Sorted by date Results 4557 - 4581 of 5553
At their regular board meeting last week in Ketchikan, Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) approved rebates to member utilities, discussed the progress of the Swan Lake expansion project and approved the Whitman Lake True Up Agreement. “We did approve a rebate to the member utilities based on last year’s financial performance,” said Joe Nelson, Petersburg Municipal Power and Light (PMPL) superintendent. SEAPA Secretary and Treasurer Andy Donato said SEAPA saw record revenues last year, with 183 million kilowatt hours produced for its membe... Full story
The Petersburg Humane Association (PHA) is doing a big push to raise funds for its first stand-alone animal shelter. The organization was established 15 years ago in Petersburg to shelter stray cats and dogs and find permanent homes for them. They also provide scholarships to help offset the cost of spaying and neutering and work to educate the public on issues related to companion animals. To date the PHA and its volunteers have been sheltering homeless cats (and more rarely dogs) in makeshift... Full story
The Hammer and Wikan grocery store is undergoing a remodel that will open up the front of the store and add more organic produce and natural and Asian food products. General Manager Larry Martin said that the remodel is a continuation of work they did last year at the store. "This is basically an extension of last year when we came in and replaced all the refrigeration in the store," Martin said. "What we're doing now is finishing the center store (dry goods). We're also adding another 12-foot... Full story
A case of head lice was reported at the elementary school last week. “It is likely that this is an isolated incident,” Elementary School Principal Erica Kludt Painter said in a districtwide email. Kludt Painter asked parents to do their part to prevent the spread of lice by checking their children daily for the next few weeks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) head lice, “are found almost exclusively on the scalp, particularly around and behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the head.” The CDC adv...
Police will pursue three assault charges against a 16-year-old Petersburg juvenile following an investigation of a reported altercation between the juvenile and an 18-year-old Petersburg resident Tuesday evening. “The victim reported being struck several times with a handgun and further that the suspect fired 1-3 rounds in his direction during the altercation,” according to a press release issued by Police Chief Kelly Swihart. “The victim sustained injuries that were consistent with his statement. Witnesses also confirmed the victim’s account...
Rain Game Classic just kicked off. The Petersburg Chamber of Commerce 50/50 contest lets residents guess how much precipitation will fall this year. The past rainfall amounts have been 110.19 in 2013, 108.82 in 2012 and 125.52 in 2011. An average over the past six years has been 110.82. The way the contest works is participants buy as many tickets as they would like for $2 each and guess the amount of total rainfall. If there are multiple correct answers, the payout goes to the first ticket purchased. The winner, with the closest guess,...
In the August 14 issue of the Pilot it was erroneously stated that For the next 10 to 15 years, the newly formed Tongass National Forest Advisory Committee (TAC), under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, will advise the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS) timber sale management program in the transition from old-growth to new-growth timber management. In fact, the committee will advise the timber sale management program for the next two years and the transition itself will take 10-15 years....
Petersburg and Wrangell's representative of the Thomas Bay Power Commission (TBPC) met Tuesday morning via teleconference to discuss the commission's future role. The TPBC is the acting body for the Thomas Bay Power Authority (TBPA) that was responsible for the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Tyee Hydroelectric Plant, providing power to Wrangell and Petersburg. Last May the Petersburg Assembly voted not to fund its share of a portion of the TBPA's budget, called the non-net billable, after discussions about whether or not the agency...
The proposed Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) schedule for the summer 2015 season is now available for public review and comments. The schedule can be viewed online at www.dot.state.ak.us/ amhs/share/schedule/considerations.pdf. Comments on the proposed scheduled are due by Sept. 23 and may be submitted via email dot.amhs.comments@alaska.gov and by fax at 907-586-8365. Those interested may also participate in a teleconference where AMHS will hear comments and consider adjustments. The teleconference is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. and...
Mark Weaver, 59, was indicted by a Grand Jury in U.S. District Court on two counts of Possession of Unregistered Destructive Devices in conjunction with an explosion at the Petersburg rock quarry July 13. He was arrested Aug. 27 in Tacoma, Wash. According to court documents, “Weaver did knowingly possess a destructive device which was not registered to him.” The document also states that Weaver possessed seven hand grenades, which were also unregistered. The prosecutor Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Bottini said, “The first device (in count... Full story
Seventeen runners, including two teams of two, and four walkers participated in Petersburg's first ever Rainforest Run half marathon on Labor Day. The sounding of a conch shell marked the start of the race as runners took off along the 13.1-mile course that wound through the eastern end of the island and ended at Sandy Beach Park. Runners followed tiled mile markers custom-made by Emil Tucker and Carin Christensen and received encouragement, along with water, from volunteers and supporters at ai... Full story
Lee's Clothing has had a main street presence for decades. In fact, owner Roxy Lee and her daughters and store managers Cynthia Lee Mathisen and Heidi Lee are celebrating 45 years of business this month. In the early days Lee's was a working man's store. Roxy outfitted loggers and fishermen and the high-school-aged boys in town. Lee's has since grown into a main street staple outfitting for fashion and function. The story of the store and the Lee's family who run it parallels the story of the... Full story
The Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) hospital board meeting last week covered many topics, several of which revolved around financials as the center received their annual audit and a financial report indicating a break-even year for the fiscal year ending June 30. One new cost also came to the fore as Maintenance Director Mike Boggs reported the fuel oil boiler—one of two boilers used to heat the facility— has a leak and needs to be retubed. However, due to the cost to repair and maintain the old boiler, an estimated $37,900, and fuel costs to...
