Sorted by date Results 4546 - 4570 of 5625
Teleconferencing from the Wrangell and Petersburg assembly chambers last Thursday, members of the Thomas Bay Power Commission (TBPC) decided to call it a year. The TPBC was the acting body for the Thomas Bay Power Authority, operating Tyee Hydroelectric Plant until the operations were transferred this summer to Southeast Alaska Power Authority. Since then, the TBPC has found itself with little to do beyond facilitating that change. But because of the unique connection the commission presents for the communities of Wrangell and Petersburg,...
The Petersburg Public Library was given a four-star rating this month by the Library Journal. The library was one of eight that ranked in the state. Borough librarian Tara Alcock said the library has received a star rating five times since the system was introduced in 2008, but this is their first four-star rating. In previous years, they’ve received three stars. "It’s exciting to see we’re one of the top eight libraries in the state and that we went from three to four stars. I was really excited to see that," Alcock said. The Library Journ...
With a number of closely-contested initial results for the general elections on Nov. 4, voters and candidates alike may be holding their breath as Alaska's Division of Elections began counting absentee and early votes Tuesday. The margins for several races remain slim. For a seat in the Senate, initial polling saw Republican challenger Dan Sullivan hold an 8,149-vote lead over Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Begich. In the gubernatorial race, a mere 3,165 votes separate incumbent Gov. Sean Parnell from Independent challenger Bill Walker, whose...
Petersburg Indian Association recapped nearly a decade of work on roads and trails across Mitkof Island at the Nov. 3 assembly meeting, with Transportation Director Susan Harai presenting a video detailing the tribe’s works. Since 2006, PIA has received more than $10.2 million for the tribal transportation program, working along a master guideline scoped 20 years ahead and more specifically revised for the next five in a Tribal Transportation Improvement Plan. Money is granted through federal transportation allocations divided amongst the t...
After much discussion, the assembly unanimously approved a resolution to establish a new budget policy that will help guide management of Borough funds. Giesbrecht introduced a document he and Finance Director Jody Tow have been working on to help department heads more easily formulate their budgets and to help explain the budget process more simply to the public. The resolution was approved with one change introduced by member Nancy Strand, which moved tobacco excise tax funds from a special fund into the general fund. The excise tax was... Full story
By and large local voters aligned with state results. In two races, Petersburg voters diverged with the state, the race for governor and the State House District 35 seat. Local resident Steven Samuelson was vying for the State House seat against Sitka-based incumbent Jonathan Kreiss Tomkins. Local supporters turned out to show their support for the home-town candidate who was a clear win among Petersburg voters. It wasn't enough, though, to give him the win districtwide. Kreiss Tomkins took the... Full story
A thorough discussion of public services under the Borough charter was had at Monday's regular Assembly meeting. Member John Havrilek broached the matter at the last meeting and asked for a public comment period wherein discussion and clarification of services for outlying areas would be addressed. Since then, Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht worked with department heads to assemble a matrix outlining services offered before and after Borough formation. According to that matrix, no services have been discontinued due to Borough formation. That'...
Having failed twice in 2000 and again in 2004, we didn’t imagine Alaskans would legalize pot in 2014. But they did. Alaska will now be headed down the road followed by Colorado and Washington State, which approved legalizing recreational marijuana in 2012. In a nutshell officials will find that intended provisions to regulate pot sales are much less restrictive than those in place for alcohol. Furthermore, retailers in Colorado have successfully evaded tax collectors and the $130 million in anticipated tax revenue has panned out to about $20 m...
Four local hikers on their way to Raven’s Roost cabin on Sunday got much more than they bargained for, returning by helicopter after an unanticipated night outdoors. “They got caught in darkness and a little turned around, so we helped them make it through the night and were able to helicopter them early, early with the breaking dawn of Monday morning,” S&R Captain Bob Carter said. “One of them … got ahold of Search and Rescue and we made a decision that they could survive the night – we really don’t want to send people up the mountain at n...
Alaskan opponents of a series of proposed Canadian mines paid a visit to Petersburg on Oct. 29, presenting information and action options to a crowd of 28 in the Wright Auditorium. The group, Salmon Beyond Borders, intends to gather signatures and support for Secretary of State John Kerry to act under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, a document that sets forth mutual water use, flow and quality standards between Canada and the U.S. – and SBB's proposal hinges upon a single sentence in A...
Robert Davis Hoffman is coming to town this weekend to teach a formline design workshop at the library. Formline design is the characteristic element in Tlingit art. "It describes the basic shapes that are used. It's a very sophisticated art form, but once you understand some basic rules, almost anybody can find a starting point to understand it," Hoffman said. The historical use of the Native design is important to Tlingit, Haidi and Tsimshian clans. "It's the clan crest art form. I'd say...
The Viking wrestlers went north with the expectation of competition, some familiar and some new, and were not disappointed on any count. New faces, moves and losses were a shock to some of the boys, but by Monday they were hitting the mats hard again, preparing for the next round. “A couple guys, they ran into some tough competition, but overall it was great for everybody,” Coach Dan Van Swearengen said. “Those guys from up north – they’re strong up there.” It wasn’t just sheer strength that played into the uphill battles, he added, noting...
