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As legislators in Juneau prepare a budget for the state's next fiscal year, Alaska residents have been urged to contribute their say as cuts are considered. Since the Legislative session began on Jan. 20, lawmakers have been weighted with the task of finding ways to address a more than $3.6 billion deficit. To that end, the State House was looking at making a nearly 10 percent, or about $240 million, cut from state spending over the previous fiscal year. Among areas affected by the cuts would be capital improvements, education, transportation,...
Members of Wrangell's City and Borough Assembly narrowly took their first step toward restricting the consumption of marijuana on public or private property, electing in a 3-2 split to approve an ordinance on first reading at their Tuesday evening meeting. Alaska Statute 17.38 took effect on Feb. 24, expanding significantly the circumstances in which a person can legally possess, transport and use the drug, following approval of a ballot measure during last November's elections. More than 57 percent of Wrangell voters approved the measure,...
Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) CEO Trey Acteson spoke before the Petersburg and Ketchikan borough assemblies last week and the Wrangell Assembly on Tuesday to update the communities on the progress of the Swan Lake expansion project and apprise them of their role in upcoming refinancing efforts. The current dam at Swan Lake is 174 feet tall and 430 feet wide with a spillway slot that is 15 feet high and 100 feet wide. "Essentially the project is to fill that spillway slot, be able to raise the reservoir 15 feet," Acteson said. "It gives...
In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. March 18, 1915: C.G. Burnett, A.B. Pennycook and E.P. Clark returned Saturday afternoon on the gas boat Peggy from a 300 mile cruise through Fredrick Sound, Chatham Strait, and Sumner Strait. They report that all bays along Baranoff Island are still frozen up. The following additional items of news were gleaned from a conversation with one of the members of the party. Captain Morgan, formerly of Wrangell, arrived in Port Walter recently after a seven years absence from Alaska. Captain Morgan was mar...
Monday, March 2 Welfare Check. Officer responded. Driving Complaint. Officers responded. Lost Dog. Missing Dog. Report of Criminal Trespass. Tuesday, March 3 Citizen Assist – Officer unlocked vehicle. Report of Dog Bite. Report of Harassment. Agency Assist – Bench Warrants Served. Missing Dog. Traffic Stop –Verbal warning for headlight out. Wednesday, March 4 Citizen Assist. Noise Disturbance –Verbal warning for loud party. Thursday, March 5 Possible Phone Scam. Citizen Assist –Vehicle Unlocked. Friday, March 6 Agency Assist – Propane sme...
Wrangell's Salvation Army (SA) announced Monday the closure of its store on McKennon Street. Citing issues with the space's lease, Major Scott Nicloy explained the store will close down after nine years of operation. “We are choosing to view this as an opportunity to find new ways to meet our mission in Wrangell,” he explained in a release. The local SA will continue to offer its food pantry, music program, and emergency financial assistance and homeless prevention activities. “Though we regret the need for such a sudden announcement, we expec...
Leave our highway open Despite the proposed statewide budget cuts, our legislators will not close paved highways elsewhere in the state. Likewise, they won’t restrict two-lane highways down to a single lane. But that will be the effect of a proposal by a legislative subcommittee that is proposing a 10-percent cut to the Alaska ferry system. Some proposals call for taking ferries out of service, including replacement vessels that go into service when vessels are taken out of service for repairs or annual Coast Guard required overhauls. Southeast...
Dani Palmer, 27, joined the Wrangell Sentinel and Petersburg Pilot this past week and will write news, sports and features for the paper. She most recently worked for the twice-weekly Newport News-Times (Oregon) covering education and county news for the paper and provided coverage for The Herald Bulletin as well. A graduate of the University of Southern Indiana, she was both a Chief Copy Editor and Editor in Chief for the university newspaper. Palmer was named Senior of the Year in 2011 for...
Fiona Rosamond Scambler was born Feb. 25, 2015, in Seattle to Sarah and Andrew Scambler of Wrangell. At birth she weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces and was 20 inches long. She joins brother, Duncan, 2 years old. Her maternal grandparents are Ginny and Steve Helgeson of Wrangell and her paternal grandparents are Catherine and Paul Scambler of Victoria, BC. Her maternal great-grandmother is Frances Ousley of Portland, Ore. and her paternal great-grandmother is Margaret Morris of Victoria,...
