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One of the most highly anticipated events in Wrangell's Fourth of July celebration is the Chuck Oliver Logging Show. The contest harkens back to Wrangell's days as an important part of the timber industry in Southeast Alaska. Formed in 1975 by Chuck Oliver, who was then working with Alaska Lumber & Pulp, the logging show drew people from all over to Wrangell. The contest offered numerous events for participants to show off their skills, according to a 1975 paper in the Wrangell Sentinel's...
June 26, 1919 Post Office Inspector P. L. Neill was aboard the Admiral Evans Monday returning from a tour of inspection as far to the Westward as Kodiak. While the vessel was in port the Sentinel reporter approached Mr. Neill for news. The inspector said: “I am going to recommend a gas boat mail service between Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan to supplement the steamer service. There are several of the larger boats which do not call at Wrangell and Petersburg.” Commenting further on local conditions the Inspector stated that the Post Off...
Wrangell Police Chief Dough McCloskey was honored by the borough assembly last Tuesday night, in recognition of his upcoming retirement. McCloskey came to Wrangell in 1992, after a career as a police officer and as a Merchant Marine with the Coast Guard. He joined the local police department in 1992 as a police officer, and was appointed chief of police in 2003. He has served as chief since then, for the past 16 years. As he has announced his intention to retire, the assembly made a...
June 17, 2019 86’d letter service. Two traffic stops: Verbal warning for expired registration. Citizen report DUI. Citation issued to Randall Fordyce, 23. Expired registration and no proof of insurance. Report of trespass. Suspicious circumstance. June 18, 2019 Citation issued to Charles Goldsbury, 61. Failure to provide proof of insurance and expired registration. June 19, 2019 Dylan Franks: Violation of conditions of release. Civil matter. June 20, 2019 Two agency assist: Alarm. Parking complaint. Traffic complaint. Suspicious c...
As we look forward to our family and community celebration of the 4th of July, Independence Day, it seems appropriate to reflect on the strength of the people that gave us the opportunities that America offers, the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Can you imagine being one of 56 individuals to sign a document that would be your death sentence if your fellow countrymen didn’t stand behind you and endanger their lives in a war against the mighty British empire? Upon where did they draw that strength to be so vulnerable? It is i...
Jack Lee Fain, 61, died on June 10, 2019 at Wrangell Hospital with his wife standing by him. He was born on July 8, 1957 in Crescent City, California to Clara and Jack Fain. He had one brother, Tom, and a sister, Karen. He also had seven children he raised by himself. He loved working with cars; tearing them apart and putting them back together, like a big puzzle. Jack also loved gardening and trout fishing. When he was a teenager, he was a Golden Glove boxer. His parents and a sister preceded... Full story
To the Editor: Hello people of Wrangell; this is the latest update on my lawsuit against the hiring managers and some members of the city council. This week I have been inundated with several bundles of filed information from their lawyer in Anchorage. These I have filed answers to, however the city of Wrangell has insisted upon joining the defendants. So it is my question to we the people, the taxpayers of Wrangell, is this wise? The best use of our tax dollars. They bought a boatlift from the EU ignoring a competitive bid from an American...
The Alaska State Legislature adjourned last week, but before adjourning, the most significant accomplishment was the agreement to transfer $10.5 billion from the Earnings Reserve Account (ERA) to the Corpus of the Permanent Fund. For the majority of legislators, including Senator Stedman and myself, it is a top priority to protect and enhance opportunities for the Permanent Fund to grow so that there will continue to be PFDs for Alaskans well into the future. The Permanent Fund is comprised of the Corpus (also known as the Principal) and the...
The Southeast Alaska Power Agency held a two-day meeting in Wrangell last week, on June 19 and 20. The SEAPA board of directors consists of five voting community members and their alternates from Wrangell, Petersburg, and Ketchikan, which are the three communities the power agency supplies. During last week's meetings, the board agreed to pay the two cities of Wrangell and Petersburg almost $850,000 in a reimbursement package. The reimbursement plan was to pay back the two cities for switching...
A well-intended new Alaska law has gone awry from a botched roll out that has turned thousands of Alaskan fishing vessel, tender, barge and sport fish operators into lawbreakers. Since the start of 2019, all vessels over 24 feet are required to be registered with the State at a Department of Motor Vehicles office. Previously, vessels that were documented with the US Coast Guard were not also required to register with the state. The registration costs $24 and is good for three years. “You need to get down to the DMV whether you’re doc...
The Fourth of July brings many fun events to Wrangell. From the logging show to the street games, it is hard to be bored in Wrangell the week of the Fourth. One event that people should be very excited for, according to Bonnie Ritchie, is the annual talent show. The talent show has been a part of the Fourth of July Celebration for many years, Ritchie said, who has been chairman of the talent show since last year. This year the talent show will follow the celebration's wider theme of "Back to...
Visitors will soon be able to request the last of the daily permits for the Anan Wildlife Observatory this summer. There are four permits per day for the remainder of the summer meant to accommodate last-minute planning, and these permits need to be requested in person at the Wrangell Ranger District up to one week in advance. Requests must be made by filling out a form at the front desk, and individuals listed on the form must be physically present at the time of request (with the exception of...
After the retirement of Bob Dalrymple earlier this year, Wrangell has been searching for a new ranger for their Forest Service district. As of last Sunday, that search has come to an end. Clint Kolarich, the new ranger, comes to Wrangell with an extensive background with the Forest Service. "I was in the YCC [Youth Conservation Corps] when I was a junior in high school, and from there I went into seasonal firefighting," he said. "That was back in 1986. So I was off and on in seasonal...
Nicholas Howell has a bit of a reputation as the guy around town who runs a lot. Last December he ran 100 miles in a single day to celebrate the new year. He said that he also competed in an Ironman triathlon down in California last year. Howell enjoys "ultra events" because it gives him the opportunity to test himself, and better his training and discipline, he said. Now, he is giving other Wrangell residents the opportunity to see what it is all about, by organizing the Tongass ToughMan...
Last Thursday, June 20, members of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the Forest Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and local volunteers all converged on the beach of east Wrangell, near Channel Island, to dissect a dead gray whale that had washed ashore. Kate Savage, once a veterinarian in Wrangell but now working with NOAA, said that an Unusual Mortality Event is occurring all along the Pacific Coast, from Alaska to Mexico. There...
Due to the dry conditions and water shortage concerns, there is a very high fire hazard and public safety (and property) concern. The City & Borough of Wrangell, along with the Wrangell Police Department and the Wrangell Fire Department has made the decision that there will not be a Fireworks Display this year. We understand that the Fireworks Display is a huge part of the 4th of July however, we are very concerned with the potential for fire during these dry conditions. Further, if there were... Full story
