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  • Eleven school board policy changes approved

    Brian Varela|Jun 20, 2019

    Changes to 11 board policies are set to go into effect after the Petersburg School Board approved the alterations in their second and final reading at a board meeting last week. The changes to the policies were minor and were made to be in accordance with new state laws, according to School Board President Mara Lutomski. Some of the policy changes add language related to culturally responsive education and cultural and tribal consulting, which was the case in the changes to board policy...

  • Trash in muskeg surrounding baler facility caused by wind

    Brian Varela|Jun 20, 2019

    Some residents have noticed trash scattered around in the muskeg near the baler facility, which has been blown out of a nearby open container, and Public Works Director Chris Cotta has taken action to remove the trash. "We have been trying to keep the trash somewhat contained," said Cotta. "It's pretty hard to keep it all in the container when we're dumping in there. The birds get into it. The wind blows and blows it out of there and blows the bags out." The trash was generally made up of wrappe...

  • Fisherman helps veterans overcome past experiences

    Brian Varela|Jun 20, 2019

    Some veterans have kept their experiences on the battlefield bottled up in their minds where they continually cause suffering, but Steve Henline is getting veterans to open up about what they went through in war while on a fishing boat in Alaska. Through his non-profit organization called Warriors' Tails, Henline has been taking veterans, many of whom have been severely wounded, fishing all over the country where they can feel safe among other veterans to talk about their experiences or just enj...

  • Sing Lee's murder remains unsolved

    Emmalee Blender, Excerpt from Streets to the Past|Jun 20, 2019

    Sing Lee’s story started in 1892 when Mar Goey emigrated from China to Alaska. By the time he settled in Petersburg in 1909, he’d married and changed his name to Mar Chan Len. The name of the shop he opened in Petersburg was called Sing Lee’s and gradually he acquired Sing Lee as a nickname. The first floor of Sing Lee’s building was mostly store, with a few rental units at the back. Upstairs were more rentals and his apartment. Most of them were bachelor fishermen and miners. Sing Lee sold a...

  • Dead whale reported

    Caleb Vierkant|Jun 20, 2019

    WRANGELL - The carcass of a gray whale was reported floating between Wrangell and Channel Island, in the eastern passage. According to Kate Savage, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, her organization heard about the whale early Saturday morning, June 15. Wrangell resident Sara Gadd shared several photographs of the animal on Facebook. Gadd's husband, Charles, took the photos. He said that he first found the whale floating in the water around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, and saw...

  • Additional King fishing opens in the Petersburg and Wrangell areas

    Patrick Fowler, ADF&G Area Management Biologist|Jun 20, 2019

    The Alaska Department of Fish and Game have announced sport fishing regulations for king salmon in the areas near Petersburg, Wrangell, and Kake that are opening to the harvest of king salmon after being closed for Southeast Alaska wild king salmon conservation. In the waters adjacent to the Stikine River (District 8 and a portion of Eastern Passage near Wrangell; see attached Map No. 1): July 15 - December 31: Alaska resident: The bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or...

  • Borough fiscal budget passes in third reading

    Brian Varela|Jun 13, 2019

    The borough assembly adopted the 2020 fiscal year operating budget in its third reading on Monday after making 11 amendments to it since the assembly received the proposed budget on April 1. Expenditures in the general fund total $9,467,855, but is balanced out by $9,533,511 in revenues. The total amount of excess of revenues over expenditures is $65,656. The current 2019 fiscal year budget has a total of $9,466,759 in revenues and $9,446,352 in expenditures. During the assembly meeting on...

  • Assembly talks feasibility of harbor warehouse on Public Works property

    Brian Varela|Jun 13, 2019

    Mayor Mark Jensen requested a discussion on the Petro 49 land exchange during Monday's assembly meeting to hear Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht's input on the matter, since the manager wasn't present at the previous assembly meeting. "I have no intention of asking to have the action that was taken at the last meeting rescinded," said Jensen on Monday. "I just wanted a little bit of clarification for myself." At the assembly meeting on May 20, the borough assembly voted in favor of directing...

