Articles from the March 1, 2018 edition


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  • City to consider some reorganization after several impending departures

    Dan Rudy|Mar 1, 2018

    The Wrangell Borough Assembly and City Hall staff held a roundtable discussion Tuesday evening about reorganizing several departments in light of upcoming retirements and departures. City manager Lisa Von Bargen offered suggestions for shaking up the structures currently giving form to the Nolan Center, Public Works and Wrangell Municipal Light and Power. The ultimate focus would be to improve the maintenance attention given to existing public facilities while keeping within other budgetary and...

  • Tons of blinking garbage to go

    Mar 1, 2018

  • A dry freeze: City announces wintertime water shortage

    Dan Rudy|Mar 1, 2018

    The City and Borough of Wrangell has issued a conservation advisory to water utility users, as increased wintertime demand outpaces replenishment of the town’s reservoirs. A water watch was declared last Friday, the first of three stages in the emergency response plan the CBW Assembly had adopted last April. During a critical water shortage in the summer of 2016 the city had lacked a clear strategy for responding to such crises across departments. During a Stage I watch alert such as this, Wrangellites are encouraged to reduce their water u...

  • The Way We Were

    Mar 1, 2018

    March 7, 1918: The City of Seattle’s call at the port of Wrangell on Friday afternoon was a most pleasant one for both the passengers and the townspeople. When it was found that the vessel would remain in port till 11 p.m. the passengers visited the photo show en masse. The passengers also engaged the North Star orchestra to play for a dance following the show to which local people were cordially invited. For more than an hour dancing was indulged in with greatest pleasure and merriment. The officers of the vessel requested the Sentinel to than...

  • Ferry to adjust schedule for Region V Music in Juneau

    Mar 1, 2018

    The Alaska Marine Highway System announced it has adjusted ferry service schedules for the middle of April in order to help roughly 400 students and chaperones from across Southeast travel to the Region V Music Festival in Juneau. AMHS will be rerouting the M/V LeConte to make a round-trip run through southern Southeast to pick up and return the students. With this service adjustment, students from Ketchikan, Wrangell, Metlakatla and Klawock will be able to attend the annual festival. Students from Sitka and Haines will use a...

  • Trooper Report

    Mar 1, 2018

    February 16 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Wrangell resident Jon Abrahamson, 48, for participating in a commercial Tanner crab fishery without a valid 2018 commercial crewmember’s license in possession. Bail is set at $260 in the First Judicial Court in Juneau. Troopers also cited Petersburg’s Troy Thomassen, 44, for employing an unlicensed crewmember during a 2018 commercial Tanner crab fishery. Bail is set at $260 in the First Judicial Court in Juneau. February 19 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Ronald Sowle, 61, for failing to report on his...

  • Court report

    Mar 1, 2018

    February 13 Michael D. Hall, 49, appeared before First District Court Judicial Officer Chris Ellis to face a charge of Driving Under the Influence. The defendant pleaded guilty and was ordered to serve 20 days of jail/monitoring with 17 suspended, pay $1,791 in fines and surcharges with $100 suspended, and undergo screening and treatment. Hall’s license was revoked for 90 days, and upon return he will be required to install and use an ignition interlock device for a period of six months. February 21 Stephen W. Nesbitt, 49, appeared before F...

  • Police report

    Mar 1, 2018

    Monday, February 19 Nothing to report. Tuesday, February 20 Parking: Warning given for parking. Theft reported. Wednesday, February 21 Summons served. Illegal parking. Suspicious incident. Garbage complaint. Thursday, February 22 Suspicious incident: 911: Officer responded, all ok. Fire: Tree: FD notified. Noise complaint. Friday, February 23 Nothing to report. Saturday, February 24 Disturbance: Officer responded. Agency Assist: Chimney fire reported. Paper service. Theft reported. Caller reported intoxicated person: Officer responded. Sunday,...

  • Byford monofill options still in discussion

    Dan Rudy|Mar 1, 2018

    With a month left before work is scheduled to resume, discussions continue on the future of a stockpile of contaminated soil excavated from the former Byford junkyard. Heading the cleanup effort that began in 2016, the Department of Environmental Conservation removed over 60 shipping containers of debris and heavily contaminated soils from the yard, which for years had been a privately-run repository for automotive and marine junk. The City of Wrangell had assumed responsibility for the property...

  • City and hospital to set transition committee amid revenue problems

    Dan Rudy|Mar 1, 2018

    Assembly members commiserated with city and hospital staff on Monday to discuss how to move forward on new organizational arrangement at Wrangell Medical Center. Currently the hospital is a public asset, managed by the City and Borough of Wrangell. For several years it has been contending with inconsistent revenues and cash reserve concerns, and in the event of a default the city would be liable for any outstanding debts. In 2015 the Assembly approved a reserve source of interest-free funds of up to $500,000 for WMC to draw from in case of...

  • Mostly mauling the Bears

    Mar 1, 2018

    Boys varsity Glacier Bears Wolves Sunday, February 25 59 61 Monday, February 26 56 40 Girls varsity Glacier Bears Lady Wolves Sunday, February 25 44 84 Monday, February 26 36 65...

  • Alaska Fish Factor: In the Northwest and Alaska, only 50 to 60 E-Stops are being used out of a fleet of about 1,500 boats

    Laine Welsch|Mar 1, 2018

    The most common piece of gear on a seine vessel is also one of the deadliest – the rotating capstan winch used for winding ropes. Anyone who has ever worked aboard a seiner has horror stories of close calls, or worse. “The deck winch is the most powerful thing on the boat. It’s the scariest piece of machinery that we work with. My feeling when I was caught in it was that I was completely helpless. There was nothing I could do,” said fisherman Noah Doncette who participated in a video for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Hea...

  • Open mic for Alaskans on operating budget draft

    Dan Rudy|Mar 1, 2018

    Wrangell residents will have an opportunity to offer their two cents on the state operating budget currently in development in the Alaska House. The basis for the draft budget was proposed by Gov. Bill Walker last December. Being considered now in the House, bill number 286 will see a number of amendments to it that have been put forward by the chamber’s representatives and various subcommittees. “We’re in the process of finalizing what we’ll be looking at right now,” said Rep. Dan Ortiz (U-District 36), who sits on the House Finance Committee...