Articles from the October 29, 2020 edition


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  • Assembly holds workshop on water treatment plant

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    The Wrangell Borough Assembly held a workshop last week, Oct. 20, to discuss the water treatment plant improvement project. This has been an ongoing project for some time now, and the workshop was to make sure new assembly members were up to speed on the current situation, and to share opinions on how it is going so far. Capital Facilities Director Amber Al-Haddad led much of the initial discussion, providing a history lesson on the project. Plans to renovate and improve Wrangell's water...

  • COVID-19 discussed with state officials in assembly meeting

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    The Wrangell Borough Assembly met Tuesday evening, Oct. 27. The main focus of the meeting was a discussion on the COVID-19 pandemic, and the situation across the state. Multiple guest speakers from the state were invited into the discussion, to answer questions and talk about what people need to do to stay safe. Guests included DHSS Commissioner Adam Crum, Bryan Fisher with Alaska's COVID-19 Unified Command, DHSEM Deputy Director Paul Nelson, and Eliza Muse with DHSS. It is pretty clear that Ala...

  • The Way We Were

    Oct 29, 2020

    October 28, 1920 The new Victrola which was purchased with the entertainment funds has arrived. It was ordered by Mr. Patterson who let the school have it at cost. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Mr. Patterson. We also wish to thank Mrs. Watson for presenting the school with four valuable Victrola records. The school has received several free industrial exhibits from prominent manufacturing companies. October 26, 1945 Johnnie Simpson, of Telegraph Creek, and his river boat Butterfly caused a flurry of anxiety in the U.S....

  • Evergreen Elementary returning to full-day schedule

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    Starting next Monday, Nov. 2, Evergreen Elementary school will be returning to a full-day schedule. After the district closed down late last school year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wrangell's schools have been following modified schedules and operating plans this year. Thanks to the situation in Wrangell being comparatively safe, and a recent staffing increase, Lead Teacher/Assistant Principal Jenn Miller-Yancey said Evergreen Elementary is ready to get back to their normal schedule....

  • Police report

    Oct 29, 2020

    October 19 Found Property. Fire: Controlled Burn. Vacation Check. Traffic Stop: Verbal warning for driving habits. Agency Assist: House Fire. October 20 Random Breath Test. Burglary. Citizen Assist: Vehicle Issues. October 21 Two Parking Complaints. October 22 Fraud. Agency Assist: Search and Rescue. Agency Assist. Dog Complaint. Agency Assist. Found Bike. Agency Assist: Hoonah P.D. Subpoena Service. October 23 Subpoena Service. Information Report. Aggressive Dog at Large. Agency Assist: Hoonah P.D. October 24 Agency Assist: EMTs. Noise...

  • Parents voice concern over mask usage during sports

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    A meeting between school officials and concerned community members was held in the WHS commons last Thursday evening, Oct. 22 about a then-recent announcement by the Alaska School Activities Association. The announcement, shared on the Wrangell Public Schools' Facebook page on Oct. 19, made it a requirement for high school athletes to wear face masks during competition. Previously, students were not expected to wear masks during activity. The only exception for this new announcement was for...

  • Obituary: Minnie Evangeline (Larsen) Kalkins, 88

    Oct 29, 2020

    Minnie Evangeline (Larsen) Kalkins, 88 Minnie Evangeline (Larsen) Kalkins, Yéil Tláa (raven mother), 88. a lifelong resident of Wrangell, Alaska, and member of the Tlingit Shtax'héen Kwáan (Stikine River People) walked into the forest peacefully surrounded by her children on September 7, 2020. Minnie was born in Wrangell on November 20, 1933, to Emma (Shakes) Larsen and Svere Larsen. Following her matrilineal heritage, she represented the Kaach.ádi (Raven Frog Clan), hailed from Kaalch'al aan,...

  • Mask up this Halloween, says chamber of commerce

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, and with cases increasing across the state, there has been some discussion in Wrangell about what Halloween could look like this year. Stephanie Cook, with the chamber of commerce, wanted to let everyone know that Halloween is still on this year. Peoplecan go trick-or-treating at businesses like normal, but some precautions should be taken. "We're just going to encourage everyone to mask up and social distance, and stay home if you're sick during the...

  • The Rocky Horror Picture Show coming to the Nolan Center

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    The Nolan Center, Wrangell's movie theater, is known for its variety of showings. The theater has brought the biggest and latest movies to the small town, but has also shown oldies and nostalgic films for young and old audiences to enjoy. This Friday evening, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m., the theater will be showing The Rocky Horror Picture Show. "It's just something that I've kind of always wanted to do here," said Nolan Center Director Cyni Crary. "I thought that it would be a good opportunity to dress u...

