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  • PMC purchases new x-ray machine

    Jess Field|Oct 15, 2015

    The radiology department at Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) recently purchased a new x-ray machine in order to continue offering reliable service for patients. Liz Bacom, PMC Laboratory/Imaging Director says the old machine was obsolete after being used for about 15 years. Finding replacement parts started to become difficult, in addition to time spent servicing the machine which created problems for some patients. PMC purchased the new machine for $100,000. They were able to secure a lease... Full story

  • Moose season winding down

    Dan Rudy|Oct 15, 2015

    The Petersburg office of Alaska's Department of Fish and Game reported an additional 25 moose were harvested during the third week of this year's season for Petersburg, Wrangell and Kake, bringing the total to 81. ADFG wildlife biologist Rich Lowell noted the figure represented the highest third-week harvest total in the RM038-area moose hunt's history. The ongoing tally included 91 moose harvested by Tuesday, and by the season's end this evening the full figure could be in the mid- to upper-90s. That would put this season's count just shy of...

  • Beat the Odds race raises over $15k to fight cancer

    Jess Field|Oct 15, 2015

    Petersburg played host to the 16th annual Beat the Odds race last weekend and raised just over $15,000 to assist those affected locally and regionally by cancer. There were 230 people registered for the event and 175 participants ran or walked the 2.5-mile course to show support in the fight against breast cancer. "It is always such an overwhelming feeling to see all the people gather together," says race organizer Michele Parker. "The event provides everyone with a time to grieve, find...

  • Czech Republic exchange student happy to be in Petersburg

    Jess Field|Oct 15, 2015

    There are a couple of rules anyone living under Marketa Ith's roof must follow, and one at the top of the list is–you must play a sport or be in an activity. David Chytil, 16, found this out when he moved in, but instead of getting upset, he jumped at the opportunity and began running cross country. Chytil is currently attending Petersburg High School on a 90-day student visa and living with Ith and her daughter Izabelle, until he returns home in mid-November. "It's quite short, maybe half a y...

  • Mother 'bares' teeth at brown bear

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 15, 2015

    Jeff Meucci wasn't the only Petersburg resident to see a brown bear recently. Jane Fuqua, her husband Dylan Durst and their two children Wes, 5, and Sage, 1, had a run in with a brown bear near the Blind River Rapids boardwalk area late last month while they visited the new picnic area and picked cranberries. Fuqua and Wes were on their knees in the muskeg looking for berries when Durst saw a small cow moose running along the tree line. About a minute later a bear was trailing the moose's path,...

  • Visitor business improves despite ferry cancellations

    Jess Field|Oct 15, 2015

    Skate of Gear moving closer to downtown is definitely helping year-round business. The family owned and operated store doesn’t focus on tourism. Any summer dollars from out of town guests is just a bonus. “I find that we don’t really carry or buy things that I would consider a tourist type of product,” says Lisa Nilsen. “We buy more for local customers.” Tourists will stop in to buy jewelry and cards, but that’s about it. The fact that Skate of Gear lacks large display windows is not helping business a bunch, but Nilsen likes the new location....

  • Local man helps create masterpiece sculptures

    Jess Field|Oct 15, 2015
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    About five years ago, a historic 165 foot schooner called the Wawona had been cut into large sections and practically written off as waste. In fact, it was headed to the landfill before sculptor John Grade (pronounced Grah-DAY), was commissioned to turn it into a 65-foot tall piece of art that weighs around 11,000 pounds. The ship had been docked next to a historic armory building in the Seattle South Lake neighborhood, the armory was taken over by the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle,...

  • Fall Dungeness crab season sees decreased effort

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 15, 2015

    About one fourth of crabbers are soaking their pots this fall compared to those fishing last summer, despite high prices. Dungeness crab prices crept up one cent from $2.99 per pound to $3.00 per pound since summer. Dungeness prices have averaged around $2.40 during the past five years. According to Alaska Department of Fish and Game data, 54 permit holders are fishing crab since October 1, compared to the 195 crabbers who fished this past summer and the 137 permit holders who fished last fall. This fall, crabbers brought home 55,234 pounds of...

