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As the COVID-19 virus continues to impact the world, and Alaska, many people are doing their part to mitigate its spread. People are working from home, self-isolating, and social distancing. A recent health alert by the state of Alaska recommends that people begin wearing face masks when in public, as well. "Scientific evidence available to date indicates that asymptomatic and presymptomatic shedding of the virus that causes COVID-19 is occurring," the April 3 health alert reads. "This means...
The Wrangell Borough Assembly convened via teleconference last Monday evening, April 6, to discuss a new proposed emergency ordinance. This new ordinance would institute three local health mandates related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and would hopefully mitigate the risk of the virus spreading to the community. Emergency Ordinance No. 977 would require a 14-day self-quarantine for all intrastate travelers coming to Wrangell, allow for a modified quarantine plan for critical workforce, and...
As of April 6, there have been 293 COVID-19 tests conducted across the entire Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. Clinics across Southeast Alaska are putting together "surge plans" to determine what they should do in the event of an outbreak in their area. An April 7 press release, from SEARHC Marketing Director Maegan Bosak, went into detail about Wrangell's surge plan. While there are no cases of the virus in Wrangell at this time, the plan details what steps the Wrangell Medical...
The board of directors of the Southeast Alaska Power Agency held a teleconference meeting March 31, to hear an annual operations plan update as well as some operating budget increases, among other items. SEAPA provides hydroelectric power to the communities of Wrangell, Petersburg, and Ketchikan. The board is made up of five voting directors and alternates, who are appointed by their respective communities annually to represent them. The operations plan update, according to the meeting's agenda...
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan held an electronic town hall meeting last week to talk about the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and what kind of aid it provides to small businesses. In their town hall meeting, the senators focused on several key provisions. One was the Paycheck Protection Program. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, the program offers a loan designed to provide an incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll in...
Easter is typically a time for people to come together for religious services, Easter egg hunts, or any other number of community events. This Easter, however, will be unique thanks to the COVID-19 virus. Many churches have closed their doors and moved services online. Federal, state, and local officials also recommend that people try to socially distance and avoid gatherings. With this in mind, however, there are still plans in place to make sure the holiday is still recognized. Hannah's...
Effective immediately, all Borough playgrounds are closed to the public. Parks and Recreation discourages use of park shelters, picnic tables, and benches as a means of mitigating the transmission of COVID-19. Public health officials say that the coronavirus can survive on hard surfaces common in playgrounds and other recreation facilities for days or longer. People of any age can get infected with COVID-19 and spread it to others whether or not they develop symptoms themselves. Parents and children could not only get a serious infection...
PETERSBURG – Petersburg Medical Center has informed the Borough of Petersburg of a positive test result for COVID-19 in Petersburg. The individual had traveled to the Lower 48, returned to Petersburg in mid-March and took all necessary precautions to stay home and isolate. The individual had mild symptoms and testing was performed in late March by a commercial laboratory in the Lower 48. The individual continues to be following isolation guidelines and is improving. State of Alaska public h...
7: Kory Versteeg pled guilty to a commercial fish king crab gear marking violation. Charges of a buoy marking violation and using crab pots that did not allow escapement of undersized crabs were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. He was ordered to pay a fine of $5,000, with $5,000 suspended, and a police training surcharge of $50. All crab pots, buoys, bait jars, and other gear seized shall be forfeited. He will also be on probation for one year. March 17: Taylor Stavee pled guilty to a charge of driving with a cancelled/revoked/suspended...
March 30 Agency Assist: Alaska Airlines. Agency Assist: Alarm. March 31 Agency Assist: Alaska State Troopers. Traffic Stop. Alan Fenwick, 39: Parking Complaint Citation issued. Courtesy Transport. April 1 Report of Theft. Quarantine Violation. Citizen Report: Driving While Intoxicated. April 2 Suspicious People. Agency Assist: Explosion. April 3 Quarantine Violation. Agency Assist: Harbor Department. Traffic Stop. Kim Peterson, 61: cited for Objectionable animal. Agency Assist: Wrangell Medical Center. April 4 Harassment. Parking Complaint....
By Commissioner Dr. Tamika Ledbetter, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Where were you when the pandemic came to Alaska? Future generations will demand an answer from each of us. Did we change our habits to protect the vulnerable? Did we make sure our elderly neighbors had everything they needed? Long after the virus disappears from the public consciousness, these are the questions we'll be left to grapple with. For so many, we look to government to provide services during a... Full story
By Attorney General Kevin Clarkson, Alaska Department of Law Where were you when the pandemic came to Alaska? Future generations will demand an answer from each of us. Did we change our habits to protect the vulnerable? Did we make sure our elderly neighbors had everything they needed? Long after the virus disappears from the public consciousness, these are the questions we'll be left to grapple with. For so many, we look to government to provide services during a crisis. We forget, as Franklin...
To the Editor: I wanted to compliment you on calling SEARHC's claims that privacy concerns prevent it from releasing community data on Covid-19 test numbers a bunch of BS. Well because they are and the same line is being taken by other Native Health Organizations. Data is fundamental if people are going to take the tough steps needed to slow this pandemic in their communities. Thank you for doing that. Johanna Eurich...
The State of Alaska wants input on plans to distribute nearly $24.5 million in federal disaster relief funds for stakeholders and communities hurt by the 2018 Gulf of Alaska cod crash. Better make it quick – the deadline to comment is April 10. Cod is Alaska’s second largest groundfish harvest (after pollock), but the Gulf stock dropped by 80% in 2018 following a three year heatwave that disrupted food webs, fish metabolism and egg survival on the ocean floor. It combined to push down cod catches to just 28.8 million pounds, compared to nea...
April 8, 1920 C.W. Hawksworth, Superintendent of Schools under the U.S. Bureau of Education arrived in Wrangell last Friday night. Mr. Hawksworth has been on the Murre making a tour of the government schools in this districk. Thursday night the Murre went on the rocks at Hell’s Gate in Rocky Pass. The little gas boat Alaska picked up Mr. Hawksworth and brought him to Wrangell. The Auklet immediately went to the assistance of her sister boat and brought her to Wrangell last Sunday. She is now on the gridiron and while extensive repai...
The Nolan Center and Harbor Light Assembly of God partnered together to host a drive-in movie night last Sunday night, April 5. The church provided the parking and wall wide enough to project a movie, while the Nolan Center provided the film, How to Train Your Dragon. The Nolan Center has closed down recently, due to concerns about the COVID-19 virus. This drive-in movie allowed people to enjoy a night out, while also keeping safe and adhering to social distancing rules....
This trailer outside of the AICS clinic, property of the Wrangell Fire Department, serves as the community's COVID-19 testing site. Patients who meet certain screening qualifications are tested here. As of April 7, there are no reported cases of the virus in Wrangell....
There was more than one dinosaur roaming around City Market last Thursday morning, during the grocery store's senior citizen shopping morning. The store has set aside Tuesday and Thursday mornings for Wrangell's elderly residents to purchase groceries while also minimizing their risk of exposure to COVID-19. Pictured here is Kristina Decker, in a T-Rex costume, opening the door for customers....
