Articles from the February 27, 2014 edition


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  • Fishing boat sinks in Shoemaker Harbor

    Brian O Connor|Feb 27, 2014

    A 38-foot fishing trawler has a potential date with fire after sinking in Shoemaker Bay earlier this month, authorities said. Harbor users reported the Falcon had sunk on the morning of Feb. 13. The boat's Ketchikan-based owner contacted local harbor officials shortly after they contacted the National Response Center, said harbormaster Greg Meissner. Officials aren't sure how much oil was aboard when the boat went down, but as of Monday, the vessel had been refloated and all oil and batteries...

  • Assembly unanimously votes to approve Thomas Bay letter

    Brian O Connor|Feb 27, 2014

    The borough assembly voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve a joint letter inviting the Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) to submit an offer on Tyee Lake. A widely disseminated informal offer for SEAPA to take over operations at the Wrangell hydroelectric plant has been circulated since early September. The letter, which has already been approved by the Petersburg borough assembly, requests “SEAPA review the attached resolutions and provide a written proposal back to the two communities under what terms SEAPA would accept this transfer.” The request...

  • The Way We Were

    Feb 27, 2014

    March 5, 1914: The big liner Mariposa went south early this morning and reports having had a very stormy trip all the way north and back. While going to the dock at Ellimar, she struck a rock at high tide and her fuel oil had to be pumped into the bay to float her. The ship's bottom is thought to be in bad condition from the bump and she will go on the drydock as soon as she arrives in Seattle, which will probably delay her sailing date. The Mariposa took five cases of fresh fish south with her this morning. March 3, 1939: Councilman Ronning, c...

  • Chamber starts campaign for capital funds

    Brian O Connor|Feb 27, 2014

    The Wrangell Chamber of Commerce launched a letter-writing campaign aimed at getting capital funds placed in the 2015 state budget. A first draft of the budget by Gov. Sean Parnell’s administration included no new capital money for Wrangell projects. Previously allotted state funds will provide for engineering for the refurbishment of Evergreen Street this year, with construction slated to begin in 2015, borough officials have said. State transportation officials also mentioned apron construction at the airport as an imminent project. A d...

  • Police reports

    Feb 27, 2014

    Monday, February 17 Noise Complaint. Police arrested Alexander Saint Clair, 20, on charges of Assault in the Fourth Degree. Tuesday, February 18 Nothing to Report. Wednesday, February 19 Report of broken pipes. Officer notified person and water was shut off. Person came to the station to report that someone had just gone through the intersection sideways. Caller requested an officer to do a welfare check. Officer responded. Report of Theft. Traffic Stop – Verbal warning for faulty equipment. Petition to Revoke Probation – Jason Wright, 39. Thu...

  • Collaboration between AICS, Medical Center on the rise

    Brian O Connor|Feb 27, 2014

    The Wrangell Medical Center (WMC) board of directors discussed collaboration at the Feb. 19 board meeting. Specifically, board members and medical center officials discussed the growing number of shared services between Alaska Island Community Services (AICS) and the hospital. While medical collaboration has long been a component of overlapping clinical services at both healthcare institutions – AICS and the WMC share a social worker, for example – recent personnel shifts have led to a growing administrative collaboration. The two institutions...

  • Peggy's Corner of the House

    Peggy Wilson|Feb 27, 2014

    Hello and welcome to Peggy’s Corner of the House. This week I’d like to review a few of the many education bills that are making their way through the Legislature. In the House Education Committee we are continuing an in-depth review of the Governor’s omnibus education bill HB 278. Last week there was attention given to the three sections that included increasing the stipend for boarding school students, repealing the high school exit exam, and technical-vocational educational programs. This week we focused on the education tax credit secti...

  • Reflections

    Feb 27, 2014

    Wrangell Ministerial Reflection Last year my father died and left us with a wonderful gift. During the last years of his life he became a writer. He wrote stories from his childhood. He wrote about our mother, his love for her, and the things he found endearing in their relationship. He wrote about things he observed in the world and what they meant to him. One of the most precious parts of his collection is the ponderings of his heart which he addressed to my son, lessons about the struggles of life and his words of encouragement and advice...

  • Wrangellite transitions from teeth to tenants to terminals

    Brian O Connor|Feb 27, 2014

    Ruth Stough will enter this year a third act in a varied career. After completing three days of in-flight training last week, Stough will join the ranks of the attendants for Horizon. She'll make regional hops on Bombardier Q400 turboprop planes to locations in Alaska. Prior to becoming a flight attendant, she managed properties in Wrangell and owned a rental business in Sitka. Before that, she was a dental hygienist for 22 years. "My daughter graduated from high school, and it just seemed like...

