Sorted by date Results 5007 - 5031 of 5553
The Petersburg Wrangell Insurance Agency has been providing insurance in Alaska since the 1950's and have recently been awarded the Premier Partner Award for performance and partnership by Safeco Insurance. “We are honored to be recognized by Safeco as a Safeco Premier Partner,” Owner of Petersburg Wrangell Insurance Sue Erickson said. “We make it a priority at Petersburg-Wrangell Insurance to deliver superior quality service and the trusted advice that our customers want.” There are fewer than 10 percent of independent insurance agencie...
SITKA (AP) — A couple escaped a landslide by running down a narrow, pebble beach away from the shifting mountain. The slide happened Sunday just as Kevin Knox, 41, and his girlfriend, Maggie Gallin, 28, returned from fishing in a rowboat to the National Forest Service cabin at Redoubt Lake, about 15 miles southwest of Sitka, KCAW reported. “We had just tied the boat up and Maggie was in the cabin, and it just let loose _ a huge piece off of the side of the mountain. I yelled for Maggie to run, to get out of the cabin. We started running dow...
ANCHORAGE (AP) — An orphaned polar bear cub that arrived at the Alaska Zoo two months ago will soon depart for a new adventure: meeting another young cub at the Buffalo Zoo. Kali (KUL'-ee) made his final Alaska zoo appearance Monday. He will be flown by UPS from Anchorage to the company hub in Louisville, Ky., and then New York, with arrival in Buffalo expected Wednesday. A play date with Luna, a nearly six-month old cub born to an adult female at the zoo, could follow in about two weeks. “The decision to have him with another cub his own age...
JUNEAU (AP) — Production of silver increased at Greens Creek Mine during the first quarter of 2013, mine owners said. Hecla Mining Co. said Friday the mine on Admiralty Island produced 1.8 million ounces, up from 1.3 million ounces in the first quarter of 2012. The mine saw a 20 percent increase in overall tonnage and a 15 percent increase in production of higher-grade silver, the company said. A delayed shipment in April meant about $12 million in gross profits for the mine will be shifted to second quarter figures. The Juneau Empire r...
Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht and Petersburg Police Chief Jim Agner approached the challenge of the failing public safety building with an understanding that the only funds available for the project would be from the Fire Hall re-appropriation, and any grant money provided by this legislative session. To date, the project has $4.1 million to work with. “Our assumption is that any project undertaken must meet current building standards for police stations and jails,” Giesbrecht stated. “We assumed that $4.1 million will not neces... Full story
Petersburg Borough resident Mike Stainbrook proposed a resolution to the Petersburg Borough Assembly during its regular meeting Monday afternoon to preserve Petersburg Creek as it is without encroachment, electrical corridor or power lines. Stainbrook read the resolution to the Assembly: “Whereas Petersburg Creek drainage and estuary is a treasure to this community and deserves special protection now and for the future. Petersburg Creek has been used and loved for generations as a recreation site by young, old, residents and tourists alike. The... Full story
Resolution 2013-14 declaring May 11, 2013 as a sales tax-free day for the Petersburg Borough died due to a lack of a motion during the Petersburg Borough Assembly regular meeting Monday afternoon. “These tax free days cost the borough about $28,000 in lost tax revenue,” Petersburg Borough Assembly member Sue Flint said. “I would like to know if this is really a boon for retail sales? Is it really making a difference on Main Street?” A representative of the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Retail Committee, Savann Guthrie stated that there h... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Assembly awarded four bids for projects taking place in the borough during its regular meeting Monday evening. The new library shelving procurement bid opening was completed Thursday, April 11 and three bids were received ranging from $168,803 to $179,000. All bids were below the funds available for the shelving. MRV Architects recommended the Assembly award this bid to Think Office, LLC for an amount not to exceed $168,803. The new library furniture, fixtures and equipment bid was also completed April 11. Two bids were...
Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported on several projects that are taking place in Petersburg now and in the near future. “The bathroom at Sandy Beach will be reopened within the next two weeks after being closed for several years, “Giesbrecht stated. “This project was due to a grant that was received last year and a lot of work has gone into getting those facilities back in working order.” Giesbrecht explained that the property assessor will be in town the week of May 13 to work...
Petersburg has been nominated as a top 10 finalist for top yachting towns by Yachting Magazine. “Petersburg was nominated by one of our readers,” Deputy Editor of Yachting Magazine Patrick Sciacca stated. “My editor forwarded it to me as one of the top 10 to be written about.” Sciacca explained that there are certain towns that are nominated every year, but he is looking forward to getting to know Petersburg better. “Petersburg and the other top finalist will have a feature in our July edition,” Sciacca said. “This is great exposure for...
SITKA (AP) — Sitka Sound herring spawn measured close to the 10-year average for spawn miles, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Spawn miles are a measure of shoreline. The spawn from the massive congregations of herring turns the water white along shorelines white and can be detected from the air. Spawn miles are one of the figures that the department uses to determine the spawning biomass, along with width of spawn and egg deposition. The department measured spawn at 61.4 nautical miles, more than five miles above the 5...
JUNEAU (AP) — Three people aboard a small plane were uninjured when it crashed after takeoff at Juneau International Airport. The Juneau Empire reports the accident happened Sunday evening after the plane, a single-engine Maule M-5, took off from Runway 26 and came to a stop near the float plane pond. The Federal Aviation Administration reports no injuries to the three people on board. Names weren't released. Craig Hatch with the National Transportation Safety Board in Anchorage says the agency will investigate. The NTSB tells the Empire t...
