Articles from the October 22, 2015 edition


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  • Local students given hands-on lesson in fire safety

    Dan Rudy|Oct 22, 2015

    Students of Brian Merritt's 4th grade class were given a presentation on fire safety by members of the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department on Oct. 15. The annual lesson has long been a part of the curriculum – too long, thought Dorianne Curley, WVFD administrative officer. Each year from kindergarten on up, local kids are given the same lessons: who to call in the event of an emergency (9-1-1), what to do in case of catching fire (stop, drop and roll), and other tried-and-true responses. "...

  • Communication added to schools' strategic plan

    Dan Rudy|Oct 22, 2015

    At its Monday evening meeting, Wrangell’s Public School Board approved an amended strategic plan for the next three years. The meeting was the first held since the Oct. 6 elections, where board members Tammy Groshong and Aleisha Mollen were reelected to their seats. Pam McCloskey was also picked by voters to serve an unexpired one-year term, though she was unable to attend Monday. The board elected Susan Eagle to continue as its president, Howell as vice-president, and Groshong as board s...

  • The Way We Were

    Oct 22, 2015

    In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. October 14, 1915: The big stern wheeler Tyconda, which made two trips up the Stikine River earlier this year, caught fire and was totally destroyed recently at Anchorage on Cook Inlet. The vessel left here last May after proving unsatisfactory on the river on account of not having sufficient power to forge the rapids on the Stikine. L.C. Berg and Chris Wedo came in town this afternoon from mining property at Aaron’s Creek on the mainland about twenty miles from Wrangell. The work for the season h...

  • Parks Dept. looking for Tot Gym feedback

    Oct 22, 2015

    At its regularly scheduled meeting Oct. 14, the Parks and Recreation Board learned the city department is in the process of gathering feedback on its “Tot Gym” program. The program is geared toward smaller children, providing an opportunity to play with others and use equipment several times a week at the community gym. Once a free service, Parks director Kate Thomas explained the program has lately been experiencing a decline in attendance. The input she hopes to get from local families would go toward reversing this trend. “It’s good to get...

  • Ferry startup stalls again

    Dan Rudy|Oct 22, 2015

    A recently launched inter-island ferry service was laid up in Wrangell last weekend after its landing craft experienced engine trouble, and is not expected to resume its schedule until the end of the month. “We noticed low oil pressure in the port gearbox,” explained Rainforest Islands Ferry manager Kent Miller. On closer inspection, he said the oil sealing rings and port-side transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. Additional work is also being done to the lander’s starboard engin...

  • P&Z special meeting held

    Oct 22, 2015

    A special meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission convened Oct. 16, to review and discuss preliminary platting for part of the former Silver Bay logging site. The request was put in by Mark Mitchell, to replat lots owned by Dick Buhler for purchase. Legally, the property is split by Zimovia Highway, with a portion of each of its four lots located to either side of the roadway. In order to proceed with the sale, each of the four needs to be divided once more, with additional easements provided. City staff recommended three 10-foot utility...

  • Police report

    Oct 22, 2015

    Monday, October 12 Agency Assist/Chimney Fire. Arrested Todd Hadselford, 51, on charges of Failure to Appear. Tuesday, October 13 Citizen Assist. Theft of Services. Agency Assist/FD. Possible DUI/Unfounded. Wednesday, October 14 Report of Harassment. Abandoned vehicle reported at ASHA. Thursday, October 15 Nothing to Report. Friday, October 16 Agency Assist. Saturday, October 17 Suspicious Vehicle. Noise Complaint. Citizen Assist. Traffic Stop: Verbal warning for driving habits. Traffic Stop: Verbal warning for faulty equipment. Sunday,...

  • Alaska Day run raises $1,300 for cancer care

    Dan Rudy|Oct 22, 2015

    In bear garb with a megaphone, Southeast Beasts director Lucy Robinson gives directions to the assembled runners at the Alaska Day 5K and Half-Marathon starting line. Over 76 participants and more than a dozen volunteers shrugged off Saturday morning's chilly rain to celebrate Alaskan statehood and raise $1,300 for the hospital's cancer care fund. First held last year, the running group intends to make the event a continuing tradition. As with last year's, costs of the run were covered by Frank...

  • New hospital director taking reins

    Dan Rudy|Oct 22, 2015

    The new CEO of Wrangell Medical Center officially began work on Oct. 12. Robert Rang was selected by the hospital board from a field of nearly 40 candidates this summer. Robert Rang was formerly the long-term care administrator for the Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center. Before that he was chief nurse executive for the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel, and had served in the Army on active-duty and in the reserves for 28 years. Rang is a registered nurse and holds masters...

  • Volleyball team 4 for 6 at Petersburg Tourney

    Oct 22, 2015

    Wrangell High School's Lady Wolves had a good weekend in Petersburg Oct. 16 and 17, during the 2A North Seeding Tournament. The team's volleyball players racked up four wins out of six games in the best-of-five tournament. "It was a really good trip," said the girls' coach, Jessica Whittaker. "I was really proud of them." Wrangell won its first game on Friday. Playing Metlakatla, the girls won three-for-three matches, scoring 25-12, 25-17, and 25-11. Craig proved a tougher match, winning the...

  • Silver-medal performance at Tom Sims Tourney

    Dan Rudy|Oct 22, 2015

    Last weekend was a successful one for Wrangell High School's wrestling program, hosting the first tournament of the season without a hitch and taking second place among 14 schools. "The community turned out in full support," said activities director Lisa Nikodym. The Tom Sims Invitational Tournament is named for Tom Sims, a former graduate, coach and longtime participant of Wrangell's wrestling program. As coach during the late 1980s and 1990s, Sims' team secured several championships, and he...

  • Meet the band: Golden Idols

    Dan Rudy|Oct 22, 2015

    Bar-goers and fun-runners were able to enjoy a rarity in Wrangell last weekend, with a band from the Lower 48 on hand to play some live music. The Golden Idols are a relatively new creation, a four-person group whose members first found each other on classifieds website Craigslist. The spooky surf indie group was started by Patrick Broz and a friend a few years ago. On lead vocals and guitar, Broz originally hails from Montgomery City, Mo., but ended up in Seattle after spending several years...

  • Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|Oct 22, 2015

    Fish pirates are coming under fire as more countries band together to stop them from pilfering the world’s oceans. So called Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing accounts for one-fifth of global catches, according to the Global Ocean Commission, valued at $10 to $25 billion each year. Last month, at its annual Intergovernmental Consultative Committee meeting held in Portland, Oregon, and after years in the making, the U.S. and Russia signed a bilateral agreement to combat IUU fishing. The pact, which has strong support from the P...

  • Scientists investigate dead orca whale found near Petersburg

    Oct 22, 2015

    PETERSBURG, Alaska (AP) – Scientists are investigating the death of an orca whale found on the shore of Kupreanof Island north of Petersburg. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration responded to the sighting on Friday. Fisheries Spokeswoman Julie Speegle said a team of marine mammal experts went to the area to secure the killer whale and take samples, KFSK-FM reported. “We are going forward with plans to do a necropsy in the next few days,’’ she said, noting that the cause of death was unknown and that people should keep a safe di...