Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 1088
Levels of a disinfectant byproduct in Wrangell's water supply are still a little above federal standards, the municipality reported Jan. 11, but are in decline. The presence of haleocetic acids (HAA5) were announced in late September. The levels were triple federal Environmental Protection Agency standards in the regular quarterly test in August, then down to double the standard in a special test in October, the city reported. November's test sample for HAA5 came in at 70 parts per billion...
Acknowledging Alaska's shortage of money, the Wrangell Borough Assembly has put together a list of priority projects for state funding "should the fiscal climate change." Until then, "(the city) understands there is little to no availability of funding for local capital needs," said the backup material for the assembly workshop Jan. 12 to compile state and federal legislative priorities for 2021-2022. In putting together the list - just in case money becomes available -the assembly considered...
The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is encouraging the public to register for their COVID-19 vaccination shot, as the latest allotment of doses has arrived and more will be on the way. SEARHC is providing vaccines first to people at least 65 years old and to frontline essential workers, according to a Jan. 19 press release. However, anyone can register regardless of where they fit in the availability sequence for their community, and they will be notified when their turn comes up. Mo...
The Wrangell Lady Wolves are preparing for a truly unique basketball season this year. Not only has COVID-19 required the high school to create mitigation plans to keep players safe, but the team has had to get creative to find enough players to even form a team. However, after decisions by the state school sports association and the school board to ease the eligibility rules, the season will move forward for the girls' team. Christy Good is head coach for the Lady Wolves this year, her first...
A Wrangell resident arriving at the airport has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation in town, the city announced today. The state reported the positive case in its statewide numbers on Monday, and Wrangell’s Unified Command was notified today. The city press release did not specify the date the individual was tested. The last COVID-19 positive case was reported by the city on Dec. 17. This week’s case brings to 28 the total number of Wrangell-related COVID-19 positives since the start of the pandemic. Of these, 18 have been in Wra...
The Wrangell Borough Assembly unanimously voted Tuesday evening to extend the borough's COVID-19 emergency declaration through March to ensure the community remains eligible for any financial assistance. The assembly also voted to extend its resolution allowing the suspension of in-person assembly meetings until it can make accommodations for social distancing. The assembly declaration retroactively extends through March an emergency ordinance that had expired Dec. 31, which was a continuation...
A few minutes before 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, an 87-year-old driver pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake on his truck and launched from the parking lot into the water of Heritage Harbor. The driver was helped from the truck and did not appear seriously injured, said Police Chief Tom Radke. The chief said it was his understanding that the driver hit the wrong pedal. A medical incident may have led to the accident, but Radke said the exact cause was uncertain. The vehicle pushed through a...
The Wrangell Wolves high school boys basketball team is tentatively scheduled to open the season in Metlakatla on Jan. 30, followed by their home opener against Craig on Feb. 6, according to the latest schedule provided by Activities Director Trisa Rooney. The schedule is still tentative, Rooney said in a Jan. 8 email, particularly the games against Metlakatla and later Haines. The district will announce when it has the final schedule. After two bye weeks for rest and practice, Wrangell will...
While the season's schedule is still tentative amid the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wrangell Wolves are preparing for a new season of basketball. This will be Coach Cody Angerman's fourth season leading the high school boys team. The upcoming season will be unique in a variety of ways, he said, but his goals for the team are the same as always. "I have this same kind of mentality coming into every season," he said. "I just want to make sure that we're the best team possible...
The city received an application to recall Mayor Steve Prysunka early this week from a group unhappy with Wrangell's face mask requirement. But the filing was premature, said Borough Clerk Kim Lane, who returned the application. State law says a recall application may not be filed during the office holder's first 120 days on the job. That date will not come until early February for the mayor. Lane said the city has its own statute, as well, which copies the 120 days from the state. Don...
The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium will host a training program for certified nursing assistants in Wrangell, starting next week. While the program has existed in Wrangell in the past, it is still a relatively new program under SEARHC leadership. This will be the third CNA training program offered by the Wrangell Medical Center. Issabella Crowley was one of six people who completed the first SEARHC CNA program in Wrangell in 2019. She has worked as a CNA with the hospital for a...
After two decades at the Wrangell court, Deputy Magistrate Leanna Nash will retire Jan. 30. Nash first accepted a position in the court back in 1999, she said. Twenty-two years later, she felt that it was finally time to step away, spend more time with family and enjoy life. "I have a grandchild I want to spend more time with," she said. "I'm going to be babysitting her part-time. I don't want to work until I'm ill or die. I want to be able to still enjoy life while I still have some life in...
While many are thankful 2020 has come to an end, it does not necessarily mean an end to 2020's problems. Wrangell, like many other communities around the world, has struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic and economic uncertainties. With the start of the new year, city officials, businesses and other community members are looking toward 2021 with cautious optimism. "I think it's going to be a very mixed bag, to be quite honest with you," said city Economic Development Director Carol Rushmore....
