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  • Poker tournament raises funds for Beat the Odds

    Brian Varela|Oct 25, 2018

    Participants in the fifth annual Annabelle Baker Poker Tournament raised $1,500 on Sunday for the Beat the Odds organization, which raises money for support groups and services for local cancer patients. The tournament was established by Jeigh Stanton Gregor as a way to remember the late Annabelle Baker, who was a competitive poker player. "Annabelle was a competitor," said Stanton Gregor. "We thought it would be a fun thing to do to remember her." There were 20 participants total raising $1,500...

  • PMC and borough assembly discuss possibility of a new facility

    Brian Varela|Oct 25, 2018

    The borough assembly met with the Petersburg Medical Center board of directors to discuss the feasibility of a new facility or a remodel to the current facility last week. “I think it would be great if we could all agree that we need something new, different than what we have now,” said PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter. At the meeting the PMC board and staff spoke to assembly members about some of the challenges the current hospital is facing. The number one issue was being able to avoid an event that would cause the hospital to shut down. A shut dow...

  • Wrangell school district prepares to roll out new crisis strategy

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 25, 2018

    WRANGELL - Beyond giving students as good an education as possible, one of the highest priorities for many schools is safety. This is especially true at the Wrangell Public School District, where a new crisis strategy is being prepared for implementation. According to Superintendent Debbe Lancaster, preparing students and teachers for an emergency is the best way to keep everyone safe. "The committee has gone over the crisis plan that's in place and made some changes," she said. The school...

  • Patti Norheim celebrates her 90th birthday

    Brian Varela|Oct 25, 2018

    Long time Petersburg resident Patti Norheim celebrated her 90th birthday with two birthday parties earlier this month alongside family and friends. On her birthday Oct. 4, she held a small party at Mountain View Manor where friends from the manor, church and around town wished her a happy birthday and gave her flowers and balloons. They were treated to birthday cake and a small concert featuring Norheim on the washboard with thimbles, which she said is one of her favorite things to do. The next...

  • Unsealed report alleges police mishandled drug investigation

    Oct 25, 2018

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Anchorage police mishandled an investigation into drug dealing by recruiters with the Alaska National Guard, a recently unsealed report claims. A federal judge unsealed a redacted version of the confidential city-funded investigative report last week after the Anchorage Daily News and KTUU argued the public should have access to allegations of wrongdoing by high-ranking public officials. The report completed in March 2015 by retired Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. Rick Brown portrays a close relationship between s...

  • Woman dies in fall into water near Ketchikan harbor

    Oct 25, 2018

    KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — The body of a woman has been recovered from waters off Ketchikan. Alaska State Troopers say 66-year-old Doretta Dowhitt died Wednesday near Hole-In-The-Wall Harbor, a boat launch about 8 miles (13 kilometers) south of Ketchikan. A neighbor at 6:30 a.m. spotted Dowhitt in the water and pulled her out. The neighbor attempted life-saving measures while calling for help. Troopers say Dowhitt appeared to have fallen near her home down a steep embankment and into the water. Investigators say alcohol may be been a factor in t...

  • Local photographer displays photos of Southeast Alaska

    Brian Varela|Oct 25, 2018

    Carey Case, of Wild Iris Photography, held a reception to display her photos taken throughout 2018 on Friday at Firelight Gallery & Framing. At the end of each year, Case identifies themes in her photography that interests her and holds a reception. This year's themes included mist in trees, landscapes surrounding Petersburg and the Stikine Flats. "I love Southeast [Alaska]," said Case. "That's basically my inspiration." She is a self taught photographer who has been interested in photography...

  • 106 moose taken this year

    Brian Varela|Oct 25, 2018

    This year’s moose season finished with a final count of 106 animals, down from last year’s unit record breaking 117, according to Petersburg Fish & Game. Moose season began on Sept. 15 and ended Oct. 15. The final number of moose brought in during this year’s moose season was 106. Although the season ended Monday Oct. 15, hunters had five days to report their kill to fish and game. If a hunter shot a moose on that Monday, then they would have until Saturday to report it to fish and game; as a result, that final number wasn’t available until t...