Wrangell's recreational running group will set this year's pace with its third annual Shamrock Shuffle, a five-kilometer run beginning outside of Rayme's Bar Saturday at 7 p.m. All ages are invited to participate in the evening jog, dressing in green and running through town to get into the spirit of Saint Patrick's Day weekend festivities. "We've had a lot of families participate in this run," explained Lucy Robinson, the Beasts' director. St. Paddy's treats and refreshments will be available...
At its March 4 meeting, members of the Wrangell Parks and Recreation Advisory Board continued to examine their revision of user fees of the city pool and other fixtures. Representing Wrangell’s Swim Club, Jamie Roberts came before the board to inquire about future fees for her group to use public pool facilities. Under a proposed rate structure rejected in February by the Borough Assembly, the club would have to pay $10,000 per year. “I’m just wondering where in the process we’re at,” Roberts asked. Currently there are 15 children enrolled...
For the first time in over a decade, Wrangell High School's boys basketball team is headed to the State Championships in Anchorage next week. The Wolves took second for their division at the Region V Tournament in Ketchikan last weekend. "It was a fun tournament," said the team's coach, Ray Stokes. "The boys played some pretty good basketball this year, I thought." During Thursday's game against Metlakatla the Wolves held a firm lead during the first half. "They looked really good," commented...
The Wrangell Port Commission has decided to hold off on plans to increase space rates for work and storage at the Marine Service Center. At the recommendation of the Harbor Department, a 50 percent raise to 75 cents per square foot was being considered. But after the latest public workshop held on March 9, commissioners decided now would not be the best time to roll out the proposed increase. “It’s been basically put on hold,” said Clay Hammer, chairing the commission at its March 11 evening meeting. Over the past several months’ meeting...
Wrangell's Lady Wolves ended their season last weekend, taking third in the 2A division at the Region V Tournament in Ketchikan. "It went well," said the girls' second-year coach, Edna Abella-Nore. "It's been a long time since the Wrangell girls have made it this far." The team lost its first game to Craig last Thursday, 23 to 27. "They played really tough," said Wrangell High School's activities director, Jack Carney. During the game Amy Jenson led the team for points with 13. "She was on the...
Wrangell may get to experience a bit of old-time entertainment this June, when the New Old Time Chautauqua plans to stop through on its summer tour of Southeast Alaska. But what is a Chautauqua, you might ask? “It's a movement to do community building through education and entertainment,” explained Paul Magid, who paid a visit to Wrangell on behalf of the Chautauqua group last week. The New Old Time Chautauqua was founded in 1981 by a group of performers, health care practitioners and educators as a vehicle for reviving the spirit of the old...
A nearly $12 million cut in state funds is on tap for the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game if state policy makers have their way. That was one early outcome of legislative House finance subcommittee meetings last week, as they wrapped up the first step in a budget process that will see cuts in agencies and programs almost across the board. According to Juneau Resources Weekly, the ADF&G budget reductions cut across all divisions with sport fishing facing the most personnel losses at 12 seasonal jobs. The Division of Habitat could lose $400,000;...
PETERSBURG – Tonka Seafoods, Inc., announced last year that it was working to bring shrimp fisheries and processing back to Petersburg after a nearly decade-long absence. Well, it’s delivered. The fishery is closed for March and April, but Chief Financial Officer Seth Scrimsher said they purchased 250,000 pounds of pink shrimp from fisherman at a price of 40 cents per pound over the winter. A customer contacted Tonka and requested the shrimp after spotting the seafood company as one of 12 finalists for the Path to Prosperity (P2P) contest. “We...
A pair of new pastors joined parishioners at Island of Faith Lutheran Church this month, Tyger and Todd Penson. The couple have come up from Wenatchee, Wash., and have previously ministered at churches across the Pacific Northwest. "We're really glad to be here," said Tyger. She and her husband had received an email from Island of Faith inviting them up and had responded right away. "We really love new adventures." The Pensons will stay in Wrangell for a trial period through the end of May as...
The United States Forest Service (USFS) has released its Environmental Assessment, draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the floating dock at Anan Wildlife Observatory and trail safety improvements for Wrangell Ranger District. Copies of these documents are available upon request from the Wrangell USFS office, or can be viewed online at www. fs.usda.gov/goto/R10/Tongass/AnanFloatingDock. The project is currently subject to the objection process of its predecisional administrative review. Objections to the proposed...