Early last week, Wrangell Municipal Light & Power repaired an issue involving one of its newer diesel generators. Light & Power Director Rod Rhoades said a computer controlling the generator's output was refusing to detect the generator in question. It was a difficult problem for them to figure out, he said, but was relatively easy to fix with just a simple wire replacement. Rhoades said all of the city's generators are expected to work together, matching their voltage and frequency to meet...
The aluminum can recycling bins next to Wrangell IGA are under new management. Kim Wickman, with the Wrangell Cooperative Association's IGAP department, said the Wrangell Swim Club will handle the can recycling moving forward. The club is hoping to use the recycling for fundraising, she said, though no major goals have been outlined at this time. Aluminum can recycling has been used by a variety of Wrangell sports teams to fundraise, Wickman said. Before the swim club, the Amateur Athletic...
January Jan. 2: Along with the lights, trees and carolers, the Salvation Army's red Christmas kettles are a common sight during the holiday season. Lt. Jon Tollerud, Wrangell's new corps officer, said the red kettles brought in $10,469. Jan. 9: The Nolan Center celebrated the new year Dec. 31 with a murder mystery party. As this new year marks a new decade, a return to the '20s, the party had a 1920s theme to it. With jazz music, themed costumes and masks, partygoers had the chance to return to...
Wrangell Public Schools reopened their doors Tuesday at the end of winter break, sitting down students back in the classroom. "I love school," said second grader Hailey Bartlett as she stood outside Evergreen Elementary, waiting for the doors to open. Third grader Quinton Davies also said he is excited to be back at Evergreen. Kindergartener Jackson Gellatle said "homework" is the most enjoyable part of school for him. Students are not the only ones who are happy to be back at school. Special...
A few minutes before 1:30 p.m. Saturday, an 87-year-old driver pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake on his truck and launched from the parking lot into the water of Heritage Harbor. The driver was helped from the truck and did not appear seriously injured, said Police Chief Tom Radke. The chief said it was his understanding that the driver hit the wrong pedal, and a medical incident may have led to the accident, but the exact cause was uncertain Saturday afternoon. The vehicle pushed through a barrier of boulders between the parking lot...
Over the past few days, people have been hard at work in and around the WCA carving shed on Front Street, constructing smokehouses. These smokehouses are part of the cooperative association's COVID-19 pandemic response, according to Tribal Administrator Esther Reese. They are using a portion of their CARES Act funding they received for this and other projects, Reese said, to promote food self-sufficiency and a return to a traditional lifestyle among tribal citizens. About 70 smokehouses are...
The year has come to a close, and a new one looms. Many are likely happy to see 2020 go, just as many are also likely eager to see what 2021 has to offer. In either case, this Friday afternoon offers a chance to celebrate in Wrangell fashion; with the annual Polar Bear Plunge. The event will take place at Shoemaker, at 1 p.m. The plunge has been a local tradition for over 20 years now. It had humble beginnings, long ago in the year 2000. In an interview with the Sentinel, Clay Hammer said that...
Groundwork for the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial has come to a halt for winter, but progress has still been made recently. Jenn Miller-Yancey, with the Mariners' Memorial board, reported that work is being done for the memorial's walls, where plaques will one day be hung to commemorate Wrangell sailors who have passed away. "There will be four walls within the memorial, three walls meant to hold plaques that are 26 feet long, curved and vary in height from 42 inches to 8 feet," Miller-Yancey wrote...
Construction of the new Wrangell Medical Center, ongoing since a groundbreaking ceremony in May of 2019, is nearing completion. According to a Dec. 22 press release from the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, the project has reached 95 percent completion. "WMC staff are excited to begin caring for patients in the new facility," said SEARHC Vice President and WMC Hospital Administrator Leatha Merculieff in the press release. "Select staff have already relocated to completed...
On December 22, the first allocations of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination arrived in the communities of Wrangell, Klawock, Haines, Hoonah, Kake, and Angoon. SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) providers and staff are working with medical leaders to coordinate vaccine protocols in respective communities. The shipments were delivered to SEARHC facilities just four days after the vaccine received an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration. "We are...
There were no sled dogs, and Nome is far away from Wrangell, but last week's delivery of COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines was still very Alaskan. Wrangell received its first batch of vaccines for the virus Wednesday, Dec. 16. The medicine was flown in from Sitka on a float plane. Steve Kamm, with Sea Wind Aviation, landed at the harbor a little after noon with two boxes of vaccines. They were delivered to SEARHC staff Aaron Angerman and Kathy Jo Blackburn. Angerman did not say how many vaccines were del...
By Caleb Vierkant Sentinel writer Family, friends, students, and coworkers gathered online and in the WHS gym last Thursday, Dec. 17, to surprise teacher Jack Carney. Carney was named "Assistant Wrestling Coach of the Year" for the 2019-2020 school year. This award came down from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Activities Director Trisa Rooney said, in an email, that this award is normally presented during the state championship in Anchorage. However, as wrestling season had not yet...