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Sales tax returns indicate the spring and summer of 2016 to have been one of the best on record for the local economy. From April through the end of October Wrangell collected more than $1,659,000, which is the most ever brought in during those two quarters – historically the city's busiest. When adjusted for inflation, only 2011 was a better season, but by only 0.7 percent. The 2016 fiscal year as a whole came to a close on June 30, and returns for the year neared $2.65M. This made it second o...
Wrangell's hospital administration and members of its advisory board met with the Borough Assembly on Tuesday evening to discuss the next steps for construction of a new building. Wrangell Medical Center desires a new hospital facility in order to meet state and federal standards, in addition to the accompanying benefits to service and revenue such a move would bring. The planned location would be off of Wood Street, neighboring Alaska Island Community Service's clinic. Progress on the project has taken several false starts over the past...
December 7, 1916: President Wilson recently signed a proclamation setting apart an area of thirty-eight acres within the Tongass national forest, Alaska, as the Old Kasaan national monument. The tract embraces the abandoned Haida Indian village of Old Kasaan, situated on Prince of Wales island, in South eastern Alaska, about thirty miles west of Ketchikan. The village of Old Kasaan was abandoned by the Indians about ten years ago, and among the relics which remain there are about fifty Indian totem poles, five or six of which are classed as...
Local police were able to track down a number of items stolen from boats in Reliance Harbor during a search last week. Two Wrangell residents are being charged with the crime: Aaron Howell, 20, and Laven Ritchie, 19. Each faces six Class C felony counts, including three of Burglary 2, theft of a firearm, Theft 2, and tampering with physical evidence. Both men also face two charges each of Class A misdemeanors for theft and property damage. The initial charging documents were filed with the Alaska Court System on Monday. The break-ins were disco...
Monday, November 21 Civil Issue. Tuesday, November 22 Report of dog being hit. Agency Assist: DOT report of slick roads. Agency Assist: WMC. Citizen Assist. Wednesday, November 23 Agency Assist – Public Works notified of slick roads. Vandalized Vehicle Reported. Parking Complaint – warning given. Possible Scam. Animal Cruelty. Reckless Driving – Driver has been warned and spoke with officer about icy road conditions. Agency Assist – DOT notified of slick roads. Thursday, November 24 Agency Assist – Public Works. Agency Assist – DOT. Traffi...
Dianna Kay Gadd, 53, affectionately known as Kay Kay passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 11, 2016 after a long battle with cancer surrounded by family and close friend Willa Franks. She was born to the late Chet Maleski, Sr. and Virginia Maleski on March 21, 1963 at Wrangell's old Bishop Rowe hospital. Being the youngest, she was welcomed by seven brothers and only sister Sue. She enjoyed being with her family and her animals. She was a great cook and enjoyed baking, gardening,...
Jeremy Anthony Neel, 24, the son of Emilie Hansen Turner and Mitch Turner and Daniel and Janice Neel, and brother of Bradley Neel passed away on October 3, 2016. Jeremy was born on September 23, 1992 at Everett General Hospital. He was raised in Mukilteo, where he made his life's deepest connections. He attended Columbia Elementary School, Harbor Pointe Middle School, Kamiak High School and Edmonds Community College. He had numerous jobs after graduation but most recently worked in the...
To the Editor: Watch out. It did happen here. Several years ago I filled out carefully all the documents I was told would direct those in medical care to know how to meet my wishes in case of a medical emergency. I felt secure in the assurance that these legal directives would be followed. Because of several times when my daughter had not been advised that I was hospitalized we also had a special directive that she was to be called by the hospital of any occurrence putting me in their care. However, I had such an emergency on Seward’s Day a...
Students in Wrangell High School's marine fabrication class are putting the finishing touches on some new designs. A longstanding program continued under current industrial arts teacher Drew Larrabee. The course gives high schoolers the opportunity to design and construct aluminum boats for themselves, applying the math and physics skills they've learned in the process. Third-year student Brian Schwartz is welding the hull on a 17-foot jet scow of his own design, which should be finished by or...
Thanksgiving leftovers about behind it now, Wrangell will be kicking off for the rest of the season's holidays tomorrow evening. The Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Midnight Madness on Front Street, with the big tree lighting to start at 6 p.m. Wrangell Municipal Light and Power continued its tradition of bringing in the biggest tree it can find for Friday's lighting, provided this year by Donna Wellons. As with other years, decorations for the tree will have been hand-crafted by...
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) – A new 300-mile sled dog race slated for December can help qualify mushers for the Iditarod and Yukon Quest. About 20 teams are expected to compete starting Dec. 17, depending on snowfall around Fairbanks in the next three weeks, reported the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.. At least six teams have signed up for the Tolovana 300. The event will be the first 300-mile race for four of those teams. Mushers will start near Fox and regroup at three checkpoints before the 85-mile push to the finish line. Both the Yukon Quest I...
Alaska seafood goes to roughly 120 countries around the world and competes in a rough and tumble commodities market. Looking ahead to next year, sales conditions are looking positive for Alaska salmon, with some mixed market outlooks for other main species. Alaska produces more than 65 percent of our nation’s wild caught seafood; seafood also is Alaska’s top export to other countries. Here are some highlights from the Alaska Seafood Industry Updates prepared each fall by the McDowell Group for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute: The val...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Voter turnout in this month’s general election hit 60.7 percent, up slightly from the previous presidential election in 2012. According to the Division of Elections, turnout in 2012 totaled 59.6 percent. Over the past 20 years, turnout in presidential election years has been as low as 59.1 percent in 1996 and as high as 66.6 percent in 2004. With ballot counting completed, Anchorage Republican Rep. Charisse Millett held off Democratic challenger Pat Higgins, winning by 95 votes. Millett served as House majority leader dur...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – A new state survey shows fewer Alaska teens are engaging in cigarette, alcohol and drug use. The Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows students across the state have reported declines in smoking, substance use, riding with an impaired driver, sexual activity and fighting. The results are compared to data from 2009, according to KTVA-TV. The survey was compiled by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Education and Early Development. It shows around 11 percent of high school s...
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) – The most populated city on Prince of Wales Island will be able to buy new emergency dispatch equipment with the Craig Tribal Association’s donation of $180,000. The association gave the city the Federal Highway Administration’s Tribal Transportation Program Safety grant, the Ketchikan Daily News reported. Craig Police Chief Robert Ely said the donation will boost operational ability. A malfunction in the current system had fire crews responding to a hotel blaze in December 2015 on different frequencies. “We had the fire...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Anchorage officials could soon consider a proposal to bring a sales tax to the city. Anchorage Assembly member Bill Evans is drafting the ordinance that calls for a 4 percent tax on goods and services. He said it will help diversify the municipality’s revenue stream and offset property taxes “dollar for dollar.” “People have been pretty upset about the rising property taxes. There’s a limit to what I think you can bear in property taxes in a municipality this size,” Evans told Alaska Public Media on Tuesday (http...