  • Begich speaks out against proposed Pebble Mine

    Becky Bohrer Associated Press|Feb 27, 2014

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) _ U.S. Sen. Mark Begich has come out against the proposed Pebble Mine, calling the massive gold-and-copper project “the wrong mine in the wrong place for Alaska.’’ In a statement released by his office Monday, Begich said he has long supported Alaska’s mining industry and believes continued efforts must be made to support resource-development industries that help keep Alaska’s economy strong. But he said “years of scientific study (have) proven the proposed Pebble Mine cannot be developed safely in the Bristol Bay watersh...

  • State report details fisheries injuries

    Molly Dischner Alaska Journal of Commerce|Feb 27, 2014

    By Molly Dischner Alaska Journal of Commerce ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A recent state analysis of injuries treated at a Dutch Harbor clinic provides some patterns on who is injured, and on what vessels, in Alaska’s fisheries. According to a report from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Division of Public Health: “It is not surprising that the majority of the non-fatal injuries occurred on catcher processors, as they employ the largest number of workers and process the largest volumes of seafood relative to other vessel typ...

  • Local groups start work to prepare traditional dress

    Brian O Connor|Feb 27, 2014

    The Thursday night beading workshop is quiet, for now. Soon, more than 20 prospective craftspeople will descend on the Johnson-O'Malley room at the Stikine Native Organizations building to finish headbands, octopus bags, and ceremonial vests ahead of this year's 2014 Celebration, a biannual gathering in Juneau of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Alaskan Natives. For now, the loudest sound is that of the television, which plays "Alvin and the Chipmunks 3: Chipwrecked" for a future craftsman too...

  • Glacier Bears take two from Wolves

    Brian O Connor|Feb 27, 2014

    The Wrangell High boys' varsity basketball team lost twice in Haines this weekend. Friday's 48-60 loss and Saturday's 47-53 brought the Wolves' record against Haines to 2-2 on the season. The Wolves own a conference record of 4-8 and third-place seed headed into the Region V tournament in Juneau March 5, in between second place (and first round opponents) Craig and last-place Haines. Perennial power Metlakatla holds the first place seed in this year's four-team double-elimination tournament....

  • Business leaders optimistic about increase sales

    Kyle Clayton|Feb 27, 2014

    PETERSBURG – Sales increased for local Petersburg businesses by more than $14 million in 2013 compared to 2012. Business across town such as Viking Travel, Diamante Gift Shoppe and Hammer & Wikan all experienced increased sales. Lee Corrao, manager of the Hammer & Wikan hardware store, said 2013 sales increased by four percent over the previous year. “A significant amount of that is attributed to the fishing season,” Corrao said. “All of the fish processing plants were operating and there were more boats.” Southeast Alaska saw the highest h...

  • Drama, Debate, and Forensics concludes season

    Brian O Connor|Feb 27, 2014

    Five Wrangell High School students attended the State Drama Debate and Forensics meet at East Anchorage High School the weekend of Feb. 15. Ben Florschutz, Tyler Eagle, Matthew Covalt, Molly Prysunka and Malachi Cole all performed, debated, and interpreted their way to the Alaska finals. Unlike other school activities, Drama, Debate and Forensics, or DDF, doesn't divide schools into different divisions based on school size. The Wrangell team thus competed alongside teams as large as 15 students....

  • Historic Keku Cannery to be stabilized

    Jennifer Canfield Juneau Empire|Feb 27, 2014

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Here’s some good news for the residents of Kake who have for years feared the demise of the historic Keku Cannery: funding to stabilize the crumbling landmark has been approved Gary Williams, executive director for the Organized Village of Kake, said the tribe has been authorized to use its Bureau of Indian Affairs transportation funding to stabilize the building, which is located on BIA trust land. Once it’s stabilized, the tribe intends to move its transportation office into the cannery. “The stabilization that we’re t...

  • Lady Wolves split games against Haines

    Brian O Connor|Feb 27, 2014

    The Lady Wolves split games this weekend in Haines. They won the opener 35-26 and lost the Saturday sequel, 34-43. Senior Erica Smith led the Wrangell offense Friday with 11 points on four field goals and two-for-three from the line. Sophomore Taylor Bean and Amy Jenson followed with eight points each. Bean sank two field goals and shot four-for-seven from the line. Jenson scored four field goals. The Haines offense was unable to muster a major response Friday. Sophomore Kayley Swinton led the...