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Stopping in town one last time before next week's election, Sen. Bert Stedman talked about the state's ongoing deficit woes, by far the largest issue the new set of legislators will be facing when they head into next year's session. Speaking on October 27, he tried to put the scale of the deficit into perspective. While for readability's sake the amount is sometimes expressed in terms of "billions," he noted the full figure may come to between $3,100,000,000 and $3,500,000,000 this year – an a...
Wrangell's wrestlers made a good showing among teams included in this year's Bill Weiss Invitational, held in Ketchikan over the weekend. "They really did well there," explained assistant coach Jack Carney. Included in the competition were larger schools such as Glenallen, which brought along some of their former state champions for the ride. "We had some real stiff competition from Bethel," Carney noted. Dawson Miller and Dillon Rooney both competed in the 160 bracket, with senior Miller...
On the second-to-last week of the campaign trail, a contender for the state’s only U.S. House of Representatives seat was making the rounds in Southeast last weekend. Democratic Party candidate Steve Lindbeck was due to visit Wrangell on Saturday morning, but was unable to fly from Petersburg due to foggy conditions. “Life in Alaska. We love it,” he commented during an interview over the phone. “I’m really sad to miss Wrangell this time, but I’ll get back.” Formerly the Alaska Public Media general manager and associate editor for the Anchorage...
The City and Borough of Wrangell and the public employees union remain on course to pursue litigation in an ongoing collective bargaining dispute. Since the expiration in June 2014 of the current collective bargaining agreement between the city and workers represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547, both sides have been unable to come to terms on a new agreement. Though expired, the 24 employees represented by the union are currently still being compensated under the terms of the old CBA. Mediation undertaken... Full story
Local runners stretched their legs last week in honor of Alaska Day, taking part in a five-kilometer run and half-marathon and raising money for cancer care in the process. The event was put together by Southeast Beasts, a local nonprofit made up of runners, joggers and walkers who get together during the year to enjoy the outdoors and raise money for worthy causes in the process. Since the Alaska Day 5K and Half-Marathon's start in 2014, F/V Pacific Sea owner Frank Warfel Jr. has each year... Full story
The city is currently working on ways to reduce the number of autos, boats and other items abandoned or else improperly stored around the island. Chief Doug McCloskey with the Wrangell Police Department explained there currently are many derelict vehicles on the city's radar, about a dozen in all. In municipal code, junk vehicles by definition are those which are stripped, wrecked or otherwise inoperable due to mechanical failure. Currently it is against the law for a junk vehicle to remain in... Full story
Wrangell’s Wildlife Trooper position was vacated this month, but efforts are being made to refill it. After about a year of service in the area Trooper Fred Burk put in his notice, resigning from the position after the end of September. “We have been trying to fill that position,” explained Captain Steve Hall, commander of the AST Southern Detachment covering Southeast and Southwest Alaska. “We want to see a trooper in the community there.” In Southeast there are currently 15 trooper positions, including one lieutenant and three sergeants...
Exhibits sent in by three local artists returned home with top honors this year. Terree Pino, Anny Newport and Charity Hommel won a collection of awards for their artwork at the 2016 Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines this July, which proceeded from there to be shown at the State Fair in Palmer. The exhibits have since migrated back to their origins and a collection of them are on display in the window of Stikine River Gifts and Apparel. Specializing in photography, Hommel brought back seven...
Wrangell’s high school wrestling team finished in third overall during the weekend’s Pilot Invitational at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. “It was a great tournament,” said Wolves coach Jeff Rooney. “Some great competition all around.” Included in the competition were the Colony High School Knights, a 4A team from Palmer. Rooney said the team raised the level of the tournament and challenged his players. “They did very well,” he commented. Of the 12 taken to Juneau, five ended up competing in the finals, with two finishing in fi...
With elections at the state and national levels set for November 8, candidates have been busy making the rounds, meeting with constituents and engaging in public debates on policy directions. In the race for House District 36, Wrangell voters may already be acquainted with sitting Rep. Dan Ortiz and Republican challenger Bob Sivertsen, both of whom were scheduled to debate in town on Wednesday evening. Interviews with the two have already run in the preceding two issues of the Sentinel. A third candidate is joining them on the ballot this...
At this month's monthly meeting, the Borough Assembly approved a resolution dedicating November 1 to be "Extra Mile Day." An annual proclamation, the designation is meant to encourage community members to "go the extra mile" in personal effort, volunteerism and service. That can manifest itself in many ways, with a number of opportunities coming up this holiday season. Representing the town's collective churches, the Wrangell Ministerial Association will be holding its 15th annual Thanksgiving...
