Articles from the July 23, 2020 edition


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  • WPSD town hall answers SMART Start questions

    Brian Varela|Jul 23, 2020

    The Wrangell Public School District held a virtual town hall meeting on Thursday, July 16, where school officials answered submitted questions from families regarding the SMART Start reopening plan for the upcoming school year. The nearly two hour long meeting at one point had 72 participants. Board President Aaron Angerman, who moderated the town hall meeting, asked school officials the submitted questions from the public. Although a plan for how the school district will operate under COVID-19...

  • New food security project starting up in Wrangell

    Caleb Vierkant|Jul 23, 2020

    "Concern" is a common theme in the COVID-19 pandemic. People are concerned about their health, their jobs, getting their kids back into school, and the economic prospects of their community, among other things. Wrangell resident Kassee Schlotzhauer wants to help ensure that getting enough to eat is not one such concern, through Wrangell's Subsistence Giving Project. "My family and me, we like to subsistence hunt, fish, gather for our family for the winters," she said. "This last year I started...

  • Progress made on new hospital

    Caleb Vierkant|Jul 23, 2020

    Progress has been made on the new Wrangell Medical Center, according to a press release from SEARHC. Thanks to increases in crew sizes, and new trades coming onto the project, the project has gained momentum. "WMC staff and SEARHC leadership are excited to hear that the project is currently ahead of schedule," said SEARHC Vice President and WMC Hospital Administrator Leatha Merculieff in the press release. "Dawson Construction has worked hard to mitigate any delays due to the implementation of C...

  • BREAKING NEWS: Tenth case of COVID-19 announced

    Caleb Vierkant|Jul 23, 2020

    The tenth case of COVID-19 in Wrangell was confirmed by city officials this afternoon. According to a press release from the City and Borough of Wrangell, the city's unified command was made aware of the new case today, July 24. Of the ten total cases, only two are now considered active. The other eight are considered recovered, according to the press release. What is unique about this most recent case, however, is that city officials are not certain as to the patient's residency. "At this time, we do not know whether this confirmed case is a...

  • Bearfest schedule of events

    Caleb Vierkant|Jul 23, 2020

    While many traditional events in Wrangell have been altered or cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the public still gets to enjoy Bearfest this summer. Bearfest is an annual event in Wrangell, drawing in people near and far to celebrate one of Alaska's most well-known animals: Bears. The week-long celebration kicked off yesterday, July 22, with an art workshop at the Nolan Center and an afternoon of native storytelling at the totem park. While the celebration will not be as big as usual...

  • Assembly approves CARES Act funding for school district

    Caleb Vierkant|Jul 23, 2020

    The Wrangell Borough Assembly met Tuesday evening for a special meeting, to consider CARES Act funding for the school district. Wrangell, and many other communities, recently received special funds through the CARES Act to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wrangell has used these funds, or plans to use them, for items like the purchase of a new ambulance, to cover wages for first responders, and to help pay for an alternate isolation site, among other planned expenses. As the Wrangell...

  • Candidacy for local election opening soon

    Caleb Vierkant|Jul 23, 2020

    Declarations of candidacy for Wrangell's election will be opening in the near future. A July 9 Facebook post on the city's page listed open positions interested candidates may consider. The position of mayor will be up for grabs this year, a two-year term. There are also three seats open on the borough assembly. Two seats are for three-year terms, while another one is for a two-year unexpired term. There is one spot available on the Wrangell School Board, for a three-year term. Lastly, there...

  • Police report

    Jul 23, 2020

    Monday, July 13 Civil Issue. Tuesday, July 14 Barking Dog. Animal Cruelty. Dog at Large. Wednesday, July 15 Civil Matter. Agency Assist: Harbor Department. Welfare Check. Dog Complaint. Thursday, July 16 Criminal Mischief. Animal Complaint: Dead Deer. Dangerous Dog. Friday, July 17 Suspicious Person. Agency Assist: Public Works. Theft. Found Property. Saturday, July 18 Boating Accident. Travis Wasillie, 21: Charged for Assault 2 & 3. Sunday, July 19 Disorderly Conduct. During this reporting period there were 14 Agency Assist calls to the...

