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The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is seeking volunteers to play victims, friends and family members, even news reporters in a mass casualty exercise Oct. 5. The drill is planned for 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wrangell Medical Center, providing an opportunity for hospital staff “to test their emergency plans and procedures,” SEARHC said in its promotional flyer for the event. “Some (not all) volunteers will receive extensive make-up (moulage) to enhance realism,” the flyer said. “Volunteers should understand that this exercise...
The Alaska Marine Highway System has been advertising statewide since June in a concerted effort to recruit new crewmembers for the vessels, though help did not arrive in time when the LeConte had to cancel its northbound sailing out of Juneau on Aug. 11 due to a crew shortage. The cancelation “stems from a system-wide crew shortage,” Sam Dapcevich, public information officer for the ferry system, told the Chilkat Valley News in Haines. The one-day cancellation disrupted travel plans for 84 people who were traveling to Haines or Skagway, accord...
The borough has awarded contracts for a new 75-foot-long net repair float at Shoemaker Bay, which will be 99% covered by federal and state funds. The float used by fishermen at the harbor has been in terrible shape for some time, Mayor Steve Prysunka said at the Aug. 11 assembly meeting, where members approved the two contracts. The estimated cost for the float project, and additional electrical work, is roughly $128,000. With a $46,000 federal grant after the 2016 pink salmon disaster declaration, and almost $81,000 from a state grant, Wrangel...
Most of last year's runners are back for the high school cross-country team, with some freshmen joining the squad too, the coach said. Practice is underway and the first meet will be sometime in September. "It's really nice to have some younger kids join the team. I've got most of my kiddos back, so that's great," said coach Mykayla Rooney, in her second year. This year's team consists of 15 runners, but a few need to take their physicals before they can start running, Rooney said. "I only had...
The community group BRAVE (Building Respect and Valuing Everyone) is making plans for its fourth annual Family Resilience Fair, scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Nolan Center. The intent of the event “is to make people aware of the resources available” for dealing with stress, food insecurity, maintaining healthy relationships and more. “Learn how your community can help your family,” according to BRAVE. The event will include tables staffed by nonprofits, government agencies and service providers, said organizer Kay Larson. Admissio...
As the new school year gets closer, the Wrangell School District is looking for community volunteers to serve on several committees to help inform and guide school leadership. The district is seeking applicants for seven committees: Budget/finance, calendar, curriculum, career and technical education, facilities, policy and technology. “Ideally, we’d have five to seven members at a minimum, on each,” said Kim Powell, district administrative assistant. “It’s open, and anyone who is interested is encouraged to serve.” The committees can include...
After a one-day closure Friday due to staff exposure to an individual with COVID-19, the borough landfill will reopen Saturday for its normal business hours. City hall, which also closed to the public on Friday due to COVID exposure, will reopen Monday, according to a borough statement Friday afternoon. In announcing the closures Friday morning, the borough said they were acting "out of an abundance of caution to staff and the public." Borough officials on Thursday reported two new COVID-19 cases in Wrangell, bringing to seven the number of...
Candidacy filing is open for the municipal election, with nine seats on the ballot for borough assembly, port commission and school board — three seats each. The filing deadline is Aug. 31. The declaration of candidacy form is available weekdays at the borough clerk’s office at city hall. Candidates also need to submit a petition signed by at least 10 qualified voters in Wrangell. The assembly seats held by Terry Courson, David Powell and Bob Dalrymple will be on the Oct. 5 ballot, as will the port commission seats of Frank Roppel, Brian Mer...
The borough received just one bid for the unused National Guard armory on Second Avenue. It had set an asking price of $110,000 for the 1,200-square-foot structure, and that was the amount offered by the only bidder: Tim Gardner, of Oregon. Bids closed last Friday. “It would have been nice for it to go up, but that’s OK,” Borough Clerk Kim Lane said of the minimum bid. The borough is waiting to receive Gardner’s final payment before signing the deed and officially transferring the property to him, Lane said.. The armory, built in 1982, sits on...
The U.S. Postal Service will officially release the "Raven Story" stamp at 11 a.m. Friday at the Sealaska Heritage Institute in Juneau. The stamp, designed by Juneau-based Rico Lanáat' Worl, a Tlingit and Athabascan artist, depicts Raven freeing the sun, stars and moon. The ceremony will be streamed live through the heritage institute's YouTube channel. The Postal Service said Antonio Alcalá, who served as art director on the project, reached out to Worl about creating the stamp after seeing h...
The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium has joined the list of health care providers encouraging Alaskans to participate in the potentially money-saving special enrollment period for insurance offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The latest round of federal aid for people hurt by the pandemic’s hit to the economy, the American Rescue Plan Act, includes “additional insurance subsidies and (ACA) plan options for individuals and families,” SEARHC explained in a prepared statement July 22. “During this one-time special enrollm...
Wrangell's annual Bearfest opens Wednesday and will feature symposiums by bear experts, art and photo workshops, children's games, pool time and more - even a demonstration by a Seattle sushi chef, adding a seafood entrée to the five-day festival menu. This year's Bearfest will run to Aug. 1, returning in full force after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a scaled-back celebration in 2020. The schedule also includes children's events, live music, the annual Bearfest run, a golf tournament,...
This spring’s federal pandemic aid legislation included a provision that could reduce the cost of health insurance available under the Affordable Care Act, the decade-old program that has provided federally subsidized insurance to millions of Americans. The extended deadline to sign up for the latest savings is Aug. 15. The American Rescue Plan, signed into law in March, included a provision for a special enrollment period and additional savings, in particular to help people who lost jobs, income or insurance coverage due to the economic hit o...
