Sorted by date Results 4082 - 4106 of 5574
WRANGELL — On Sunday Alaska Native and Canadian First Nations groups will mark the first anniversary of the Mount Polley tailings dam collapse in a ceremony on the Stikine River. On Aug. 4, 2014, a rupture in the tailings dam servicing the British Columbia mine released billions of gallons of metals-tainted effluent into waters that fed into the salmon-rich Fraser River system. Earlier this month the mine’s owner, Imperial Metals, received a restricted permit from the provincial government allowing it to reopen Mt. Polley, using an alt...
JUNEAU (AP) — Gov. Bill Walker said he believes his bill to expand Medicaid would have passed the Legislature if brought to a vote but that the legislation never seemed to be progressing toward that end. Walker announced this month his intention to accept federal money to expand Medicaid, calling the move his “final option” after lawmakers had tabled his bill for further review. In an interview Monday, Walker said that every day the state waits to expand Medicaid it is saying “no” to people who could be getting health care coverage. Estimates...
A humpback whale that was first sighted in Lynn Canal in 1972 was re-sighted by researchers earlier this month feeding off Cape Fanshaw in Frederick Sound. The 44-year span between the two sightings of the whale, dubbed "Old Timer" by researchers, is the longest re-sighting span of an individual humpback in the world. Dr. Adam Pack, a marine mammal researcher at the University of Hawaii (UH) at Hilo, and photographer Jim Nahmens spotted the whale on July 12 while doing research aboard the M/V...
The Borough Assembly is working to put a proposition on the Oct. 6 municipal ballot that exempts candidates running for local public offices from a state requirement to disclose income, business interests and other assets. An ordinance to put the exemption to the voters passed on its first reading at Monday’s regular meeting. Prior to Borough incorporation, public officials were exempt from the financial disclosure requirements. However, after Borough incorporation, in the 2014 municipal election, the exemption was put back up for a vote and n... Full story
The 2nd annual Paddle Battle sponsored by the Petersburg Medical Center Foundation saw 33 paddlers this year and one ride-along pup. Paddlers from age seven to 66 took to the water with 22 folks completing the full 14-mile course from the Papke's Landing launch ramp to Sandy Beach Park. Paddlers paid a $20 entry fee and asked for pledges for each mile paddled. So far over $11,000 has been raised, including a $3,000 contribution from First Bank, with more donations still trickling in said PMC... Full story
Users of services in the Alaska Court System (ACS) will be seeing new fees for some services and fee increases for other services beginning August 1. The increases were approved by the Alaska Supreme Court in June. “The increased or additional court fees were developed in response to the state’s current budget shortfall,” said Magistrate Judge Desiree Burrell, adding that the increased revenue from the fees goes into the state’s general fund, per Administrative Rule 5(b), rather than being retained by the court. Burrell said filing fees ha... Full story
Residents wishing to serve or continue serving as local officials can file for candidacy for 20 vacant positions (see sidebar) on seven different boards and commissions starting Tuesday, July 28. Candidates for the Borough Assembly, School Board or Planning Commission are required by the state to file a financial disclosure statement disclosing their income sources and business interests, though that may change in the coming years if voters approve an ordinance exempting public officials in the...
The Assembly agreed to send a letter to the Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) as part of the public comment period on the winter schedule that expresses concerns about the schedule’s ability to meet student travel and visitor’s needs. “The schedule as proposed provides service to Petersburg, but will certainly have an effect on student travel and visitor traffic due to the length of time between trips to certain communities,” the letter reads. The letter also suggests ADOT conduct a survey of ridership and cost effectiveness to dete...
Additional needed repairs to the wastewater infrastructure have been discovered by crews working on the sewer project in conjunction with the Haugen-Nordic Drive road construction project that began earlier this summer. “As the work commenced it was immediately apparent that our wastewater infrastructure was in worse condition than we realized,” Public Works Director Karl Hagerman said in a letter to the Assembly. “The condition of the system has resulted in the need to replace three additional manholes and to perform other unplanned impro...
The Petersburg Pilot won second place for Best Local News Coverage in the National Newspaper Association (NNA) 2015 Better Newspaper Editorial Contest. The Pilot competed for the award against daily and non-daily newspapers across the country that have a circulation of 3,000 or less. After reading two full issues of the Pilot, the judge commented, “I thought this paper had very interesting news stories that were very informative and also interesting to read. A very good community focus and nice photography.” Reporter Mary Koppes also rec...
Sentencing in the trial of former Petersburg resident Mark Weaver, 60, has been delayed again. Weaver pled guilty to a felony charge of Possession of Unregistered Destruction Devices in February following an explosion incident in the rock quarry behind the airport that occurred last July. Weaver is represented by Phillip P. Weidner who filed for the unopposed motion to vacate the July 20 sentencing date due to a scheduling conflict with another case. Sentencing is now scheduled for August 17 in Juneau. When Weaver was indicted in September...
Brittany Martin, 22, of Juneau, pled guilty to two amended charges during a change of plea hearing before Superior Court Judge William Carey on Monday. Martin was indicted on a Class B felony charge for burglary in April after she was identified in video surveillance of a residential burglary in Petersburg in February. Martin pled not guilty to the charge and bail was set at $25,000 with a request for release to a third-party custodian denied. The two amended charges—Criminal Trespass in the 1st Degree and Theft in the 3rd Degree— are Cla...
Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht gave the following report at Monday’s Assembly meeting: - An extreme low tide did damage Sunday morning at the launch ramp float when a random chunk of piling floated in and lodged itself under one of the float sections and punched through the styro billets and deck covering boards. Staff was able to pull it free and patch the hole. Tamico will order extra covering sheets in conjunction with the new fish cleaning station to allow Harbor maintenance to get things back in order. - Harai and Associates will t...
