Sorted by date Results 1230 - 1254 of 1297
The City and Borough of Wrangell issued a letter last week to Alaska senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski, and Rep. Don Young. Drafted with the assistance of Sebastian O’Kelly, a Washington D.C.-based consultant, it expresses concern about a number of sizable mining developments upstream of the Stikine River in neighboring British Columbia, Canada. The idea of a letter had been discussed in the previous two Borough Assembly meetings, arranged by Borough Manager Jeff Jabusch and discussed and tweaked by members of the Assembly. Signed by M...
Residents of Wrangell are invited to cast their votes in the Borough regular election Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Nolan Center, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Registered voters are asked to bring a form of identification to the polls. Official candidates for this year’s regular election include: – Two candidates for the position of Mayor, incumbent David Jack and Kipha Valvoda. The position is a two-year term. – Two candidates for a three-year term on the School Board, Aleisha Mollen and incumbent Susan Eagle. – Two candidates for two three-year terms on th...
With the departure of Un-Cruise Adventures' "Wilderness Explorer" last Wednesday, Wrangell's cruising season officially comes to an end. Fifty-seven such vessels had been scheduled to arrive this year, according to information provided on the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce website. There were 15 leisure ships scheduled to dock in Wrangell 57 times this year. Doing the arithmetic, if each cruise ship scheduled to arrive was fully-booked and if every passenger disembarked when the ships stopped in...
Wrangell residents might have a new banking option in the future. Helen Mickel, chief operating officer and vice president of Tongass Federal Credit Union, paid the island a visit last Thursday, holding a meet and greet that evening in City Hall. Though only four people showed up to the event, she had spent the afternoon and following morning meeting with the locals. “I’ve had a chance to visit with a lot of people around town,” Mickel said. Overall, she said the response has been positive. “I think there’s a place for us in Wrangell.” In an in...
People interested in entering their names for Wrangell Borough committee and board vacancy appointments need to submit their letters of intent before Monday, Oct. 6. There are ten vacancies that will need to be filled at the special swearing-in meeting of the Borough Assembly Oct. 13. So far only three letters of intent have been submitted. There are two three-year seats on the Planning and Zoning commission; two three-year seats with Parks and Recreation; two three-year terms on the Wrangell Convention and Visitors Bureau; two three-year...
Despite the rough weather and Monday opener, it’s been a good season so far for area moose hunters. According to Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist Rich Lowell, it’s better even than average. Fifty-two moose have been reported killed in the first two weeks, compared to 49 at this time last year for Unit 3, the Petersburg-Wrangell area. A total of 92 were gathered in 2013. Nineteen have so far been taken on the Stikine River, better than the 15 noted for this time last year. A further 16 were reported had on Kupreanof Island. The...
Hospice of Wrangell reports it is kicking off a campaign this week to collect advance directives, educating local residents about them and assisting in their completion. Advance directives are legal documents that include both a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. A living will conveys a person’s wishes about end-of-life care decisions to their family and medical providers. A durable power of attorney allows a designated person to receive medical information and make health care decisions either now or at a time of f...
Continuing pool woes concerned the Wrangell Borough Assembly when members Maxi Wiederspohn, Pam McCloskey, Mark Mitchell, Becky Rooney and Mayor David Jack met in their City Hall chambers Tuesday evening. “It seems that everything here has gone wrong at the same time,” reported Borough Manager Jeff Jabusch. Last month Wrangell public pool staff discovered a number of problems, including a significant leak, roof issues, some corrosion and electrical problems with a heat exchanger. Jabusch said a public pool in Juneau had experienced similar hea...
A film crew working on a documentary that will highlight the relationship between the Stikine River and those who rely on it stopped into Wrangell last week. "We're gathering people's stories on why clean water is important to them," explained Daven Hafey, the project's director and producer. After visiting residents in Telegraph, on Thursday the crew was documenting firsthand accounts in the rumpus room of Wrangell's Harbor Light Church. "There's a guy yesterday that said 'water is not a...
Despite the at times uncooperative weather, the Borough of Wrangell successfully hosted this year's annual Southeast Conference at its Nolan Center, from Sept. 16 to 18. About 180 visitors arrived for the three-day conference, fully booking every inn, hotel and lodge in town. Volunteers opened their houses to some attendees as well, but to accommodate the remaining attendees Trident Seafoods allowed the conference use of its bunkhouses. Volunteers were essential to the event's success, fixing...
Seniors in Wrangell will have a different weapon available this year against seasonal aches and chills brought on by influenza. A “high-dose” vaccine with four times the antigens of the regular, “low-dose” version is being offered by Wrangell Medical Center during its annual adult immunization clinic. This high-dose version of the immunization is recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for adults aged 65 years or older. According to the CDC’s website, human immune defenses weaken with age, placing older people at...
Chloe Massin appeared before Wrangell District Court on Monday for her sentencing, with Judge Kevin Miller presiding. Massin, 55, faced a number of charges stemming from an incident that occurred the evening of Feb. 4, in which she struck a pedestrian with her vehicle and left the scene. She had admitted to being intoxicated at the time. “I am totally embarrassed at myself,” Massin told the court. While she said she had known about her drinking problem, she said “I always thought I could control it.” Massin added that she was relieved William R...
Though the comment period officially ended Sept. 15, the Wrangell Ranger District of the United States Forestry Service is still seeking public input for an upcoming dock project in Anan Bay. “To me it's kind of an open process,” said Ranger Bob Dalrymple. “We're open to input pretty much any time.” The district uses this input as it prepares an environmental assessment, which should be available for public comment later this fall. The wildlife observatory is located about 23 miles southeast of Wrangell on the mainland, part of the Tongass...
