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Unionized public employees may soon strike as negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement with the city reaches an impasse. The escalation follows the City and Borough Assembly’s effective rejection on June 8 of a last best offer made by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Works Local #1547, which represents 24 employees of various departments and utilities. The proposal directly to the Assembly was a unique break from traditional collective bargaining negotiations, a provision that had been agreed to when the two parties reac...
Several service organizations came together last week to pay tribute to the Stars and Stripes, holding a special ceremony for Flag Day. Falling on June 14 each year, Flag Day celebrates the adoption of the United States' current flag on that day in 1777. Though not an official holiday, the anniversary was first recognized by President Woodrow Wilson by proclamation, and later by Congress in 1946. It has been observed since 1907 by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a patriotic...
June 21, 1917: Homer Worden was pleasantly surprised by a party of his friends last Monday evening, the event being his eleventh birthday. The guests assembled during Homer’s absence and they presented him with many appropriate gifts on his arrival. At nine o’clock lunch, consisting of sandwiches, cookies, cake and chocolate, supplemented by ice cream, was appreciated. The smallest children departed at 9:30, while the others enjoyed games until a late hour. June 19, 1942: Even Ripley and his “believe it or not” never found a better one than thi...
Monday, June 12 Caller reported person setting off seal bombs behind residence. Officer made contact. Harry Churchill Sr., 83, arrested on charges of DUI. Domestic Dispute. Tuesday, June 13 Agency Assist: Power: Campers reported power out at Shoemaker campsite: Light and power notified. Wednesday, June 14 Nothing to Report. Thursday, June 15 Agency Assist: Boat sinking: Owner notified called FD. Citizen Assist: Officer unlocked vehicle. Caller requested assistance with fire alarm system that has been beeping for a week. Caterer’s Permit. S...
May 31 Robert J. Shilts, 80, was ordered by First District Court Judge Chris Ellis to pay restitution to the State of Alaska in the amount of $150. The order followed a guilty plea entered by the defendant for the charge of Unlawful Retention of Undersized King Salmon, a first offense. In addition, Shilts was ordered to pay $1,510 in fines and surcharges with $1,000 suspended, and to forfeit one king salmon for use at Wrangell Senior Center. He has been placed on probation for one year. June 6 Trever D. Harder, 30, appeared before First...
Shannan Lee Phillips, 41, passed away on June 2, 2017 from health complications in Wenatchee, Washingon. Shannan was born on June 10, 1975 to Leland and Arlene Phillips, in Wrangell, Alaska and lived in Wrangell for most of her life. While still in high school, she started her family young by having her first daughter with her first husband, John Moody. She graduated from Wrangell High School and proceeded to live in Wrangell where she and John added another daughter into their family. After...
The views I am about to express are of my own, and not representative of my employers or unions, past or present. I worked for the City and Borough of Wrangell for approximately six years, two as a Harbor Security/Maintenance, and four as a Water/Wastewater Treatment Operator. Last year my family and I had to make the hard decision to move to Petersburg. The main contributing factor for us was, as in most cases, money. While working for the borough in those six years, there was no true C.O.L.A. (cost of living adjustment.) We received a $750...
In the June 15 issue of the Sentinel it was reported that police suspected a car burned during a spree of vehicular thefts to be done intentionally. In the criminal complaint subsequently filed against Lief Bosdell, the state alleges now the vehicle caught fire incidentally. After appearing again in court for a preliminary hearing last week, Bosdell’s indictment will next be reviewed by a grand jury. He is currently being charged with seven felony counts of vehicular theft and three misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief....
Mountains of metal are in the middle of being moved this week from the island's landfill and storage spaces. The city is working with Channel Construction to remove as much of the miscellaneous waste as it has on hand. Since Tuesday the company's barge has been busy at the loading yard piling on assorted scrap, discarded autos and bulky items. It has been at least five years since the city was last able to offload a consignment of scrap, after depressed metals prices made transport an expensive...
Summer officially began this week, with the solstice marking the year’s longest day on Wednesday. For hundreds of Wrangell children, the months-long break between school years began at the end of May, and programming to keep them active and socially engaged started up soon afterward. Wrangell Parks and Recreation kicked off its summer activities at the start of June. The library’s summer reading program began June 1, and young residents have already begun taking lessons in horseback riding and swimming. A fee structure is in place for par...
arpen their skills on the basketball court last week, during a two-day clinic hosted at the high school. The Alaska Native Sisterhood Association brought down Damen Bell-Holter, a professional player and life coach whose "Blessed 2 Bless" program reaches out to youth around the country. Having grown up in Hydaburg, he was a hit with Wrangell's own aspiring athletes as an example of what hard work can accomplish. Raised in Hydaburg, after being signed with the Boston Celtics for the 2013 season,...
A recent reading on shellfish taken from around the Shoemaker Bay helipad has shown elevated risk of paralytic shellfish poisoning. Blue mussel samples from the site were taken by the local Indian Environmental General Assistance Program office on June 12, and sent to the laboratory maintained by Sitka Tribe of Alaska the next day. The readings came back positive for saxitoxin, the underlying agent responsible for PSP in humans. As a result, residents are advised to avoid eating shellfish from that area for the time being. Since last year...
Very soon visitors will be able to start picking up daily permits for the Anan Wildlife Observatory. The United States Forest Service makes four of these available for every day of the season to accommodate for last-minute planning and local visitation to the mainland site. The permits need to be requested for in person at the Wrangell Ranger District, up to one week in advance. Requests are made by filling out a form at the office’s front desk. With the exception of family members, individuals listed on the form must also be physically p...
PETERSBURG - Five hikers and 7 dogs were taking a Father's Day hike up Petersburg Mountain last Sunday when atop the summit, two dogs playing together fell over an obscured ledge, dropping over 200-feet onto a rock and snow-covered bench on the backside of the mountain. One dog survived the fall with severe lacerations and the second dog died two hours later while enroute back down the mountain. Ola and Brian Richard's dog Roxy suffered deep puncture wounds in her pelvic area. She suffered from...
China holds big promise to become a top customer for Alaska salmon, and not just for the bright red fillets. Since 2011 China has been the number one customer for Alaska seafood with purchases nearing $800 million and comprising 54 percent of all Alaska exports to China. In Chinese food culture, fish symbolizes abundance and prosperity, which plays into a growing middle class that now earns the equivalent of about $25,000 in U.S. dollars a year. That gives buyers significant disposable income to spend on more high-end foods, such as salmon....
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The Alaska Legislature remains on pace for a statewide government shutdown as lawmakers renew discussions they hope will bridge the gap between the House and Senate. Gov. Bill Walker said he is confident the Legislature can avert an economically catastrophic shutdown July 1. Officials' top priority during the special session is the state operating budget. "At this point, I must focus solely on one issue and one issue alone, and that is the operating budget so we do not have...
The governing board for Southeast Alaska Power Agency has approved a draft for next year's budget, as well as a hefty rebate to its member communities' utilities. The decision was supported by a fair financial position for the agency, which supplies hydroelectric power to Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg. In a meeting held at Wrangell's Nolan Center Tuesday afternoon, SEAPA chief executive Trey Acteson explained sales revenues had come in higher than expected. Power sales to Ketchikan, Wrangel...
It was out of the workplace and into the streets for many Wrangell city staff Thursday morning, as two dozen unionized workers began a strike over prolonged contract negotiations. The City and Borough has been negotiating for a new collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547 since the summer of 2014, when the previous CBA expired. The process has at times been tumultuous, with court proceedings through the fall of 2016 being settled by...