Sorted by date Results 5462 - 5486 of 5553
Despite the possibility of losing out on thousands in sales tax revenue May 5, 2012 has been declared Tax Free Day by the Petersburg City Council. The resolution had been discussed, and delayed during the Monday, March 5 council meeting, and it was very close to being delayed again, but was later passed by the City Council. The resolution's intent is to stimulate commerce by allowing consumers to purchase goods and services, while avoiding the 6 percent local sales tax. Jody Tow, City Finance Director, voiced concern saying that the finance...
Petersburg High School Senior Julia Buschmann cracked a few eggs before nabbing several awards at the Southeast Alaska Regional Science Fair in Juneau, held March 9 and 10. A student in Joni Johnson's AP biology class, Buschmann, 17, was inspired to enter her project at the science fair as a first-time competitor. “I was always interested in organic food versus modified food,” Buschmann said. So, which came first the idea or the egg? “When [Johnson] introduced the project to me at the begin...
Alaska Wildlife Troopers arrested Jay Thomassen, of Seward, on Saturday, March 17, for multiple alleged violations pertaining to the Commercial Golden King Crab fishery in Registration Area A. According to Trooper Cody Litster, Thomassen was charged with commercial fishing in closed waters, having undersized king crab, possession of illegal crab, and providing false statements on a logbook. The catch, estimated to be worth $88,622 was seized by troopers. An arraignment is scheduled for April 18, in District Court in Petersburg. “This is the l...
Petersburg City Manager Steve Giesbrecht said that letters are being sent out to local business operators who advertise on Facebook's “It's My Business” page, without a business license filed with the City and without filing sales tax returns. “It's just kind of a reminder letter to let people know that if you are going to run a business you need to have a business license, that doesn't cost you anything. But you do need to file your sales tax,” he told the City Council on Monday. “We've had some people do that, and some people pretty up...
The Petersburg City Council on Monday voted in favor of supporting the Alaska Marine Highway (AMHS) Bellingham run, and the replacement of current ferries. According to the resolution, AMHS has been serving Alaska's coastal communities with vehicle, freight and passenger transportation for about 50 years. As in the hard-link road and rail system throughout the interior of Alaska, the ferry system relies on State and Federal funding. But also similar to the roadway, it will never be...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The owners of a Juneau restaurant have agreed to pay a penalty for buying subsistence-harvested halibut. The Juneau Empire says the owners of the Zen Restaurant will pay a civil penalty of $18,000 over the next 12 months for purchasing halibut they knew was subsistence-caught. Residents living in rural areas are only eligible for subsistence hunting rights on federal land. The Northern Pacific Halibut Act prohibits the sale, offer for sale, trade or barter of subsistence-harvested halibut. It was not immediately known i...
The Local Boundary Commission (LBC) extended the deadline to receive comments on the proposed Petersburg Borough boundary lines by two days, from March 28 to March 30. “This actually benefits us,” said City Manager Steve Giesbrecht. “Juneau had some delays getting their petition turned into the LBC staff, and we wanted to be able to see their report before we finalized our comments to the LBC staff preliminary report. This two day extension actually was a slight help.” The LBC issued, on Feb. 27, a report giving recommendations regardi...
It's spring break for Petersburg students, but maintenance workers and other facilitators have been busy during this student-free week. Tye Petersen, facility maintenance director for the Petersburg School District reported to the School Board on Tuesday that the he and his staff have been working on several projects at the three schools. As part of keeping up the grounds Petersen and his team of five workers are doing some concrete repairs between the Voc. Ed. building and the High School, and making other safety improvements to school...
Alaska Congressman Don Young spoke about a program to revitalize Southeast schools, local businesses and sea otter pelt market possibilities during a brief stop in Petersburg on Tuesday. Young met with the Economic Redevelopment Council on Tuesday in City Council chambers. The hour-long round-table invited members of the council and the community to speak their minds. Young first spoke about the importance of the fishing industry in Southeast Alaska: “You can't just build up a work-force over ni...
Petersburg Police are investigating the alleged home invasion, assault, robbery and possible sexual assault in three separate, but related cases, said Police Chief Jim Agner. According to probable cause reports filed in district court on Wednesday, George D. Marlow III, 24, and Taylor Homer, 23, kicked down the door of Ivan Jouiko's trailer and then proceeded to punch and kick Jouiko. Homer reportedly asked Jouiko: “What did you do to my girlfriend?” Officers Alice Williams and Joe Boggs reported that there was blood on the floor of the liv...
A long-time Petersburg doctor is now living and working in Antarctica. Dr. John Bergren, 50, is currently serving as the Lead Physician at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Bergren is one of only 160 residents who will stay in McMurdo over the winter months, which runs from early February thru mid-October. Bergren arrived at the beginning of winter, when the population was about 1,000, he said. “There were some exciting moments for the medical staff about two weeks prior to our arrival,” Ber...
Barb and Mike Luhr accepted the Chamber of Commerce plaque naming Piston and Rudder as the Business of the Year. The couple and local shareholders purchased the local shipyard and merged its operations with their company in 2011. Piston and Rudder also constructed a new retail facility as well as expanded the shipyard operations. The award was presented at the Chamber’s annual meeting last Saturday evening, which was attended by about 85 people at the Sons of Norway Hall. Bob Heinrich from Conoco Phillips spoke on the company’s operations in...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service in Juneau is warning residents to be respectful of raptors and ravens as they begin nesting in southeast Alaska. The Juneau Empire reports people should keep a healthy distance — 100 to 200 yards — from eagles, owls and during nesting season, which starts early for the birds. A tipoff for eagles that nesting has begun is seeing them carrying branches and other materials. Forest Service Biologist Brian Logan says disturbances can cause raptors to abandon nests and the risk of nest abandonment is gr...
