Articles from the February 20, 2020 edition


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  • New nonprofit recognized, citizens of the year named at chamber of commerce dinner

    Caleb Vierkant|Feb 20, 2020

    The Wrangell Chamber of Commerce held its annual dinner last Saturday evening. Community members from all over town came to the dinner, including several out-of-town guests such as Representative Dan Ortiz and Senator Bert Stedman. Like last year, the dinner served as an opportunity for the community to come together for a good meal and to participate in a number of auctions and raffles. The dinner also served as an opportunity to recognize people and organizations that really stood out over...

  • Wrangell resident found deceased in overturned vessel southwest of Wrangell

    Caleb Vierkant|Feb 20, 2020

    Randall Ferdinand, 53, of Wrangell, passed away at sea last Sunday. A dispatch from the Alaska State Troopers reports that they received a report of an overturned vessel about 12 miles southwest of Wrangell the afternoon of Feb. 16. Wrangell Search and Rescue and the Coast Guard went to investigate and the vessel in question was located around 3 p.m. The 32-foot vessel had struck some rocks in shallow water. Wrangell Search and Rescue and Wildlife Troopers from Ketchikan remained on scene...

  • The Way We Were In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago.

    Feb 20, 2020

    February 19, 1920 There was a well attended meeting of the Parent-Teachers’ association last Thursday evening. Interesting addresses were delivered by Mr. Gordon C. Mitchell, Mrs. George H. Barnes, and Mr. H. L. Rowley, recently of Bayview. The audience was favored with a vocal solo by Mrs. W. W. McLaughlin. In addition to the program there was a profitable discussion of school matters. The meeting opened and closed with singing led by Mrs. W. W. McLaughlin. The president appointed the following committees to act for the remainder of the p...

  • Court report

    Feb 20, 2020

    Jan. 27: A change of plea hearing was held for James Howe, charged with unlawful contact, violating conditions of release, being a felon in possession of a weapon, having a weapon in the house of a felon, and harassment. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for June 22. A change of plea hearing was held for Valerie Nakamura, charged with driving with a cancelled/revoked/suspended license. Another charge of driving in violation of license limitation was dismissed by prosecution. She pled guilty to the first charge, and the second charge was...

  • Police report

    Feb 20, 2020

    February 10 Nothing to report. February 11 Citation for Blocking Roadway Prohibited and Prohibited Parking Places issued to James Edward Vandebunte III, 57. Citizen Assist. Abandoned Property. Jessica Ritchie, 29, charged with Driving under the Influence. Domestic Dispute. February 12 Citizen Assist: Unlocked Vehicle. Catering Permit. Civil Issue. Security Check. Found Dog. February 13 Agency Assist: Hoonah Police Department. Civil Issue. Summons Service. Agency assist: TSA. February 14 Hit and Run. Domestic Violence Order Service. Lost...

  • Assembly discusses borough goals, makes appointments to investment committee

    Caleb Vierkant|Feb 20, 2020

    The Wrangell Borough Assembly met last Tuesday evening, Feb. 11, for a work session on the borough's future goals. The discussion was meant to ensure that all city employees understood what Wrangell's priorities are, and what they are all working towards. According to the meeting's agenda packet, the borough had a wide variety of goals to consider. Some of the goals laid out in the agenda packet included development of the old Institute and Byford junkyard properties, and cleaning up abandoned...

  • Letter to the Editor

    Feb 20, 2020

    As residents of the towns near the proposed Kake Road, we firmly oppose it. The $40 million raised for this “road to nowhere” should instead support the return of the Alaska Marine Highway System to our coastal Alaskan communities struggling without ferry service. It is one thing to waste taxpayer money on a project no one is asking for, and another to do so while claiming funding for vitally needed and popular ferry services doesn’t exist. This proposal would cross the rugged wilds of Kupreanof Island from the village of Kake to a salt water...

  • Dan's Dispatch

    Dan Ortiz|Feb 20, 2020

    Each session, the Legislature’s biggest responsibility is to pass a budget for the State of Alaska. The House Budget Subcommittees - which examine the details of each department budget - have finished their budget recommendations. I serve as Chair of three budget subcommittees, and we submitted the following budget actions to the House Finance Committee for further review. The subcommittee for the Department of Environmental Conservation restored the Ocean Ranger program and protected funding for commercial shellfish PSP testing. The s...

  • Youth advocate Derek Peterson discusses importance of "webs of support"

    Caleb Vierkant|Feb 20, 2020

    Derek Peterson visited Wrangell on Monday and Tuesday to host a series of workshops to talk about Integrative Youth Development and how it could help the community's children. According to a flyer announcing his visit to Wrangell, Peterson is an international child and youth advocate. He is the Founder of the Institute for Community and Adolescent Resiliency - Unifying Solutions, as well as Integrative Youth Development. Integrative Youth Development, according to the ICAR-US website, is a...

  • Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, Sunday February 16, 2020 - The face of Alaska Native civil rights

    Caleb Vierkant|Feb 20, 2020

    Elizabeth Peratrovich Day took place this past Sunday, Feb. 16. Peratrovich was one of Alaska's better-known civil rights activists. Born in Petersburg in 1911 and coming from the Tlingit nation, she fought for the rights of native Alaskans. In 1945 she was instrumental in the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act by the territorial legislature. Fourth and fifth graders at Evergreen Elementary put together an art display in recognition of Peratrovich and her work, which is currently on display...

  • Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, Sunday February 16, 2020 - The face of Alaska Native civil rights

    Feb 20, 2020

    Students of Evergreen Elementary School, and Head Start, gathered together at the elementary school gym for a celebration of the annual Elizabeth Peratrovich Day on Feb. 18 in Alaska. As the holiday fell on a Sunday this year, the celebration took place a few days afterwards. The celebration featured songs and dances from Wrangell’s JOM dance group, a song by Head Start students, and speeches about who Peratrovich was and why she was so important to the civil rights movement in Alaska. P...

  • Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, Sunday February 16, 2020 - The face of Alaska Native civil rights

    Brian Varela|Feb 20, 2020

    PETERSBURG ­– The Petersburg Indian Association, Petersburg Arts Council and Petersburg ANB/ANS hosted the first annual Elizabeth Peratrovich Day celebration on Sunday to honor the woman who spearheaded Alaska's Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945. The ceremony began with a march down Nordic Dr. that began at the Trading Union and ended at the John Hanson Sr. Hall where the celebration continued. Master of Ceremonies Nathan Lopez acknowledged the work that Peratrovich and her husband Roy did for civ...

  • Alaska Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|Feb 20, 2020

    Lost in the headlines about the hits to seafood sales from the Trump Administration’s trade war with China is another international barrier with Russia that’s been going on far longer. In August of 2014 Russia placed an embargo on all U.S. food products to retaliate for sanctions the U.S and other Western countries imposed over the invasion of Ukraine. The ban included Alaska seafood, which at the time accounted for more than $61 million in annual sales to Russia, primarily from pink salmon roe. But here’s the bigger hurt: For the nearly six y...

  • Middle School Wrestlers

    Feb 20, 2020

    Middle schoolers from Wrangell spent the latter part of last week in Juneau, taking part in the Southeast Alaska Middle School wrestling championships. As a team, they came in fifth place with a total of 180 points. They were just behind Petersburg, in fourth place. First place went to Floyd Dryden Middle School, of Juneau, the hosts of the championship. Of the 18 Wrangell middle school students who wrestled last week, 10 made placement in their brackets. Back Row: Coach Jack Carney, Vanessa...

  • P&Z commission approve permit for drive-through coffee shop

    Caleb Vierkant|Feb 20, 2020

    The Wrangell Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a proposed business. Sara Gadd has plans to establish a drive-through coffee shop in the industrial park, at the corner of Bennett Street and Howell Avenue. This topic was brought up in the commission's previous meeting in January, but was tabled as Gadd was not present to answer questions, nor did the commission have a written agreement from the owner of the lot next to this potential business allowing driveway...

  • Lady Wolves go 1-1 against Miss Chiefs

    Caleb Vierkant|Feb 20, 2020

    The Wrangell Lady Wolves played a set of home games against the Metlakatla Miss Chiefs last week, Feb. 14 and 15. Both teams have been having strong performances this year. The last time the two teams met, after Rally the Regions in early January, Wrangell walked away defeated in two very close games. This time, however, both teams fought hard and managed one win each. The first game on Friday went to the Miss Chiefs. The game started with a score of 12-18 in the first quarter, Wrangell...

  • Wolves take two losses against Metlakatla last week

    Caleb Vierkant|Feb 20, 2020

    The Wrangell Wolves took two losses against the Metlakatla Chiefs last week, Feb. 14 and 15. Both games saw the Wolves struggle to score points and keep up with the Chiefs, while also struggling to put up a defense strong enough to keep Metlakatla away from their basket. The first game on Friday, opened with the Wolves dragging behind at 16-7 in the first quarter. Both teams scored a series of points in the second quarter, but the Wolves were able to maintain the nine-point difference between...

  • "Eskimo Ninja" Nick Hanson stops in Wrangell on motivational speaking tour

    Caleb Vierkant|Feb 20, 2020

    Hailing from the village of Unalakleet, Nick Hanson is probably best known as the "Eskimo Ninja," a regular contestant on American Ninja Warrior. He has competed on the TV show, running through a series of obstacle courses and physical challenges, since its seventh season in 2015. His most recent participation in the show last year, season 11, saw him make it to the first stage of the finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. In his four years on the show, going on five, Hanson has represented his family,...

  • Lawmakers vote to give Alaska Marine Highway System a lifeline

    Feb 20, 2020

    Today, Alaska’s ferries are one step closer to receiving badly needed funds. Members of the budget subcommittee working on the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities’ budget voted to add $18.7 million into the AMHS budget. Rep. Louise Stutes (R-Kodiak) is a member of the DOT budget subcommittee, chair of the House Transportation Committee, and serves on the Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Work Group. Representative Stutes said, “Shelves in grocery stores are empty. Alaskans are missing medical appointments. Mothers are turni...