Articles from the April 14, 2016 edition


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  • Public forays into cannabis pros and cons

    Dan Rudy|Apr 14, 2016

    Though it has discussed the matter before, the City and Borough Assembly held its first public workshop fully devoted to cannabis since its legalization was approved by referendum. The Tuesday evening meeting was intended to get members thinking about current regulations, as well as to gather input from residents. “It's a discussion. No decisions will be made here tonight,” Mayor David Jack told the mostly-filled chamber at City Hall. Economic development coordinator Carol Rushmore had prepared maps of the city, roughly outlining the 500-foot d...

  • Plane crashes on Admiralty; three dead, one survives

    Dan Rudy|Apr 14, 2016

    A passenger plane based out of Wrangell crashed on Admiralty Island April 8, during a morning flight to Angoon. Of the four onboard the Cessna 206, the pilot and two passengers were killed. A third passenger, Morgan Enright, 21, of Ketchikan, survived the crash. The United States Coast Guard and Sitka Search and Rescue transported her from the scene and she remains in critical condition in a Seattle hospital. Alaska State Troopers identified those killed in the crash as pilot David Galla, 60;...

  • Successful rescue of skiers stranded on Harding Glacier

    Dan Rudy|Apr 14, 2016

    A pair of skiers were successfully rescued Tuesday afternoon, after being stranded on a glacier for four days. Jennifer Neyman, 36, of Wrangell, and Soldotna resident Christopher Hanna, 45, had been dropped off by airplane on the Kenai Peninsula's expansive Harding Ice Fields for a day trip on April 8. The weather took a turn for the worse, preventing the pilot from picking up the two. “They were going to be picked up well before dark and the weather turned,” explained Barb Neyman, Jennifer's mother. Though only planning on a day trip, the two...

  • The Way We Were

    Apr 14, 2016

    In the Sentinel 75, 50 and 25 years ago. April 18, 1941: Mrs. Henry Bowman and son Tiny returned to Wrangell aboard the Princess this week after being in Seattle during the winter with her husband, Capt. Bowman, who will be along in a few weeks with a new boat to replace the Tiny Boy which was lost last season. The new boat, about the size of Gunderson’s Alaskan, is virtually completed and awaits only the installation of engines. The Gunderson vessel Alaskan arrived in Wrangell yesterday from Seattle bringing Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gunderson, G...

  • Search suspended for missing kayaker

    Apr 14, 2016

    The United States Coast Guard and Alaska State Troopers announced Saturday the search for a missing kayaker has been suspended. AST received a report on April 7 that Sitka resident Jesse Mills, 40, had embarked on a kayaking trip the previous evening but had not returned by 5 a.m. Sitka Police and Fire Department’s search, rescue and dive team joined the USCG and community volunteers in conducting a search of Sitka Sound and the surrounding shoreline throughout the day and into the night. The search included air, water and ground assets, a...

  • Jury rules presumption of death for missing Wrangellite

    Dan Rudy|Apr 14, 2016

    A Wrangell jury unanimously reached a presumptive death verdict in the matter of missing resident Brandon Peterson. Peterson, 38, had last been seen on or about Dec. 13, 2015, at his Thoms Place cabin. A welfare check had been requested of Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department. Fire service volunteers met with him that evening, and determined him to be intoxicated but otherwise fine. Another check was requested by relatives on Dec. 17, but Peterson was nowhere to be found. A more extensive search effort followed, at points using all-terrain vehicl...

  • Courts

    Apr 14, 2016

    Wednesday, April 6 The District Court of Wrangell issued Order to Show Cause to a number of residents for failing to submit jury questionnaires sent out in November 2015. Cases were dismissed without sanction by Magistrate Chris Ellis for Raymond E. Keith, Kathleen Thomas, Bradley S. Walker and Leslie H. Woodward. A $10 sanction was imposed on Kathryn Betterton; $25 sanction imposed on Richard J. Ecklund Jr., Carl J. Guggenbickler, Mark O. Hamley, Courtney D. McCay and Rodney W. Natt; and $300 sanction imposed on Kenneth A....

  • Police reports

    Apr 14, 2016

    Monday, April 4 Report of Harassment. MVA. Tuesday, April 5 Unlock Vehicle. Citation issued to William Stover, 72, for parking at the airport. Wednesday, April 6 Report of Theft. Agency Assist – DL information. Report of Theft. Noise Complaint. Thursday, April 7 Citizen Assist. Friday, April 8 Agency Assist – Alaska Troopers. Person reported missing item. Trespass Warning. Saturday, April 9 Citizen Assist. Disturbance. Citation issued to Sara Dawn Gadd, 26, for Dog License Required. Sunday, April 10 Traffic Stop – Verbal warning given for f...

  • Letters to the Editor

    Apr 14, 2016

    To the Editor: I and my staff want to thank those in the community who joined us in the recent meeting to discuss the future of the recreation program on the Wrangell District. I appreciate that so many people were willing to take the time to listen and lend their voices to a topic that is important to the entire community. We heard that the community treasures its surrounding lands and the recreational opportunities they provide. We heard how important the cabin program, the local trails, and the island’s recreation sites are to Wrangell. We h...

