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In a victory for the Native cultures of Interior Alaska, a U.S. Senate committee voted last week to rename the tallest peak in North America, Mount McKinley, to its original Koyukon-Athabaskan name of “Denali.” The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the bill by voice vote on Tuesday, June 18, allowing the proposed legislation to go to a vote before the full body of the Senate. Senate Bill 155 would officially rename the mountain, stating, “The mountain located … in the Sta...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) _ The owner and operator of an Alaska charter vessel was considering whether to appeal after being fined for getting too close to whales. Administrative law judge Susan Biro last week fined Geoffrey Wilson and Alaska Yacht Charters $5,000 in connection with the July 2010 incident on the western side of Admiralty Island in southeast Alaska. Wilson, in an interview Thursday, said he has been out to sea and unable to download the decision. He said he respects what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is trying...
JUNEAU (AP) — A U.S. Senate committee on Thursday narrowly agreed to add to a spending bill language that would require that genetically modified salmon be labeled. The amendment was offered during a Senate Appropriations meeting by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. It passed on a 15-14 vote. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, was a co-sponsor and also voted in support. Members of Alaska's congressional delegation, as well as the state Legislature, have opposed any effort by the Food and Drug Administration that would clear the way for the approval of a...
The Petersburg Indian Association has been working hard to expand its recycling program and has unveiled a few new services recently. PIA Tribal Resource Director Jason Wilson has implemented new programs beginning with recycling services for big events. “We started this service during Mayfest,” Wilson stated. “We will offer it again for the July 4th event as well as any event in the community.” For this service, anyone planning events in the community such as weddings, reunions, dances, etc. will be able to call PIA and order bins to be plac... Full story
The new Petersburg Public Library construction work is entering its final chapter. “Work on the building is going as scheduled,” Petersburg Borough Construction Administrator Dan LaForce stated. “Everything should be finished by mid July.” All work on the inside of the building is scheduled to be completed by July 15. “At this time we can finish up any punch items that need to be taken care of before everything starts being moved in,” LaForce said. “We want to make sure there are no problems t... Full story
Petersburg resident Barry Bracken, brought a problem to the Petersburg Borough Assembly regarding the spraying of herbicides and pesticides on public borough lands during the June 3 regular meeting and this discussion continued during the regular Monday evening meeting. A letter was drafted by Bracken, with the assistance of the Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht, for Assembly approval opposing this issue. The letter outlined all points that Bracken discussed at the June 3 meeting and also states that the Borough should a plan to adopt... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Public Works Department recommended the bid for a crushed rock contract be awarded to Rock-n-Road Construction. The Public Works Department solicited bids for 3,000 tons of leveling course and 1,000 tons of Type II-A to supply the department for gravel street resurfacing. Two bids were received. The first bid was from Reid Brothers Construction totaling $55,200 and the other from Rock-n-Road Construction totaling $48,800. This bid was unanimously awarded to Rock-n-Road for an amount not to exceed $48,800 by the...
Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported to the Petersburg Borough Assembly at its regular meeting Monday evening on several topics including the trial commingled recycling program. “This program is off to a great start,” Giesbrecht said. “Over 1,100 pounds of recycling was picked up by Petersburg Indian Association in the first week.” The program is in the second week of a six week trial and it is already off to a good start. According to Petersburg Borough Public Works Director Karl Hagerman, he is hoping to offset some of the...
The Alaska Redistricting Board voted unanimously to solicit public input and approve a schedule to work toward the adoption of a new Hickel Plan. During the time period of June 13 - 20, Board members and staff will hold daily work sessions at the Alaska Redistricting Office in Anchorage. The purpose of the work sessions will be to create draft Hickel Plans for the Board to consider, in accordance with the recent Superior Court directive. Any individual, group or organization wishing to submit a proposed Hickel Plan for the Board to consider...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly meeting time will change for the noon July 1 meeting to 1 p.m. that afternoon due to the change of command ceremony for the United States Coast Guard at the Sons of Norway Hall. “We have all been invited to share in the ceremony for the USCG Change of Command Ceremony at noon July 1,” Petersburg Borough Assembly Vice Mayor Sue Flint said. “We are looking forward to being a part of this ceremony to celebrate our USCG personnel here in Petersburg.” The meeting...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously voted to send a letter to the Alaska Redistricting Board requesting consideration of Option A during its regular meeting Monday evening. “We are asking that the Alaska Redistricting Board retain in its districting plan for the 2014 elections the districting for Southeast Alaska, Option A, that the Board unanimously adopted May 14, 2012,” Petersburg Borough Assembly Vice Mayor Sue Flint read. The Alaska Supreme Court ordered the Board to redraw the four House districts in Southeast Alaska to comply sol...
This month rafts of logs from the Tonka Timber Sale could be seen being tugged through the Wrangell Narrows. This tow estimated at 900’ long and over 60’ wide is towed by the tugs Alison H and Edith Olsen southbound to the Pothole Log Storage, where it will be assembled with several other rafts to continue on to Viking Lumber’s sawmill in Klawock....
