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The Wrangell Public School Board will get a first look at its budget next month for the upcoming year, which begins July 1, 2017. At its December 14 meeting, school superintendent Patrick Mayer reported the year’s budget would be reflecting expected reductions to revenue sources. He explained the district will be putting together its draft budget operating under four assumptions, which may change as the new year unfolds. One of these is a student enrollment count of 273, which takes into consideration part-time students. Health coverage p...
At its December monthly meeting, the City and Borough Assembly approved future expansion of Memorial Cemetery. Located near Heritage Harbor and City Park, Memorial is one of two public cemeteries managed by the city, the other being Sunset Gardens just across the road. A deepening problem the city has faced in recent years has been a lack of space at the two sites. The newer of the two, Sunset Gardens currently has only 18 unreserved plots available for purchase, with another 31 niches in its columbarium available for cremated remains....
Another housing unit has officially gone smoke-free, according to Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s local health promotion department. This fall the new owners of the Stikine Native Organization building on Front Street – colloquially known as the SNO Building to locals – formally made the building’s apartments smoke free. SEARHC health educator Tammi Meissner pointed out the move makes it the first private residential complex in town to register its policy with the state. In September, the Wrangell Senior Apartments formally went s...
In last week’s front page picture caption, organizers for the Standing Rock support gathering had been the Alaska Native Sisterhood Association (ANSA), a similarly-named but separate organization from the Alaska Native Sisterhood....
Monday, December 12 Agency Assist. Domestic/Title 47: 12 hour hold on Jyzzyka Gage, 21. Tuesday, December 13 Report of Suspicious Circumstance. Wednesday, December 14 Citations issued to Kenneth Pete, 28, for Driving While License Suspended/Revoked and Driving in Violation of Limitations. Report of Harassment. Assault DV. Report of Suspicious Circumstance. Agency Assist/Chimney Fire. Thursday, December 15 Agency Assist – FD. Gun Shot – Unfounded. Parking Complaint – Vehicle parking in bus zone. Friday, December 16 Unsecured Premise: All was f...
In its meeting December 13, the City and Borough Assembly approved issuance of a new sewer revenue bond. Amounting to $91,000, the 40-year bond will finance a portion of the cost to acquire, construct and install additions to two of the borough’s main sewer pump stations. The work includes new piping and control systems for the stations, which together service about 80 percent of the city’s waste. As of this month, Public Works estimated the city’s sewer system has treated 112,994,910 gallons of wastewater, while maintaining 1.5 emplo...
An alternating drop of snow and freezing rain over the weekend put a damper on holiday festivities in Wrangell, and caused problems for drivers and pedestrians both as late as Monday morning. The area received over an inch and a half of precipitation Saturday and Sunday, starting with ample helpings of snow. Rough sea conditions early Saturday hampered efforts on the part of Wrangell's annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count to tally area avians. Five of the volunteers' nine survey groups were...
Wrangell’s high school wrestlers took eighth overall out of 52 teams competing in the ASAA/First National Bank 123A State Championships in Anchorage over the weekend. Among 2A division schools, the Wolves placed third with 64 team points. Caleb Groshong brought home a medal for the 220 weight bracket, winning his first round by forfeiture and the next over Houston’s Malaki Barrett by pin in 3:34. Relegated to the secondary by Barrow sophomore Benjamin Heather by 5-2 decision, Groshong went on to win the semifinal round over Bethel’s Drew Pekar...
Things are looking up for possible project financing needed to replace float facilities at Shoemaker Bay Harbor. In a budget draft released by Gov. Bill Walker last week, the Department of Transportation and Public Facility’s harbor maintenance program would have $5,000,000 in its coffers for next year, precisely the amount Wrangell would need in order to proceed with its renovation at Shoemaker. The Wrangell project has been given precedence this year over other applications from around the state, after being passed over last year due to l...
