Articles from the July 21, 2016 edition


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  • Water shortage prompts state of emergency in Wrangell

    Dan Rudy|Jul 21, 2016

    With the supply of treated water dangerously low, the Borough Assembly officially declared the city to be in a state of disaster Tuesday evening. The decision was reached during a special session in which officials met with departmental staff and representatives of Wrangell’s two fish processing plants, Trident Seafoods and Sea Level Seafoods. With the processing season already underway and production ramping up, the two together are consuming about half of the community’s water. Alarm bells were raised by Public Works when it reported its res... Full story

  • Assembly supports timber sale in special meeting

    Dan Rudy|Jul 21, 2016

    The City and Borough of Wrangell has officially endorsed a plan being put forward by the United States Forest Service concerning future timber sales on the island. In a special meeting on July 15, the Borough Assembly gave its input on a letter of support being drafted by economic development coordinator Carol Rushmore. A final copy was formally submitted to the Wrangell Ranger District on Monday, the last day of the public comment period for its Wrangell timber sale’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The DEIS puts forward five alternative... Full story

  • SEC names 12 to ferry restructure steering committee

    Dan Rudy|Jul 21, 2016

    A steering committee has been selected to head up restructuring of the Alaska Marine Highway System. In May the office of Gov. Bill Walker tasked regional economic forum Southeast Conference with revitalizing the state’s maritime transportation network, a two-phase process which will involve looking both at its organizational structure and business model. To that end, a committee representing AMHS’ varied user base was selected from around 25 applicants. “We had quite a few names to choose from,” commented Robert Venables, transpo... Full story

  • Cutting the ribbon

    Jul 21, 2016

  • The Way We Were

    Jul 21, 2016

    In the Sentinel 75, 50 and 25 years ago. July 21, 1941: A lively blaze in the basement of Wrangell hotel last Saturday at dinner time caused a flurry of excitement among guests and did damage estimated at $20,000. But for the prompt work of Wrangell’s Volunteer fire department the fire might have been far more serious with even greater loss. The fire started from a short circuit, it was said, back of the boiler in the basement and had charred the girders badly under the floor of the dining room and kitchen before the flames were brought u...

  • Courts

    Jul 21, 2016

    July 11 Matthew A. Nakamura, 41, appeared before First District Judicial Officer Kevin Miller for a dismissal of charges. A charge of Theft 3 – Value $250-$749 was dropped by the prosecution. July 13 Casey M. McDonald, 58, appeared before First District Magistrate Judge Chris Ellis on the charge of Controlled Substances 6 – Use/Display Any Amount, a Class B misdemeanor. The defendant pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay $250 in fines and $100 in surcharges. Cathy A. Angerman, 62, appeared before First District Judicial Officer Chris Ellis on...

  • Police reports

    Jul 21, 2016

    Monday, July 11 Parking Complaint. Tuesday, July 12 Parking Complaint. Found Property. Citizen Assist – Officer unlocked vehicle. Wednesday, July 13 Agency Assist. Driving Complaint. Agency Assist/Random Breath Test. Suspicious Person. Disturbance/Parking Complaint. Agency Assist/Line Crew. Fireworks. Thursday, July 14 Disorderly Conduct. Domestic. Friday, July 15 Domestic. Citizen Assist/Unlocked Vehicle. Noise Complaint. Saturday, July 16 Child Assistance. Probation Violation. Sunday, July 17 Alarm – Security alarm, officer responded. All...

  • Muskeg Meadows news

    Jul 21, 2016

    The Ottesen’s True Value Best Ball Tournament was held July 16 and 17 with 33 participants. July 16: First Place Team: Wayne Harding, Kathleen Harding, Grover Mathis. Net score: 18, Team Handicap: 17. Second Place Team: Jerry Bakeberg, Robert Johnson, Randy Littleton, Jim Shoemaker. Net score: 23, Team Handicap: 11. Straightest Drive: Ed Rilatos 9”. Closest to Pin: Randy Littleton 4’2”. July 17: First Place Team: Doug Nelson, Rita Harms, Ed Rilatos. Net Score: 20. Second Place Team: Wayne Ellis, Faye Kohrt, Keene Kohrt, Robert Johnson. Net Sco...

