Sorted by date Results 1 - 18 of 18
The roundabout near City Dock was blocked off July 4, for the 45th Chuck Oliver Logging Show. The logging show has been a staple of Wrangell's Independence Day celebration since it was first organized by Chuck Oliver in 1975. Chuck and his son, Randy, have been heavily involved in the logging show off-and-on for many years. With Chuck passing away in March this year, and Randy announcing that this would be his final show before retiring, many Wrangellites came out to see the close of this...
Wrangell's annual greased pole competition took place last Tuesday, July 2, at the city dock. The event is a popular part of the city's weeklong Fourth of July celebration. The competition is simple, in theory, but proves to be quite challenging to those participating. A large log is laid out over the water, on the dock's summer float, and covered in grease. Participants then attempt to scale the log and grab a small American flag on the opposite end. Grabbing the flag means winning $100. A...
July 10, 1919 It has always been the custom of Wrangell to celebrate the Fourth in a most joyous and enthusiastic manner, but our celebration this year had an added interest because of the presence of Governor and Mrs. Riggs who arrived Thursday noon on the Murre. Everyone in town who could get away was at the wharf to welcome the distinguished guests. The Admiral Evans was in port and her passengers joined in the greetings, the Wrangell band playing gaily all the while. While the reception for Mrs. Riggs was in progress Governor Riggs was...
June 24: Dylan Franks pleaded guilty to driving with an invalid license. Judge Kevin Miller sentenced him to 10 days in jail and $150 in fines. Dylan Franks pleaded guilty to violating his conditions of release. Charges of driving with an invalid license and driving in violation of a license limitation were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Judge Kevin Miller sentenced him to three days in jail and $150 in fines. Dylan Franks pleaded guilty to the charge of theft. Another charge of theft and violating conditions of release were dropped as...
July 1, 2019 Traffic stop: Verbal warning for driving habits. Found property: Person came in and claimed property. Citation issued: Cary Emens, 51. Dog at large and license required. Parking complaint. July 2, 2019 Suspicious person. Citizen assist: Vehicle unlock. Citizen assist: House unlock. Traffic stop: Verbal warning for failure to stop at stop sign. Traffic stop: Charlie Ercolin, speeding on Evergreen Ave. Three noise complaints. July 3, 2019 Suspicious vehicle. Animal complaint: Deer. Agency assist: Fire alarm. Agency assist: Alaska...
The Nolan Center, Wrangell's museum, movie theater, and cultural center, is hosting a new exhibit. "Muybridge in Alaska: 1868," is a collection of 16 original stereo views of Southeast Alaska, taken by pioneer photographer Eadweard Muybridge. These are some of the first known photographs of the region ever taken, according to a press release from the Nolan Center. "He was commissioned by the US government as part of an expedition led by Major-General Henry W. Halleck to photograph native...
Melba Ann Marshall, 83, passed on June 18, 2019. She was born in Limon, Colorado on April 1, 1936. She came to Wrangell in 2001 to live out her life with her three children and grandchildren. A memorial will be held at Harbor Light Church on July 20, 2019 at 4 p.m.... Full story
To the Editor: How can it be that we are knee-deep in tourist effluent and Medicaid is being cut? Why isn’t the State Treasury fat with income from the tourist industry? Southeast Alaska is being exploited by tour ships. We need to, A: set a limit on the number and size of tour ships allowed in state waters; B: issue permits with contractual obligations; C: get compensated for their use of the state resources, including monitoring costs. Is anyone in the state taking any action aside from cutting programs to state residents? Is it hard to b...
The annual third of July fireworks show was cancelled this year, according to a press release from the City and Borough of Wrangell. This decision was made after borough officials, members of the police department, and the fire department determined that with the ongoing concerns of a water shortage in Wrangell, and drought conditions across the Southeast Alaska region, a large fireworks show was unwise. Borough Clerk Kim Lane went into a little more detail on the decision. She explained that th...
The Fourth of July was a hot and sunny day in Wrangell, but that did not stop many people from getting out and having a good time. Like all previous years, this year's fourth was the culmination of a whole week of events to celebrate Independence Day. There were numerous events, games, food booths, and other things to do to keep everyone busy last Thursday. While this year stood out because of a lack of fireworks due to ongoing drought conditions across Southeast Alaska, it still brought out...
A call went out on the police scanner around 12:45 p.m., July 8, about the Nolan Center flooding. The Nolan Center is Wrangell’s museum, movie theater, tourist destination, and conference center. The fire department responded to the call quickly, finding a broken sprinkler pouring water all over the center’s floor. While the fire department was able to shut off the water within minutes of arriving on the scene, water continued to pour out of the broken sprinkler for quite some time. Keeleigh Solverson, Nolan Center employee, said that the spr...
One fisheries item that appears to have escaped Governor Mike Dunleavy’s veto pen so far is his desire to divert local fish taxes from coastal communities into state coffers. Dunleavy’s initial budget in February aimed to repeal the sharing of fisheries business and landing taxes that towns and boroughs split 50/50 with the state. Instead, all of the tax revenues would go to the state’s general fund – a loss of $28 million in FY 2020 to fishing communities. “There is a recognition that these are viewed as shared resources, and they should be...
Among the many events occurring the week of the Fourth of July in Wrangell is the annual talent show. The event is a great way for locals and visitors to show off their talents, whatever they may be, and to have a fun evening. There were a wide variety of acts for people to enjoy this year. Bella Ritchie and her brother, Ryder, read poetry. Abby Gerald performed "Even If" by MercyMe on the piano. One particularly large act was done by the Young cousins: Braidyn, Taylor, Dvyn, Brynlee, Kelyn,...
Ruby McMurren, with the Wrangell Cooperative Association and project director of the local Administration for Native Americans grant project, wanted to remind everybody in town that the "Wrangell Community Prioritization Survey" will come to a close on Friday, July 19. The survey is designed to get public input on the subjects of economic development, healthcare, and housing in Wrangell, and what people want to see improved or changed. The ANA grant project is designed to help stem the flow of...
State Representative Dan Ortiz (I) held a teleconference with constituents in Ketchikan and Wrangell Monday, July 8, to hear public opinions on the state budget, the PFD, and other items. Monday was the start of a second special session of the state legislature, one that has appeared to be just as divisive amongst legislators and Alaskan residents as the previous sessions. One of the hot topics of this session, when it was announced, was whether or not to overturn Governor Mike Dunleavy’s l...
Wrangell resident and attorney Michael Nash, 68-years-old passed away in a plane crash near Ketchikan on Thursday, July 11. Alaska State Troopers were notified by Ketchikan Flight Service of an overdue aircraft around 3:07 p.m. according to a dispatch on the department of public safety's website. Nash was flying his plane, a PA-24 Comanche, and was due to land in Ketchikan at 2:15 p.m. "The US Coast Guard, Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and Saxman VPSO responded to... Full story