Giving to the less fortunate is the true meaning of the Christmas season, and giving Alaska seafood has never been easier. A single dollar donated to Sea Share translates to eight seafood dinners for hungry Americans from the nation’s food bank network. For 22 years, fish taken as bycatch in Alaska fisheries has been donated to hunger relief programs via Sea Share instead of being thrown overboard as required by law. During that time, the Seattle-based nonprofit has built a growing nationwide network of fishermen, processors, freight, s...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – A project to improve access to Alaska’s capital has come to a stop. Citing the state’s multi-billion dollar fiscal crisis, Gov. Bill Walker announced Thursday he has decided not to build a 50-mile road extension north from Juneau. Juneau is accessible only by water or air. The Juneau Access Project would have lowered costs and sharply reduced time spent on ferries for drivers trying to reach Skagway or Haines and a connection to the North American road system. Walker in a prepared statement acknowledged many would...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Gov. Bill Walker has proposed cutting hundreds more state jobs as part of a budget plan that includes the use of earnings from Alaska’s oil-wealth nest egg and ultimately tripling state motor fuels taxes. Walker’s budget office said the governor’s overall budget plan, if implemented, still would leave a budget deficit of nearly $900 million that would need to be closed with lawmakers’ help. In a statement Thursday, Walker said the state has already slashed its budget and will look for more ways to reduce costs. But he sa...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The Glory Hole, Juneau’s homeless shelter and soup kitchen, is facing closure as it remains short of its $180,000 fundraising goal this year. Alaska Native organizations are holding the 2nd Annual Glory Hole Fundraiser on Tuesday to help bring in the needed funds. Last year’s event raised more than $30,000, The Juneau Empire reported. Executive Director Mariya Lovishchuk said the 40-bed facility needs $59,000 to keep the doors open. The shelter relies on the community to contribute a large chunk of its operating budge...
Representatives between the city and its public employees union met in court in Ketchikan Tuesday for a scheduled settlement conference, as part of an ongoing arbitration dispute between Wrangell and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547. The conference was set to continue into Wednesday. On December 6 Judge William Carey of the Ketchikan Superior Court was appointed as the settlement judge by Judge Trevor Stephens, who is assigned to the civil case. Parties were given until Monday to submit confidential briefs ahead of...
Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like a toy boat, a bike and a white computer. Well that’s it. Thoses things I wanted for years. Brayden Cartwright Dear Santa, I have been a good girl this year. I would a Barbie Doll and a horse and a minecraft lego. I would like all this stuff please. Delilah Clark Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like a new remote control race car. I also want a pet bird in a cage that has holes. The last thing that I want is a new puppy that I will name Sawyer. Thank you for bringing everyone presents. You are very nice an...
What I wish for the world is that if people are rich, they give some to the poor. Trash should not be left in areas that have life. Towns like Wrangell should recycle instead. Homeless people should get material to build houses. This is what I want there to be in the world. Wrangell is special because of wildlife, it’s special song, and it’s an island. There are things to do like fish, camp, and hunt. There are nice people that make it a good place to live. Merry Christmas! by Donovan Wood What my wish for the world is that everyone has a hom...
As people here may know, I travel a lot, but usually not as a tourist. Recently I made a trip to London. This time was different - my first visit (other than stopovers at the airport) to this richly endowed city of historical and cultural renown. Just imagine devouring a fresh platter of fish and chips while standing outside on the upper deck of a tour ship and cruising down the Thames River, a light breeze stirring in the night air. Our excursion ended at the Parliament Building, where the world famous clock tower and “London Eye” Ferris whe...
When I moved to Wrangell the first of July, my experience of seasons was limited: spring, summer, fall and winter. When I graduated from seminary I added the seasons of the Lutheran church, including Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and the longest season of all—Ordinary Times. Our seasons each have their own color to set them apart and remind us where we are in our journey through the church year. A new resident of Wrangell, I soon became aware that I had joined a community awash in seasons!! Life in Wrangell moves from one season i...