  • Newly constructed Raven's Roost Trail opens to the public

    Jess Field|Oct 15, 2015

    Raven's Roost Trail opened to the public early last week, after being closed for the past few months allowing another half-mile stretch to be renovated. Hikers will now be welcomed by a more spacious section of trail says Paul Olson, Petersburg Ranger District cabin and trails program manager. "The intent of the design was opening it up for families and groups to walk side by side," Olson says. "So far comments on the trail have been nothing but excitement." Originally the section of trail was...

  • Bergmann a double winner in Canned Salmon Classic

    Oct 15, 2015

    William Bergmann won both first and second place in the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Canned Salmon Classic according to a news release from the chamber. The total can pack in Petersburg was12,516,654 for the 2015 season. Bergmann’s guesses were12,502,814 and 12,522,814. This is the second time the contest had a double winner. Bergmann’s daughter Tessa won both first and second place in 2011. 700 guesses were submitted in this year’s classic. Proceeds benefit a $2,000 AML/Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Scholarship. Major sponsors of the event...

  • Police arrest woman in connection with several Petersburg burglaries

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 8, 2015

    Petersburg Police arrested Brittany Martin, 22, Tuesday, Oct. 6 in connection with an April 9 burglary at the Beach Bum Tanning Salon. According to police, cash and other valuables were taken during the burglary with a total loss estimated at more than $800. The arrest comes after physical evidence was analyzed at a crime lab after the burglary last spring. The lab sent the results to local police Oct. 6. "Based on those results, police believed there was probable cause to arrest Martin and peti... Full story

  • Financial disclosures exemption passes

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 8, 2015

    Four hundred and seven Petersburg voters cast their ballots Oct. 6 for this year’s borough election, which included one ballot measure along with uncontested candidates who will continue to serve on various seats across the borough’s assembly, boards and commissions. Voters elected newcomer Eric Castro who will serve on a three-year seat on the Petersburg Borough Assembly along with incumbent Nancy Strand. Incumbent’s Cheryl File and Jay Lister will serve three-year terms on the Petersburg School Board. Mara Lutomski will serve a one-y... Full story

  • Local ADFG considers emergency moose hunting closure

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 8, 2015

    Six more illegal moose were killed during the third week of this year’s hunting season—bringing the total number of illegal moose harvested this season to 13. The high number is causing Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff to question whether or not to close the remainder of the season, said ADFG Area Wildlife Biologist Rich Lowell. “With a little over a week remaining in the season, the high harvest of 13 illegal moose during the first three weeks of the season is a cause for concern,” Lowell wrote in a press release. “If not for the fact...

  • School Board discusses random student drug testing

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 8, 2015

    The Petersburg School Board met in a work session last week to discuss the implementation of random drug testing for Petersburg High School students participating in activities. The board kicked off the discussion highlighting criticisms and questions they’ve heard from community members regarding drug testing. Board member Mara Lutomski said one of the common concerns she hears is whether or not teachers and coaches will be tested along with students. While coaches and teachers wouldn’t likely be randomly drug tested, the board can request dru...

  • Rainforest Islands Ferry hopes to add shuttle service soon

    Jess Field|Oct 8, 2015

    Rainforest Islands Ferry is still working out some issues after making runs from Coffman Cove to Banana Point for just over a month. But the addition of a shuttle service from Banana Point to Petersburg should be added soon. So far, the ferry service has missed nine of its first 23 scheduled trips according to North End Ferry Authority manager Kent Miller. Bad weather kept the ferry from running one day, and two trips were missed due to mechanical issues. But six trips were also missed recently due to personnel issues and trying to find a new...

  • Crime Stoppers is making a comeback in the Borough

    Jess Field|Oct 8, 2015

    Borough residents will once again have the opportunity to help halt crime thanks to the efforts of the Supporting Health Awareness and Resiliency Education (SHARE) Coalition. SHARE recently asked coalition members Mark Kubo and Shelley Hjort, to attend a Crime Stoppers convention in hopes of reactivating the program in Petersburg for a yearlong trial. Crime Stoppers originally started here in 1996, and used a local phone number to register tips up until 2013, when the number was disconnected. The original establishment of Crime Stoppers was...

  • Hammer and Wikan grocery store manager retiring

    Jess Field|Oct 8, 2015

    Hammer and Wikan grocery store will have a new manager as of Oct. 15, with Kathy Holtzinger stepping down and set to retire. In March of 1979, Holtzinger moved to Petersburg and a month later she started her journey with the company as a meat wrapper. After growing up in a grocery store, this career path seemed natural to take. Holtzinger worked her way up to the manager position, about 20 years ago she figures, and she's been a fixture of the grocery store and Hammer and Wikan family ever since...