The Petersburg Road Improvement Project is moving better than scheduled due to weather and ability to continue moving from one Phase of the project to another quickly. “We have been given the ability to continue on with the demolition of one section while finishing the previous one,” SECON Project Superintendent Bryce Iverson said. “This is making the transition much easier and faster.” Dowl HKM Project Engineer Matt McGuan and Iverson updated the public in a progress meeting Wednesday afternoon...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The pilot involved in the fatal crash of a small sightseeing plane in Alaska reported fog and rain in the area, but an investigator said Friday that it is too soon to say if weather was the cause of the accident. “You want to do a thorough investigation and it takes time to complete a thorough investigation,” National Transportation Safety Board investigator Brice Banning said. Banning said he interviewed the pilot Thursday and was told there was fog along mount... Full story
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — More than 200 scientists have signed onto a letter asking Congress to enact legislation protecting 1.9 million acres of salmon habitat in this country's largest national forest. The proposal is billed at the “Tongass 77,” referring to the number of watersheds in the Tongass National Forest that would be protected from activities like logging, mine development and road-building. There is currently no bill pending in Congress but the roughly 230 scientists who signed the letter, dated Monday, as well as other activ...
wrangell — The former general manager of Thomas Bay Power Authority is asking the utility’s Board of Commissioners for a severance package that was denied upon termination earlier this year– and has retained legal counsel in order to do so. The Commission terminated Paul Southland as the head of TBPA on April 26 after Commissioner Dave Galla moved to relieve him of his duties. That motion passed 5-2 among the commissioners, with members John Jensen and Robert Larson voting no. Southland, who said at the time he planned on returning to work...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A 64-year-old Fairbanks man was mauled to death by a bear at a remote lake in Alaska's interior, authorities said Friday. The man and a family member were at a cabin at George Lake, about 110 miles southeast of Fairbanks, when the attack occurred Thursday evening. The family member sought shelter inside the cabin and called authorities, Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said. A troopers helicopter dispatched from Fairbanks was unable to land in the terrain, but a Pavehawk helicopter from Eielson Air Force B...
President Bob Lynn of CCUB, formerly 'Concerned Citizens of the Unorganized Borough', announces the name of the organization was changed by unanimous vote to 'Concerned Citizens for a Unified Borough'. The change was decided at the June 8, 2013 meeting and will take effect immediately. The name change reflects the desire of the organization to be a part of, and accepted by, the borough as a whole. Robert Lynn President...
Between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon a Pacific Wings deHavilland Beaver, carrying a pilot and six sightseeing passengers, crashed at LeConte Glacier. “I was able to spend about an hour and a half in the helicopter with an EMT,” Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Dave Berg said. “We were trying to find the location of the crash, but had no luck.” Along with Berg, in the Temsco craft, there were two fixed wing planes from Sunrise Aviation of Wrangell out searching as well... Full story
Hawaii police are seeking Boaz Johnson, 22, of Petersburg, for questioning in the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Brittany Jane Royal. Police have reported that fishermen found the body of 25 year-old Royal and it was confirmed that she was two months pregnant. Johnson reportedly last spoke with his family at noon Monday, May 27 and he was last seen in Puna, Hawaii. Johnson is wanted for questioning and still remains missing at this time. Police say Royal and Johnson had reportedly been camping together before her death. Royal had recently...
Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported that newly hired Petersburg Police Chief, Kelly Swihart, attended a meeting with various Juneau legislators, Southeast Alaska Police Chiefs and the Chief of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service concerning ongoing cooperation, during the regular Petersburg Borough Assembly meeting Monday afternoon. “He is maintaining a relationship with various organizations to ensure continued support for stopping drug distribution in the post office,” Giesbrecht said. “He will be on the job around the first...
WRANGELL — For many Natives in Southeast Alaska the use of natural herbs and plants is as essential today as it was to their ancestors in years past – and whether they are used to alleviate pain, or help as a dietary supplement, the wild medicine of Wrangell’s forests and wilds are abundant. One of the most common plants in Wrangell’s pantheon is yarrow. It grows nearly everywhere on the island and is identifiable by its feathery leaves and fine-tooth hairs along the stem. It is also identifiabl...
Hunters are reminded the remainder of the Unit 4 registration brown bear hunt ended May 31. Successful hunters must report harvest within 10 days of kill and have the bear sealed within 30 days. All individuals who obtained Unit 4 registration permits for brown bear this spring must return hunt reports by June 17, 2013. Hunt reports can be mailed to the Sitka ADF&G office at 304 Lake Street, Room 103. Unsuccessful hunters and those who did not hunt may report online at www.hunt.alaska.gov. For information contact Fish and Game in Sitka at... Full story
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fishing announced recently that all waters of Blind Slough, upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point, are closed to sport fishing from June 1-July 31. For the remaining marine waters of the Wrangell Narrows Terminal Harvest Area, regional king salmon regulations established by emergency order and announced April 4, 2013 remain in effect. The Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough terminal harvest area (THA) near Petersburg is described as the portion of Wrangell Narrows north and...
