Articles from the August 7, 2014 edition


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  • Wrangell's boat lift pulls its weight

    Dan Rudy|Aug 7, 2014

    Yard operators at Wrangell's Marine Service Center were excited last Wednesday as their new mobile lift pulled the Marauder, a Juneau-based tug, out from the water on its third attempt. Rated at 300 tonnes (just over 330 short tons, or 661,000 pounds), the lift was initially unable to pick up the 85-foot tug until the crew emptied its tanks and stripped down the tires and equipment. "We're happy to finally get out," said the Marauder's skipper, Harold Medalen. The Marauder was due to be... Full story

  • New principal about campus

    Dan Rudy|Aug 7, 2014

    Colter Barnes took over Monday as the new secondary principal at Wrangell High and Stikine Middle schools. Barnes replaces Monty Buness who retired at the end of the last school year. “I’m excited to be in Wrangell,” said Barnes. “It’s good to be here.” He said there has been no shortage of hospitality shown him since arriving. Community members have invited him on hikes and over to their homes for dinner as well as showing him around town. “People have been wonderful,” Barnes said. Previously, Barnes was the itinerant principal at Ko... Full story

  • New public health nurse arrives in Wrangell

    Dan Rudy|Aug 7, 2014

    Feeling the bug? Pay a visit to Ty Esposito, the new public health nurse at Wrangell Public Health Center. "They can come talk to me about anything," she said. "I'm everybody's nurse." Recently transferring from her post in Haines, Esposito has been with the Alaska Division of Public Health for five of her nine years as a nurse. "Immunizations is our focus," Esposito explained, providing the necessary shots "from infancy on." August is National Immunization Awareness Month and some individuals... Full story

  • Local guardsman given hero's welcome

    Dan Rudy|Aug 7, 2014

    When SSG Matt Nore returned to Wrangell Friday, following an 11-month deployment in Cuba, he wasn’t expecting such a large welcome. Dozens of family members, friends and well-wishers were at the airport terminal with signs, banners and cheers to welcome Nore when he stepped off the plane. This was the fourth overseas deployment for the Alaska Army National Guardsman but his first surprise homecoming. Nore served two tours in Iraq and one in Mongolia, and his latest tour was served at the A...

  • The Way We Were

    Aug 7, 2014

    In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. August 17, 1914: Dr. Dawes of the school board gave out the information that the following teachers have been appointed for the ensuing school term: Miss Drowatsky, Principal, Miss Pritchett, Intermediate grades, Miss Beiler, Primary; and Miss Cora Smith, High School. School will start Tuesday, Sept. 1. Rev. Corser chartered the Tonic yesterday morning, gathered up his Boy Scouts and a number of tourists visiting here, and took the trip up the Stikine to LeConte Glacier. The party of twenty-one...

  • Police reports

    Aug 7, 2014

    Monday, July 28 Alarm. Alarm – Person called stating alarm going off. Another person called in stating it was at their house and they were heading home to turn it off. 911 – Misdial. Driving Complaint. 911 – Misdial. Caller reported their vehicle broke down and they are working on getting it moved. Tuesday, July 29 Curfew Violations. Possible Poached Deer/Unfounded. Parking Complaint: Verbal warning for parking on the sidewalk downtown. Citizen Assist/Vehicle Unlocked. Citation issued to Danny St. John, 24, for Dog At Large. Wednesday, July...

  • Obituaries: Robert (Bob) Sowle, 79

    Aug 7, 2014

    Robert (Bob) Sowle passed away on July 26, 2014. He was born March 28, 1935, in Ingahm, Neb. to Arthur and Edna Sowle. The family moved to Oregon when he was a child. Bob graduated from Nestucca High School in Cloverdale, Ore. in 1954. After graduation he worked for his father doing rock crushing and road construction in Pacific City, Ore. In 1957, Bob bought his first dump truck. In the '60s Bob started Nestucca Valley Construction Co., which offered septic tank repair and replacement. He said... Full story

  • Primary election underway for District 36

    Dan Rudy|Aug 7, 2014

    Absentee voting began Monday for the 2014 Alaska primary election. This year’s District 36 candidates are Republicans Chere Klein, Patti Mackey and Agnes Moran. The incumbent, Rep. Peggy Wilson, announced her decision not to run again back in April. The winner of the primary will run against non-affiliated candidate Dan Ortiz for the seat in November’s general election. Voters can also weigh in on the first of four ballot measures to be decided in the state this year, with the remaining three up for vote in November. Ballot measure number one...

