Articles from the June 4, 2015 edition


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  • Schools hire new secondary principal

    Dan Rudy|Jun 4, 2015

    The Wrangell School Board elected to offer Kendall Benson the position as the new secondary schools principal during its May 19 meeting. He will replace outgoing principal Colter Barnes who served one year in the position. Barnes will be headed to Southeast Island School District to serve as an itinerant principal and greenhouse manager. Benson begins August 1 and brings with him three decades of education experience. His most recent post was as principal of Cedar Middle School in Cedar City,...

  • Without budget, state could experience shutdown

    Dan Rudy|Jun 4, 2015

    As of Tuesday, the Alaska Legislature meeting in a special session in Anchorage had still not passed a budget for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. On Sunday, the Senate Finance Committee rejected a compromise budget passed by the House the previous day, which included some small concessions to the minority such as reversing cuts to the ferry system and per-student funding. A conference committee between the two chambers was being organized to negotiate an amended budget as legislators posture around various funding priorities....

  • Ridin' low with a white-hot set

    Jun 4, 2015

  • The Way We Were

    Jun 4, 2015

    In the Sentinel 75, 50 and 25 years ago. May 31, 1940: Official program of the Wrangell Potlatch Monday and Tuesday: June 3, 10 to 11 a.m., dedication of Hit Klane (Shakes Community House). Unveiling of new totem pole on Shakes Island. Noon to 5 p.m., Impressive Chief's inaugural ceremony, main event of Potlatch. Starts with arrival of Indian canoes at Shakes Island bringing guests to participate with Chief in his ceremonies. Following brief ceremony at Island, procession will form, led by Indian band, and move in colorful regalia up Front...

  • Water conservation measures implemented

    Dan Rudy|Jun 4, 2015

    As dry conditions pervaded May and continue into June, the City of Wrangell has issued a public notice requesting that residents conserve water after its two reservoirs dipped below the usual levels. Residents and businesses are asked to begin reducing their water consumption until normal levels are restored. Wrangell received only 0.6 inches of precipitation for the month of May, down from a historical average of of 4.58 inches. Other communities in Southeast have also noted record dry months,...

  • Police reports

    Jun 4, 2015

    Monday, May 25 Report of reckless driving. Owner located and will remove the vehicle. Tuesday, May 26 Courtesy transport. Verbal warning given for no visible tag. Report of dog at large. Unable to locate. Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire. Wednesday, May 27 Report of a problem with a juvenile at playground. Citizen assist. Thursday, May 28 Nothing to report. Friday, May 29 Civil standby. Officer en route. Agency assist for boat fire. Fire Department responded. Motor Vehicle Accident, motorcycle. Officer and ambulance...

  • Courts

    Jun 4, 2015

    May 29 Randolph M. Kalkins, 46, was released with restrictions on a $250 bond by the First District Court to a third-party custodian. The defendant was arrested on charges of Assault in the Fourth Degree on May 8, and he is scheduled to return to court on June 22....

  • Fire in the hold

    Jun 4, 2015

  • King limit changes in Wrangell Narrows, Blind Slough

    Jun 4, 2015

    The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) Division of Sport Fish announced a bag and possession limit of king salmon in the Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area, which took effect on Monday and will last through July 31. King salmon limits for residents and nonresidents will be two fish for those measuring 28 inches or greater, and two for those less than 28 inches. King salmon caught by nonresident anglers in the terminal harvest area will not count toward the 2015 nonresident annual limit. The terminal harvest area...

  • City Market and Sentry Hardware Golf Tournament Results

    Jun 4, 2015

    May 30 Mystery Scramble: 1st place: Greg Scheff, George Woodbury. Net score 65, team handicap 23. 2nd place: Eric Kading, Rocky Littleton. Net score 76, team handicap 21. Straightest Drive: Greg Scheff, 69” May 31 Best Ball: 1st place: Greg Scheff, Warren Edgley, Jim Abbott, Betty Abbott. Net score 17, team handicap 17. 2nd place: Mike White, Chuck Hay, Mike Hay, Steve Thielman. Net score 19, team handicap 15. Straightest Drive: Brett Woodbury, 110” Next week Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7, Kito’s Kave 9 Holes Best Ball....