  • Petersburg cemetery fees increase

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 8, 2015

    Borough-owned Petersburg Memorial Cemetery fees have increased after the Petersburg Borough Assembly voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 5 to approve the ordinance update. The new ordinance, which includes the new fees and updated language, comes as the assembly continues to update its ordinances to reflect borough incorporation. Cemetery plots increased from $200 to $300, and the opening and closing of a burial plot increased from $650 to $800 or $950 on holidays and weekends. The price of urn burials also increased from $175 to $225. Assembly...

  • ADFG to hold Bow Hunting Safety Course

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 8, 2015

    The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is seeking interest in holding an Alaska Bow Hunter Education Course for interested Petersburg bow hunters. Beginning July 1, 2016 all big game bow hunters are required to obtain the certification after the ADFG Board of Game voted several years ago to require the course. ADFG Area Wildlife Biologist Rich Lowell said the board of game delayed implementation for two years in order to make sure the public was well aware of the requirements. Lowell said he’d like to see five to six people fill the class. ...

  • Illegal moose harvest this season is 'cause for concern'

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 1, 2015

    Hunters shot seven illegal moose during the first week of this year’s hunting season, more than twice that of last year’s first week. In a press release, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Area Wildlife Biologist Rich Lowell reported the number of checked-in moose that don’t comply with antler restrictions is disconcerting. “In a typical season, the harvest of six and nine sublegal moose (or about 10 percent of the overall harvest) would represent the take of illegal moose during the course of the entire season,” Lowell wrote. “With thr... Full story

  • SECON making final push before winter

    Jess Field|Oct 1, 2015

    SECON construction has a couple weeks of work left in Petersburg before they shut down for the season and winterize their ongoing project. Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) will maintain the project until SECON returns in the spring. SECON's project manager Ralph Vigilante says the company's major priority prior to leaving town is to finish paving on Haugen Drive. The abrupt edges on lower Haugen Drive, starting at Nordic Drive and heading up the hill to 8th St., will have flush and finished asphalt soon. “We anticipated on having i... Full story

  • Planning consultants present land use recommendations

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 1, 2015

    The Petersburg Borough Assembly heard from lead consultant Chris Beck, hired to update the borough’s comprehensive plan—a document that attempts to guide long-term community planning and growth over the next two decades. Beck spoke to the assembly last Thursday to update members on the “main themes” and “concerns and questions” he and his staff have heard from community members. “One is the whole issue of land use and extending land use authority outside service area one,” Beck said, referring to land outside of previous Petersburg City...

  • Inadequate snow cover linked to yellow cedar decline

    Jess Field|Oct 1, 2015

    If you have traveled past Farragut Bay during the past couple of years, you have probably noticed the white, almost ghostly looking trees heavily peppered among what was once healthy forest. Those are dead yellow cedar, and the remarkable thing about the dead trees-also known as snags-is they can remain standing for up to 100 years. The decline in yellow cedar came on the radar of the US Forest Service (USFS) in the 1980's, but USFS research plant pathologist Paul Hennon says the problem was...

  • Boot camp tests two Petersburg businesses

    Kyle Clayton|Oct 1, 2015

    Two Petersburg entrepreneurs attended a business boot camp in Juneau September 18-20 as part the Path to Prosperity entrepreneur competition that aims to promote local business and sustainability across Southeast Alaskan communities. The Salty Pantry Market and Deli owner Mindy Anderson and Petersburg Indian Association Tribal Resources Director Mark Banda were two of 12 participants selected to attend the Boot Camp Weekend where they participated workshops covering topics such as business plan creation, sustainable business practices and...

  • Illegal moose kills well above average during first week

    Jess Field|Sep 24, 2015

    The first week of moose season resulted in similar harvest numbers as the record breaking 2009 season, with one exception. As of Sept. 21, hunters in the Petersburg, Wrangell and Kake areas killed 35 moose, matching the record year, but seven illegal bulls were also harvested. On average six to nine illegal bulls have been killed over the entirety of a season since the local regulations changed in 2009, and if this trend continues, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) may have to consider altering season closure dates. “If people comply w... Full story

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