Articles from the May 26, 2016 edition


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  • Names given to faces on some stored totems

    Dan Rudy|May 26, 2016

    Seven totem poles transferred this spring from city storage at the boatyard to Wrangell Cooperative Association's new cultural center have been identified. The Tribe contacted master carver Steve Brown, sending him photographs of the retired poles in hopes of shedding some light on their identities. Coming to Wrangell in 1984, Brown had learned the local style and had worked on recreating a number of local totems and wood pieces, and was instrumental in the restoration of the Chief Shakes House...

  • Wrangell bids goodbye to the Class of 2016

    Dan Rudy|May 26, 2016

    As Wrangell High School prepared to send off 19 of its senior class last week, a number of awards and scholarships were distributed to students at a May 18 ceremony in the gym. "This is a phenomenal group of young men and women who are going off in all directions," school activities director Lisa Nikodym said. The 2016 class together earned over $130,000 in scholarships alone, and including grants, scholarships and unaccepted awards were offered $733,882 in all. Graduating senior Maleah Wenzel e...

  • The Way We Were

    May 26, 2016

    In the Sentinel 75, 50 and 25 years ago. May 30, 1941: Effort will be made to have work start of Wrangell's airport this year, Gov. Ernest Gruening told a special committee from the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce, who called on the governor last Saturday in Juneau, flying up with pilot Tony Schwamm. The airport is on the CAA approved list of fields on which work has been designated to start next year, the Governor said. However, in view of the urgency in defense matter, it is possible that the project may be moved up, the Chief Executive said, an...

  • Slimmer ferry schedule proposed for 2016-17

    Dan Rudy|May 26, 2016

    A draft for the Alaska Marine Highway System’s post-summer schedule was released last week. AMHS general manager Captain John Falvey Jr. reported the new schedule will be based on expected funding levels for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Presently, the ferry intends to run 330.2 operating weeks for nine of its vessels; the Taku and Chenega will both be on layup for much of the next fiscal year as cost saving measures. Entering its second year of inactivity, the Taku may be on the road to divestment. “We’ve announced this briefly,...

  • Courts

    May 26, 2016

    May 4 Shapleigh W. Howell, 82, appeared before First District Judicial Officer Leanna Nash on the violation charge of Groundfish Taken with Commercial Salmon Troll Gear Eastern Gulf Area – 1st Offense. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge, and was ordered to pay $160 in fines and surcharges. The ling cod fish seized was forfeited to the state, and a charge of Commercial Fishing State Permit Required was dropped. Douglas D. Herr Barker, 54, appeared before First District Judicial Officer Leanna Nash for the violation charge of G...

  • Police reports

    May 26, 2016

    Monday, May 16 Citizen Assist: Removed porcupine quills from dog. Traffic Complaint: Excessive acceleration. Unsecured Premises. Found Property. Tuesday, May 17 Agency Assist/Line Crew. Suspicious Circumstance/Unsecured Premises. Agency Assist/Dog Trap. Dog at Large. Wednesday, May 18 Citizen Assist: Unlock Vehicle. Citation issued to Joy Miller for Parking in School bus zone. Citation issued to Theresa Allen for parking in school bus zone. Person came in for restraining order and was denied. Thursday, May 19 Amanda Gillen, 28, received...

  • Dan's Dispatch

    Dan Ortiz|May 26, 2016

    Wouldn’t Alaskans experience violence if a gunman shot into their home? SB 91, a crime reform bill that ignores victims’ rights, says shooting into a home is ‘non-violent.’ Felonies will have reduced presumptive sentencing and jail time, and sometimes no jail time at all. The bill credits time during the conviction process even for child molesters and murderers. An offender can watch television, spend time with friends, go to work and live normally, then get up to a full year reduced from his/her sentence. Many felons will be released after ser...

  • Letters to the Editor

    May 26, 2016

    We are totally against a Retail Store and a Grow and Manufacture business in the town limits of Wrangell. Please do not issue permits for either business. Could we at least have the citizens of Wrangell vote on their opinions of cannabis in Wrangell? If we have this kind of business in our downtown area, I feel our reputation of a friendly, historic and safe place will change to a “Pot Town.” Please don’t let this happen. Our children should not be exposed to this drug. Look at all the time and money that has been put into selling our town...

  • Muskeg Meadows news

    May 26, 2016

    Bobs’ Golf Tournament was held on May 21 and 22 with 24 participants. May 21: 1st place: Chris Ellis, Wayne Ellis, Grover Mathis. Net score: 21, Team handicap: 17: 2nd place: Jane Bliss, Sue Nelson, Eric Kading. Net score: 23, Team handicap: 19: Straightest Drive: Faye Kohrt, 119”: Closest to Pin: George Woodbury, 24’5”. May 22: 1st place: George Woodbury, Grover Mathis, Doug Nelson. Net score: 22, Team handicap: 14: Straightest Drive: Grover Mathis, 12’5”: Closest to Pin: Joe Delabrue, 22’6”. Saturday, May 28 will be the Wrangell Medica...

  • Legislature convenes for special session

    May 26, 2016

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The Alaska Legislature convened a special session Monday called by Gov. Bill Walker to address numerous issues unresolved during the extended regular session, including the budget, oil and gas tax credits and a plan to confront Alaska’s budget deficit. The special session starts a new, 30-day clock for legislators to work. But if a budget is not approved by June 1, thousands of state workers will receive notices warning of possible layoffs as part of what Walker has called a contractual obligation. The new fiscal year star...

  • Making tracks

    May 26, 2016

  • Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|May 26, 2016

    Alaska’s salmon season officially got underway on May 16 with the arrival of thousands of sockeye and king salmon at the Copper River near Cordova, and high prices were the talk of the town. The first opener produced a catch of 25,000 sockeye and about 1,500 kings. “It was pretty slow to start. Small fish, not too many of them,” said Kelsey Appleton with Cordova District Fishermen United. Following a trend seen over the past couple of years across Alaska, the salmon were healthy but much smaller. Weights taken on several hundred samples after...

  • Going one bigger

    May 26, 2016

  • Assembly explores budget alternatives in public hearing

    Dan Rudy|May 26, 2016

    Before its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening, the City and Borough Assembly was prefaced with a public hearing and special presentation on the coming fiscal year's budget. Following up on its first review of the FY2017 draft budget on May 9, finance director Lee Burgess was accompanied by consultant Paula Scott, vice president of USI and a long-standing professional associate of the city. Still weighing heavily on next year's budget is an expected 38-percent raise to Wrangell's group rate health insurance plan when the fiscal year beg...

  • Harbor and boatyard rate hike gets first hearing

    Dan Rudy|May 26, 2016

    After many months of preparation, higher rates for Wrangell's harbor and boatyard users passed a penultimate hurdle on Tuesday. The City and Borough Assembly approved on first reading Ordinance 917, amending the fee schedule for Wrangell's Harbor Department. The proposal will return to the Assembly for its second and final reading on June 14. Approved by the Port Commission at its May 5 meeting, the increases being put forward would institute a 10-percent increase to outside and inside dock face moorage, storage, port development fees and most...