WRANGELL — The Thomas Bay Power Authority commissioners met in executive session on Friday, May 3 to discuss the issue of former TBPA general manager Paul Southland’s severance package. In a 5-1 vote, with commissioner Warren Edgely voting to pay Southland and member Dave Galla abstaining, the group decided to reverse course on a memorandum directing the city to provide a post-termination severance package. Southland was terminated by the commission late last month in a 5-2 vote, with commission president John Jensen and commissioner Rob...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved the recommendation of Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht and unanimously voted to hire Kelly Swihart for the Petersburg Police Chief position during a special meeting Monday evening. Swihart is currently the police chief in Hoonah and tendered his resignation officially when he returned to Hoonah Tuesday. “I promised them that I would give 60 days notice, if I was to ever leave,” Swihart said. “I want to make sure all things are squared away and stabi... Full story
Seven months after the incident, Jace H. Cunningham found himself before a Petersburg jury for four days of testimony. Cunningham was charged with six counts of third degree assault with cause to fear injury with a weapon, one count of driving under the influence, one count of fourth degree misconduct involving a weapon and possessing while intoxicated and two counts of fifth degree criminal mischief with damage under $50, after an hour long stand- off with Petersburg police officers Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. After one full day of jury selection,... Full story
The Thomas Bay Power Authority Commission met in a special meeting last Friday to discuss another counter offer by Mick Nicholls to the commission for the position of TBPA General Manager. Nicholls, who is still acting as foreman until today, said he is looking forward to taking the reins at the TBPA office. “My plan is to make sure that Tyee continues to run in a very efficient manner,” Nicholls said. “I believe that the GM’s job should be centered toward the plant and not toward the public....
The sea otter population in Southeast has more than doubled over the last decade. Those are the findings of an estimate conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which are accepting 90 days of public comment on its revised stock assessment for the furry creature. The agency estimates there are more than 25,000 sea otters in Southeast, compared to more than 10,500 in 2003. The animals were reintroduced to Southeast in the 1960s after the Russian fur trade wiped them out early in the last century. The population is growing at about a...
The Southeast Alaska Power Agency board declared last week that it is moving forward with an expansion of the Swan Lake reservoir despite a lack of funding from the Alaska Legislature. That decision and others were made at SEAPA’s all-day board meeting in Ketchikan. Board Member Sam Bergeron, who also sits on the Ketchikan City Council, said in a telephone interview Friday the board was doing “good work.” “The board is taking the easiest projects that bring us the most returns in the short term,” Bergeron said, referencing the Swan Lake expa...
The Petersburg Pilot was judged the top weekly newspaper in the state at the Alaska Press Club competition last weekend. The Pilot placed ahead of the Homer News and the Capital City Weekly in Juneau. In judging the Pilot entries judges commented: “Nice layout. Great mix of stories. Headlines draw readers in. And in how many newspapers do you see a photo of a brown bear? Bravo.” Pilot reporter Shelly Pope took second place for best short feature story titled, “USCG Cutter SPAR pays honor to Petersburg woman.” Publisher Ron Loesch took first p... Full story
Michael J. Nicholls, who oversees the operation and maintenance of the Tyee Hydroelectric Project as the site’s foreman was offered the position of Thomas Bay Power Authority General Manager on Monday, April 15 – an offer Nicholls initially declined, then sending a counteroffer of his own. “The TBPA board finally made me an offer on Monday, April 15 which was so ludicrous it insulted me,” Nicholls wrote in an email to the Sentinel. “The offer would require me to take a 15-percent cut in pay, l...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly has decided on three finalists for the Police Chief position as well as an alternate. The three candidates have been invited to Petersburg April 26 to April 30. Kelly Swihart, current Chief of Police in Hoonah, BJ Wilkinson, current Chief of Police in Litchfield, Ill. and Robert Kappelman, Captain of Field Services and Assistant Chief in Two Rivers, Wis. have confirmed their arrival and a very tight schedule has been planned for their time in Petersburg. The finalists will begin with a basic tour of the... Full story
Due to the need to relocate electrical conduit in the downtown area, there may be some street lights that will not be operational. “We are working with Public Works in order to have some temporary lighting brought in,” Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht said. “We don't want to be without light in that area.” Giesbrecht stated in his regular report that Petersburg Parks and Recreation is working with the Petersburg High School Baseball team to offer the Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit and Run Competition Saturday, May 11. Also during... Full story
Eleven Petersburg Boy Scouts; Skipper and Britton Erickson, Van Abbott, Brandon Ware, Chase Maxwell, Ryan Tate, Anders and Charlie Christensen, Nikko Larsen, Aaron Murph and Stuart Medalen; and three adults; Scoutmaster Jeff Erickson, Tom Abbott and Eric Larson traveled to Whitehorse for the annual Frostbite Challenge recently and had a “huge and awesome” time. “We didn't actually make it to the challenge because the ferry from Juneau to Skagway was cancelled due to high winds and cold tempe... Full story
Two Southeast runners, Dr. John Bursell and Jaime Bursell were safe at the site of the Boston Marathon, where two explosions killed three and injured at least 140 others. The blasts occurred near the finish of the race about two hours after the winners crossed the line. Contacted at their hotel room where they first learned of the blasts, Jaime Bursell said that sirens were still sounding in the area. Bursell finished the race in roughly three hours and they had already gone to their hotel to relax and recover. Bursell finished the Boston...
