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EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story ran in the Wrangell Sentinel on May 6 and was omitted from publication in the Petersburg Pilot the same week. Since Brock pleaded not guilty to the specified charges, it was important that we print a story about the dismissal of charges against Brock in a timely manner, in both publications. That did not happen. The Pilot regrets the error and apologizes for the oversight. WRANGELL — The State of Alaska dismissed charges against Lavina “Lovey” Brock April 22. Brock, 67, of Wrangell, had faced four Class A...
A hook setter was killed last Thursday at the South Mitkof timber sale site near Banana Point. Mark Debates, 51, had just finished hooking cables onto logs near the camp at 28 mile when a tree fell onto him after the helicopter transferring the logs to a barge flew away. “He was there with a partner who witnessed it,” said Beth Ipsen, Alaska State Trooper spokesperson. “The helicopter was flying off when the top of a tree broke off and fell on him. His partner said he heard a crack and saw the treetop fall.” Ipsen said there’s no indicatio...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved a letter to Alaska Department of Transportation Commissioner Pat Kemp in support of establishing a permanent Road Weather Information System (RWIS) at Blaquerie Point on South Mitkof Island. The system would allow current weather information data from the site to be accessed via the Internet. The current site, on the south end of Mitkof Island, was established more than ten years ago and is currently in disrepair and difficult to access for maintenance. The proposed site would be more conveniently...
Former Thomas Bay Power Authority (TBPA) Commission President James Stough resigned last Thursday-the same day the TBPA Commission questioned his lack of communication and participation at commission meetings. Stough didn't attend the most recent meeting held in Petersburg last Thursday. "This is the second meeting he has chosen not to attend," TBPA Commissioner Joe Nelson said at last Thursday's meeting. "He has chosen not to communicate with us. We have no idea what his thoughts are." Stough...
WRANGELL — Officials this week tried to make the best of last week’s postponement of the Salty Dog Rally. Among the officials who expressed disappointment was Leslie Cummings, a Wrangell Convention and Visitors Bureau board member who played a large role in facilitating Wrangell’s participation as the end point of a long-distance yachting rally. Cummings made the initial connection with Salty Dog Rally ALASKA organizer Dawny Pack and said, while local organizations who contributed were upset about the plan, they looked forward to Rally...
ANCHORAGE (AP) — State biologists are reminding people not to touch moose calves or try to take them home as pets following a string of incidents involving people handling the animals, including one household that had a calf in the living room “as if it was a puppy.” Moose are being born in Alaska this time of year, and biologists say people should leave the calves alone — even if they seem to have been abandoned by their mothers. Most of the time, the mothers eventually return to their young. In one recent case in Willow, a calf was put in...
Residents of Petersburg can participate in the 46th Annual Southeast Alaska State Fair by sending in items for exhibition. Entry and shipping is free of charge for all Southeast Alaska State Fair exhibits sent through the Fair's representative, Josef Quitslund. Petersburg entries for the Fair are due July 11 and will be shipped via Alaska Marine Lines to Haines. The 2014 Fair is July 21-Aug. 3; exhibit judging will be conducted July 26. Southeast Alaska State Fair will ship Division Champions, Department Champions, and exceptional Best of...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced this summer’s first Southeast Alaska purse seine fishery opener. Areas in District 2 and District 12 will be open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Sunday, June 15 through Wednesday, June 18. An ADFG press release states the 2104 chum salmon return to Hidden Falls Terminal Harvest Area (THA) is 1,072,000. “Of this return, 180,000 are needed for brood stock leaving 892,000 available for common property harvest,” the press release states. King salmon landing restrictions for Kendrick Bay state fish great... Full story
The Salty Dog yacht rally scheduled to stop through Petersburg and Wrangell this month has been canceled, and Chamber of Commerce officials in both communities are hoping to get the money back they paid to the rally’s organizers. The boat rally consists of groups of boaters that signed up to visit various towns across Alaska this summer with Wrangell being the last stop. Salty Dog founder Dawny Pack emailed the communities to let them know the event would be postponed until next year. Petersburg and Wrangell chambers each paid Salty Dog o... Full story
Ferry schedules are continuing to be revised after the M/V Columbia experienced mechanical issues on its way from Portland to Bellingham. According to an Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) press release, “The MV Columbia experienced an unexpected mechanical issue with its port engine prior to returning to service. Technicians are onboard assessing the situation and developing a repair plan. The MV Columbia has been rescheduled to return to service Wednesday, June 18, departing Ketchikan en route to Bellingham, Wash.” ADOT spokesperson J... Full story
Petersburg Mental Health Service's Pedometer Challenge wrapped up this week with the winner logging more than 1 million steps during the seven-week challenge that allowed community members to compete as individuals and teams to see who could take the most steps. "It was amazing to see the results," said PMHS senior clinician Kim Kilkenny. "I'm so impressed that someone got over a million steps." Justin Haley was the big winner. He walked from his house in the Severson Subdivision to work at the...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Seismologists say a moderate earthquake was felt throughout southeast Alaska. The Alaska Earthquake Center says there are no immediate reports of damage from the 5.7 magnitude quake, which occurred at 3:58 a.m. Wednesday June 4. The earthquake was centered 96 miles northwest of Juneau....