Randy Easterly took the top spot in the unlimited-horsepower competition in the Fourth of July boat races over the 1,800-foot-long course in front of the City Dock, with Wayne Easterly winning first place in the limited competition for 115-horsepower and under. The limited and unlimited races were double-elimination, head-to-head competition. Brandon Kenfield won the jet slalom race, a timed event. This year's winners were: Jet slalom 1st, Bandon Kenfield, 20.94 seconds; $500 2nd, Britni...
The Fourth of July target competition, held July 3 at the gun range, saw a big turnout. According to organizer Allen Rooney, 69 people came out to shoot and test their skills. The results of the competition are: Boys Gavin Dabrowski, 34 points Jace Felix, 32 points Gavin Hunt, 30 points Girls Braidyn Young, 23 points Kiara Harrison, 17 points Peyton Paulo-Sambito, 15 points Men John Buness, 45 points Jean-Luc Lewis, 44 points John Felix, 42 points Women Jeanie Littlejohn, 27 points Leslie...
Though the library is not completely closing the book on pandemic protocols, the numbers are up and “the kids are coming in,” with 153 registered for the summer reading program, said Margaret Villarma, director at the Irene Ingle Public Library. That’s just a small drop from the roughly 170 summer readers of 2019, pre-pandemic. “It feels like we’re pretty much back,” she said. The summer reading program will end July 31, with an in-person pool party planned for Aug. 7. “We’ve always had this pool pizza party,” Villarma said. Always, that is, ex...
Borough officials late Friday afternoon reported Wrangell's second COVID-19 case since the Fourth of July celebration. The individual is a Wrangell resident who had not recently traveled out of town, but is linked to the other case reported earlier this week. "The individual is symptomatic and is isolating. No additional information is known at this time," the borough said in its prepared statement. This week's two cases are the first confirmed COVID-19 infections reported in Wrangell since June 17. The Parks and Recreation Department on...
The Fourth of July is a fun time for all ages in Wrangell, even for those still learning how to walk. Sunday's festivities included toddler games on the City Hall lawn. Candy was thrown around the lawn for the kids to race to pick up, seeing who could get the most. The results were: Babies not yet crawling: Saydee Bartlett Babies not yet walking: Tylon Grant Girls not yet 2: 1st place, Ember Rae 2nd place, Emilee Stewart 3rd place, Leah Comstock Honorable mentions: Kinsley Garvey and Aeralynn...
The borough will be using roughly $46,000 from a federal grant for pink salmon disaster relief to build a new net repair float at Shoemaker Harbor. Harbormaster Steve Miller said that when the city accepted the funding, part of the agreement was that it had to be used in a way that would benefit Wrangell fishermen. A new net repair float has been needed for some time, he said. “The one that’s there is probably over 30 years old, so it’s kind of outlived its life,” Miller said. Bids are due today for furnishing a one-piece steel floatin...
Following up on its spring competition, the Wrangell Convention and Visitor Bureau is holding a summer “Best of Wrangell” photo contest. The contests are part of the bureau’s initiative to showcase “all of the activities and adventure to be found on and around Wrangell Island,” according to its website. The visitor bureau will use some of the contest photos and videos in its work to promote Wrangell. The contest opened July 1 and will run until the end of August, and is open to Wrangell locals and visitors. Participants are limited to 10 ent...
Among the many popular contests in Wrangell's Fourth of July celebration are the canoe races, with this year's winners from Saturday's competition as follows: Cork Capture, ages 11 to 14 Male: Caiden Scott and Sinon Elekdag Female: Johanna Sanford and Selah Purviance Co-ed: Gracie Richard and Dane Richard Short Sprint, ages 15 to 17 Alisha Armstrong and Ashleigh Loomis, tied with Braidyn and Bella Ritchie Long Sprint, ages 18 and up Male: Duane Ricker and Ryhan Groshong Female: Ashley Powers...
Wrangell’s Fourth of July festivities kicked off last Friday with a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the court by Evergreen Elementary school. The winners were: Girls’ champions Team Young: Taylor Young, Brynlee Young, Braidyn Young and Alivia Young. Middle school champions Panthers: Michael Cook, Devyn Young and Kyler Young. Men’s champions Team Fathom: Sean Thomas, Ian Gibbons and Curtis Hitchings....
With the arrival of the biggest cruise ship to call on Wrangell this summer a month away, the borough and the cruise company have settled on operating plans to help lessen any risk of spreading COVID-19 among passengers, crew and residents. Silversea Cruises is planning to dock the Silver Muse in town Aug. 1, 22 and Sept. 12. The ship has capacity to carry 600 passengers and a crew of 400. Basically, the cruise line and borough have agreed to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Wrangell Economic Development Director...
Wrangell is a dog-friendly town. With easy access to the outdoors and places to explore, exercise and play, the island is a dog’s paradise. However, the Wrangell Police Department wants people to remember there are rules when it comes to their pets. With the warmer weather, Chief Tom Radke said they are seeing more people just letting their dogs wander free, and they have seen an uptick in phone calls complaining about loose dogs. “You just can’t let your dog outside without being with your dog, and the dog’s on a leash,” he said. Municipal...
Actually, the hot dogs will be cold dogs. A new event at this year’s Wrangell Fourth of July celebration will be a wiener toss, planned for 8:30 p.m. July 3 on Front Street. Sponsored by radio station KSTK, the toss will offer prizes for unusual tosses, not necessarily the longest toss or last to drop the dog, said Brittani Robbins, executive director of the chamber of commerce. “It’s throwing raw hot dogs at each other,”she said. While the long holiday weekend is just a week away and plans are set for most events, the chamber, which organizes...
