Articles from the February 23, 2017 edition


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  • Assembly approves hotel tidelands purchase

    Dan Rudy|Feb 23, 2017

    At its rescheduled meeting last week, the City and Borough Assembly approved a bid by the Stikine Inn to purchase adjacent tidelands for less than assessed value. Southeast Properties LLC, which has owned the hotel for a decade, proposed purchasing from the city 5,450 square feet of submerged tidelands and 2,000 square feet of uplands to the north and west of the property's current boundaries. The assessed value of the site was at $101,200, based on estimated fair market value as of July 1,...

  • Candidate search to reboot after fly-in interview

    Dan Rudy|Feb 23, 2017

    After meeting with one candidate in a closed-door session last week, the Wrangell Borough Assembly has decided to put the city manager position back out for advertisement. In the position since 2013, present manager Jeff Jabusch announced last September his plans to retire on March 31. Prior to that, he spent the better four decades as the city finance director. From a pool of 25 candidates a selection committee made up of Mayor David Jack, city staff and some Assembly members winnowed the field to four candidates. Of these, two dropped out...

  • The Way We Were

    Feb 23, 2017

    February 22, 1917: Silas Silverman, son of Sam Silverman, the well known mining man, arrived from the south on the Spokane last Thursday evening and sailed for Seattle on the Princess Sophia the next evening. Mr. Silverman is at present engaged in mining with his father at Sydney Inlet on Vancouver Island. He made the hurried trip to Wrangell for the purpose of bonding some properties on the Stikine at Devil’s Elbow and Glenora where he will begin operations as soon as the river is open to navigation. There are many rumors of other mining a...

  • Hospital reports billing contractor saving money

    Dan Rudy|Feb 23, 2017

    The hospital approved a response to the Wrangell Borough Assembly regarding the future of its billing services contract. At an August 23 meeting, the city’s governing body asked that Wrangell Medical Center put together an assessment of its two-year contract with TruBridge, which took over billing services for the community-owned hospital the summer of 2015. The contract offered the company 2.2 percent of the transactions it processes on behalf of the hospital, with the intention of addressing its excessive accounts receivable and minimizing u...

  • Clarification

    Feb 23, 2017

    Following the February 16 article on its new Knowledge Imaging Center, the Irene Ingle Public Library wanted to acknowledge Wrangell Cooperative Association as the lead organization for the IMLS Grant that provided funds for its purchase. The library apologizes that this information was inadvertently omitted from last week’s article....

  • Courts

    Feb 23, 2017

    February 2 Lucas C. Schneider, 39, appeared before First District Court Judicial Officer Leanna Nash on the charge of Operating a Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, a first-offense Class A misdemeanor. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge, and was ordered to serve 30 days with 27 suspended, and to pay $1791 in fines, surcharges and cost of imprisonment, with $100 suspended. Schneider will have to complete screening and treatment afterward, and is placed on probation for two years. Randy H. Littleton, 65, appeared...

  • Police reports

    Feb 23, 2017

    Monday, February 13 Driving Complaint: Speeders. Report of Vandalism: Theft. Citizen Assist. Citizen Assist: Vehicle Unlock. Suspicious Person. Tuesday, February 14 Criminal Mischief. Wednesday, February 15 Lost items put in PD P.O. Box. Thursday, February 16 Suspicious Circumstance. Parking Complaint, gave a verbal warning and vehicle was moved. Parking Complaint. Traffic stop verbal warning for driving habits. Friday, February 17 Citizens Assist: Vehicle unlocked. Traffic Stop: Verbal Warning for driving habits. Traffic Stop: Note left on...

  • Wrangell man partakes in March for Life

    Dan Rudy|Feb 23, 2017

    A Wrangellite took part in the 44th annual March for Life, which last month made its way through the streets of Washington, D.C. Since 1974, the annual nondenominational march is held each year on or around the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, which held that abortion was protected under the right to privacy in the Constitution. Opponents to the court decision have since met at the National Mall on about every January 22 since, marching from there to the steps of the...

  • Dan's Dispatch

    Feb 23, 2017

    This session, I am honored to be serving as Chair of the House Finance Department of Education and Early Learning Budget Subcommittee, which reviews Alaska’s education budget. In this capacity I will closely examine Alaska’s school funding, and the unique programs and services that support effective learning. My years as a Kayhi teacher and coach, as well as a principal at the elementary level, offer a good base for understanding the practical impact of budget decisions. I understand the value of education for our students, and its imp...

  • Obituary: Gary James Stevens, 75

    Feb 23, 2017

    Gary James Stevens, 75, passed away Feb. 12, 2017, just days after his birthday. He was born on Feb. 10, 1942 to James C. Stevens and Patricia Younes, one of five children born to them. Gary spent most of his life commercial fishing after school and college. For years he would bring the "Herring Eggs" into town from Sitka which was a treat for most of the town. He lost two of his sisters a few years ago and is survived by his two sons: Gary A. Stevens and Mark C. Stevens; brothers Carl Stevens...

  • Parks looking to resurface Volunteer Park trail

    Dan Rudy|Feb 23, 2017

    Wrangell Parks and Recreation is looking to raise some funds and gather a few hands to spruce up the trail at Volunteer Park. Volunteer is the most popular public use facility in Wrangell, outside of the city’s ports and harbor system. It already got a bit of work last year, with two culverts added and some patchwork done to its trail surface. In laying down patches, the department used a different, smaller grade of rock, which proved pretty popular with runners. “We got a lot of positive response from the community,” said department head...

  • Lady Wolves win two in final home games

    Dan Rudy|Feb 23, 2017

    Wrangell High School's girls finished off the home stretch of their season with a pair of wins over Haines last weekend. On Friday the game began very much back-and-forth, with Wrangell leading 7-6 by the end of the first quarter. By the end of the second the team had extended its hold to 23-12, with Helen Decker landing six of eight free throws for the half and Anna Allen racking up 13 points. The team continued to outscore its visitors the rest of the game, with both teams scoring in the...

  • Fouls give boys 1-1 in Haines weekend

    Dan Rudy|Feb 23, 2017

    Wrangell’s high school basketball boys won one and lost one in a match-up at Haines last weekend. The boys played a pair of close games against the Glacier Bears. In Friday’s game, the Wolves followed just behind through much of the first half, with Haines up by two at the start of the second quarter. By halftime Wrangell had eked out a 22-21 lead after a seven-point quarter from Trent Stokes and points contributed by Tyman Teat, Jacob Hammer and Sam Prysunka. Riley Blatchley dominated the court offensively for the next 16 minutes, sec...

  • Alaska governor signs order with plans to fight opioid abuse

    Feb 23, 2017

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Gov. Bill Walker signed an administrative order Thursday directing state agencies to pursue grant funding to help combat opioid abuse in Alaska. The order directs the state health department to establish an “incident command structure,’’ similar to what is used for natural disasters, to develop plans for addressing the abuse of opioids, such as heroin and prescription painkillers. It calls for the Department of Public Safety to look for ways to restrict entry of illegal drugs. It also directs the corrections departm...

  • Bear program still comforting after 30 years

    Dan Rudy|Feb 23, 2017

    Women of a local service organization celebrated 30 years of its teddy bear program this Valentine's Day. The Wrangell chapter of Beta Sigma Phi (ΒΣΦ) continued its February 14 tradition of a dance and auction at the American Legion, with proceeds from the event going to purchase the plush toys. These in turn get sent to Wrangell Medical Center, providing a buddy for pediatric patients in need of care. For many years, ΒΣΦ supported the program in association with the Wrangell Lions Club, which...