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Musicians and singers, ages 8 to 18, attending the second annual Bluegrass Camp have been practicing at the middle school all week for performances today and Friday. Camp Organizer Dan Sullivan and several out-of town music teachers have been working with students in intensive music lessons since Monday. Performances include busking-street performances- around town at 3 p.m. today. Small bands will play for change in front of Inga's Galley, Coastal Cold Storage, the Fabric Basket and other...
New Strata, a solo show by Petersburg artist Polly Lee opened Friday, Aug. 1 at the Clausen Museum with an artist reception that included about 100 attendees. "These aren't your usual flowers and landscapes," Lee said of her paintings. The show features several new oil paintings and ten pastels that are a part of a body of work called "Passages," said the 91-year-old artist. Each bold piece features an earth-tone palette and a bold "V" shape. "Several years ago on a road trip in the Southwest,...
The Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell (KSM) Mine being proposed in Canada's British Columbia province is nearing its final stages, with the fourth and final comment period on the project's environmental assessment coming to a close Aug. 20. The first of five major mining sites planned for development along transboundary waters, the sheer scale of the KSM and the rapidity of development in the region have been causing consternation among Alaska's Native communities, fishing and travel industry associations, and environmental groups. The British Columbia... Full story
ANCHORAGE (AP) — In the secluded island village of Angoon in Southeast Alaska, a long-talked-about airport is still in the works. Planning for the Angoon airport -- which in rural Alaska means a single runway and access road — began a decade ago, and despite community support, transportation planners say it will be many more years before small airplanes can land on the island. ``Will I still be alive by the time it actually goes in?'' Sue Bates, co-owner of the Angoon Trading Company, asked jokingly in a recent interview. ``Honestly, I thi...
A partnership between Petersburg Mental Health and W.A.V.E. (Working Against Violence for Everyone) is sponsoring a trauma support group for survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence, which uses an online video program that is specially designed for “telemedicine.” The support group began in July and uses VSee, a free app available on tablets or home computers, which allows those logged on to see each other yet maintains the privacy of a visit to a doctor or therapist’s office. VSee was designed specifically for people in remote locat...
The Petersburg and Wrangell Boroughs are a few steps closer to completing the transfer of Operations and Maintenance of the Tyee Lake hydroelectric facility from Thomas Bay Power Authority (TBPA) to Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) after a meeting last Thursday. Thursday's regular session meeting brought representatives from the Thomas Bay Power Commission (TBPC) and the Petersburg and Wrangell Boroughs together to elect a new commission chair and secretary, work towards finalizing the SEAPA transition document and discuss the future role... Full story
Two dozen daring dancers braved torrential rains to participate in National Dance Day on Saturday at the ball field. The pitching mound may have been soaked, but the dancers scored a home run with their interpretation of this year's advanced dance routine set to Mark Ballas' single "Get My Name." This is the third non-consecutive year Petersburg dancers have participated in the national event. The videos of this and past years' routine can be viewed on YouTube. This year's event was organized... Full story
After 14 years on the Petersburg Medical Center Board of Directors, Tom Abbott tendered his resignation, saying that the hospital was "in a good place" and that he was ready to leave. Abbott, who has served as board president, an elected position, notified Borough Clerk Kathy O'Rear in a letter stating, "The community has an excellent medical center with a professional staff providing quality healthcare to all in our community. The integrity of the staff ensures the public will be treated with... Full story
A pair of mid-sized earthquakes occurred offshore in Palma Bay early Friday morning, about 49 miles west of Gustavus near Glacier Bay National Park. The Alaska Earthquake Information Center recorded a 5.29 local magnitude (ML) quake at 2:54 a.m., immediately followed by a 5.89 ML quake. Further quakes and tremors continued throughout the morning with diminishing intensity, with a 3.92 ML quake recorded at 8 a.m., followed by multiple aftershocks. No tsunami was expected. "Everybody camping in our backcountry have reported that they're all...
The Physical Therapy department at the Petersburg Medical Center has recently ordered new equipment that will assist in helping clients. An anatomical model of a shoulder was purchased with funds from the Petersburg Community Foundation. The fully flexible model shows the scapula, clavicle, and a portion of humerus and joint ligaments. Models of knee and hip joints are on order, Ellie van Swearingen, department head, told the PMC board during a meeting July 24. The models make it easier for...
WRANGELL — This year's Bearfest attracted a number of bear-knowledgable brainboxes, from biologists and behaviorists to wilderness managers, guides and artists. Over the course of the five-day event, experts shared their knowledge in a series of workshops, demonstrations, and lectures with the public. "It's a great opportunity for Wrangell residents and visitors alike to hear from some of the best bear experts in the world," explained Lance Craighead, conservation director at the Craighead Institute in Montana. A lot of what was discussed w...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska State Troopers say they are investigating an assault aboard a fishing vessel in Petersburg. Troopers say they responded Wednesday to a report that the 28-year-old captain of the vessel Favorite grabbed a 31-year-old crew member around the throat. Troopers say the crew member has left the vessel....