  • New personal bests in swim meet last weekend

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    The Wrangell Swim Team met last Friday and Saturday for another swim meet. According to times provided by Coach Jamie Roberts, there were several personal bests made by her swimmers this weekend. It was a unique meet, Roberts said. Not only was it virtual, as most swim meets have been this past season due to COVID-19, but she said she was not actually sure how many other schools they were competing against. "I am unsure of how many teams, if any, participated in this weekend's virtual meet,"...

  • Lady Wolves face Lady Vikings in second home games of the season

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    The Wrangell Lady Wolves hosted their second home games of the volleyball season last Saturday, Oct. 24, against the Petersburg Lady Vikings. A previous article in the Wrangell Sentinel reported that Wrangell would be traveling to Petersburg for these last games, but this was incorrect. While Wrangell played hard, they only managed to pull off a single win. "They played hard," said Coach Alyssa Allen. "We need to work on our serving and our passing. They hit the ball well." The first game went...

  • Alaska Fish Factor: Many Alaska fishermen likely to be involved in regulatory meetings next spring instead of being out on the water

    Laine Welch|Oct 29, 2020

    Many Alaska fishermen are likely to be involved in regulatory meetings next spring instead of being out on the water. And Alaska legislators will be distracted by hearings for hundreds of unconfirmed appointments as they tackle contentious budgets and other pressing issues. New dates have been set for state Board of Fisheries meetings that were bumped from later this year due to corona virus concerns. During the same time, along with four unconfirmed seats on the fish board, the Alaska legislature also will be tasked with considering nominees...

  • SEAPA anticipating future rate increases

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    The Southeast Alaska Power Agency provides power to the communities of Wrangell, Petersburg, and Ketchikan. CEO Trey Acteson said they have not had a rate increase in over 23 years, holding steady at 6.8 cents per kWh. However, due to anticipated costs in the near future, he reported that they are expecting a necessary rate increase sometime next year. "It is still a little early in the process to provide a firm number on any potential rate increases, but I can assure you the SEAPA Board...

  • A pre Halloween fun

    Oct 29, 2020

    (Left to right): Cassandra Schilling, Briana Schilling, and Kassee Schlotzhauer showing off their Halloween costumes during a photoshoot last weekend....

  • Positive COVID-19 case shuts down schools in Petersburg

    Brian Varela|Oct 29, 2020

    PETERSBURG – A positive case of COVID-19 was identified this morning in Mrs. Potrzuski’s fifth grade classroom at Rae C. Stedman Elementary School, resulting in a district-wide school closure, according to a statement on Petersburg School District’s Facebook page. Both the student and their parent tested positive for the virus, according to a joint-statement between the Petersburg Borough and Petersburg Medical Center. The student recently traveled to Juneau on a non-school related trip and is symptomatic, according to the joint state...

  • Alaska accepts bids for 2 fast ferries that faced struggles

    Oct 29, 2020

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) –Alaska is redoubling efforts to sell two fast ferries by accepting sealed bids. The state Department of Transportation issued a public notice of the bidding process Thursday, CoastAlaska reported Monday. The state set a minimum reserve price for each ship but does not plan to reveal the amount until the bids are unsealed Dec. 15. Prospective buyers are required to post a refundable $25,000 deposit with each bid for the M/V Chenega and M/V Fairweather. The agency told lawmakers earlier this year that the cost of mooring b...

  • Assembly approves purchases for police department

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    The Wrangell Borough Assembly considered several purchases for the Wrangell Police Department during their meeting last Tuesday evening, Oct. 27. Two items were approved by the assembly, a Text-to-911 router switch and body cameras. The police department requested approval to purchase a Text-to-911 router switch in the amount of $4,000. There are several benefits that this would provide, according to Police Chief Tom Radke. For one thing, he said that someone texting 911 would also provide them...

  • Breaking News: Mayor Stephen Prysunka, on behalf of the City & Borough of Wrangell

    Oct 29, 2020

    A CBW Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) official was recently threatened on social media. This incident was deeply hurtful to the official involved and put the individual in fear of her own safety, and that of her family. A police investigation is underway. The Borough Attorney is also reviewing the incident as well. No one should need to worry about intimidation and fear when doing their job. Differences of opinion are understandable, and even welcomed in our community, but we all need to be careful about the way that we express our opinions....

  • New COVID-19 cases announced on Nov. 3

    Caleb Vierkant|Oct 29, 2020

    Wrangell’s Unified Command announced a new case of COVID-19 the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 3. This is Wrangell’s twenty-first total case, and at the time of writing the only active one. According to the press release, this case was confirmed in a non-resident, who has been notified and is in isolation. Of the 21 total cases Wrangell has seen, 13 have been locals and eight have been non-locals. Four cases were identified through airport testing. The others were identified by a routine testing plan or other testing platform. The city’s press relea...