 gallon cart and receive the recycling incentive rate of $28.19/month. Though this rate is among the highest of all communities surveyed, Petersburg is also the only municipality that offers curbside pickup of commingled recycling as part of its sanitation service. Juneau also offers curbside pickup for recyclables, though sanitation customers pay an additional $5.65 for the service, bringing their small-bin rates to $27.50/month,... Full story
The zoning subcommittee of the Local Marijuana Regulation Advisory Committee met for the first time Wednesday to begin the process of determining where marijuana retailers can open business. Committee member Mitch Eide said he figured zoning would be similar to that for liquor stores in town. Places that sell or serve alcohol sit at or beyond 500 feet of the city’s schools in commercial zones. Eide added, though, that the committee is “spinning our wheels” until the state comes up with its regulations. “I think it’s important that we try to id...