  • Public works recommends the continuation of recycling program

    Brian Varela|Oct 18, 2018

    Since the cost to ship recyclables is lower than the price to ship municipal solid waste, Public Works Director Chris Cotta recommended that the borough continue operating its recycling program during an assembly meeting on Monday evening. “Although the recycling markets continue to be unpredictable, the costs of our program have been reduced to the point where they can be accommodated within the current operating budget,” said Cotta. Although the value of recyclables has continued to remain low, mixed paper, which makes up 1/3 of Pet...

  • 105 Moose taken this year

    Oct 18, 2018

    This year's moose season finished with a preliminary count of 105 animals, down from last year's unit record breaking 117. Moose season began on Sept. 15 and ended Oct. 15. As of Wednesday afternoon, the final number of moose brought in during this year's moose season was 105. Hunters have five days to report their kill to fish and game. If a hunter shot a moose on Monday, then they would have until Saturday to report it to fish and game; as a result, that final number could change, according to...

  • Police department traps one bear, second bear takes its place

    Brian Varela|Oct 18, 2018

    For the past few weeks a bear has been seen near Mountain View Manor, Serendipity Childcare Center and the surrounding neighborhood going through garbage cans. After attempts to secure garbage cans failed to keep the bear out of the trash, the bear was trapped on Friday and euthanized by wildlife troopers, according to Police Chief Jim Kerr. “It seems like every year we’ve had a few [bears] towards the end of the year,” said Kerr. “Hopefully, they should be going into hibernation.” The bear was small to medium sized, said Kerr. The trap was...

  • The borough assembly passes updated development code in first reading

    Brian Varela|Oct 18, 2018

    The borough assembly passed ordinance #2018-18, which will provide an updated development code for the borough, in its first reading on Monday. On Nov. 5, the ordinance will receive a second reading and the assembly will hold a public hearing to receive feedback. Another public hearing will be held by the assembly on Nov. 19. Community and economic development director Liz Cabrera encourages the public to submit their comments on the updated development code by the Dec. 3 assembly meeting; although, public comments will still be accepted...

  • Assembly denies timber contract audit

    Brian Varela|Oct 18, 2018

    A resolution to request the USDA’s inspector general conduct an audit of the Tonka and Big Thorne Integrated Resource timber contracts to determine if Petersburg is owed monies failed in a 2-4 vote by the borough assembly at a meeting on Monday. “This is just my attempt to make sure that specifically Petersburg has all the funds coming to them from these timber sales, and if not, let’s go to the next step and see how we’re going to find out,” said assembly member Jeff Meucci, who request the resolution be put on the agenda. The Washingto...

  • AK lieutenant governor resigns over comments

    Oct 18, 2018

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) –Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott resigned Tuesday over unspecified inappropriate comments, complicating what was already a difficult re-election fight for Gov. Bill Walker. Mallott, in his resignation letter, said his decision was “compelled by inappropriate comments I made that placed a person whom I respect and revere in a position of vulnerability.’’ He apologized and acknowledged that his actions had compromised Walker’s ability to lead the state. The nature of the comments remained unclear, though Walker described...

  • New Alaska ferry launches at Ketchikan Shipyard

    Oct 18, 2018

    KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP)– The construction of the second of two new Alaska state ferries is nearing completion. The 280-foot (85-meter) ferry Hubbard was lowered into the water for the first time at the Ketchikan Shipyard last week and checked for possible leaks, the Ketchikan Daily News reported Saturday. The vessel is being built by Vigor Alaska, which also constructed its sister ship Tazlina. The ferry Tazlina launched in May and was christened in August. The remainder of work on the Hubbard consists of interior outfitting and finishing. T...

  • Trump signs Save our Seas Act into law

    Oct 18, 2018

    KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) – President Donald Trump recently signed into law a bill that lawmakers have called a point of unity among Republicans and Democrats. The Ketchikan Daily News reports the Save our Seas Act, which Trump signed Thursday, reauthorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program through 2022. The program works to reduce debris through research, prevention and reduction. The Save our Seas legislation keeps the program going by continuing to authorize $10 million per year for the next five yea...

  • Senior tax exemption remains following 3rd repeal effort

    Brian Varela|Oct 11, 2018

    In the recent municipal election, Proposition 1 failed to pass, which would have replaced the senior sales tax exemption with a rebate for qualified senior citizens and bring an influx of money to the borough’s budget from having additional seniors paying sales tax. “We’ll just continue to give a tax exemption,” said assembly member Jeff Meucci. “We’ll have to sort out where we’re going to come up with the money that isn’t generated from that sales tax component. I think we’re going to have to look at all the departments and see if we can eithe...

