Articles from the September 5, 2019 edition


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  • Wrangell voices heard in Dunleavy recall effort

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 5, 2019

    Setting up a booth behind Rayme's Bar on Sunday and Monday, Wrangell resident Maleah Wenzel spent her Labor Day weekend taking signatures for the ongoing recall effort against Governor Mike Dunleavy. The governor, like many other people and issues in American politics, has become a source of division in recent months. According to a July 26 memorandum, the recall movement has several reasons they want to see Dunleavy removed from office. Among their claims are Dunleavy violating state law by...

  • Alaska Natives Without Land discuss mission in local meeting

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 5, 2019

    The mission of Alaska Natives Without Land is to correct a decades-old injustice done to five Southeast Alaskan native communities. Back in 1971, the group's website reads, Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. This act granted Alaska Natives 44 million acres of land across the state, and $963 million, to form tribal corporations. In Southeast Alaska in particular, according to the website, ANCSA returned 560,000 acres of land to native ownership. However, five communities wer...

  • Candidacy declarations closed for October election

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 5, 2019

    Declarations for candidacy in Wrangell's upcoming October elections closed at 4 p.m. last Friday, Aug. 30. From city hall to the school board, there are multiple positions open as well as people willing to run for them. The following is a list of open seats and a list of candidates, courtesy of city hall: Wrangell Borough Assembly Two open seats for three-year terms: Incumbent Julie Decker and incumbent Patricia Gilbert. Two open seats for one-year unexpired terms: Incumbent Anne Morrison,...

  • Haines chief won't come to Wrangell

    Sep 5, 2019

    Haines Police Chief Heath Scott will remain in his post in Haines after the city manager offered him a $10,000 raise to stay in his post. He will be paid $110,000 by next year under terms of a contract running through June 2021. He will receive an additional $5,300 this year and $9,293 more next year. According to a report in the Chilkat Valley News, Scott was offered $105,000 by the City of Wrangell. Scott visited Wrangell in mid-July and met with the community at a public gathering on July 19. The newspaper stated that Scott becomes the...

  • New WCA building officially open for business

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 5, 2019

    A large crowd gathered at the Wrangell Cooperative Association's new building last Friday, Aug. 30. The building, located at 1002 Zimovia Highway, is the new home for the WCA after their move from downtown Wrangell. Two stories tall, the new building offers much more room for the cooperative association to work in. With formline artwork by Steve Brown on the panelling, the building draws attention from people going down the highway. Construction of the building began in April of 2018, according...

  • Fishing derby winners announced

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 5, 2019

    As summer draws to a close, another season of fishing derbies has wrapped up as well. Wrangell saw two derbies this past month, a coho derby from Aug. 10 to Sept. 2, and a halibut derby over Labor Day weekend. There were numerous prizes available in each derby. According to Alicia Gillen, with the chamber of commerce, 220 tickets were sold this year in total. First place in the coho derby went to Elmer Mork, who caught a salmon weighing 15.4 pounds. His prize for first place is 30 percent of...

  • New waterfowl hunting regulations announced for SE Alaska

    Sep 5, 2019

    Hunters are reminded of new waterfowl regulations which change the timing of season opening and closure dates on an alternating yearly schedule. These changes went into effect on July 1, 2019 in Region 1, which includes Units 1 through 4. Each year, the season opening date will change, depending on whether it is an odd year or even year. In odd years, like 2019, the season start date for waterfowl will begin on Sept. 1. In even years, like 2020, the season start date will begin on Sept. 16. Season duration will remain constant at 108 days. This...

  • Magnitude 5.0 earthquake hits Alaska, felt in capital city

    Sep 5, 2019

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The Alaska Earthquake Center reports that a magnitude 5.0 earthquake hit southern Alaska. It was felt by people in the state’s capital. Juneau. The center says the earthquake hit at 8:32 p.m. Saturday and had an epicenter 43 miles (70 kilometers) west of Klukwan, a village of about 95 people. The earthquake had a depth of less than a mile (about 1 kilometer.) Several Juneau residents reported on social media that they felt the quake. One person tweeted: “Juneau just had an earthquake... I actually felt it. My bed was l...