  • Obituary: Dorothy 'Dot' Dow, 94

    Jul 21, 2016

    Dorothy 'Dot' Dow, 94, passed away on July 13, 2016. She was born in Wilton, Maine, July 8, 1922, the youngest of three children. She graduated from Wilton Academy and attended secretarial school before WWII. She married Levi S. Dow, Jr., on December 22, 1946. After having four children, she trained at Fort Kent Normal School, a teacher's college in Fort Kent, Maine, and began her teaching career in Allagash, Maine in the mid 1950s, eventually obtaining a Master's Degree in Education from the... Full story

  • Alaska House ends session without addressing Walker's bills

    Jul 21, 2016

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The Alaska House ended the special session Friday, marred by deep divisions and unable to come to terms on a plan to address the state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit. A number of legislators took turns saying their piece, with some poking at Gov. Bill Walker and others expressing regret that more had not been accomplished. This is not a proud day, Anchorage Democratic Rep. Les Gara said. Adjournment came five days into the session, without a single bill hearing held by the gridlocked House. House Speaker Mike Che...

  • Fourth of July results

    Jul 21, 2016

    9 Barb Neyman Toddler Games Candy Races Babies Not Yet Walking 1st: Finley Churchill Not Yet 2 Girls: 1st place - (tie) Eva Roberts, Fiona Scambler; 2nd place - Verity Emma Welch; 3rd place - Rosslyn Nore; Honorable Mention: Elise Tlachac, Kelowna Norelli, Lily Haerling, Karin Jelink Boys: 1st place - Luke Hall; 2nd place - Peyton Stolley; 3rd place - (tie) Ryder Miller, Keian Young; Honorable Mention: Wyatt Thomassen, Richard Sumner, Sylas Stutz Not Yet 3 Girls: 1st place - Haley Gablehouse; 2nd place - Mariah Carney; 3rd place - Rilyn...

  • New bear decoration highlights Russian heritage

    Dan Rudy|Jul 21, 2016

    As Wrangell gears up for its 7th Annual Bearfest next week, locals may have already noticed the festival's distinctive bears popping up around town. Since its founding in 2010, each year a new plastic bear is decorated by a local artist to celebrate. The design styles have been distinct and highlight different facets of the community, from its school spirit to its marine life to its geography. This year's is no less unique, designed as a Russian matryoshka doll by resident Larissa Siekawitch....

  • Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|Jul 21, 2016

    The decades-old ‘bycatch to food banks’ program has grown far beyond its original Alaska beginnings. Today, only 10 percent of the fish going to hunger relief programs is bycatch of primarily halibut and salmon taken accidentally in other fisheries. The remainder is “first-run” products donated to Sea Share, the nation’s only non-profit that donates fish through a tight network of fishermen, processors, packagers and transporters. Sea Share began in 1993 when Bering Sea fishermen pushed to be allowed to direct fish taken as bycatch to food b...

  • Lower costs for heating oil to slow natural gas conversion - Expands with quotes, details

    Jul 21, 2016

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – A newly released report shows that about a third of households in interior Alaska won’t make the switch to natural gas once it’s more widely available because of low heating oil prices. The Interior Energy Project’s study says about 1,000 homes will convert to natural gas in 2018, the year it’s expected to start being distributed. By 2023, officials are anticipating nearly 11,000 natural gas customers, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported. The report is an updated version of a study released last year and comes as...

  • Sitka to consider condemning building due to landslide risk

    Jul 21, 2016

    SITKA, Alaska (AP) – The Sitka city administrator is seeking condemnation of an administration building at risk from landslides and the cancellation of property leases there. A landslide hit the building at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park on Aug. 18, when three Sitka residents were killed in another landslide that also caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. “There’s 500 cubic yards still sitting up there with a high risk of coming down,’’ City Administrator Mark Gorman told the industrial park’s board of directors W...

  • Wilson represents Alaska at Republican National Convention

    Jul 21, 2016

    The 41st Republican National Convention came to order on Monday and representing the largest state in regards to area, the delegation from Alaska is situated in between New Hampshire and Nebraska on the convention floor. After spending a week before the convention on the Rules Committee, Peggy Wilson, former Alaska House of Representatives member and a delegate from Alaska, is excited to show her support for Donald J. Trump, the official nominee for president representing the Republican Party after the state of New York officially put him over...

  • P&Z moves ahead with drafting pot updates to zoning

    Dan Rudy|Jul 21, 2016

    Wrangell has moved a step closer toward the opening of licensed marijuana-related businesses, with Planning and Zoning forwarding its recommendations for code updates to the city’s clerk and lawyer. Basing the proposal on conclusions reached by the commission over the course of several meetings this year, economic development director Carol Rushmore passed out a draft for review she had prepared at a July 14 meeting. “I’ve kept it pretty simple,” she told commissioners. Given the go-ahead by the Borough Assembly in June, the proposed ordinan...