Articles from the October 15, 2020 edition


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  • Superintendent Lancaster offers resignation

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 15, 2020

    Wrangell's school board met Monday evening, Oct. 12. Among other business they discussed during the meeting, they accepted a letter of resignation from Superintendent Debbe Lancaster. "There are several reasons for my resignation with one being that I would like to pursue a position in education in another district to be with my spouse," Lancaster wrote in her letter, dated Oct. 1. "I will work until the end of my contract and help the Wrangell Public School Board and staff transition another...

  • Assembly approves final election results

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 15, 2020

    The Wrangell Borough Assembly held a special meeting last Thursday, Oct. 8, to certify the final election results from Oct. 6. Following a Canvass board meeting to review preliminary election results, it was found that a total of 483 ballots were cast and counted this election cycle, 419 on election day and 64 absentee. Steve Prysunka was re-elected to mayor for another two-year term. Anne Morrison and Ryan Howe were re-elected to the assembly for three-year terms. Terry Courson was elected to...

  • The final election results

    Oct 15, 2020

    Winners are denoted by an asterisk (*). Mayor, one two-year term: *Steve Prysunka, 359 Write-ins, 58 Borough Assembly, two three-year terms: *Ryan Howe, 274 Jennifer Jackson, 217 *Anne Morrison, 332 Write-ins, 5 Borough Assembly, one one-year term: *Terry Courson, 276 Bob Dalrymple, 185 School board, one three-year term: *Laura Ballou, 314 Constance Harris, 131 Write-ins, 6 Port Commission, one three-year term: *Gary Morrison, 422 Write-ins, 10 Port Commission, one two-year term: Write-ins, 51 Proposition No. 1: *Yes, 280 No,...

  • The Way We Were

    Oct 15, 2020

    October 14, 1920 Advertising in the Sentinel pays. For instance, Ed Grigwire this week received an order from U. G. Parks of Newark, Ohio, for a Wisconsin motor to be delivered to him at Wrangell next Spring. Mr. Parks stated in his letter to Mr. Grigwire that he saw his advertisement in the Sentinel. Mr. Parks is a retired tailor. Two years ago he spent the summer in Wrangell putting in most of his time with Charles Borch on Snake Creek. He liked the North so well that he is coming back next year. October 12, 1945 Alvin T. Nelson, M.D., today...

  • Judge dismisses Valvoda lawsuit against city

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 15, 2020

    A lawsuit brought against the city by a Wrangell resident has come to a close, after Judge Kevin Miller dismissed the case. Kipha Valvoda brought a lawsuit against several former and current members of Wrangell's government in March of 2019. An amended complaint was filed by the plaintiff in April 2019, but the lawsuit originally began in March of that year. Valvoda claimed the borough used unfair hiring practices that kept him from finding employment with the city. He also claimed, in his...

  • Police report

    Oct 15, 2020

    October 5 Driving Complaint Suicide Threat Civil Issue Citizen assist: Return Property Disturbance October 6 Citizen assist: Vehicle Unlock Disturbance October 7 Courtesy Transport Parking Complaint. Citation Issued to Christine Abrahamson, 45, for Parking on the Sidewalk. Welfare Check Parking Complaint October 8 Paper Service October 9 Stolen Firearm: Unfounded October 10 Citizen Assist: Scam Found Property Agency Assist Citizen Assist Parking Complaint October 11 Agency Assist: EDP Noise Complaint: Fireworks Suspicious Circumstance: Vehicle...

  • Obituary: Roy James Guthrie Sr, 69

    Oct 15, 2020

    Roy James Guthrie Sr. of Juneau passed away on October 10, 2020 in Wrangell after a brave and difficult battle with brain cancer. He was born on July 17, 1951 in Metlakatla. He graduated from Kayhi in 1969. He was an electrician by trade and had been working for Coeur Alaska's Kensington Mine for years up until his diagnosis. He loved his job and his many friends he made while working there. Roy was also an Army veteran, having served honorably for two tours of duty in Vietnam. He enjoyed...

  • Obituary: James Hiebert, 86

    Oct 15, 2020

    James Hiebert, 86, passed away on September 24 in Newberry, Florida. He taught his children to work and earn money also, by hiring them to help with his concrete and Chattahoochee jobs when they weren't in school. After finishing high school, Jim moved to Wrangell, Alaska where he became a logger at his uncle's logging camp on Vank Island. Very soon, he met and married Bella. Eventually, he received a call from his cousin, Wayne Hiebert inviting him and his family down to the jungle of...