  • Obituary, Edward "Ted" McLean Eastaugh, 74

    Aug 7, 2014

    Lifelong Alaskan, Edward "Ted" McLean Eastaugh, 74, passed away July 16, 2014 at his home in Anchorage. Ted was born November 25, 1939 to William Ladd and Doris Jessie (McLean) Eastaugh in Seattle, Wash. The family returned to Wrangell, Alaska where Ted grew up. As a teenager he roamed the woods, hunted with his brother and friends and starred as the center for his high school basketball team. In Fairbanks he attended UAF, receiving a bachelor's degree in biology. While there he met his future... Full story

  • Mudslide on Nemo Loop Road

    Aug 7, 2014

  • Water worries over KSM mine persist

    Dan Rudy|Aug 7, 2014

    The Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell (KSM) Mine being proposed in Canada’s British Columbia province is nearing its final stages, with the fourth and final comment period on the project’s environmental assessment coming to a close Aug. 20. The first of five major mining sites planned for development along transboundary waters, the sheer scale of the KSM and the rapidity of development in the region have been causing consternation among Alaska’s Native communities, fishing and travel industry associations, and environmental groups. The British Colum...

  • Thomas Bay Power Authority transfer progresses

    Suzanne Ashe Special to the Sentinel|Aug 7, 2014

    The Petersburg and Wrangell Boroughs are a few steps closer to completing the transfer of Operations and Maintenance of the Tyee Lake hydroelectric facility from Thomas Bay Power Authority (TBPA) to Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) after a meeting last Thursday. Thursday’s regular session meeting brought representatives from the Thomas Bay Power Commission (TBPC) and the Petersburg and Wrangell Boroughs together to elect a new commission chair and secretary, work towards finalizing the SEAPA transition document and discuss the future r...

  • Watch for illnesses as deer season opens

    Dan Rudy|Aug 7, 2014

    Deer season opened for Wrangell Island on Friday. “We’ve been selling a lot of licenses,” said Emma McMurren, a shopkeeper at Angerman’s. Hunters have been lining up not just for the deer season, but for bear and wolves as well. “They’re pretty excited,” she added. However, starting this year Alaska hunters will have to forego using urine-based attractants, due to concerns that they are a means of bringing chronic wasting disease (CWD) to the state’s deer and elk population. CWD is a transmissible set of conditions affecting the brains and...

  • Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|Aug 7, 2014

    Fishermen won’t need special permits to hose off their decks thanks to a bill moving through the US Senate. That’s garnered a big sigh of relief from harvesters across the nation and kudos to a rare show of bipartisanship by coastal lawmakers, notably Senators Begich of Alaska and Marco Rubio of Florida. “The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act extends a moratorium that was already granted to the commercial fishing industry from 2008, and it’s been up every couple of years. It would extend this moratorium indefinitely so commercial fishing vessels...

  • Blind Slough fishing on hold due to low numbers

    Dan Rudy|Aug 7, 2014

    PETERSBURG­ – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s (ADF&G) Division of Sport Fish announced last week that fishing is prohibited for the month of August in all waters of Blind Slough upstream from a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point until August 31. The closure is due to broodstock concerns at Crystal Lake Hatchery, as king salmon numbers are below the year’s goal. An aerial survey conducted July 27 observed approximately 150 live king salmon and between 200 and 300 dead specimens, considerably below the target of 500 male and 50...

  • Southeast Alaska village sues over nonrural status

    Aug 7, 2014

    KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) – The southeast Alaska village of Saxman has filed a lawsuit against federal officials over the Federal Subsistence Board's 2007 decision to designate the Tlingit community as nonrural. The complaint filed July 25 calls the decision and criteria used to reach it “arbitrary and capricious,’’ KRBD reported. The plaintiffs are seeking to have the decision reversed and declared invalid. According to the lawsuit, the criteria used to group Saxman with the larger community of Ketchikan deny village residents the ability...

  • Draft SATP hearings scheduled in selected communities

    Dan Rudy|Aug 7, 2014

    The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) will be holding a series of open houses and public meetings in selected communities in Southeast to review and take comments on the draft Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan (SATP). The draft plan, a component of the Alaska Long Range Transportation Plan, will provide direction for transportation improvements in the region through 2035. The draft plan recommends retiring up to three mainline ferries depending on funding and travel demand. The Malaspina, the Taku and the...