Articles from the August 29, 2013 edition


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  • Assembly seeks grant to improve water treatment facility

    Kyle Clayton|Aug 29, 2013

    The Wrangell assembly approved a resolution requesting grant funding with the hopes of getting more water to a system that is often tapped. Jeff Jabusch, Interim Borough Manager, said there’s plenty of water but it’s not getting treated fast enough to meet the demand of the community. “By the end of the day, often times they’re getting down to where there’s just a few feet left in each one of them,” Jabusch said. “If we were to run out or if there were a major fire or if the canneries wanted to expand or any of those things we would have so...

  • Assembly reimburses vendor "after-the-fact"

    Kyle Clayton|Aug 29, 2013

    The Wrangell Borough Assembly approved a controversial $100,000 reimbursement during its August 27 meeting after services had been rendered. The reimbursement goes to Alaska Island Community Services to offset expenses incurred after it relocated its clinic to a new building site. Wrangell’s previous borough manager Timothy Rooney negotiated with AICS in 2009 to relocate its clinic, for the sake of convenience, next to where the Wrangell Medical Center would build its new facility—the Alpine site. In an e-mail sent to the assembly in 2011, Roon...

  • Rescuers unable to free entangled humpback

    Kyle Clayton|Aug 29, 2013

    PETERSBURG — An entangled humpback whale continues to remain snared in a gill net despite a two day effort last weekend to free the animal. Don Holmes with the Marine Mammal Center in Petersburg received a call Friday morning about the snared whale in Frederick Sound. He and other volunteers were granted permission from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association to assess the situation. “We found that the whale was completely wrapped on the flukes with the lead line draping across of the back...

  • The Way We Were

    Aug 29, 2013

    September 18, 1913: The Norwegian steamer Karen cut the rates between Wrangell and Petersburg so a great many members of the Arctic Brotherhood Camp of Wrangell and friends took advantage of the low rates and attended the dance given by the Petersburg Camp Saturday evening. The party reached Petersburg about six o'clock and were met at the dock by the Petersburg Brass Band and the townspeople who presented the visitors with a large key to the “Welcome and Hospitality” of the city. The music rendered at the dance was exceptionally fine. The hal...

  • Doug Ely receives 55-year sentence

    Rachel Coblentz Sentinel writer|Aug 29, 2013

    Doug Ely, standing before Judge Trevor Stephens on Monday, was sentenced to 55-years in jail. During a week-long jury trial held in June, Doug Ely was found guilty of two counts of First Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and one count of Second Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor which was merged into Count One. Ely’s complete sentence is 55-years with twelve and a half suspended and fifteen years of probation. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life after being released on t...

  • Police reports

    Aug 29, 2013

    Monday, August 19 -Officer responded to request of asking an individual to leave the area due to being intoxicated. Officer gave person ride to boat. -Officer received some found property. -Report of a MVA. Officer gave accident form to both parties. -Person reported someone trying to get into a vehicle. Officer responded - it was the owner of the vehicle. -Officer did welfare check on individual and all was fine. Tuesday, August 20 -Report of suspicious odor. Officer responded all was secured and fine. -Officer responded to noise complaint and...

  • Courts

    Aug 29, 2013

    On August 19 Wrangell Deputy Magistrate Leanna J. Splinter adjudicated the following case: Daniel Arthur Gonzalez-Fawcett, 24, was found guilty of Disorderly Conduct-Challenge To Fight. He was sentenced to probation for one year and ordered to pay $550 in fines and surcharges. On August 20 Wrangell Deputy Magistrate Leanna J. Splinter adjudicated the following case: Katherine C. Westrope, age 18, was found guilty of Drive In Violation Of Instruction Permit. She was ordered to pay $150 in fines and surcharges....

