Sorted by date Results 1 - 14 of 14
As discussed over several Economic Development Committee meetings, the City and Borough of Wrangell announced last Tuesday morning changes to existing COVID-19 relief programs, as well as a new program available to the public. As part of their response to the pandemic, the city has put together a variety of grant opportunities and other assistance programs to help businesses and community members get through these tough times. In a previous interview with the Wrangell Sentinel, Economic...
Last Tuesday, Sept. 22, was the official last day of summer for 2020. It was a unique season in Wrangell, with the COVID-19 pandemic and rainy weather. Much like the weather Wrangell saw over the summer, the National Weather Service is predicting likely rain for the next several days. Pictured here is Wrangell on the last day of summer, seen from the top of Mt. Dewey....
The Wrangell Borough Assembly met Tuesday night to hold a public hearing on a Community Development Block Grant. In 2018, according to the meeting's agenda packet, the borough received a block grant for the purchase of a new fire truck. The grant was for $337,500, with the total estimated cost of the fire truck at $450,000. Per the requirements of the grant, two public hearings were held about the grant, one for the public to suggest projects and another to serve as a status report on the grant...
The local Unified Command continues to meet weekly to consolidate the local COVID-19 response. During the meeting on Wednesday, September 16, local representatives expressed concerns for gatherings, provided updates on flu clinic preparations, and shared information on local testing programs. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) continues to monitor large gatherings, according to EOC Director Dorianne Sprehe. She stated that such crowds are currently not an issue but concerning. Sprehe urged...
September 23, 1920 The publisher of the Sentinel is in receipt of the following letter from the territorial historian of the order of Pioneers of Alaska: Valdez, Alaska. Mr. J. W. Pritchett, Wrangell, Alaska. Dear brother Pritchett; I want to congratulate you on the excellent manner which you presented the landing of the planes and incidents connected therewith. You seem to fully appreciate the tremendous importance of the occasion and realize the value of a full descriptive article covering it, as data for the future historian. Of course it...
Election Day is just around the corner, on Oct. 6. Wrangell residents have the opportunity to voice their support for several candidates, seeking various leadership positions across the borough. Mayor, one two-year term Stephen Prysunka is seeking re-election to the position of mayor for a two-year term. He has served as Wrangell's mayor since 2018. He is seeking re-election because Wrangell is going through some hard times, he said, and it would be important to keep people with experience...
Monday, Sept. 14 Unsecured Premises: Officer secured an open door on a business. Theft: Report of 30 gallons of diesel stolen from a truck at Heritage Harbor. Parking Complaint: Vehicle parked in front of the fire hydrant at the middle school. Civil Issue. 86’d Letter. Agency Assist: Line Crew: Report of lines sparking on Evergreen Avenue. Tuesday, Sept. 15 Suspicious Noise. Vehicle Unlock. Burglary: Unfounded. Assault. Wednesday, Sept. 16 Agency Assist: Alarm. Agency Assist: Harbor. Paper Service. Assault DV: Arrest for Assault IV. T...
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Alaska has faced its share of monumental challenges. The testing of all incoming travelers, providing relief for devastated tourism businesses, creating a new unemployment program from scratch. Yet none compared to the challenge of protecting our critical seafood industry and the communities that rely on their economic production. We commend Alaska's seafood industry for successfully navigating the most difficult season Alaska has ever experienced. Captains,...
Over the past six weeks, I’ve had multiple people reach out to me with issues pertaining to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The most vocalized concern is that the Ketchikan DMV is no longer giving road tests, which means new drivers must travel to other communities to take their road test. Another concern recently brought to my attention is the temporary closure of the Wrangell DMV office. Although some delays and changes are to be expected during the pandemic, the lack of access over t...
On September 4, 2020, Henrietta "Hankie" Hoyt, cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and cousin left us as gently as she lived. She was surrounded at her passing by her children and grandchildren. She was the last living child of James Bradley and Louise Bradley, née Ukas. He was the leader of the Naanyaa.aayí clan and she a leader of the Kiks.adi clan of the Tlingit tribe. Together they were pillars of the Wrangell community. Because of their deep interest in the culture her g...
The Wrangell School Board met Monday, Sept. 21. Two major topics of discussion during this meeting were the high school swim team, and whether or not students could travel for activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several people spoke at the meeting, calling for the school district to fully fund the swim team, to add the coach's position to the schedule of extracurricular activities, as well as to remove the schedule of extracurricular activities from the negotiated agreement process. Jamie...
For the first time in several months, since the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact life in Wrangell, the Nolan Center showed a new film in its theater last Sunday evening. The theater has still been operating through the pandemic, with safety precautions in place, but has only shown older and classic movies. The new movie brought to the theater last weekend was "The New Mutants." Pictured here is Devlyn Campbell and CeAirra Glaser managing the concession stand before the start of the...
The Alaska Children's Trust was first established in 1988, with a goal of preventing child abuse across the state. They want to ensure that all Alaskan children can live in a family and community that gives them the necessary tools for success, according to their website. They also have a new team member helping them on their mission, as Wrangell resident Maleah Wenzel has taken a fellowship position with the Trust. Wenzel, a lifelong resident of Wrangell, recently graduated from Dartmouth with...
Southeast Beasts hosted a Forest Fun Run last Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19. Lucy Moline-Robinson, with Southeast Beasts, said about 25 people participated in the 5k. The run was to raise money for the running group's youth athletic shoe account with Angerman's Inc. Robsinson said they got several in-person donations at the run, as well as payments online. She estimated the amount raised about $400....