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Gov. Sean Parnell has asked a federal agency to buy about 1 million cases of canned pink salmon to ease a glut that has weighed down prices for Alaska fishermen this year. Parnell made the request in a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week. He wants the USDA to purchase $37 million worth of canned pink salmon under a federal law that allows for buying surplus food from farmers and donating it to food banks or other programs. USDA purchased $20 million worth of salmon earlier this year, which Parnell c...
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — A $20 million loan has been approved for a new hydropower project on Prince of Wales Island. KRBD reports that the Alaska Energy Authority approved the loan to Haida Energy Inc. for construction of the Reynolds Creek project, about 10 miles east of Hydaburg. The loan was approved in June. The project could supply power to all of the island's residents, who currently depend on diesel-generated power during some parts of the year. Haida Energy Inc. is a joint venture of the Haida Corp. and Alaska Power and Telephone C...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ A vintage rail company that transports hundreds of thousands of tourists a year along the route of the historic Klondike Gold Rush was expected to resume operations last Friday, two days after a derailment left 23 people with minor injuries, officials said. Two vintage locomotives and four passenger rail cars were involved in the derailment Wednesday during a run of the White Pass & Yukon Route tourist train from Skagway to Canada, the company said in a statement. “We heard a bang, then another bang, then there was s...
Dozens of youngster challenged themselves to read books this summer. Dozens of local businesses donated prizes, and it all concluded at a big pool party at the community gym on Tuesday. More than 40 children participated in the public library’s Summer Reading Challenge, competing for 64 prizes from local donors. The challenge began on May 29 and ended July 19. Participants earned points by reading books and testing their comprehension of the themes, characters and plot of the story. This year's participants earned between ten and almost 200 p...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved an updated electric ordinance that increases rates by four percent during the next two years. The current declining block rate structure was established more than two decades ago to encourage electric usage—the more a customer uses, the less they pay on a kilowatt per hour basis. The declining block rate, combined with the rise of oil prices, contributed to a large conversion from oil to electric heating. Beginning around 2012, that conversion began to level out. During discussions last December over a... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Assembly authorized Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht to sign off on the agreement between the Petersburg Borough, the City and Borough of Wrangell and the Thomas Bay Power Authority (TBPA) that transitions operation and maintenance of the Tyee Hydro Lake facility to Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA). The four bodies have been negotiating the agreement since last year when the Petersburg assembly voted not to fund its share of a portion of the TBPA budget labeled non-net billable—a bill Petersburg and Wrangell have t... Full story
A new black and white sign will designate "Headlights On At All Times" in Petersburg at the Kings Row intersection (MP 0.7) to 2.2 miles south of the South Mitkof Ferry Terminal access road (MP 26) on Mitkof Highway. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is installing new “Headlights On At All Times” signs in seven southeast Alaska communities this summer. Drivers will now be required to use their headlights while driving in specific areas, regardless of conditions or the time of day. The purpose of the new signs is to...
Despite some talk of changes, the Petersburg Borough Assembly again voted during Monday’s meeting to pass six ballot measures that change the borough’s sales tax code. Four of the changes involve the senior sales tax exemption, which exempts individuals more than 65 years old from paying the borough’s six percent sales tax. One measure would establish a sunset date, December 31, 2019, when the exemption card would no longer be issued. However, those who already receive the exemption would continue to do so. The sunset date ordinance faile...
Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) staff is headed to Petersburg to discuss with the community its new Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan, which includes changes to the Alaska Marine Highway System, a Kake access road and anticipated funding decreases. Petersburg Borough Assembly member Cindi Lagoudakis announced the visit during Monday’s assembly meeting where she encouraged the public to review the plan. “The concern there is the plan comes out and actually states that DOT is anticipating taking resources from Southeast Alaska and...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska Army National Guard soldier was wearing a combat helmet and other protective gear when he was attacked by a bear while participating in a training exercise at a military base, officials said Monday. Sgt. Lucas Wendeborn of Valdez is being treated for puncture wounds and lacerations after the mauling Sunday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The female brown bear was defending her two young cubs, base officials said. Wendeborn's injuries are not life-threatening, National Guard spokeswoman Maj. Candis O...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed restrictions Friday that would essentially block development of a planned massive gold-and-copper mine near the headwaters of a world premier salmon fishery in Alaska. The announcement came as the EPA was being sued by Pebble Limited Partnership, the group behind the proposed Pebble Mine, and the state of Alaska for allegedly exceeding its authority. The state and Pebble Partnership, which was created to design, permit and run the mine, argue the EPA should not be able t...
Canadian officials are airlifting Chinook and sockeye salmon over a landslide that caused a barrier to salmon passage in the Tahltan River, a tributary of the Stikine. Steve Gotch, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) director for the Yukon and Northwestern British Columbia, said the landslide occurred about a half mile up the Tahltan on May 20. The river is roughly 120 miles upstream of the Stikine, but the salmon that swim up it provide harvests for Southeast Alaskan and Canadian commercial and...
The South Nordic Drive construction project that had been planned to kick off this fall likely won’t begin until spring 2015. Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) project manager Keith Karpstein said the delay came after securing nearly 100 required right of way easements from property owners along the affected roadway. “If there’s an impact to the adjacent property owners we have to work with them to get the necessary rights to work on the property even on a temporary basis,” Karpstein said. “Most of these impacts were temporary... Full story