KETCHIKAN (AP) — A tiny bear cub received another chance at life when local hiker Michael Schuler released its head from a plastic jug on the top of Deer Mountain on Sunday. Schuler said Tuesday that he had gone up the mountain that day to conduct some avalanche testing. Because it was a beautiful day, he decided to head up to the summit with Josie the dog, he said, and about 10 feet from the top, he saw what at first glance appeared to be a human lying in the snow. “I thought, ‘Uh oh. How am I going to deal with this?’” he said. Schuler worked...
After a lengthy debate, the Petersburg City Council worked out the details of a $210,000 loan to local business-owner Pete Litsheim to move the 29-year-old Romiad building from its current location on Haugen Drive to the lot next to Scandia House on Nordic Drive. The Petersburg City Council met in a special session on Thursday to discuss the terms of the loan agreement between Litsheim and the Petersburg Economic Development Council (PEDC). The council members and the mayor, on Feb. 21, had vote...
Neighbors to Petersburg's proposed borough boundary-lines are voicing concern following a report issued by the Local Boundary Commission (LBC) last week. The LBC last week released their report regarding the petition for the City of Petersburg to dissolve and become a borough. The report included revised boundary lines, and recommendations regarding the incorporation of residents who live outside Petersburg city limits. The report also recommended the boundary lines be drawn along natural...
The Petersburg City Council will meet for a second time this week. In a special session, open to the public the council members and the mayor will discuss the terms of the loan agreement between the Petersburg Economic Development Council (PEDC) and local business-owner Pete Litsheim. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in the City Council Chambers to discuss approval of the loan agreement between PEDC and Diamante` Gift Shoppe. The council on Feb. 21, had voted to...
Petersburg City Council revised the Transient Room Tax (TRT) for the first time in 22 years. Council members on Tuesday, also approved three TRT grants for a total of $9,208. The TRT is a tax that is imposed on temporary lodging for stays of less than 30 consecutive days at hotels, motels and RV parks. Those funds can be used for the betterment of the community for visitors. The wording of the revised TRT resolution amends the guidelines for the grants, by asking for more details from organizati...
Carlee Wells thinks school lunch is not all fun and games, but instead is another opportunity for learning. For Wells, Petersburg School District Food Services Director, lunchtime is when students can learn where food comes from and how it's best prepared. In order to ensure she's teaching engaging lessons, Wells is applying for the state's Farm to School Grant, for a second year to help with lunch and lessons at Rae C. Stedman Elementary School. Last year's grant of $500 from the state fund,...
The Stanton Gregor's take the term “couples counseling” to a whole new level. For spouses Lea and Jeigh Stanton Gregor mental health is a family affair, and practice. True North Counseling & Consultation, LLC is the only private counseling practice available in Petersburg, the alternative being public-funded Petersburg Mental Health. “We found a niche that people needed, a private option. It's been great. Really exciting and very well received,” said Lea, 37. She and her husband Jeigh, 35, are...
Petersburg Municipal Power & Light has purchased a new stand-by diesel generator that will assist in high-energy demand cycles, when the city is cut-off from its main power supply, Tyee. Petersburg City Council on Tuesday approved a bid from ASCR McGraw Constructors for $724,000, for the construction of a concrete platform, the construction of a control shack and installation of underground wiring. “It is a stand-alone unit that is to be used in case the city is ever cut off from Tyee,” said PMPL Superintendent Joe Nelson in a phone int...
WRANGELL — During Wrangell’s cold snap in mid-January when temperatures dipped to zero degrees, residents were cranking up their heat. As a result of that jump in electrical power usage, the Tyee Hydroelectric Plant near Wrangell maxed out, forcing the town to turn on diesel generators to continue to provide energy. Members of the Borough Assembly and Thomas Bay Power Authority, which operates Tyee, held an informal meeting Feb. 21 to discuss how to avoid that “crisis” situation in the future. “That was the key that tripped the switch that says...
A report released last week by the Local Boundary Commission (LBC) regarding the petition for the City of Petersburg to dissolve and become a borough, includes revised boundary lines, and recommendations regarding inclusion of residents who live outside city limits. Petersburg filed a petition with the Alaska State Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development to dissolve the city and for the incorporation of a borough with the Commerce Dept. on April 6, 2011. The Petition was accepted for filing on August 5, 2011, and the LBC bega...
The USCGC Elderberry is currently at the Base Support Unit Ketchikan Marine Ways for a 12-week, dry dock maintenance, said First Class Machinery Technician Cameron Peterson. The scheduled maintenance began on Feb. 15 and will include the replacement of about 60 square-feet of hull plating on the port (left) side of the 65-foot cutter. Other repairs and maintenance, that require the cutter to be out of the water to complete, include shaft seal replacement, prop inspection and repair, shaft and...
The Governor's 2013 budget will include $3.5 million for the North Harbor Replacement as well as $3.4 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging of the North Harbor, said Petersburg City Manager Stephen Giesbrecht to the City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 21 in his regular report. • The city has requested a proposal from PND Engineers for design services and the landfill slope stabilization project to allow for the placement of the North Harbor dredge material and the landfill. • The Mountain View Manor Assisted Living, 12-unit fac...