Last week, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators released a report of the likely cause of last summer's Pacific Wings sightseeing floatplane crash. The flight for cruise ship passengers crashed into a mountain about 14 miles east of Petersburg last June. Of the seven passengers, four, including the pilot, sustained minor injuries, two sustained serious injuries and one passenger was fatally injured. A report on the NTSB website states the pilot, 39, failed to maintain...
Two student interns are in Petersburg this summer to lead the nine-week Big Viking Day Camp. Natalie Behl and Kendal Smith are working with the Petersburg Borough Parks and Recreation department to fulfill degree requirements in recreation management. Behl graduated last month from Utah State University and will receive her diploma upon completion of this internship. Smith will begin her junior year at Brigham Young University in Idaho in the fall. The girls have been in town for about three...
A committee made up of local citizens who collaborate with and recommend projects to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) might disappear if new members don’t apply to fill current vacancies on the committee. The Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) is made up of 15 voting members who choose where to direct Secure Rural Schools Act Title II federal funding. “As far as being a member of this federal advisory committee, you get to make a direct recommendation to the federal government on how to spend appropriated dollars,” said Jason Anderson, USFS Peter...
WRANGELL — Thomas Bay Power commissioners voted 5-0 to support the handover of Tyee Lake to the Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA). The special meeting, held June 5, was the commission’s first in at least two months and drew Petersburg commissioners as well as the Petersburg mayor to the borough assembly chambers. Critics of the transfer have said the handover would essentially put borough resources in the hands of an unelected bureaucracy. Supporters generally say the transfer will limit the liability Wrangell faces in connection with Tye...
Forty-five Petersburg High School seniors graduated Tuesday evening in the high school gym in front of a packed house. PHS Principal Rick Dormer gave the welcome speech and offered a piece of advice to a graduating class he described as quiet performers. "As you go forward class of 2014 I would encourage you to continue the tradition of accomplishing a lot, while speaking a little. My father-in-law often reminds me that the good lord gave us all two ears and one mouth and that conversations... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Assembly will present five changes to the borough’s sales tax code to voters on October’s ballot. In July, the assembly will begin drafting the elements of the changes, which include requiring PFD filings for proof of residency for senior sales tax exemption eligibility, limiting the exemption to food and heating fuel and the establishment of a sunset date for the eventual elimination of the exemption. Changes also include an increase in the sales tax cap and imp... Full story
Mayor Mark Jensen responded to questions City of Kupreanof resident Dave Beebe posed regarding Jensen’s support of the South Mitkof Timber sales. Beebe led the charge against the timber sales based on public safety concerns. He cited peer reviewed scientific studies that documented unstable slopes on Mitkof Island and landslide hazards as a result of logging. He and others also raised concerns regarding logging and its negative effects on deer habitat and current low hunter success rates. The Petersburg Borough Assembly joined the City of K... Full story
Bob Tkacz, a reporter for the Petersburg Pilot from 1986 to 1989, died in his office in Juneau at the age of 61. His body was found on Tuesday, May 27. The Juneau Police Department reported there were no signs of foul play and added there were indications of medical issues. Additional information could not be shared, according to police. With his departure from Petersburg, Tkacz headed to Juneau to work as a freelance writer, eventually starting his own newsletter, "Laws of the Sea," which he es...
Mystery and suspense author Rolynn Anderson is in town and will be doing a book signing for her newest novel, "Lie Catchers", which is set in Petersburg. The book explores the mystery surrounding the real-life 1932 murder of Sing Lee. Anderson taught English for most of her career and began writing late in life. Petersburg Pilot reporter Kyle Clayton interviewed Anderson yesterday afternoon about her newest novel and the writing life. Kyle Clayton: When did you first come to Petersburg and what...
Petersburg resident Polly Lee along with 50 other locals petitioned the Petersburg Borough Assembly during a public hearing last Monday to readopt an expired city ordinance that creates a Historic Preservation Commission. “We believe the re-adoption of Ordinance No. 827 would promote and enhance knowledge of the history of Petersburg, the areas and buildings of early settlers, and provide for the preservation of areas and historical objects of Petersburg history,” the petition states. “It could offer visitors a broad and comprehensive understan...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted 6-1 to authorize Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for the borough’s comprehensive plan. The comprehensive planning process is extensive and covers things such as updating zoning and land use, identification and selection of state land for economic and community development, evaluating housing availability and affordability, the impact of tourism and other quality of life issues. Developing a harbor master plan will also be included in the planning process. The a...
Karen Malcom won this year's King Salmon Derby after battling a 46.4-pound Chinook last Saturday afternoon. Besides fishing the derby one day last year, Malcom hasn't fished during the annual event for 15 years until last weekend. "My husband invited me to spend the weekend fishing with him and I took him up on it," Malcom said. "It was good quality time with he I and my dog. It was a family outing." Stan Malcom and Karen Malcom got skunked Friday. Stan Malcom caught a halibut on Saturday and... Full story
Despite fears this winter of dipping into its reserves, the Petersburg School Board unanimously approved a balanced budget for the 2014/2015 school year without spending from reserve funds. Petersburg School District Finance Director Karen Quitslund presented the budget to the school board last week. She outlined several budget considerations including recent legislation passed during this spring session that increased the base student allocation (BSA) by $150, which brings total funding per student to $5,830. Petersburg schools will have an an... Full story