  • Beat the Odds race raises over $20,000

    Brian Varela|Oct 11, 2018

    There were about 170 participants in the Beat the Odds race on Saturday morning, which raised over $20,000 to support local cancer patients. "A Race Against Cancer isn't just a race, but a race to Beat the Odds," said Michele Parker, chairperson for the volunteer committee that hosted the event. Since the event began 19 years ago, $223,000 has been raised, which has gone towards support groups and services for local cancer patients. During the preregistration for the event, all 225...

  • Assembly canvasses municipal election

    Brian Varela|Oct 11, 2018

    The borough assembly held a special meeting on Friday to tally the final votes of the municipal election and certify the results. Both out-going assembly members Eric Castro and Nancy Strand, Mayor Mark Jensen and assembly member Jeff Meucci were present. One absentee ballot and one questioned ballot were added to the unofficial results released earlier in the week bringing the total amount of ballots cast to 1092. The two ballots weren’t enough to change any of the outcomes in the election. Bob Lynn received one additional vote for a...

  • Petersburg High School may bring esports to its list of activities

    Brian Varela|Oct 11, 2018

    Sixteen-year-old Jack Byrer, of the new esports club at Petersburg High School, gave a presentation at a school board meeting on Tuesday explaining that the club is looking to compete with other schools in the spring in the online video game League of Legends after training during the fall. "Esports at its core, it's just a sport," said junior Bryrer who is the club's student leader. "It's a team based competition, much like basketball or football, but it includes video games instead. Two teams...

  • Paintings focusing on color theory by local artist on display at museum

    Brian Varela|Oct 11, 2018

    Local artist Ashley Lohr was featured at a reception at the Clausen Museum on Friday showcasing her solo exhibit Room of Squares, which she has been working on for nearly a year. "Things can feel out of balance sometimes," said Lohr. "This is my way of practicing some sort of balance." Lohr's paintings are inspired by color theory and precisionism art. The eight paintings focus on crisp lines, squares and indications of shadowing and light, said Lohr. She was particularly influenced by color...

  • Students from Northern Lights Theater give yearly update to school board members

    Brian Varela|Oct 11, 2018

    Student representatives for Northern Lights Theater gave school board members a yearly update at a board meeting on Tuesday. In the past year, the Northern Lights Theater board hired a new manager, Stacy Fredricksen, and assistant manager, Justin Thorsen. They also refurbished the seats in the auditorium and remodeled the concession room. A new utility sink was purchased, which is used to clean the various parts of the popcorn machine. The theater has been operating for over 20 years. It began when a grant was given to student run...

  • Future of Alaska PFD program weighs on governor's race

    Oct 11, 2018

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Tension over changes to Alaska’s famed oil-wealth checks hangs over this year’s governor’s race, threatening Gov. Bill Walker’s chances for re-election. For decades, residents have shared in the state’s oil wealth, eagerly anticipating the much-hyped reveal of the annual check’s amount and dreaming about how they’d use their portion. The checks go to every man, woman and child who meets residency requirements, peaking at $2,072 in 2015. But since 2016, the excitement has been muted and, for some, replaced with anger as W...

  • Boaters find dead bear cubs tied to weight in AK waters

    Oct 11, 2018

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Two men boating in Prince William Sound in southern Alaska found a pair of dead bear cubs tied to a concrete weight. Peter Montesano and Paul Wunnicke saw something strange floating in Squaw Bay while on their boating trip Saturday, the Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday. Montesano, an Anchorage physician, moved his Sea Dory boat closer to the floating mass, seeing something furry. “And then we said, wait a second those are two pairs of hind legs,” Montesano said. The men found two dead black bear cubs each tied...

  • Bears fed on man's body killed at Alaska mine

    Oct 11, 2018

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Authorities say three bears fed on the body of a contract employee who was killed this week at a remote southeast Alaska mine site. Ken Marsh, a spokesman with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said Wednesday the circumstances surrounding Anthony David Montoya’s death remain unclear. Authorities say no one witnessed what happened to the 18-year-old from Hollis, Oklahoma. Megan Peters, an Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman, says an autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office was pending. She says Montoya had l...

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