JUNEAU (AP) — Those who had hoped to catch a ride on the Alaska ferry Columbia Tuesday should be able to depart sometime Friday. The ferry was supposed to make stops in Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg, Ketchikan and eventually Bellingham, Washington, but it never left port Tuesday. Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spokesman Jeremy Woodrow called the three-day delay “unusual,” reported The Juneau Empire. “Usually it's just a few hours,” he said. “We're a little more confident with (today's departure).” Woodrow said a techni...
JUNEAU (AP) — Alaska's highest court ruled Friday that an initiative seeking to restrict large-scale mining in the Bristol Bay region seriously impedes a regulatory process set out in state law and is unenforceable. The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed a lower-court ruling in litigation over the initiative passed by Lake and Peninsula Borough voters in 2011. The initiative was aimed at the Pebble mine project and the potential development of the massive gold and copper prospect near the headwaters of a world-class salmon fishery. It would have bar...
JUNEAU (AP) — Firefighters in Alaska rescued a Boy Scout after a 3,000-pound boulder tumbled onto him at a Juneau camp, pinning his legs. The Juneau Empire reports Capital City Fire/Rescue freed the boy Monday after an intensive rescue that took about two hours. The Ketchikan teen's name hasn't been released. The fire agency responded to Eagle Beach after camp leaders reported the emergency. The lead firefighter on the scene, Noah Jenkins, says the boy was on the beach when the rock loosened and fell on top of him. Boy Scout leaders were a...
JUNEAU (AP) — The state health department has hired a consultant to help recommend next steps as Gov. Bill Walker's administration plans to implement Medicaid expansion and looks to make further changes to the existing Medicaid program. The contract with Agnew::Beck Consulting LLC calls for a final report in January recommending alternative models of Medicaid expansion and options to help contain costs within the Medicaid program. The report will serve as a briefing document for the Legislature on reform opportunities and allow for the departme...
FAIRBANKS (AP) — The Fairbanks City Council has approved a proposed tax on marijuana retail sales that will now be up for debate among voters. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports that the council on Monday unanimously approved a 5 percent tax on marijuana sales. Fairbanks voters will decide in October whether to accept or reject the tax during Fairbanks' general election. The levy would apply to transfers of marijuana from any retail establishment to any person or entity, making the buyer responsible for the tax. Under the proposed tax, s...
ANCHORAGE (AP) — A 27-year-old Anchorage man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for a 2013 crime spree that left three people severely injured. Alejandro Aulman was sentenced Thursday for nine counts of assault, seven counts of robbery, three counts of burglary and one count of theft. He was handed an additional two years for breaking his probation conditions from separate cases, reported The Alaska Dispatch News. Aulman was already in jail when a grand jury handed up his list of charges. He had allegedly attacked a woman who accepted a...
ANCHORAGE (AP) — Crews have started recovering the wreckage of a Cessna 207 that crashed Friday in a rugged area of southeast Alaska. Recovery efforts began Sunday with a helicopter flight to a wooded area west of Juneau, National Transportation Safety Board Alaska regional office chief Clint Johnson told the Alaska Dispatch News The Wings of Alaska flight crashed on the way from Juneau to the small community of Hoonah, killing 45-year-old pilot Fariah Peterson. Her body was recovered Saturday. The plane's four passengers were injured. They wer...
The United States Forest Service (USFS) announced the next step has been taken in a land deal with Alaska Mental Health Trust (AMHT), after signing an Agreement to Initiate on June 30. The agreement as currently envisioned could see the transfer of nearly 40,000 acres of state and federal lands between the two agencies. For AMHT, the deal will allow it to develop the lands’ timber and mineral resources. Founded by Congress in 1956, AMHT is a state corporation set up to assist the state in funding its mental health program. The trust manages l... Full story
Part of the local team, the Devil's Thumb Shooters, four Petersburg youth traveled to Wasilla for a state shooting competition June 11-13. Over 90 youth from across the state attended the meet, competing in three events: trap, skeet and clay shooting. Assistant Coach Marissa Collison said the state competition allowed the Petersburg team members to get more practice with skeet and clay shooting. Currently the team is only able to practice trap shooting at the range off Mitkof Highway.... Full story
Two Petersburg-based businesses have been chosen as semi-finalist in the annual Path to Prosperity (P2P) contest put on by a partnership between the Haa Aani Community Development Fund, Inc. and The Nature Conservancy. The annual contest is in its third year and aims to support businesses in Southeast with "innovative sustainability solutions" that will also benefit the local economy and community, according to Paul Hackenmueller, economic coordinator with Haa Aani. Two winners will be chosen... Full story
A limited number of Anan Wildlife Observatory permits will be made available at the Wrangell District Office. Visitors are required to obtain a permit to visit the observatory from July 5 through August 25. Earlier this spring the United States Forest Service began using the National Reservation System for those wishing to visit Anan, 30 miles to Wrangell’s southeast. To facilitate the transition to this new system, up to four permits per day will still be offered through the Wrangell District Office using a weekly lottery. To apply for one o...
Parks and Recreation Director Donnie Hayes said there’s been a string of vandalism this month at the ball field and Hungry Point Trail, which begins near the fields. “At the ball field itself, someone took a large rock to one of our porcelain sinks to the point of destroying that sink,” he said. The damage was discovered on July 4 when staff went to ensure the restrooms would be clean and ready for the crowd arriving at the ball field to watch fireworks. The incident likely happened at night on July 3 because, Hayes said, the restrooms are chec...
