Articles from the January 26, 2017 edition


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  • More butter clams carrying PSP risk

    Dan Rudy|Jan 26, 2017

    A new sample site shows more butter clams carry the risk of paralytic shellfish poisoning for consumers, according to a report released last week. Since last year Wrangell Cooperative Association's Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (IGAP) staff have been collecting samples of various bivalves from the beaches around Shoemaker Bay on a weekly basis. It added a new site further south to its monitoring, near Pats Landing. It was here that the butter clam samples showed unsafe...

  • Wrangell women join sister marches nationwide

    Dan Rudy|Jan 26, 2017

    Joining millions of other women and men estimated to have marched worldwide on Saturday, 20 residents of Wrangell held a Women's March of their own downtown on February 21. The Women's March on Washington was a daylong event emphasizing that "women's rights are human rights," following the swearing-in of President Donald Trump the previous day. The group which organized the event cited the divisive rhetoric of the past election cycle as the underlying cause of the march. "The march wasn't about...

  • The Way We Were

    Jan 26, 2017

    January 25, 1917: The Wrangell sawmill will start up earlier this year than ever before in its history. When seen by the Sentinel man this week Fred Wilson, the manager, stated that everything is being done to get in readiness for an early start, and that while the date for beginning operations has not been set, it is expected that sawing will begin on February 1. The coming season will be the busiest the mill has ever had. Orders have been coming in since before the first of the year. Ever since the mill shut down on November 21 there has been...

  • Roller derby team takes on task of local recycling

    Dan Rudy|Jan 26, 2017

    Taking up the mantle left by the Lions Club after it closed its Wrangell chapter last summer, the Garnet Grit Betties roller derby team is continuing its aluminum collection program. For two decades the club had raised money for itself through the program, as aluminum is one of the few recyclable materials which can turn a profit for collectors. Reprocessing the material is considerably more efficient than producing it from bauxite ore, a savings which makes it more profitable than iron scrap...

  • Courts

    Jan 26, 2017

    January 10 James T. Goldsbury, 59, appeared before First District Magistrate Judge Chris Ellis on the misdemeanor charge of Criminal Mischief 5 – Tampering with Property. The defendant pleaded no contest to the offense, and was found guilty. Goldsbury was sentenced to serve five days with four suspended, pay a suspended $250 fine and make restitution, and to pay $100 in unsuspended surcharges. He is placed on probation for one year....

  • Police reports

    Jan 26, 2017

    Monday, January 16 Failure to Yield for School Bus: Citation issued to Larissa Siekawitch, 48. Tuesday, January 17 Traffic Stop: Verbal warning for driving habits. Suspicious Activity. Agency Assist: FD. Access of Persons Prohibited. Noise Complaint: Disorderly conduct warning given to turn down music. Wednesday, January 18 Noise Complaint. Thursday, January 19 Nothing to Report. Friday, January 20 Citizen Assist. Agency Assist: Public Works. Agency Assist: Parking Complaint. MVA: Hit and Run. Agency Assist: Harbor Department. Unsecured Premise...

  • New manager named for Trident plant

    Dan Rudy|Jan 26, 2017

    Trident Seafoods will be welcoming a new manager for its Wrangell plant during the summer's production run. Nick Ohmer was named as the company's selection in a media brief last week. A lifelong resident of Southeast Alaska, in an interview Ohmer said he would be bringing to the job his local knowledge and personal connections with Wrangell's fishermen. Ohmer grew up in Petersburg, and even before fishing alongside those from the neighboring community he grew up with many of them through basketb...

  • Dan's Dispatch

    Jan 26, 2017

    By Representative Dan Ortiz Governor Walker submitted a budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year, which includes three primary items: cuts in government spending, increased revenue, and the use of some Permanent Fund earnings, which is a separate fund from where we collect our dividend. During his State of the State, Governor Walker emphasized the significant cuts we’ve made since 2015. We’ve cut the budget from $8 billion to $5 billion. We’ve cut government spending by 44%. When factoring in inflation and population growth, our current spendin...

  • Airport crew lauded for their work

    Dan Rudy|Jan 26, 2017

    The maintenance crew at Wrangell International Airport was recognized for an ongoing run of outstanding service. In a release, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced it presented the team with a plaque detailing the years they passed a pair of important federal inspections. Since 2011, Wrangell has passed its Federal Aviation Administration annual inspections without any letters of correction given. The FAA operations certification focuses on airport safety, paying...

