Articles from the March 6, 2014 edition


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  • Brock pleads 'not guilty' to gambling charges

    Brian O Connor|Mar 6, 2014

    Lavina “Lovey” Brock, 68, of Wrangell, pleaded not guilty to four counts of promoting illegal gambling Tuesday before Wrangell First District Magistrate Chris Ellis. Brock, a prominent member of the local community, had been charged with promoting Texas Hold ‘em games for cash prizes at American Legion Post #6. The charges are Class A misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in prison for each upon conviction, according to Alaska statutes. The offense dates listed on the criminal complaint range from Feb. 18, 2009 to Feb. 10, 2010. Court...

  • Fire destroys incubation room at Crystal Lake Hatchery

    Ron Loesch and Kyle Clayton|Mar 6, 2014

    PETERSBURG – The incubation building and the generator shed at the Crystal Lake Hatchery were both destroyed in an early morning fire Tuesday. Petersburg firefighters responded and fought the blaze in 9 degree temperatures. Hatchery Manager Loren Thompson said 1.2 million incubating fish were killed. It took out about one half to two-thirds of the production including 200,000 Coho and one million Kings. An alarm went off at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to Thompson. “I walked out the doo...

  • Parnell visits Wrangell to discuss education, budget

    Brian O Connor|Mar 6, 2014

    Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell was in Wrangell Monday to discuss his proposed election-year education reforms with teachers and meet with select borough officials. Parnell also answered questions about a wide range of topics. Parnell sought to use the speech to turn the 2014 legislative session into the "Education Session," and proposed a slate of educational reforms during his Jan. 22 State of the State Address before the Alaska Legislature. He also used the speech to declare his support for a...

  • The Way We Were

    Mar 6, 2014

    In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. May 12, 1914: Mr. Matheson is in receipt of a letter on a late boat from the Forest Supervisor, Mr. Weigle at Ketchikan, in which he states that the Forestry Department was working for a $4,000 appropriation for the building of the Stikine trail that the local Chamber of Commerce has been working for during the past winter. Though the appropriation has not been made, it is almost an assured fact that it will be in the near future. The Wrangell Shingle Mill is getting steam up and their whistle can...

  • Borough releases institute property prospectus

    Brian O Connor|Mar 6, 2014

    Borough officials have officially released a six-page summary of their hopes for the Wrangell Institute Property. The prospectus, which is designed to attract as many potential developers as possible, estimates the property’s worth at $1,625,000, and lists the plot’s size as 134 acres. Officials released the prospectus two weeks ago, and marks a new foray by the borough into real estate match-making. A single firm had notified the city that they had downloaded the proposal as of last week. The prospectus’s listed closing date is May 22. “The...

  • Police reports

    Mar 6, 2014

    Monday, February 24 Citizen Assist. Report of a MVA. Person reported being harassed. Leah Liukkonen, 50, is being charged with PTRP. Tuesday, February 25 Dance permit issued. Report of dead raven. Title 47. Officer and FD responded to welfare check. Wednesday, February 26 Report DUI. Report of possible DUI. Larry Wayne Aitken, 41, arrested on charges of Criminal Mischief (DV), Resisting Arrest, Assault IV. Courtesy Transport. Officer responded to Noise Complaint. Welfare check given on individual. Thursday, February 27 Welfare Check – C...

  • Peggy's Corner of the House

    Peggy Wilson|Mar 6, 2014

    By Representative Peggy Wilson Hello and welcome to Peggy’s Corner of the House. It was great to be able to get to Ketchikan to meet with folks. It did my heart good! The sunshine that Ketchikan enjoyed followed me to Juneau and now I’m enjoying it again. This week at the Capitol has been like old home week. I had constituents drop in from Coffman Cove, City of Ketchikan, City of Saxman, Ketchikan Gateway Borough and Thorne Bay. Additionally several other business folks made the effort to come to Juneau to provide me with their perspective on...

  • Courts

    Mar 6, 2014

    February 28 Larry Aitken, 41, appeared before Wrangell Magistrate Judge Chris Ellis on charges of Criminal Mischief, Assault in the 4th Degree and Resisting/Interfering with Arrest – Risk of Injury. The Defendant entered a guilty plea. He was sentenced to 460 days in jail with 330 days suspended, ordered to pay $300 in fines and surcharges with $100 suspended and placed on probation for three years....

  • Obituary: Louis A. Thompson, 77

    Mar 6, 2014

    Louis A. Thompson, 77, died on Jan. 8, 2014, in Palm Springs. He was born to Agnes Rose Young and Louis Thompson on July 21, 1936, in Kasaan. Mr. Thompson was raised in Kasaan and was given two Haida names: Xie'n Skinai, which comes from Daxién Skinai, "owner of a large bay" and La'na Kíngel, "the chief that looks at his village." When the Alaska Native corporation Kavilco formed after the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1972, Mr. Thompson was present as one of Kasaan's representatives. H...

