Sorted by date Results 1 - 18 of 18
Cash flow problems have again been ailing Wrangell Medical Center, with the public hospital putting forward a request for $250,000 to the city on Tuesday. At its own board meeting on October 18, WMC’s chief financial officer, Doran Hammett, explained the situation. Cash on hand had by the end of September dropped to $311,069, down from $838,604 at the start of the fiscal year on July 1. It costs around $28,000 a day to operate the hospital, meaning WMC had only around 11 days’ worth available for its payroll and other expenditures. The hos...
Just under a dozen students at the local middle and high schools took part in a two-week hunter education course, earning their certifications in the process. The course was led by Winston Davies, who teaches the district's Alaska skills course. "It's the first time to my knowledge that hunter safety has been taught here in years," he explained. The state-approved curriculum provides a well-rounded course, covering firearms safety training, wildlife conservation, and respect for natural resource...
November 1, 1917: Beginning with tomorrow Nov. 2, letter postage will be three cents. Postals and post cards will be two cents. Drop letters in towns without carrier service will remain one cent. November 6, 1942: The appearance of the three horses destined to be pack animals for the Groundhog Basin mine properties was nothing short of a spectacular event for at least forty one Wrangell youngsters, who had never before seen a horse. Not only were a number thrilled by their first sight of the first equine visitors in Wrangell for many a long...
Preliminary harvest and value figures for the 2017 commercial salmon fishery indicate the season was a step up above the previous year's disastrous harvest. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reported a 66.7-percent increase in exvessel value between the two years, with 224.6 million wild salmon worth around $678.8 million brought in by the state's fishing fleet. Chum salmon saw the biggest boon of the year, breaking records with 25.2 million fish, worth about $128.3 million. The haul...
Monday, Oct. 16 Agency Assist. Found property: Owner notified. Report of theft. Report of disturbance. Criminal mischief. Agency assist: Line crew. Citizen assist: Vehicle unlocked. Tuesday, Oct. 17 Dog complaint: Citation issued to Jennifer Wiederspohn, 40, for dog at large. Agency Assist: Fire alarm. Wednesday, Oct. 18 Agency Assist: Disturbance. Suspicious circumstance. Citizen assist: Disturbance UTL. Civil Issue: Abandon vehicle. Thursday, Oct. 19 Citation issued to Jerry Knapp, 37, for Failure to provide proof of insurance and verbal warn...
October 23 Michael A. Stephens, 57, appeared before First District Court Judicial Officer Kevin Miller for charges of Assault in the 4th Degree and Criminal Trespass 2, both misdemeanors. The defendant pleaded guilty to both counts, and was ordered to 12 months and 10 days with all but two months suspended. The unsuspended time was to be served immediately with credit for time served. Seven other counts were dismissed by prosecution. Stephens was ordered to pay $400 with $200 suspended, and three weapons used in the incident are to be...
Yes the winter is upon us and the summer fun is behind us, but we still have things to look forward too. Our children are back in school and by now very accustomed to their individual schedules. Maybe now they are thinking about trick or treating, maybe thinking about snow but it’s too early for snow. Nevertheless we have things to be excited about no matter the time of the year. It is nice to be able to embrace each particular time of year and what individual things happen. Finding the fun and feeling the excitement keeps us looking to the f...
Wrangell High School's volleyball team is poised to be in contention with the region's leaders, following a busy game schedule two weekends ago. Leaving on the ferry October 12, the Lady Wolves took part in the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza over the following two days. The tournament gave the team an early opportunity to play against an array of schools in quick succession. First up were the girls at Thunder Mountain High School, who won 25 to Wrangell's 13. The Lady Wolves...
A statewide assessment of grade schoolers taken this spring has suggested education has some room for improvement. The Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools (PEAKS) exam was administered for the first time to students between third and 10th grade, testing for proficiency in mathematics, English language arts and science. Mirroring standards used in the widely-used National Assessment of Educational Progress, PEAKS provides a snapshot of student performance in relation to grade-level standards. Overall, schools across the state did not a...
Members of the Wrangell Assembly commiserated with Wrangell Cooperative Association leadership Tuesday evening to discuss possible alternatives to a proposed monofill for the Byford cleanup. The Department of Environmental Conservation proposes interring 18,350 cubic yards of treated, lead-contaminated soils in a rock pit managed by the Department of Natural Resources. The material was removed during cleanup of acres of property at the former Byford junkyard, which the city had previously acquired through foreclosure. DEC stepped in to manage...
At Wrangell’s regular meeting of the Borough Assembly Tuesday, members opted not to withdraw their opposition to a proposed timber sale package. The United States Forest Service has over the course of years been putting together a timber sale for Wrangell Island, of which it manages 93 percent of the borough’s land area, which has been nearing its final stages. In August the city responded to the project’s final draft record of decision with an objection letter. After speaking with staff, Tongass National Forest supervisor Earl Stewart propo...
Alaska’s fishing fleet of 9,400 vessels would span nearly 71 miles if lined up from bow to stern. And Alaska’s fishing industry catches and processes enough seafood each year to feed every person on the planet one serving; or a serving for each American every day for more than a month. Those are just a few of the fish facts highlighted in the annual “Economic value of Alaska’s seafood industry” report by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute compiled by the McDowell Group. The report breaks down the numbers of fishermen, processors, species c...
Kupreanof Island – 48 Stikine River – 25 Mitkof Island – 13 Thomas Bay – 8 Farragut Bay – 8 Wrangell Island – 4 Kuiu Island – 4 Zarembo Island – 3 Wrangell mainland – 2 Petersburg mainland – 2 Woewodski Island – 1 Total – 117 Note: 12 of the bulls checked in this year failed to comply with local antler restrictions, following a typical rate of noncompliance seen in other years. Antler configuration percentages 2x2 brow tines – 45 bulls (38% of harvest) Spike fork – 45 (38%) Three or more brow tines – 14 (12%) Spread 50 inches or greater ...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The state of Alaska is challenging the constitutionality of a proposed ballot initiative aimed at protecting salmon habitat. The state says it is appealing a court decision that called for allowing backers of the measure to begin gathering signatures. The matter went to court after Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott last month refused to certify it, citing a Department of Law opinion. The department maintained that the measure would limit the Legislature's ability to decide how to allocate anadromous streams among competing uses a...
A group of local musicians banded together to raise funds for the school music program, performing at the elementary school last Thursday evening. Dubbing themselves the Wrangell Bear-oque Players – a portmanteau of bear and baroque, referencing past appearances together at Bearfest and the musical style – the ensemble was actually divided into two groups for the evening. A woodwind and strings set performed pieces of classical music, while a brass quintet played jazz. The evening was org...