In the last edition of the Petersburg Pilot in a story about the Drive Down dock, it was stated that there was $1.9 million in surplus state grants funds left that the Harbor Advisory board requested to be used for 120 feet of bulkhead on the Drive Down dock. That figure was actually approximately $1.4 million with a recent utility change order. It was also stated that the facility is being funded through three legislative grants totaling more than $18 million. In fact the grants awarded in 2009, 2010 and 2013 totaled about $10.8 million. The...
Southeast Alaska's high school volleyball teams took to the court last weekend for the season opener at Ketchikan's Region V Jamboree. This year Petersburg has an especially large squad: 31 girls, including 11 freshmen. This has led to the creation of a second junior varsity team for some of the younger girls just getting into the mix. Talented and young is a good way to describe the PHS teams. “We've got no seniors on varsity, but we've got a lot of returners with varsity experience from last year and a couple of freshmen that surprised us a...
Representatives of Southeast Alaskan tribal groups will be meeting in Juneau next week to discuss regional concerns at the annual Southeast Environmental Conference in the city’s Vocational Training and Resource Center. Beginning Monday, the five-day event is being hosted by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, in partnership with the Chilkat Indian Village, Craig Tribal Association, Douglas Indian Association, Organized Village of Kasaan, Petersburg Indian Association and Sitka Tribe of Alaska. The purpose o...
Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) board members unanimously approved a resolution supporting the establishment of a Level IV trauma center. Members of the Trauma Committee at PMC will now pursue the designation given by the Alaska Division of Public Health in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ASCOT). Trauma designations range from Level I, which has the greatest number of requirements, to Level IV, which has the least. Level IV centers are typically granted to rural facilities that evaluate and assess...
The 7th annual Rainforest Festival kicks off next week. There are many highlights this year including a portable planetarium for viewing a projection of the night sky indoors and the first ever Rain Forest Run half marathon. The Rain Forest Run half marathon, a 13.1 mile run or walk, will be the first event of the festival. The run will be held on Labor Day, Sept.1, on a course beginning at central Mitkof Island and ending at Sandy Beach Park. "The event was organized by local runners eager for... Full story
The Drive Down dock project is on schedule and workers are driving piling and assembling steel components this month. The three-phase project is well into the second phase now, which includes building a pile-supported open grate approach dock, a heavy duty vehicle transfer bridge and a drive down float at the facility located near Community Cold Storage just south of the South Harbor. Those in town may have heard the sounds of the pile driving work in recent weeks, but work on the facility's... Full story
There are new salmon eggs in the incubators of Crystal Lake hatchery, although the facility is undergoing reconstruction. The hatchery, which is located at the 17.5 mile marker of Mitkof Highway, suffered a devastating fire in March with the loss of 1.2 - 1.3 million eggs, valued at around $1 million. Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association manages the hatchery, and on Tuesday returned eggs to the incubator here. The eggs came in from the Whitman Lake facility also run by SSRA. “Construction is ongoing, we're happy with that,” sai...
Police apprehended one suspect and are investigating two others in conjunction with the burglary of a Petersburg home last Tuesday. Officers arrived on the scene after a neighbor reported two individuals breaking into an E. Lansing Street home, according to a Police Department press release. “The officers went in the front door of the residence after being called by neighbors and the suspects ran out the back,” Police Chief Kelly Swihart said. One suspect, 23-year-old David Estes, was arrested after a brief foot pursuit that resulted in a min...
A Kupreanof man was found dead on the beach in front of his cabin on the south end of Kupreanof Island last Tuesday, Aug. 19. Alaska State Troopers responded to the report of a deceased person in front of a remote cabin on the Wrangell Narrows. The individual was identified as 59-year-old Michael Carpenter. According to the trooper's report the cause of death is not yet known and the body is being transported to the State Crime Lab in Anchorage for an autopsy, though foul play is not suspected....
The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously approved a motion to send a letter to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) urging them to elevate the federal assessment for the KSM (Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell) mine project to the panel review level at their meeting Aug. 18. The assembly's move to send the letter urging the more stringent review process for the mine is one of many in a string of local and state governments calling for similar action. The KSM mine is currently in the environmental assessment pre-application process....
WRANGELL - After being rescheduled earlier in the month because of foul weather, supporters of cancer care were finally able to come together this past weekend to golf, mingle and raise funds for a good cause. Now in its tenth year, the men's and women's Rally For Cancer Care golf tournaments have raised funds for the Wrangell Medical Center (WMC) Foundation's Cancer Care Fund. The fund provides up to $1,000 per year, per applicant to help defray travel and lodging costs for individuals receivin...
There is still time to register for one of the 18 remaining candidate positions before the deadline Tuesday. There are 37 positions total to fill on the Oct. 7 ballot. There have been no new filings for Borough Assembly since last week. Two 2-year terms and two 3-year terms remain without candidates. For the school board there are three vacancies—a 3-year term, a 2-year term and a 1-year term. As of Wednesday, no one had filed for the board seats, said Petersburg Borough Clerk Kathy O’Rear. Since last week, Chris Fry has filed for a 3-year ter... Full story