  • Letters to the Editor

    Mar 6, 2014

    To the Editor: I want to tell the people of this community that I absolutely loved the time I was here in Wrangell. I have met so many wonderful and friendly folks here. Where else could one take a walk on the dock and end up in conversation with someone time after time. Not only is this a pretty town it is a gracious town. Unfortunately, due to my job with AICS being outsourced to a California company I am forced to leave to find work. This community needs jobs kept local. Since being “outsourced” the beginning of Feb., I have encountered no...

  • Chautauqua lecture will focus on forest attitudes

    Brian O Connor|Mar 6, 2014

    A recently completed survey shows Wrangellites value recreational uses for the Tongass Forest more than other uses. Britta Schroeder, formerly of the Wrangell Ranger District, but now living and working in Denali Forest Park and Preserve, will present a speech reviewing 200 results from local residents conducted about a year ago. In the survey, people were asked to place acceptable uses on a map of the Wrangell Ranger District to indicate areas where they found management strategies acceptable, and areas where they found certain management...

  • Battle Royale

    Mar 6, 2014

  • Green dot campaign strives to raise violence awareness

    Brian O Connor|Mar 6, 2014

    A campaign targeting the issue of interpersonal violence in Wrangell will pick up steam this month. Today and tomorrow, patrons of the Stikine Inn Coffee Shop may notice a small green sticker on the side of their morning pick-me-up, as well as a nearby informational table. The green dots appeared Monday, and will continue throughout the month, said Julie Falle, the Alaska Island Community Services Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant administrator, who is helping organize the campaign. The red dot and green dot campaign started...

  • 2013 Alaska salmon harvest breaks record with historic number of pink salmon

    Mar 6, 2014

    JUNEAU (AP) – 2013 was a year for the record books, with Alaska seeing the largest salmon harvest ever with more than 272 million fish caught in total. The huge harvest was powered by an incredible number of pink salmon, Alaska’s smallest and most abundant salmon species. The 219 million pink salmon comprised more than 80% of the total harvest and surpassed the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) pre-season forecast for all five salmon species combined. This landmark season is valued at $691.1 million, second only to the 1988 harvest wor...

  • Evergreen participates in national read-a-thon

    Brian O Connor|Mar 6, 2014

    Spines cracked and pages turned Friday at Evergreen Elementary school. Fortunately, the only spines cracked were those of books. Guest readers in the form of parents and other relatives showed up to participate in the "Read the Most Coast to Coast"event. The event aimed to get 5 million students reading and taking online accelerated reading quizzes from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Teachers and fellow students recognized particularly prolific readers at an assembly Monday morning. The event's nationwide...

  • Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|Mar 6, 2014

    Just as Nero fiddled while Rome burned, US policy makers are quibbling over climate issues as bivalves dissolve in an increasingly corrosive Pacific Ocean. Any kid’s chemistry set will show that big changes are occurring in seawater throughout the world. As the oceans absorb more carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel burning outputs (primarily coal), it increases acidity to a point where shellfish can’t survive. It is referred to as ocean acidification (OA) and results in sea creatures’ inability to grow skeletons and protective shells. The proce...

  • Auxiliary purchases new fluid warmer for WMC

    Brian O Connor|Mar 6, 2014

    The Wrangell Medical Center just got a little warmer. As part of the hospital's ongoing pursuit of a Level IV Trauma Center certification, which officials say could both enhance treatment and open up new avenues of funding, the Hospital Auxiliary recently purchased a fluid warmer. The new warmer – which cost about $4,000 according to a press release – is used to treat patients suffering from hypothermia in the emergency room. The auxiliary contributed $3,500 toward the machine's cost. Off...

  • Swim club event raises more than $1,500

    Brian O Connor|Mar 6, 2014

    Sentinel writer Youthful swimmers were hard at it in the lanes of the public pool Saturday. More than a casual weekend dip, the swimmers were in the pool to raise money as part of the Wrangell Swim Club' Swim-a-thon. The event drew 18 total swimmers to do continuous laps for three hours (with some breaks to grab parent-provided snacks). The swimmers had circulated around town and collected pledges on either a per-lap or lump-sum basis said Ally Adams, the club' coach. "Some of them had 50 cents...

  • Sales tax committee recommends increasing tax cap

    Kyle Clayton|Mar 6, 2014

    PETERSBURG­ – The sales tax ordinance committee will recommend to the borough assembly an increase of the sales tax cap from $1200 to $1500 and to limit senior exemptions to full-time Petersburg residents. The mission of the committee is to simplify the sales tax code and collection procedures and to generate an equal or greater amount of revenue so the borough doesn’t have to decrease services or increase property taxes. It’s been meeting since last year and its members have discussed many of the exemptions outlined in the code—including the c...

  • Wrangellite celebrates third generation of Baha'i service

    Brian O Connor|Mar 6, 2014

    Sydney Reed had looked forward to the trip to Israel from the time she was a young girl. She wasn't expecting an impromptu marriage proposal shortly after arriving. The proposal was based in part on a miscommunication. The Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel draws representatives of the faith's more than 5 million followers from around the world, Reed said. "When you're working over there there's a lot of people from different cultures, and a lot of cultural rules you just don't know about," sh...