  • Guest Commentary: Protecting the Permanent Fund

    Bert Stedman, Senator|Jul 23, 2020

    At a time when the fiscal future of many states looks uncertain, Alaska made the smart choice to protect the state's future income for our children and grandchildren. On June 30, $4.9 billion was transferred from the Permanent Fund's Earning Reserve Account to its principal account. Once deposited in the principal account, the funds cannot be spent without a vote of the people. But they will produce earnings, a percentage of which will provide for dividends and essential state services. Alaskans...

  • Obituary: Joyce Vivian Phillips, 86

    Jul 23, 2020

    Joyce Vivian Twiss, 86, died July 16, 2020 at her home surrounded by family and friends. She was born October 13, 1933 to Ben and Martha Twiss in Riverside, California. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer during her pregnancy and bedridden until her passing when Joyce was 12 years old. She was a wild and hyper child, and with her mother confined to bed, she had an unconventional home life. She was raised with the help of her father's seven younger brothers and nuns from the Catholic school she...

  • Fish Factor: Seafood is Alaska's top export, source of state's largest manufacturing base

    Laine Welch|Jul 23, 2020

    Most Alaskans are surprised to learn that seafood is by far Alaska’s top export, the source of the state’s largest manufacturing base and its #1 private employer. More surprising is that those simple to find facts are not included in the official trade sheet for Alaska provided by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The information on the USTR website, for example, incorrectly claims that petroleum and coal were Alaska’s top exports in 2018. But seafood has been state’s top export by far for decades. “Seafood comprises...

  • Top goes on the Mariners' Memorial gazebo

    Jul 23, 2020

    The top of the Mariners' Memorial gazebo was installed last Monday, July 20. The memorial has been a long-running project to recognize Wrangellites who have lost their lives at sea....

  • The Way We Were

    Jul 23, 2020

    July 22, 1920 The Columbia & Northern cold storage plant at Wrangell has been secured by A.H. Range of Portland who will arrive in Wrangell at an early date for the purpose of starting a crab cannery here. Mr. Range came north last month seeking a location for a crab cannery. After visiting various points in Southeastern Alaska he decided Wrangell was the logical place for the location of a crab cannery. In order to ensure his project having the support and cooperation of the people of Wrangell Mr. Range sought to get some of the local people...

  • Stikine Inn construction continues

    Jul 23, 2020

    Construction of a new warehouse by the Stikine Inn is ongoing. The project was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission last November. The project, as described in that meeting, was to construct a 45' x 55' x 27' warehouse to serve as storage space for the inn and restaurant, and will also contain an apartment....

  • New COVID-19 case announced, 11 total in Wrangell

    Jul 23, 2020

    The City and Borough of Wrangell announced in a press release dated 11:45 a.m. Saturday, July 25, that there was another confirmed case of COVID-19 on the island. The case is symptomatic, according to a press release, and the patient is a Wrangell local. The press release also reported that the previous case before this one was also a Wrangell resident. “Health officials have found evidence of community transmission in Wrangell,” the press release reads. “Community transmission happens when there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 and there is no...

  • Twelfth case of COVID-19 announced, close contact with previous case

    Jul 23, 2020

    The City and Borough of Wrangell announced the twelfth case of COVID-19 in Wrangell on Monday afternoon, July 27. This is the fourth case considered to be active in the community, the others are considered recovered. This case, according to the city's press release, is a close contact from another case announced late last week. "This new case is a close contact of Friday's confirmed case and is also a local resident," the press release reads. "Health officials have found evidence of community...

  • Four dead in car crash

    Brian Varela|Jul 23, 2020

    PETERSBURG- Four individuals died in a car crash that occurred late Monday night or early Tuesday morning on Mitkof Island when their SUV drove off the roadway near the 27 mile marker of Mitkof Highway at a high rate of speed, according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Public Safety. Two of the passengers were Wrangell citizens Siguard Decker, 21, and Helen Decker, 19, according to the ADPS press release. Another passenger was identified as 29-year-old Ian Martin of Petersburg,...