  • Wedding announcement

    Jan 26, 2017

    Michael and Leanna Nash of Wrangell, Alaska announce the engagement of Leanna's daughter, Jessica Blunt to Chris Stewart, son of Ted and Joan Stewart of Kalispell, Montana. Jessica is a Wrangell High School graduate and currently works as a purser for the Alaska Ferry System. Chris graduated from Flathead High school in Kalispell, Montana and has lived in Wrangell since 2007. He works at City Market as a butcher. A wedding is planned for April 2017 in Wrangell....

  • Letter to the Editor

    Jan 26, 2017

    “House boats” To the Editor: I’ve been following the Stikine River houseboat dilemma for some time now with interest. I did moose patrols for the Fish and Wildlife Service on the river in 1957, 58 and 59. I also ran the river in the 70 and 80s with friends in Petersburg and Telegraph Creek with a youth camp. There were no house boats on the river in that time. There were, however, numerous private cabins and moose tree huts. Soon after statehood, the Forest Service, after taking much criticism for being a mere “Logging Service” started their so...

  • Varsity boys take two hosting Craig

    Dan Rudy|Jan 26, 2017

    Wrangell's boys basketball team won two while hosting Craig High School on January 20 and 21. "I thought the boys looked good this weekend," said Wolves coach Ray Stokes. "I was really proud of them." During Friday night's game the Wolves started with a commanding lead over Craig, picking up 29 points in the first quarter and 43 by the half. Play grew defensive into the second half, and by the end Wrangell stood with a 68-29 win. Five of the team's players shot with 50-percent accuracy, and...

  • Anan permits available next week

    Jan 26, 2017

    The Forest Service (USFS) announced its permits for visiting Anan Wildlife Observatory this summer will be available at the start of next month. At 8 a.m. on February 1 members of the public will be able to reserve permits at the Recreation.gov website. Twenty permits will be made available for each day of the season, which runs from July 5 to August 25. Visitation outside this time frame does not require a permit. Reservations and payment can also be made by phone, at the 1-877-444-6777 hotline. Permits for 2017 cost $10 apiece, with an...

  • Girls take two in high school basketball weekend

    Dan Rudy|Jan 26, 2017

    The Lady Wolves have got themselves back on track for the second half of their season with a pair of wins against Craig last weekend. The team is third in the region at 4-4-0, sitting just behind Petersburg after its recent losses in Metlakatla last week. "They were pretty good games for us," said Wrangell's coach, Laurie Brown. In their opening game on January 20, Craig held a lead on Wrangell through the first half. Brown pointed out her team overcame a 15-point deficit at one juncture, and...

  • Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|Jan 26, 2017

    Candied salmon ice creampoke snack kits salmon bisque baby food fish skin tote bags and pet oils – Those are among the more than 20 new items to be revealed this week at the industry’s most popular annual seafood soiree: the Alaska Symphony of Seafood, where the public is invited to taste and vote on their favorites. Now in its 24th year, the event attracts commercially ready entries from major companies to small “Mom and Pop’s” who frequently take home the top prizes. Bambino’s Baby Food of Anchorage, for example, won grand prize for its Hali...

  • Gardening group looking for regrowth

    Dan Rudy|Jan 26, 2017

    After the Borough Assembly last month approved expansion of its Memorial Cemetery, the Wrangell Community Garden Committee needs new digs to plant in. Started in 2010, the garden group reached an agreement with the city allowing them use of their current patch, by the old ball field west of the cemetery. Since its start though, group committee member Kris Reed explained their numbers have withered somewhat and they’re looking for new members. Currently there are five garden users, who in addition to pulling weeds and sowing seeds divide club t...

  • P&Z approves Harbor House application

    Dan Rudy|Jan 26, 2017

    At a specially scheduled meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, it issued conditional use permitting for a proposed senior living and assisted care center. The center would be at the site of Sourdough Lodge, which is between Peninsula and Berger streets and is currently zoned light industrial. Before its sale last year the lodge operated under a conditional use permit, which would need to be applied for by the new owners as well. Shannon Bosdell and Daniel Blake are working to convert the lodge into Harbor House Assisted Livin...

  • Water plant upgrade evaporated by higher pricing

    Dan Rudy|Jan 26, 2017

    Members of the Wrangell Assembly learned a new water treatment plant being sought after will be financially unfeasible for the foreseeable future, and are looking into other options. Even before the water shortage problems of last summer due to its plant being unable to keep up with demand, the city was aware the facility could use replacement. After it was installed nearly two decades ago, the treatment plant's combination of roughing filters and slow sand filtration system turned out to be ill-suited to the sedimented water coming from Wrange...