A new bus has been added to the fleet serving Wrangell, the Public School Board learned Monday. Etolin Bus Company has acquired a new Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 model bus, which will be used for transporting middle and high school students on daily routes. Etolin operator Greg McCormack brought it and the previous Blue Bird model down to Evergreen Elementary to demonstrate the differences. “The new bus we have is what I consider the world’s most modern school bus,” he commented. Compared to the older vehicles, the Thomas sports a number of added... Full story
Wrangell’s Chamber of Commerce has been recognized as the best in the state this year. The Chamber of Commerce received the recognition last week during the annual Alaska State Chamber Conference in Kenai. The 2016 Local Chamber of Commerce of the Year Award recognizes Wrangell’s CoC for its “consistent community involvement and excellent business reputation.” “This is just fantastic that we received that,” Chamber board president Christie Jamieson commented after the announcement. She felt the award recognized efforts on the organizatio... Full story
Area hunters brought in a bumper harvest this fall, with 113 moose reported for the 2016 season by its end on Saturday. The total ended up being the largest on record, besting the 109 harvested in 2009. That year, antler restrictions were loosened to allow the harvest of bulls with two brow tines on both antlers, allowing for better yields. Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist Rich Lowell noted returns on the Stikine River were well below the long-term yearly average of 26 moose, with... Full story
Last week a Wrangell-based clinical services provider announced its formal merger with another regional health service. Alaska Island Community Services (AICS) and SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) will formally affiliate; a process which is expected to be finalized by the beginning of February 2017. Since 1989 AICS has provided clinical and mental health services to the community, expanding its service range to Petersburg, Gustavus, Point Baker, Port Protection, Coffman Cove, Whale Pass, Naukati and Edna Bay. Last month it a...
Wrangell Cooperative Association added its voice to the chorus of people concerned about Canadian mining concerns developing upstream of shared rivers. The forum was a hearing held by the Alaska House Fisheries Special Committee in Juneau on October 12. Testimony was collected from around the state, with speakers calling in even from as far away as Arizona. The issue at hand is a collection of large scale mines either operating or in development, located in the watersheds of the Stikine, Unuk and Taku rivers. For Wrangell, the Red Chris mine...
The high school's wrestling team was off to a good start to the season this week, with several of its athletes taking top spots for their weight classes at Petersburg's Invitational. "The kids did awesome for the first tournament," said Wolves assistant coach Jack Carney. Three Wrangell wrestlers finished in first place for their brackets. Junior Ian Jenson topped the 138 bracket with three wins on Friday, two by decision and one by fall. In the round-robin next day, he added two more victories...
Ahead of next month's general election, candidates for Wrangell's State House district have been stopping in to meet with constituents and secure their votes on November 8. Running for District 36 as a Republican, Ketchikan Councilman Bob Sivertsen spoke about his candidacy. He had previously visited the community on the campaign trail over July 4 and in September. "I think the campaign's been going great," Sivertsen said. "I spent a fair amount of time in Wrangell, visiting with residents. And...
Meeting last week for the first time since June, Wrangell’s Port Commission set some priorities for its coming sessions. “We have a number of items we’re going to have on our plate,” explained commission president Clay Hammer. Of these, the three largest issues will be organizing a steering committee for construction of a new mariners memorial, reassessing the duration of lot leases at the Marine Service Center, and managing public access to the boatyard. The longest in the works, construction of the memorial weighed highly among commiss...
The City and Borough Assembly has begun the search process for a new city manager. At the Assembly’s previous meeting on September 27, current manager Jeff Jabusch announced his intention to retire, effective March 31, 2017. Working for the city since 1977, he has served in his present position since 2013. Assembly members formally accepted his resignation during their Tuesday evening meeting. A hiring committee is to be formed and will undertake the task of advertising for the position and vetting candidates. “We’ve done this two diffe...
Wrangell's 2016 Municipal Election concluded last week, with results certified by a special meeting of the Borough Assembly on Monday. The Canvass Board met October 6 to sort through and count additional ballots. Assembly members Dave Powell, Mark Mitchell and Becky Rooney comprised the board, which was supervised by Borough Clerk Kim Lane and election chair Sarah Whittlesey-Merritt. Seventy-two ballots in addition to those cast on October 4 were considered, which included absentee or mailed-in...
Rep. Dan Ortiz is running for reelection on November 8, to represent District 36 in the Alaska State House. Going door to door through Wrangell on the campaign trail late last month, he stopped in the Sentinel office to talk about his record, his candidacy, and the direction he believes the state should head in the coming session. Unaffiliated with any political party, after being elected to office in 2014, Ortiz served both legislative sessions caucusing with the Democratic-led House Minority....
A new business will be setting up shop at Wrangell’s boatyard. At its meeting last week, the Port Commission recommended transfer of Lot 6 at the Marine Service Center, belonging to Josh Young of J&R Fiberglass, to Steve Christensen of CTT Marine. If approved by the Borough Assembly Tuesday, the deal between the two business owners can be concluded this weekend. It would also be the first lease lot transferred since the yard was built. “We’ll try to build on the reputation Josh has already built with that,” Christensen said. He and his wife, L...
The state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced Tuesday a proposed ferry schedule for the coming summer. The schedule patterns being proposed for the Alaska Marine Highway System would cover sailings from May through September. The schedule is based on expected funding levels for the 2018 fiscal year. It would feature an overall 10-week service reduction to operations, down to around 325 operating weeks. “It’s pretty consistent,” explained Jeremy Woodrow, public information officer for ADOTP&F. Service to Wrangell would...
The City and Borough Assembly has begun the search process for a new city manager. At the Assembly’s previous meeting on September 27, current manager Jeff Jabusch announced his intention to retire, effective March 31, 2017. Working for the city since 1977, he has served in his present position since 2013. Assembly members formally accepted his resignation during their Tuesday evening meeting. A hiring committee is to be formed and will undertake the task of advertising for the position and vetting candidates. “We’ve done this two diffe...
