Sorted by date Results 1 - 17 of 17
There was a good turnout for the boatyard storage fees workshop before the Port Commission's monthly meeting Feb. 5. Wrangell's Harbor Department is looking at altering two fees, for both storage and work spaces at its Marine Service Center. At the moment, ground rates are per diem set at 50 cents per square-foot. The department has been looking at raising this to 75 cents. “I think that's too big of an increase,” said one local vendor, Don Sorric. “That's not small potatoes.” He was concern...
The two dining rooms at the Stikine Inn were abuzz with ideas Tuesday during Wrangell Public School District's first-ever charette, a planning session held to chart a course for the next five or more years. "I think it went pretty good," said Superintendent Patrick Mayer, who devised the session. "I felt the feedback was very rich, the discussion very rich." Twenty guests joined 24 planning committee members in the hour-and-a-half long session, discussing 16 points spread over four topics in 20-...
The Nolan Center was all decked out with hearts and other Valentine's Day decoratives Saturday night, as 160 people came together for Wrangell's Chamber of Commerce Annual Fundraising Dinner. The Chamber premiered its new video promoting the annual Fourth of July celebration. Chamber director Cyni Waddington also announced the theme for this year's Independence Day festivities: "Hometown Heroes," recognizing the contributions of military personnel. "We always try to make it something that...
Local economy overlooked To the Editor: An open letter to our Alaskan neighbors, The recent trade war over who makes the steel for the renovation of the Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal in Prince Rupert is a tale of two economies: the national economy and our local economy. With Canadian politicians of all stripes opposing the investment in our community because of their distaste for "Buy American" restrictions, we fear that relationships that have been built up with our Alaskan neighbors over many decades may be jeopardized. We would like...
Wrangell High School's girls basketball team hosted the second of two back-to-back weekend bouts against Craig last weekend, losing both games by slim margins. "They were both very close games," said the Lady Wolves' coach, Edna Abella-Nore. The varsity girls played a close game on Friday, taking the lead at one point but tying up with Craig by the fourth buzzer. In a close overtime matchup, Wrangell finished just behind with 35 to Craig's 38. Darian Meissner led the team with 12 points, while T...
Wrangell’s unit of the Salvation Army is looking for community support in preventing homelessness. In an open letter, Major Scott Nicloy pointed out that among the cuts being made across the board in dealing with Alaska’s financial difficulties, funding for the state’s Basic Homeless Assistance Program has been cut from next year’s budget. This grant is administered locally, and as part of its administration of the grant, the Salvation Army has helped applicants fill out the 15-page form needed to receive assistance. The state division of the...
On the heels of its double victory against Craig High School the previous weekend at home, the Panthers reciprocated in kind as Wrangell High School's varsity basketball team lost both of its games in Craig on Feb. 12 and 13. “They went alright,” team coach Ray Stokes said of the games. He explained the varsity squad hadn't played up to its potential the first night, losing by 16 points. “The second night we played as good a game as we've done all season,” he said. The Wolves lost by only three points on Friday, finishing 62 to the Panther...
Wrangell's Planning and Zoning Committee had to postpone its monthly meeting scheduled for Feb. 12, citing a lack of quorum. The committee had previously struggled to meet late last fall, with a two-month gap between its September and December meetings. In addition to holding off decisions on the committee's scheduled business, the delay inadvertently affected another committee's prerogatives as well. Harbormaster Greg Meissner had been directed by the Port Commission at its Feb. 11 meeting to seek input from the committee on whether it would...
The Federal Subsistence Board is seeking comment on proposed regulatory changes to the rural determination process for the Federal Subsistence Program in Alaska. Under current regulations, the board determines which community or area of Alaska is “rural” using guidelines and characteristics as defined by the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture. The changes would seek to allow more flexibility in the process by which the board makes those determinations. Public meetings will be held in conjunction with the Federal Subsistence Reg...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Alaska's health department says the state would see savings by expanding Medicaid coverage to more Alaskans. The department, in a report released Friday, says the state will be able to offset new costs associated with expansion by reducing or eliminating contributions to programs that provide health care to those who would be eligible for Medicaid. It cites as possible $6.1 million in savings next year, should the state opt for expansion. The issue is expected to be debated by lawmakers. Gov. Bill Walker campaign on the i...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – A state Senate committee has advanced a bill that would exempt Alaska from daylight saving time, a measure that its sponsor said would be good for the health of state residents. The bill, from Sen. Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River, would exempt Alaska from the annual time change beginning in 2017. That means Alaska would be five hours behind the East Coast, instead of four hours behind, from about March to November. The delay in implementation is meant to give certain industries, like the cruise industry, time to prepare for...
JUNEAU (AP) — Alaska lawmakers are expected to discuss a new draft of a bill to decriminalize marijuana that mirrors state alcohol regulations. As of Feb. 24, adults 21 years and older can possess up to an ounce of marijuana under a ballot issue passed in November. Lawmakers have been working on a bill that accomplishes that, and also clarifies other related state laws. The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to review the 91-page draft during a Monday hearing. Republican Sen. John Coghill of North Pole says the draft is based on the state's a...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Alaska lawmakers have moved a bill to extend the licensing program for sportfishing guides. The program, through which the Alaska Department of Fish and Game licenses and regulates sportfishing guides and operations, expired at the end of 2014. The House special committee on fisheries moved a bill Thursday that would re-establish the program beginning in 2016. That was introduced by Reps. Cathy Tilton and Cathy Munoz. This year, Fish and Game is issuing temporary licenses without a fee. Operators still must provide i...
Findings from the Alaska Snow Survey Report released February 2015 show that snowpack across the state of Alaska is below normal, and snowpack in Southeast is less than half the normal rate. The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) releases the report quarterly. Locally, data is collected by U.S. Forest Service hydrologist Heath Whitacre who surveys two sites on Mitkof Island: a 1650-foot high site on Raven's Ridge and a 550-foot high site near the old water reservoir. Whitacre's...
PETERSBURG – The first-ever Southeast Commercial Growers Conference will be held in Petersburg Feb. 27- March 1. The event will bring together commercial food and flower growers from across the region to swap ideas and information about how to run a successful venture in a tricky microclimate. Marja Smets and Bo Varsano, owners of Farragut Farm, are organizing the event. Smets said one of the reasons she wanted to put on a conference was to spread local farming knowledge that’s not available in other forms. “We’ve learned that there’s...
Residents wishing to have one or more of the five screenings offered as part of April’s Health Fair will be able to have their blood drawn at the Wrangell Medical Center lab early, starting on Feb. 23 and continuing through March 25. The targeted screenings being offered include tests for one’s health profile, prostate specific antigen, thyroid stimulating hormone, HA1C, and Vitamin D. Would-be subjects can visit during regular business hours Monday through Friday, though the lab will also open at 7 am on Tuesday and Thursday during these weeks...