Field trips aren’t just for elementary school students, as Wrangell Planning and Zoning commissioners decided Thursday they will need to examine a request to vacate public property first-hand before reaching a final decision. The request to vacate came from The Bay Company, a marine and sports equipment business on Front Street and neighbor to Silvernail Work Road. Currently a portion of the road serves as a northeastern access point to the Marine Service Center (MSC), but the remainder that would link up with Episcopal Street remains c...
By the time the fog finally dissipated Tuesday afternoon, the 56th annual Southeast Conference (SEC) was already underway at Wrangell's Nolan Center. Poor visibility prevented the appearance of the conference's opening speaker, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell, but there were a number of interesting presenters on hand to cover a wide array of topics near and dear to the region. “It's just a great opportunity to learn about all of Southeast,” commented Chere Klein, the Republican candidate for House District 36 in November's upcoming election. “It...
Wrangell High School's girls cross-country team had a fine showing in Petersburg last weekend, coming in fifth overall with 87 points. Seventy-five girls and 127 boys from 15 different schools participated in Saturday's meet. "Petersburg was a great race for all," said Wrangell's head coach, Jenn Davies. Wrangell Public Schools reported the results for 1A, 2A and 3A. For the girls' team, Wrangell runner Amy Jenson took fourth place overall, at 21 minutes, 24 seconds. Kimberly Cooper took sixth...
As 180 delegates converge on Wrangell this week for the 56th annual Southeast Conference, Alaska State House hopefuls have likewise paid a visit in order to meet some of the people one will eventually represent after November's election. Independent candidate Dan Ortiz and Republican Chere Klein are competing for the District 36 seat, which was created during 2011 redistricting and includes Ketchikan, Saxman, Wrangell, Metlakatla and Hydaburg. The incumbent, Rep. Peggy Wilson, is stepping down this year after serving 14 years in the Alaska...
The proposed Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) schedule for next year’s summer season has been placed on the service’s website for public review. The public comment period is an opportunity for communities in Southeast to review and comment on the proposed schedule, particularly as to how planned events might be better accommodated. The proposed schedule can be accessed through a link on the homepage at FerryAlaska.com or at www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/share/schedule/considerations.pdf. Written comments will be accepted before Sept. 23 via ema...
At the public hearing preceding Tuesday’s regular Wrangell Borough Assembly meeting, a few people showed up to listen but only one took to the lectern with her concerns with ordinance number 887, which would amend the municipal code dealing with animal violations and add a new chapter. The proposed ordinance was one of five being considered on their second reading. “The first thing that I have noticed is a series of fines,” Christina Florschutz told the Assembly, looking at the meeting packet. “I’m fine with having fines,” she said, addin...
Closely mirroring the mood of the last Wrangell Borough Assembly meeting, dogs were on the mind of the Port Commission as it met for its first meeting of the season Thursday. Wayne Kaer came to the meeting bearing several grievances, the most urgent of which were the harbors’ uncontrolled canines. Kaer had not been able to speak his mind at the last Borough Assembly meeting because he had arrived after the time for public comment had already passed. He told commissioners that dogs’ rubbish was r...
At the outset of their Wednesday meeting, chairman Grover Mathis told his fellow members on the Wrangell Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that he would soon be departing. “I’m not going to put my name up for reappointment,” he said. Mathis has been on the board since 1997, and he explained he wanted to make room for new participants. “I’m not as involved as I’d like to be,” he explained. “I think it’s time for me to fade away.” Mathis confirmed he still intends to attend the next month or two of meetings, until a replacement is deci...
As the borough catches some of the last rays of summer, members of the Healthy Wrangell Coalition looked at a number of upcoming events this fall at its monthly meeting Tuesday. The coalition is a collaborative group representing the community’s health, education, recreation and religious spheres. An organ recital is planned at the Salvation Army Chapel this Sunday at 3 p.m. Major Scott Nicloy will play a variety of works ranging from classical pieces and church music to theatrical numbers. Admission is free with offering or donation of food i...
Like catching halibut with a herring, one good deed can sometimes attract another. Wells Fargo announced Monday it will contribute $1,000 to Camp Carmel on Vank Island to honor its Wrangell-branch service manager Aleisha Mollen's efforts there as its assistant program director. For three years Mollen has volunteered at the summer camp as a youth counselor. She also provides weekly one-on-one counseling sessions for local youth at Wrangell Bible Baptist Church, which provides free meals for...
An official list of candidates for this year’s City and Borough of Wrangell regular election on Oct. 7 was released by Borough Clerk Kim Lane on Friday evening. At the moment, only two offices are being contested, that of Mayor and for a seat on the Wrangell School Board. Two candidates announced they will be running for the position of Mayor, incumbent David Jack and Kipha Valvoda. The position is a 2-year term. For a 3-year term on the School Board, Aleisha Mollen will run against the i...
School is back in session for the borough's students, after classes resumed last week. To mark the occasion, Wrangell High School and Stikine Middle School hosted their open house Tuesday evening, welcoming parents, students and faculty to mingle a bit over light refreshments. The evening also gave them a chance to acquaint themselves with some new faces at the school. Wrangell School District has a new superintendent, Patrick Mayer, most recently the principal of Delta High School in the Delta-Greely School District. It also has a new...
