Articles from the November 2, 2017 edition


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  • Tribal sovereignty affirmed at AFN conference, ANSEP resolution tabled

    Dan Rudy|Nov 2, 2017

    Wrangell delegates returned from last month's annual conference for the Alaska Federation of Natives at Anchorage's Dena'ina Center. AFN is the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska, representing 151 federally recognized tribes, 150 village corporations, 12 regional corporations, and various nonprofit and tribal consortiums. Its annual October conference, this year held between the 19th and 21st, provides AFN membership the opportunity to put forward resolutions as well as to discuss...

  • Hospital campus to go smoke-free

    Dan Rudy|Nov 2, 2017

    The hospital is scheduled to implement a new smoke-free campus policy at the start of the new year. Wrangell Medical Center administrators and key staff signed the new policy on October 24, to take effect on January 1. Currently the hospital sports designated smoking areas for staff, patients and visitors, one of the few hospitals in the state still to do so, reckons Scott Glaze, WMC compliance and risk manager. Its health provision counterpart Alaska Island Community Services has had such a policy in place since February 2015. The new policy...

  • The Way We Were

    Nov 2, 2017

    November 8, 1917: A cry of distress was heard in Wrangell about 10 o’clock Tuesday night when a passenger off the Dispatched walked off the Columbia and Northern dock, falling into four feet of water. The traveler had been seen uptown for several hours and gotten in such a condition that he needed a friend to look after him. However, his splash in the icy water of the bay tended to have a reviving effect. At least there was nothing the matter with his voice when it came to waking the town to the fact that he had come to grief. Marshal Earl W...

  • Machine shop fire contained quickly, damage limited

    Dan Rudy|Nov 2, 2017

    While costumed revelers celebrated Halloween Saturday night, fire fighters suited up and responded to a call on Case Avenue near the boatyard. A pedestrian passing by Freeman & Sons Machine and Fabrication just before 11 p.m. noticed smoke coming from an upstairs office. They reported it to the bartender on duty across the street at Rayme's Bar, and the Volunteer Fire Department was called. "They were here before I was," commented Randy Freeman, co-owner and manager of the machine shop. "They...

  • Trooper report

    Nov 2, 2017

    October 3 Alaska Wildlife Troopers onboard the P/V Enforcer contacted the F/V Talon (ADFG #58859) in Zimovia Strait near Thoms Place, after observing two sea cucumber divers in the water after the fishing period had closed at noon. The divers were identified as permit-holders Tristan Schwehm, age 20, and Franklin Hayward, age 28, both of Metlakatla. Further investigation revealed that a crewmember onboard, Trevor Dundas, age 32, also of Metlakatla, did not have a commercial crewmember license. Schwehm and Hayward were both issued strict...

  • Court report

    Nov 2, 2017

    October 30 Drew Florence Huntington, 29, appeared before First District Court Judicial Officer Kevin Miller for the charge of Theft 3, Value $250-$999. The defendant entered a guilty plea, and two additional counts of Burglary 1 and Violate Condition of Release were dismissed by the prosecution. Huntington was ordered to serve 30 days with 30 days suspended, make restitution of $40 to the aggrieved, and pay $150 in surcharges with $100 suspended....

  • Police Report

    Nov 2, 2017

    Monday, Oct. 23 Random breath test. Harassment. Violation conditions of release. Traffic stop: Verbal warning for no taillights. Found Property: Jerry jug. Tuesday, Oct. 24 Trespassing. Citizen Assist. Disturbance. Citizen Assist: 86’d letter. Wednesday, Oct. 25 Disturbance: DV. Traffic stop: Verbal warning for no tail lights. Citation issued to James Edward Vandebunte III, 54: No proof of insurance, verbal warning for faulty equipment. Agency Assist: Alarm. Thursday, Oct. 26 Citizen Assist: Unlocked vehicle. Injured dog: Fish hook removed f...

  • Wrestlers headed to Anchorage after Juneau and Ketchikan tourneys

    Dan Rudy|Nov 2, 2017

    Wrangell’s wrestlers continue their season with a handful of first placements and other top-three showings, following a pair of tournaments the past two weekends. At the Pilot Invitational in Juneau October 20 and 21, eight Wrangell High School students participated after one was pulled for an injury. Of them, in bracket play two wrestlers finished with first placements, two with seconds, and two with thirds. “They jumped in there, they really wrestled tough,” commented coach Jeff Rooney afterward. Competing in round-robin play in the 106-p...