  • Death Notice

    Apr 14, 2016

    Dave Galla, 60, passed away unexpectedly Friday, April 8. Memorial services will be Sat., April 16 at 2 p.m. at Harbor Light Assembly of God. Full obituary will follow....

  • Reflections

    Apr 14, 2016

    A LOVE LETTER Dear Dad, I just want you to know how special you are to me. You took care of all of us growing up. There were 7 mouths to feed. You did it without ever complaining. No matter what, you made sure we had all we needed, clothes on our back, shoes on our feet, a roof over our heads or a new baseball glove for the next season. You taught me how to play baseball. You were my coach until your surgery that almost took your life away. At the time, I couldn’t understand why God would do that to you. I was angry at God and at you. How c...

  • Obituary: Keith G. Bloom, 91

    Apr 14, 2016

    Keith G. Bloom, 91, passed away March 26, 2016 in Gresham Ore. He was born in Blatchly, Ore. on August 24, 1924. His family moved to Minocquia, Wis. for a period of time before returning to Sandy, Ore. in 1941. He met Mildred Thruston in the Portland Ore. area, and on August 8, 1951 they were married. Keith was a 4-year veteran of WWII which he spent in the navy in the South Pacific. Keith had moved to Alaska in 1948 (being joined there by Mildred after their marriage), originally working in Hoo...

  • Letter to the Editor

    Apr 14, 2016

    Letter to the Editor: My other father in law is Greg Scheff and he is married to Mark Mendoza's mom, Deborah Scheff. Greg died recently in a plane crash in Alaska. It's always sad to lose someone before their time, especially when you don't get to say good bye, but even though he's going to be very deeply missed by a lot of people, I feel so thankful to have known him. He was probably the most gentle, kind, patient man I have ever met. He loved my mother in law so fiercely. The way he looked at her would just melt my heart. He was incredibly...

  • Locals learn art of basket weaving

    Dan Rudy|Apr 14, 2016

    Residents had their hands full last week, working out knots and weaving cedar into baskets as part of an extended class. Alaska Native Sisterhood Association sponsored the event, which was led by local weaver Faye Kohrt. Kohrt has been weaving since 1988, when she took a course on the art form with Dolores Churchill from Ketchikan. "It's not that hard to do," she explained. Bundled coils of cedar bark are briefly soaked in water to make them more pliant. Following a pattern and exercising a...

  • Changes adopted for next year's game regs

    Dan Rudy|Apr 14, 2016

    Alaska’s Board of Game adopted a number of changes for the upcoming regulatory year, which take effect July 1. Of local interest, the definition of spike-fork antlers was updated to read as “antlers of a bull moose with only one or two tines on at least one antler, a point or tine originating within two inches of the base of the antler and less than three inches in length will not be counted as a tine; male calves are not considered spike bulls.” The change was proposed this year by Wrangell’s Game Advisory Committee (AC) as Proposal 6. In its...

  • Three-stop ferry to start new season

    Dan Rudy|Apr 14, 2016

    A three-stop interisland ferry is to resume service on Friday after a four-month hiatus. Rainforest Islands Ferry anticipates a 26-week run through the summer, connecting communities in Wrangell, Petersburg and on Prince of Wales Island. Launched by North End Ferry Authority last year, the service experienced a series of operational setbacks. There were delays in repurposing the Rainforest Islander, a 65-foot landing craft formerly used by a Haines lumber company. The circuit was bumped back from June to August, and again to September. It was a...

  • Fish Factor

    Apr 14, 2016

    Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan has scored seats on nearly every Congressional committee that deal with issues on, over and under the oceans. That fulfills a commitment he made to Kodiak when he ran for office two years ago, he said at a ComFish town meeting during a two day stay on “the Rock.” Sullivan ticked off a list of fishery related actions he’s had a hand in getting accomplished over the past year: passage of an enforcement act that combats global fish pirating and seafood fraud; adding language to bills that lifts pricey class...

  • SE Alaska King Salmon Sport Fishing Regulations for 2016

    Apr 14, 2016

    The 2016 sport fishing regulations for king salmon in Southeast Alaska and Yakutat will be effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, 2016 – 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 1, 2017. Alaska resident: The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. Nonresident: The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, except during May and June the bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; the nonresident annual limit is six king salmon, 28 i...

  • Ports still undecided about rate hike

    Dan Rudy|Apr 14, 2016

    Port commissioners continued to wrangle over potential rate increases last week, holding a workshop ahead of its regular meeting on April 7. In particular, they looked at raising rates for boatyard haulout fees, one of the Harbor Department’s five sources of revenue along with moorage, lease lots, utilities and storage. Harbormaster Greg Meissner explained there were limited opportunities for revenue growth with utilities and lease lots, the latter largely being settled last month with the extension of five-year leases by the Borough Assembly....