  • Petersburg receives no outside help with dangerous sea lion

    Kyle Clayton|Aug 29, 2013

    PETERSBURG­ – The Petersburg Borough continues to deal with an aggressive sea lion that’s been bothering people in the harbors all summer. Mayor Mark Jensen wrote a letter August 9 in response to the National Marine Fisheries Service’s lack of assistance in the matter. “We find it unfortunate that the National Marine Fisheries Service is unwilling to take any active role in removing this threat to our children, citizens, economic base and our quality of life,” Jensen wrote in the letter. Ha...

  • Letters to the Editor

    Aug 29, 2013

    To the Editor: Wrangell Lions Club would like to thank the people of Wrangell who continue to recycle their aluminum through the Lions club collection boxes around town. If you have not taken notice of them, you can find collection boxes at Bobs’ IGA, City Market, Wells Fargo, Alaska Marine Highway (ferry terminal), Muskeg Meadows and Alaska State Housing Authority. We appreciate the support of these businesses. If you have larger pieces of aluminum to recycle we are able to make arrangements to take that also. The funds that are collected f...

  • Timber Payments - Agency taking back federal funds

    Becky Bohrer Associated Press|Aug 29, 2013

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The U.S. Forest Service plans to take a portion of the timber payments it has promised or paid out to 22 states, citing federal budget cuts. Collection letters from Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell went out to governors around the country Monday, saying money would be taken from funds used for habitat improvement and other national forest-related projects that put people to work under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Oregon stands to lose the most in the move, with nearly $4 million in...

  • Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|Aug 29, 2013

    Alaska salmon continues to get snubbed by ill informed, far away big wigs who believe they are best suited to make the seafood choices for their customers. Last week Sodexo, one of the world’s largest food purveyors - said its policy is to only serve seafood certified by (you guessed it) the London-based Marine Stewardship Council. In this case, the fish is targeted to the US troops. Sodexo, a Fortune 500 company home based in France, has an eight year contract to provide food services to US military mess halls, including $22 million of s...

  • Project wants to know why you love salmon

    Nicole Klauss Kodiak Daily Mirror|Aug 29, 2013

    KODIAK, Alaska (AP) - A Kodiak woman is leading a study to find out why Alaskans love salmon. The Salmon Project, still in an exploratory phase, aims to find out about the deep connections Alaskans have with wild salmon. “We wanted to understand how it relates to people’s lives and what values were associated with salmon fishing, salmon viewing or salmon eating,’’ project organizer Erin Harrington said. Harrington is leading the investigation to figure out whether Alaskans are interested in being united in talking about salmon and whether...

  • Community hopes to save historic cannery in Kake

    Aug 29, 2013

    KAKE, Alaska (AP) _ The southeast Alaska community of Kake is trying to save its historic Keku Cannery. The cannery was named one of the nation’s most endangered historic places earlier this year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Gary Williams, the executive director of the Organized Village of Kake, fears the run-down building will collapse. He said if it comes down, it would be a disaster, with asbestos getting into clam beds and affecting subsistence fishing. Williams recently guided some visitors including a representative f...

  • Petersburg consumers to shop another sales tax-free day

    Kyle Clayton|Aug 29, 2013

    PETERSBURG – The Petersbug Borough Assembly approved a sales tax-free day scheduled for Saturday, October 5. Assembly member Susan Flint said sales tax revenues are ahead of budget this year and the time period would be good for residents. “October is a month where it’s pretty much residents living in Petersburg, or shopping in Petersburg,” Flint said. “I think it would be a better time to have it than when it was in May when we’re full of visitors.” The Chamber of Commerce Retail Committee proposed a sales tax-free day last May but the assembl...

  • Alaska cruise cancellations disrupt vacations

    Rachel doro Associated Press|Aug 29, 2013

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Like so many visitors to Alaska, Phyllis McNamara was eager for a seven-day cruise along a majestic stretch of coast that is teeming with whales, bears and glaciers. But the Indianapolis woman and her friends were among hundreds of tourists who had their vacation plans scuttled when a mechanical problem aboard the 965-foot Millennium forced the cruise operator to cancel six Alaska sailings. “This is becoming just a nightmare,” said McNamara, 68, who went ahead with a planned land excursion in place of the cruise. Cyn...