  • Updated zoning map to go before assembly

    Brian Varela|Jun 13, 2019

    The Planning Commission approved an updated zoning map for service area one at their meeting on Tuesday, which will go before the Petersburg Borough Assembly for three readings. The commissioners heard a final six amendment requests to the zoning map before it was approved. A lot on Scow Bay and at 211 Mitkof Highway were zoned as light industrial, or what was previously known as C2 commercial. Lots at 708, 710, 712 and 804 S. Nordic Dr. were rezoned from industrial to light industrial. A...

  • Fireworks allowed in service area three days a year

    Brian Varela|Jun 13, 2019

    An ordinance allowing the use of fireworks within service area one three days out of the year was passed by the borough assembly in its third reading on Monday. Ordinance #2019-04 allows residents to light fireworks on their property on July 3 and 4 and Dec. 31 from 12 P.M. to 1 A.M. Those who light fireworks within service area one outside of the three dates stated in the ordinance can face up to a $500 fine. The ordinance will also allow special permits for the use of consumer fireworks with p...

  • Borough assembly discusses services offered throughout the borough

    Brian Varela|Jun 13, 2019

    Assembly Member Jeff Meucci requested a spreadsheet of what services are provided to individuals living within service area one, outside service area one and at Frederick Point and what their millage rate is. During a discussion item that was requested by Meucci, he said that he wanted to have a better understanding of services provided by the borough. He wanted to compare the services offered within service area one, outside of service area one and at Frederick Point. Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht said that it is difficult to give an outlin...

  • Burrell retires after 20.5 years at the Courthouse

    Brian Varela|Jun 13, 2019

    In 1998, Desi Burrell was hired as the clerk of court at the Petersburg Courthouse, and 20.5 years later, she retired as magistrate judge on May 20. "It's been an amazing career," said Burrell. "I love the people that I work with, and that's statewide, not just here in Petersburg." Through her work, Burrell said she has been able to contribute to the community of Petersburg and help its citizens. Burrell discovered her passion for helping people early in life when she began working in the...

  • Special Report: Parking largely uncontrolled

    Brian Varela|Jun 13, 2019

    Although Alaska Airlines is expecting to bring upgrades and improvements to its terminal in Petersburg through its 2020 Great Land Investment Plan, the airline company will not be increasing the number of available parking spots at the airport. According to a map provided by Lynette Campbell, chief of aviation leasing with the Alaska Department of Transportation, Alaska Airlines leases DOT land that is directly under the terminal, which extends to include several parking spots in front of the...

  • Special Report: Airline plans terminal upgrades

    Brian Varela|Jun 13, 2019

    The Petersburg Alaska Airlines terminal is one of five terminals throughout the state that are next in line to receive some form of upgrades as part of a $100 million initiative to either expand or remodel all 11 of the airline company's owned terminals in Alaska, according to regional vice president Marilyn Romano. The Alaska Airlines 2020 Great Land Investment Plan first began in February 2017 as a brand overhaul that featured a new logo and updates to their terminals, but soon included a...

  • Special Report: Patty Nelson remembers her 28 years with Alaska Airlines

    Brian Varela|Jun 13, 2019

    In her 28 years working for Alaska Airlines, Patty Nelson has seen and done it all. Her duties consisted of taking reservations, checking luggage, running security and everything in between. In 1965, when she first began working at the airport, Alaska Airlines did not have a presence on Mitkof Island yet. Alaska Coastal Ellis Airlines was flying three propeller planes into Petersburg when Nelson has hired. The Grumman Goose and Twin Otter were smaller aircraft, while a larger aircraft came in...

  • Study: LeConte Glacier in nearly same location

    Brian Varela|Jun 6, 2019

    Six Petersburg High School students made the trip to the LeConte Glacier on May 10 for the annual survey of the glacier's face. According to the coordinator of the program, Victor Trautman, one side of the glacier is in about the same location as it was in 2018, but the other side came out about 60 to 80 feet. Trautman said the fast moving glacier can easily shift 100 feet in a day. For the students, preparations for the trip began a few years prior. Trautman said the students have to be a part...

  • Trautman retires after 45 years of teaching

    Brian Varela|Jun 6, 2019

    When Victor Trautman graduated from Dickinson State University in North Dakota in the early 1970s, the biology major received some wise advice from his brother-in-law: people are always going to have kids, and people are always going to need schools. As a result, Trautman made the decision to become a teacher. Forty-five years later, Trautman is retiring from Petersburg High School where he spent 29 years teaching science. "I chose well," said Trautman. "I have never regretted being a science...