  • Pumpkin Patch festival

    Oct 15, 2020

    Wrangell's annual pumpkin patch festival took place during tax free day last Saturday, Oct. 10. Families were invited to the downtown pavilion to pick out halloween pumpkins, buy food, and play games. Pictured here are Amura, Rory, and Kaiya Roher showing off their Star Wars costumes at the pumpkin patch....

  • P&Z commission review proposed zone changes

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 15, 2020

    The Wrangell Planning and Zoning Commission met last Thursday evening, Oct. 8. During their meeting, they held a public hearing on a proposed zone change on city property. "The City and Borough of Wrangell, in an effort to release lots for residential construction has proposed a subdivision for Lot 1, Block 35, USS 1119, creating 3 lots approximately 19,000 square feet each," reads the meeting's agenda packet. The lot in question is currently zoned multi-family residential, but the city is looki...

  • Wrangell and Petersburg face off in first scrimmages

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 15, 2020

    The Wrangell Lady Wolves travelled to Petersburg last weekend for their first scrimmages of the season, against their school rivals. Coach Alyssa Allen said that they only travelled with six members of the team, via Breakaway Adventures. The players wore masks and followed a mitigation plan while visiting Petersburg, she added, to stay safe from COVID-19. Shayna Shultz shared scores from the scrimmages to the WHS Volleyball Facebook page on Oct. 10. They played four games, in which Petersburg...

  • Swim team competes in Petersburg

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 15, 2020

    Wrangell's swim team travelled to Petersburg this past weekend for their second meet. This was their first meet this season where they travelled. The meet in Petersburg was held over two days, Oct. 9 and 10. Coach Jamie Roberts said that the first day of swimming was held virtually, but they travelled to Petersburg on Saturday. Petersburg wrote a six-page mitigation plan just for their one-hour meet, Roberts said, that she was impressed by. They travelled to Petersburg via boat and met up with...

  • Officers nominated, other appointments made in school board meeting

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 15, 2020

    The Wrangell School Board held their first meeting since last week's election on Monday, Oct. 12. This was the first meeting for Laura Ballou, recently elected to the school board. The first order of business was to nominate new officers for the board. Other appointments were also made. School Board President Aaron Angerman was nominated back to his position as president. This was unanimously approved by the board. Patty Gilbert was named school board vice-president, and David Wilson was named...

  • Fish Factor: More young Alaskans among next generation of fishermen

    Laine Welch|Oct 15, 2020

    More young Alaskans are officially among the next generation of professional fishermen and ocean stewards to hail from Cordova, Haines, Homer, Ketchikan and Sitka. The futures of eight fishermen were cemented thanks to $1.5 million in loans from a Local Fish Fund (LFF) launched in 2019 that enabled them to buy into halibut and sablefish fisheries that normally would be out of reach. Buying quota shares of halibut, for example, can cost from $40 to $55 per pound. “I’m super excited that we were able to move the $1.5 million that was pro...

  • Tent City Days Festival begins this week

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 15, 2020

    Wrangell’s Tent City Days Festival kicks off this week. The festival, celebrating the city’s history from the Alaska gold rush, has been a long-running tradition in the community. However, it has seen a decline in public interest in recent years. Jillian Privett, one of the organizers behind the event this year, said she hopes to help revitalize the festival. “Tent City Days has been going on for over 30 years, since I was a little kid,” she said. Privett said that Tent City Days usually...

  • Assembly extends suspension of in-person meetings

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 15, 2020

    The Wrangell Borough Assembly met Tuesday evening, Oct. 13. During this meeting, they voted to extend a resolution allowing them to forgo in-person meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resolution was approved back in March when COVID-19 was beginning to impact Alaska. The resolution allowed for the suspension of in-person assembly meetings until Oct. 17, unless extended. According to the meeting's agenda packet, the city is working on plans to return to in-person meetings, but for the...

  • Alaska US Senate debate focuses on mine, money, fisheries

    Oct 15, 2020

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and challenger Al Gross met in a debate focused on fisheries policy that ended up focusing on other issues including federal COVID-19 relief funding and Pebble Mine. The candidates for Sullivan’s seat in the U.S. Senate squared off Saturday in the 90-minute debate on Zoom, The Anchorage Daily News reported. Sullivan, the Republican incumbent, repeatedly characterized Gross as a threat who could hand Democrats control of the Senate. The debate was hosted by ComFish Alaska and the Kodiak Cha...