  • Police report

    Sep 5, 2019

    August 26 Report of theft. Traffic stop: Verbal warning for no tail lights. Welfare check: Person is fine. Noise complaint. August 27 Two reports of suspicious person. Nine subpoena services. Report of harm. Found property. Welfare check. Report of counterfeit money. Disturbance. Order to show cause. August 28 Abandoned property. Noise complaint. Theft/civil. Violate conditions of release. August 29 Warrant arrest: Dylan Franks, 29. Parking complaint. Civil matter. Disturbance. August 30 MVA: Person hit deer. Subpoena service. Agency assist:...

  • Court report

    Sep 5, 2019

    August 16: Bench warrants for failure to appear were issued against Loretto Jones, who is charged with vehicle theft and violating conditions of release. August 20: An adjudication hearing for Richard Anderson, accused of violating conditions of parole, was recessed until August 27. August 22: A felony first appearance was held for Aaron E. Young, who is charged with driving under the influence and refusing a chemical test. He was released on an appearance bond and a performance bond of $5,000. Young also agreed to not leave Wrangell without...

  • Cross country team's first meet a "very positive experience"

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 5, 2019

    Wrangell's cross country team travelled to Juneau last week for their season opener in Juneau. There were a total of 11 schools present for the first meet. Nine competed in the women's 5,000 meter varsity run, while all 11 competed in the men's 5,000 meter run. In both cases, Wrangell found themselves in the middle of the pack at the end of the competition. Wrangell took 7th place in the women's competition. Liana Carney was the first Wrangell student to finish the run, with a time of 21:22....

  •  Shuffling at Alaska fisheries offices around state due to veto impacts 

    Laine Welch|Sep 5, 2019

    Now the shuffling begins at Alaska fisheries offices around the state as the impacts from back and forth veto volleys become more clear. For the commercial fisheries division of the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, an $85 million budget, about half of which is from state general funds, reflects a $997,000 dollar cut for FY 2020. Where and how the cuts will play out across Alaska’s far flung coastal regions is now being decided by fishery managers. “Now that the salmon season is about over we’re taking a good close look at this and what we’re...

  • Northern lights over Wrangell

    Sep 5, 2019

    The northern lights could be seen shining over Wrangell last week. Many people came out of their homes late at night to catch a glimpse of them. Pictured here are the lights, and the big dipper, shining over Muskeg Meadows Golf Course....

  • Swim team prepping for first meet and for future fundraising

    Sep 5, 2019

    The Wrangell High School Swim Team is hard at work preparing for their first meet of the season, in Juneau on Sept. 20 and 21. They are also preparing for several fundraisers. As the school's only unsponsored team, Coach Jamie Roberts said, the swim team will need to raise about $5,000 to attend future matches after the Juneau trip. The team is planning to sell breakfast burritos early on Sept. 6 at the high school, she said, and will also put together a rummage sale later in the season. They...

  • WVFD's fire training system making trip to Ketchikan

    Sep 5, 2019

    Community members may have noticed an oddly-shaped shipping container sitting outside the public safety building last weekend. DeeDee Blatchley, with the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department, said that this is a flashover burn trailer that they usually keep housed by the airport. They received the trailer back in 2001 thanks to a grant, she said. The trailer is designed to let firefighters see how a fire behaves inside an enclosed space and gives them practice putting out structure fires. The...

  • The Way We Were

    Sep 5, 2019

    September 4, 1919 Arnt Sorset is erecting a two story building on Front Street opposite the Uhler block. The building is 40x80 feet at the base, while the upper story is 24x40 feet. Mr. Sorset will open a meat market in the new building as soon as it is complete. Samuel Cunningham is building a new residence on the vacant lot adjoining his present residence on McKinnon Avenue. There will be porches in the front and rear, and the building will be somewhat on the bungalow style. Special meeting of the town council was held on Tuesday evening of...