Articles from the May 21, 2020 edition


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  • Graduation for class of 2020

    Caleb Vierkant|May 21, 2020

    Though it lacked the in-person fanfare of a typical graduation, the Wrangell High School Class of 2020 officially graduated last Friday evening, May 15. A small graduation ceremony was held on May 12, with seniors receiving their diplomas. A video stream was shown publicly on the 15th including slideshows of students, speeches from the faculty and student body. A parade through town was also organized after the video aired, where people could drive by the homes of the graduating students to...

  • Reopen Wrangell Task Force holds business roundtable

    Caleb Vierkant|May 21, 2020

    The Reopen Wrangell Task Force hosted a roundtable discussion for local businesses last Friday afternoon, May 15, in regards to state mandates and how businesses will need to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meeting, members of the task force gave brief presentations on state health mandates and safety mitigation plans. "I've been working with the local Emergency Operations Center for the last couple of months," said Jamie Roberts. "One of the duties I've been tasked with is staying...

  • Planning and Zoning Commission holds various public hearings

    Caleb Vierkant|May 21, 2020

    The Wrangell Planning and Zoning Commission met last Thursday evening, May 14, to hold several public hearings on various items. The meeting opened with a discussion on the proposed relocation of a submarine cable. Communications company GCI is seeking to relocate an underwater fiber optics cable, which runs from Ketchikan to Wrangell, to a new landing location on the island. This is because the Southeast Alaska Power Agency is planning to conduct submarine electrical line work where GCI's...

  • Economic Development Committee workshops financial assistance ideas

    Caleb Vierkant|May 21, 2020

    The Wrangell Economic Development Committee met Tuesday afternoon, May 19, to workshop several financial assistance ideas they will be bringing before the borough assembly in the near future. With the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing, and the city expecting to receive money via the CARES Act to help with economic recovery, the committee has spent the past few meetings workshopping ways to assist people and businesses around the community. The committee had an extensive list of categories of financial a...

  • Senior awards night via web conference

    Caleb Vierkant|May 21, 2020

    Graduating students of Wrangell High School, school staff, and other community members came together via web conference last week for senior awards night. During the web conference, graduating seniors were informed of scholarships they had won. "I'm excited to see who wins the awards today, and I want to remind you guys that even if you haven't applied for any scholarships yet there's still millions of dollars out there," Interim Principal Jack Carney said. "So if you don't win anything tonight...

  • School board told the district has a hostile work environment

    Caleb Vierkant|May 21, 2020

    The Wrangell School Board met via web conference last Monday, May 18 and heard of several unethical and potentially illegal things happening in the district. Another person said the district had a hostile work environment. David Macri was one of the speakers that evening. Macri was the district's former secondary school principal, before his resignation and being put on administrative leave in March of this year. Macri spoke in the meeting to say that there were several problems in the school...

  • Fire at Panhandle Trailer Court

    Caleb Vierkant|May 21, 2020

    A trailer at Panhandle Trailer Court caught fire last Saturday morning, May 16. The fire department received the call at approximately 10:10 a.m. The trailer's resident, Norm Canaday, was reportedly inside the building when the fire broke out. Panhandle resident Duke Aitken said he and another neighbor, Dan Flickinger, helped Canaday escape the trailer by having him jump out the back door onto a mattress. The fire was put out around 11 a.m. Fire Chief Tim Buness said that Canaday was unharmed,...

  • Police report

    May 21, 2020

    May 11 Agency Assist: Ambulance. Welfare Check. Agency Assist: Hoonah P.D. Gun Shots. May 12 Animal Complaint. Agency Assist: Burglar Alarm. Harassment. Agency Assist: Parks & Rec. Traffic Stop: Verbal warning given for headlights. Intoxicated persons. May 13 Traffic Complaint: Speeding. Agency Assist: Ambulance. Trespass: Unfounded. May 14 Traffic Complaint: Speeders. Subpoena Service. Traffic Stop: Verbal warning for display of license plate. Agency Assist: Wrangell Medical Center. Traffic Control. May 15 Motor Vehicle Accident: Drivers...

  • Alaska to receive $50 million from $300 million fisheries relief funds in CARES Act

    Laine Welch|May 21, 2020

    Giving COVID relief funds to the seafood industry and stepping on the gas for offshore fish farming are two big takeaways from the executive orders and congressional packages coming out of the nation’s capital. Recent news that Alaska would receive $50 million from the $300 million fisheries relief funds in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was well received by industry stakeholders and it’s likely to be followed by more. A May 15 hearing called “COVID 19 impacts to American Fisheries and the Seafood Supply Chain...

  • The Way We Were

    May 21, 2020

    May 20, 1920 The Wrangell School Board has decided to increase the faculty to six teachers next year. Four of them have already been elected. They are as follows: Miss May Crosno, principal: Miss Ann O’Connor, Miss J. O’Connor, and Miss Jessica Don Carlos. The board has decided upon a ten month’s term. There will be 38 weeks of actual teaching, with one week of vacation at Christmas and another at Easter. It is reported that the committee appointed by the council to confer with the school board have decided to report favorably on the build...

  • National Guard Fly-By

    Caleb Vierkant|May 21, 2020

    As a way of saying "thank you" to medical professionals, first responders, and teachers for all their work during the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Guard flew over several Alaskan communities on Friday, May 15. Pictured here is one of two C-17's that flew past Wrangell's city dock that afternoon....

  • Letters to the Editor

    May 21, 2020

    To the Editor: For most of us the COVID emergency "hunker down" has been a test of ingenuity, patience and endurance. Ingenuity has been needed to find new ways to occupy ourselves, exercise, get a haircut and celebrate important life and family events with loved ones. Patience and endurance have been needed as we wait for life to normalize. But sadly for some who have been restricted to a home with an abusive spouse or partner, these times have been dangerous and frightening. Domestic violence...

  • Blue Heron

    May 21, 2020

    A Great Blue Heron stands by the waterline, near Campbell Drive. Now that spring has sprung, many birds have returned to Wrangell and the wider Southeast Alaska region with the warmer weather....

  • Class of 2020, Congratulations!

    May 21, 2020

    Friday, May 15...