  • PMC board passes phase one of master plan

    Brian Varela|Jun 6, 2019

    At a special meeting on Thursday, the Petersburg Medical Center's board of directors approved an agreement with NAC Architecture for the phase one master plan proposal for the construction of a new facility or remodel of the current building not to exceed $220,000. The PMC board discussed the awarding of the RFP to NAC Architecture at their regular board meeting on May 23, but the board requested more time to look over the proposal, which was received earlier in the day. A special meeting was...

  • Correction:

    Jun 6, 2019

    In last week’s issue of the Petersburg Pilot a story on the Petersburg High School track and field team on page six incorrectly stated that Tolin Eddy broke the school record for the 1600 meter run. Eddy set a school record in the 3200 meter run with a time of 10:17.29, which was originally held by Raleigh Cook. Brian Anderson still holds the school record for the 1600 meter run with a time of 4:39.97, which was set in 1984.... Full story

  • One guilty, one not guilty after 4-day jury trial

    Ron Loesch, Pilot Publisher|Jun 6, 2019

    Helen Olson was found guilty, and Carlos Sandoval was found not guilty on single counts of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the 2nd degree. The jury delivered their verdict following a 4-day trial on May 24. Charges against Sandoval were dismissed and Judge Carey set August 27 as the sentencing date for Olson. Olson was released on bail. The prosecution alleged that Olson received a package containing 51 grams of methamphetamine that had a street value of $200/gram in Petersburg,...

  • Welde steps down as fire chief after 50 years

    Brian Varela|Jun 6, 2019

    Doug Welde joined the Petersburg Fire Department in 1969 as a fire fighter and over the years he rose through the ranks and became fire chief in 2013. In February, Welde retired from the department at the age of 75 after 50 years of service, and was replaced by Jim Stolpe. When he got out of the United States Air Force in 1969, he joined the department at their next meeting. His father, Ken Welde, was chief at the time, and back then, Welde said that everyone volunteered at the fire department....

  • Construction on the Raven Trail begins

    Brian Varela|Jun 6, 2019

    Construction on the Raven Trail has begun and residents may have noticed the sound of a helicopter flying near the Reid Brothers Construction rock pit. Throughout the day, a helicopter flies back and forth from the Raven Trail and the rock pit with a hopper that holds about three-fourths of a cubic yard of gravel. The helicopter then uses the hopper to spread gravel over a prepared surface of the trail, according to Paul Olson with the United States Forest Service. Oregon Woods Inc., a construct...

  • The Charles T celebrates 100 years afloat

    Brian Varela|Jun 6, 2019

    In her 100 years on the water, the Charles T has only had three owners: Earl Ohmer with Alaskan Glacier Seafoods, Chuck Harris and James Eastwood. The Charles T was built in Bellingham, Washington in 1919 and was purchased by Earl Ohmer as a shrimper and a tender for his Alaskan Glacier Seafoods fleet. He purchased the Charles T in the early 1920s and brought her to Petersburg. He named her Charles T after his father Charles Thomas Ohmer. She stayed with Alaskan Glacier Seafoods until the 1980s...

  • Thirty seniors receive their diplomas

    Brian Varela|May 30, 2019

    The Class of 2019 completed their high school careers in a commencement ceremony on Tuesday that saw 30 seniors from Petersburg High School receive their diplomas. Of the 30 graduating seniors, 17 have definitive plans on attending college. Two students plan on joining the military. Two students have plans to attend a trade school. George Skeek will be moving to Sitka to begin a wood carving career, and Koren Sperl plans on attending flight school to obtain his commercial pilot license. Fifty sc...

  • Two more amendments to borough budget in its second reading

    Brian Varela|May 30, 2019

    The borough assembly passed the borough's proposed budget for the 2020 fiscal year at an assembly meeting last week after making two more amendments to the budget. The assembly voted on four amendments, but only two were passed. As approved in its second reading, the budget will allocate $4,000 to the City of Kupreanof and will include the health insurance savings of $200,000 for using the same insurance provider as the Petersburg Medical Center. Both amendments were proposed by Vice Mayor...

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