  • Correction:

    Jun 4, 2015

    In the Summer Reading article of last week's issue, it was mistakenly reported that two Alaska Airlines tickets were part of the program's prizes. Though the air carrier did contribute to the program, the tickets were donated separately and will be raffled for the Friends of the Library....

  • SE Chautauqua nearing curtain date

    Dan Rudy|Jun 4, 2015

    The New Old Time Chautauqua is still set to stop through on its summer tour of Southeast Alaska later this month. Founded in 1981 by a group of performers, health care practitioners and educators, the Chautauqua revives a brand of entertainment widely popular in the rural United States until the Great Depression. As a movement, the Chautauqua emphasizes community building through education and entertainment. Sixty performers will stop into Southeast communities between June 21 and July 13 for...

  • Mountie search uncovers grave situation in SE

    Dan Rudy|Jun 4, 2015

    A delegation of Royal Canadian Mounted Police visited Wrangell last month in search of one of their colleagues, a constable killed in a boating accident near the island over a century ago. Constable Spencer Heathcote was a member of RCMP's Yukon District, Stikine Detachment, and was on patrol with two other constables when he died on Dec. 26, 1901. On patrol, the constables' boat was swamped in a gale when crossing over to Wrangell Island, and Heathcote perished along with Constable Norman Campbell. Though nearly succumbing to hypothermia, the...

  • SEAPA helipad project progresses in special meeting

    Jun 4, 2015

    At a special meeting on May 15, the board of the Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) approved the purchase of 348 helicopter landing pad panels from Fibergrate Composite Structures of Dallas, Texas, for $135,360. The 4-by-12 foot molded fiberglass grating panels are part of the Swan-Tyee Intertie Helipad Project, which will see the construction of 105 landing pads along the transmission lines' 261 towers. At its March 25 board meeting, SEAPA anticipated 40 to 50 pads can be set up this year, with the rest slated for next year. The pads will...

  • Byford property tests positive for lead contamination

    Jun 4, 2015

    On Monday, the City and Borough of Wrangell announced the results of a preliminary analysis of soil samples collected at the former Byford junkyard at approximately 4-mile on Zimovia Highway. Conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) late last summer, the tests show high levels of lead and other metals at the property that could pose a risk to human health. The tests were requested by Wrangell in order to begin developing a cleanup plan to enable reuse of the property. The yard—Lot Y2, Tract Y, USS 2321—was previously used for sal...

  • Guest Opinion

    Governor Bill Walker|Jun 4, 2015

    Next weekend, Lt. Governor Byron Mallott and I will kick off a series of conversations about the future of our state. The essence of these conversations is: What do we want our state to look like? What services do we want our government to provide? How will we pay for those services? As most of you know, the price of oil fell precipitously over the past year, and with it, Alaska's biggest source of revenue. Alaska's budget for the coming year proposes to spend $5 billion in state general funds....

  • Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|Jun 4, 2015

    Alaska’s salmon industry is ready to get corked by the inability of state lawmakers to pass a budget. More than 20,000 state workers are bracing for 30 day layoff notices, meaning they’ll be off the job when the new fiscal year starts on July 1. The timing couldn’t be worse for Alaska’s salmon managers who are nearing the peak of a season that could set new records. “There is some budget, about 27 percent of our normal amount for us to work in the field, and do our management responsibilities. But how we proceed from July 1 is what we’re wor...

  • One more weekend to bring it in

    Jun 4, 2015

  • It's a royal rumble

    Dan Rudy|Jun 4, 2015

    The Fourth of July Festival season began Sunday with the kickoff for this year's Royalty Court contest. The Wrangell Chamber of Commerce (CoC) sponsored a gathering at the Stikine Inn, introducing this year's two candidates, Kimberly Cooper and the Athletic Amateur Union basketball team. The competition has had teams run for Queen in the past, but CoC director Cyni Waddington explained this year's AAU team will set a first for size: 16 girls in the program will work together to sell tickets and...