Summer is a long way off as Petersburg heads into winter, but it’s still on the minds of a number of volunteers looking to bring New Old Time Chautauqua to town when the snow is gone. The show, represented by Paul Magid in recent visits to test the waters, “is a way to bring community out,” he said. “It’s an amplification of each community ― you get out of it, as a community, what you put into it. We’re going to come in, have a great time and bring performers that might not otherwise be here ― we’re going to do our part but, really, what make...
Petersburg’s improved crane dock is open again for business, but the improved facility will be running at diminished crane capacity through the winter after new safety regulations rendered the smaller lifter uncertifiable. “This is a common thing that happens in the industry,” Harbormaster Glo Wollen said. “Standards change, and she’s been working for us since the ‘90s, so it might be time to change her out. You just have to weigh the costs of revamping a 30 year old crane versus buying brand new. Crane one can work for everything, but the pro...
The main topics at Monday's regular assembly meeting were service areas and a new budgeting tool for use in the Borough. The following is a list of other business discussed: Don Nelson and Janet Holten submitted letters of interests to serve on the Historic Preservation Committee. Nelson was appointed as the committee historian. Holten was appointed as an additional member at large, replacing the code-suggested archeologist position. Due to recent travels, Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht did not prepare his usual report for the assembly. He...
With a crew working six days a week, construction at the Crystal Lake Hatchery facility is moving along on schedule. "We're basically on schedule, which is a little bit surprising for a construction project," Bill Gass said with a laugh. Gass is the production manager for Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA), which is contracted to operate the Crystal Lake facility by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Sport Fish Division. The incubation building and generator shed a... Full story
Though the case is still under advisement with a judge, the building at 1011 Wrangell Avenue owned by Karen Ellingstad and Fred Triem has been taken down. “The building is down. We’re still in the process of cleaning up,” Ellingstad said in a phone interview this week. “We’re not done cleaning up everything. It’s not done done, but the house is down.” She added that work on dismantling the building has been done in stages since late August of this year. “It’s a long process,” she said. The owner’s have salvaged many of the materials from th... Full story
Petersburg Medical Center's board of directors will be looking to fill some holes in its ranks left vacant after recent municipal elections. PMC CEO Liz Woodyard said the board can advertise for the positions, making appointments as those interested in serving appear, but more dramatic changes will require voter input. "Since we are, officially, a seven member board, we still have to have a quorum of four," she added. "Should you ever want to go to a five member board, because some boards are...
The hospital’s debts took a dive after a large payment went out to pay off the cost for improvements to the electronic health records (EHR) systems ― down to $643,576 owed from a former $1.2 million. “We have made a significant payment on that with the money we received from the Meaningful Use (EHR incentive program),” CFO Doran Hammett reported, with CEO Liz Woodyard adding in that the debt was incurred previously, but payments were not required until funds began arriving from the incenti...
At his arraignment held Oct. 23, Petersburg resident Mark Weaver, 59, plead not guilty to two felony charges of Possession of Unregistered Destructive Devices. U.S. Magistrate Judge Leslie C. Longenbaugh presided over the arraignment at the U.S. District Court in Anchorage. Weaver was indicted by a Grand Jury on those two charges following an explosion in the Petersburg rock quarry July 13 where he sustained injuries and was subsequently transported for treatment to a hospital in Washington. Following the incident, local police, the FBI and off...
After Nov. 4 the last of the political adverts will finally hibernate for the year, marking the end of a particularly clamorous electoral season. But before Alaska voters cross that final hurdle and head to the polls, they should be aware of three measures awaiting them at the ballot. Ballot Measure 2 – Allowing marijuana legalization and regulation If enacted, this bill would tax and regulate the production, sale, and use of marijuana in Alaska, making its use legal for persons aged 21 or o... Full story
In last week’s regular Assembly meeting, members decided to draft an ordinance to address herbicide spraying in the Borough. This represents the next step in a more than year-long process addressing potential herbicide spraying by the state and the lack of opportunity for public input on the issue. The issue has been ongoing since March 2013 when the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) changed their regulations regarding herbicide use. Under the new regulations, agencies seeking to apply herbicides are required to draft an I...
It has been a warm start to winter inside Petersburg Elementary schools, and the comfort and cost-saving benefits of the building's remodel continue to be realized as the first round of bills roll in well under budget as work wraps up on the building's renovation. The project began in April of this year at a cost of $2.3 million. It was designed by Juneau architectural firm, Jensen Yorba Lott and installed by Alaska Community Contractors. "They're in the final stages of the punch list for things... Full story
Petersburg youths wishing to spend a year overseas should begin looking to filling out an application with the borough’s Rotary Club soon. “We are looking for high school students who are freshmen or sophomores to apply to be a Rotary exchange student and go for their sophomore or junior year,” said Dave Berg, Rotary member. “These kids will be selected here soon and go out on exchange August of 2015 for approximately 10 months to one of 20,220 different countries we exchange with.” While many y...
An agreement is currently being worked out between the Alaska Mental Health Trust (AMHT) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) that could see the transfer of between 18,000 and 20,900 acres of state and federal lands. “I’ve been working on this personally for seven years,” said Paul Slenkamp, resource manager for the AMHT Land Office. He is currently working with Forrest Cole, USFS forest supervisor for the Tongass National Forest. “We’ve been moving through this administrative exchange...
