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The Borough Assembly’s Tuesday evening meeting was one for surprises. For one, the half-dozen residents in attendance – a good turnout by the measure of most meetings – were surprised to find the first read through of proposed zoning ordinance revisions allowing for the conditional permitting of cannabis retail and cultivation had passed unanimously and with little comment from members on the Assembly. Second reading and a public hearing has been set for October 10. But the larger surprise came as an announcement by Borough Manager Jeff Jabus...
Opening up on September 15, the local moose season is off to a positive start. As of last Friday, hunters in the Wrangell, Petersburg and Kake area had so far logged in 32 legal moose, 31 of which were taken within the first week, ending September 21. At first looking a little slim, the total had bumped up in the succeeding days as hunters continued to log moose they had harvested over the period. Under regulations, they have five days after the kill to check in a harvested moose. "Actually, it...
October 12, 1916: The Kicksetti totem on Front Street which is the property of Willis Hoagland, is having its cracks filled with putty and will be repainted in its original colors. The work is being done by William Tamaree. This should be only the beginning of the movement to preserve the totem poles of this region. Fred Wilson, manager of the sawmill, last Saturday received a cable order for 10,000 salmon boxes from C.J. Carlson of Taku harbor. The prospects are that the Wrangell sawmill will run later this season than ever before, and also...
On Sept. 23, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker announced the value of the 2016 Permanent Fund Dividend would be set at $1,022. Set for distribution on Oct. 6, this year’s annual payout to the state’s more than 643,000 eligible residents is about half of what it might have been, after a series of budget vetoes Walker signed this summer. Last year’s dividend payment was a record $1.33 billion, which the governor’s office pointed out was about $30,000,000 higher than what the state spent on education. Were it not for the partial veto, individual PFD payment...
Tuesday, September 20 Clinton R. Lewis, 51, appeared before First District Judicial Officer Leanna Nash on the charge of Driving Under the Influence – Blood Alcohol Content .08+ Percent, a Class A misdemeanor. The defendant pleaded no contest to the charge and was found guilty. Lewis was ordered to serve 10 days with seven suspended, pay $2,000 in fines with $500 suspended, and $480 in surcharges. He was also ordered to surrender his license for 90 days, after which Lewis must have an ignition interlock device installed in his vehicle. Lewis m...
Monday, September 19 Trespass/VCOR – Theodosia James, 41. Dogs at Large – Officer responded, UTL. Domestic – Civil Issue. Report of Theft. Suspicious Circumstance. Violating Conditions of Release – Dylan Franks, 26. Citizen Assist – Unlock Vehicle. Domestic Argument – Officer responded. Traffic Stop – Last warning given to driver about loud exhaust complaint. Violating Conditions of Release – Dylan Franks, 26. Tuesday, September 20 Illegal Parking – Citation left on vehicle for Gary A. Lewis, 73, for Parking Vehicle Within 15 Feet of a Fire Hy...
Editor's note: Frank Roppel has been in the timber industry from 1956 to 2002, and a Wrangell resident since 1992. After graduating from high school in Ketchikan and receiving a degree from Oregon State University, he began full time employment for Ketchikan Pulp Company in 1959. Rising to sawmill manager, Roppel became the first president of Sealaska Timber in 1980, and served as executive vice president and general manager of Alaska Lumber and Pulp from 1984 until its closure. At the advice...
The municipal election is set for next week, with polls open Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. inside the Nolan Center. Though a number of candidates for local positions are currently running unopposed, all vacancies are at least set to be filled, thanks to the addition of two write-in candidates earlier this month. For mayor, current incumbent David Jack will be running for reelection against candidate Kipha Valvoda. Four candidates will be running for two three-year terms on the Wrangell Public School Board, including incumbent Rinda Howell, form...
Samuel Hudson Cornthwaite passed away suddenly after falling ill to acute pancreatitis on September 6th, in a Beijing China hospital, with his sister Hannah by his side. Sam grew up in Petersburg, Alaska and in 2001 he made the move with his parents to Montana, attending Petersburg Elementary school and then Shields Valley Schools where he graduated in 2008. As you look back on his short 26 yrs of life, he always had an interest in people and fishing. At a very young age he was known be able to...
Patty Gilbert, write-in candidate, running for two three-year seats Occupation and experience: High school math teacher, current president of Wrangell Medical Center Foundation. Formerly two-term member of Wrangell City Council. Why do you wish to serve on the Assembly? "As Alaska's budget deficit grows, revenue-sharing funds decline and our legislators consider state sales and/or income taxes Wrangell, like other cities, will be faced with difficult fiscal decisions and I want to participate...
David Jack, incumbent, running for one two-year term Past background: "I've been retired for about seven years. I previously worked for the city in a couple of capacities. I first started as a police officer, then I was harbormaster for three and a half years after that. Then I drove a log truck for about three years and worked at Ottesen's hardware store for seven years." What do you want to accomplish as mayor? "I think the major issue right at this point is water treatment. You have to have...
Governor Bill Walker has officially requested that the federal government declare a disaster for four Alaska regions hurt by one of the poorest pink salmon returns in decades. In a September 19 letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, Walker said fishery failures that occurred this summer at the Kodiak, Prince William Sound, Lower Cook Inlet and Chignik management areas are having a “significant impact on those who depend on the fishery for their livelihood” and asks for the “soonest possible review” due to the economi...
Gary Morrison, write-in candidate, running for two three-year seats Occupation and experience Retired, formerly of the U.S. Forest Service for 38 years, and former Alaska State Parks Director. Has sat on a number of BLM and USFS boards. Why do you wish to run for the Port Commission? "I think my management experience and background, and my interest in the marine environment, boating and interest in furthering the economy of Wrangell, I think I have something I can contribute and want to try to...
PETERSBURG — With the state fiscal crisis swallowing Alaska’s political debate since 2014, the Alaska House races in Districts 35 and 36 are being fought on almost identical grounds. House District 35 includes the northern and more populated half of Prince of Wales Island. While Ketchikan’s Rep. Dan Ortiz is an independent, both he and Rep. Jonathan Kreiss Tomkins, D-Sitka, are members of the Alaska House minority caucus. They won their races after unlikely campaigns as political underdogs. Kreiss-Tomkins was first elected in 2012, while Ortiz...
As volleyball gets ready to serve up its first game this weekend, the cross-country season is just about past the finish line for Wrangell High School. The team headed to Sitka last weekend for the Region V meet, on a course which ran through the city's Totem Park. "There's really no hills," explained Wrangell coach Jenn Davies. "There's just a little bit of pavement at the start and finish." Despite some heavy cloud cover, for the most part the races avoided the weekend's rainfall. Travel was...
It’s that time of year again, with the hospital holding its annual flu clinic this week. Set for Friday afternoon from 1 to 5 p.m. at Harbor Light Assembly of God Church, residents are encouraged to stop by for the discounted vaccination. “The sooner you get it, the more protection you have as the season hits full swing,” said Kris Reed, outreach coordinator for Wrangell Medical Center. The annual shots are meant to mitigate illnesses during the winter influenza season, focusing on particular strains thought likely to be prevalent. The WMC f...