  • Obituary: Harry S. Sundberg

    Nov 2, 2017

    Longtime Wrangell resident Harry S. Sundberg died September 16, 2017 in Bellingham, WA, as a result of a fall at his assisted living facility. He was 95. Harry was born June 27, 1922 in Hemnesberg, Norway. He was the second child of Jens and Hanna Sundberg. The family emigrated to the US in 1925 and in 1928 settled in Wrangell, where Jens had procured a job building gillnet boats for the Stikine River fishery. Harry helped his father build the family home on Case Avenue in which he resided for t...

  • Donations sought for annual Thanksgiving food basket drive

    Dan Rudy|Nov 2, 2017

    With October finally gone, Don and Bonnie Roher remind the community that Thanksgiving is on the way, which means it’s time to prepare their annual food baskets. The couple has been putting together food baskets for families and single residents in need for the past 15 years, with 2017 marking their 16th. Neighbors and friends nominate those they think might benefit best from the drive, which makes sure there’s a turkey and trimmings on every table this November 23. Volunteers bring together the ingredients, arrange the baskets, then distribute...

  • Bringing in the silver

    Nov 2, 2017

  • Walker presents plan to address crime increase in Alaska

    Nov 2, 2017

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Alaska Gov. Bill Walker unveiled a plan Monday to address a rise in the state's crime rate and said a stable economic process would help. People training to put their lives on the line in state jobs connected to fighting crime should be assured they will not be repeatedly targeted for layoff notices every May during state budget deliberations, Walker said. “Alaska needs fiscal certainty,” the governor said at a news conference in Juneau. “They need to know now and into the future they're not going to have another...

  • Shooting boosters hoping to launch clay pigeon team

    Dan Rudy|Nov 2, 2017

    A new group of shooting enthusiasts has formed in Wrangell with the intent of forming a competitive trapshooting group for local youth. Friends of the NRA – referring to the National Rifle Association, a gun rights advocacy group – is its own nonprofit group with chapters located around the country. State committees raise money for the NRA Foundation, which in turn allocates half of all net proceeds back to the state of origin. In the form of grants, these funds then go toward programming and projects related to shooting sports. Since its start...

  • Fish Factor: Great salmon season results in buying, building new or upgrading boats

    Laine Welch|Nov 2, 2017

    It’s steady as she goes for the values of Alaska salmon fishing permits, with upticks in the wind at several fishing regions. “There’s a lot of cautious optimism,” said Jeff Osborn of Dock Street Brokers in Seattle. As well there should be after a salmon fishery that produced 225 million fish valued at nearly $680 million, a 67 percent increase over 2016. Bristol Bay drift salmon permits trade more than any other due to the sheer volume (1,800) and it’s no surprise the value is increasing after one of the best fishing seasons ever. But they are...

  • SEARHC help office adds Saturday hours for health enrollment period

    Nov 2, 2017

    This year open enrollment in the state’s health insurance marketplace has been shortened to six weeks, beginning yesterday and running through December 15. Enabled through the Affordable Care Act, Americans meeting certain criteria can apply for government subsidies for participating insurance plans. Before the start of each calendar year, they are required to prepare submissions for new or renewed coverage through the HealthCare.gov website during this open enrollment period. As previously announced last month, Southeast Alaska Regional H...

  • Comments sought on ferry summer schedule draft

    Dan Rudy|Nov 2, 2017

    The Alaska Marine Highway System has put forward its draft summer schedule for next year, one which is similar to 2017 sailings. The proposed schedule covers service between May and September 2018. Nine of the system’s 11 vessels will be operational during the season, Wrangell will be serviced through the summer by the Malaspina and the Columbia. The Malaspina will sail from Prince Rupert to Skagway once per week, and from Prince Rupert to Juneau once per week. It will make southbound stops into Wrangell Monday mornings and Thursday e...

  • Going bump in the night

    Nov 2, 2017