Articles from the December 24, 2020 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 16 of 16

  • Wrangell receives first batch of COVID vaccines

    Caleb Vierkant|Dec 24, 2020

    There were no sled dogs, and Nome is far away from Wrangell, but last week's delivery of COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines was still very Alaskan. Wrangell received its first batch of vaccines for the virus Wednesday, Dec. 16. The medicine was flown in from Sitka on a float plane. Steve Kamm, with Sea Wind Aviation, landed at the harbor a little after noon with two boxes of vaccines. They were delivered to SEARHC staff Aaron Angerman and Kathy Jo Blackburn. Angerman did not say how many vaccines were del...

  • Dec 24, 2020

     PDF

  • Jack Carney named assistant coach of the year

    Caleb Vierkant|Dec 24, 2020

    By Caleb Vierkant Sentinel writer Family, friends, students, and coworkers gathered online and in the WHS gym last Thursday, Dec. 17, to surprise teacher Jack Carney. Carney was named "Assistant Wrestling Coach of the Year" for the 2019-2020 school year. This award came down from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Activities Director Trisa Rooney said, in an email, that this award is normally presented during the state championship in Anchorage. However, as wrestling season had not yet...

  • Dr. Zink "cautiously optimistic" in COVID update

    Brian Varela|Dec 24, 2020

    Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska's chief medical officer, called in to a special meeting of the Wrangell Borough Assembly last Friday afternoon, Dec. 18, to give a brief update on the COVID-19 situation across the state. In her update she said that she is "cautiously optimistic" about the future, with vaccinations being rolled out and a slowdown in rising case numbers. "Across the state, as a whole, we're starting to see a tentative decline in the acceleration, which has been fantastic," she said. "We are...

  • City provides update on water quality

    Caleb Vierkant|Dec 24, 2020

    The City and Borough of Wrangell gave the public an update on the city's drinking water quality in a press release on Dec. 18. A few months ago, it was reported that Wrangell's drinking water contained excessive amounts of Haleoacetic Acids, or HAA5. Since then, the city has taken steps to bring the levels of HAA5 back down to allowable levels. According to their recent press release, acid levels have decreased, but still above allowable maximums as of October. "The elevated level of HAA5s do...

  • The Way We Were

    Dec 24, 2020

    December 23, 1920 The merchants of Wrangell have had unusually beautiful window displays this year. Toys, jewelry, articles of wearing apparel, tempting foodstuffs, and fruits and nuts, mingled with brilliant reds and greens of the holiday decorations, have made the stores very attractive. The cut in prices made by several of the merchants has been appreciated by the Christmas shopper. On Christmas Eve, the stores will be kept open late as usual. December 21, 1945 Wrangell has been busily preparing this week for its first peacetime Christmas...

  • Police report

    Dec 24, 2020

    Monday, December 14 Agency Assist: Search and Rescue. Tuesday, December 15 Welfare Check. Shoplifting: Unfounded. Krysta Gillen, 25, Cited for Dog at Large Complaint. Citizen Assist. Wednesday, December 16 Agency Assist: Wrangell School. Security Check. Thursday, December 17 Domestic Violence Assault. Civil Stand By. Agency Assist: Office of Child Services. Agency Assist: Hoonah. Friday, December 18 Traffic Stop. Parking Complaint. Saturday, December 19 Two Agency Assist Requests: Hoonah P.D. Sunday, December 20 Dog Complaint. Harassment Text....

  • Happy holidays at SEARHC

    Dec 24, 2020

    SEARHC staff dressed up for the holiday season (L-R, from the top left): Vince Balansag, Jason Haslip, Jennifer Mangaser, and Cathy Gunther....

  • Obituary: Robert H. Grant, Jr., 83

    Dec 24, 2020

    Robert H. Grant, Jr., 83, a retired teacher, and longtime resident of Wrangell, died on October 21, 2020 in Wrangell, Alaska. He was born on April 19, 1937 to Robert and Catherine Grant in Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from Loras College with a teaching degree and immediately, in 1963, moved to Wrangell to pursue his dream of teaching in Alaska. He taught High School History/Social Studies and English and later, at the end of his teaching career, he taught 6th Grade. He also worked for the Alaska...

  • Christmas concert goes virtual

    Caleb Vierkant|Dec 24, 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot when it comes to day-to-day life, especially at the Wrangell School District. Some things remain the same, however, even if they look different. Last Wednesday, Dec. 16, the district held its annual Christmas concert. The concert brought together students from Evergreen Elementary, Stikine Middle School, and Wrangell High School to perform songs and music for the holiday season. What was different this year was that the concert was not live, but instead...

  • Holiday market

    Dec 24, 2020

    Paula Rak at her booth during last Saturday's holiday market, selling jewelry and custom-made paddles....

  • Assembly approves final CARES Act spending plan

    Caleb Vierkant|Dec 24, 2020

    The Wrangell Borough Assembly met last Friday afternoon, Dec. 18, for a special meeting. They convened to approve of a final spending plan for the city's remaining CARES Act funding before the close of 2020. Wrangell, and many other communities, received government funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic under the CARES Act. The borough received approximately $3.85 million to use in response to the pandemic near the beginning of last summer. Wrangell has used this funding for a variety of...

  • Alaska coastal communities will get economic boost in 2021

    Laine Welch|Dec 24, 2020

    Alaska coastal communities will get a bit of an economic boost in 2021 from increased catches of Pacific cod. The stock, which crashed after a multi-year heat wave starting in 2014 wiped out several year classes, appears to be rebounding throughout the Gulf of Alaska. No cod fishery occurred at all this year in federally managed waters (from three to 200 miles out) where the bulk of the harvest is taken, and a catch of under six million pounds was allowed in state managed waters (out to three miles). For 2021, the North Pacific Fishery...

  • Candy Cane Hunt

    Dec 24, 2020

  • Boat parade powers forward despite bad weather

    Caleb Vierkant|Dec 24, 2020

    Despite cold weather and choppy water, Wrangell's annual holiday boat parade took place Sunday night. The Doc Davenport Christmas Boat parade has been a local tradition for decades, going back to the 1970s. Three boats participated in the parade this year, the same number as the 2019 parade. The boats came out to City Dock, bobbing in the rough water, all lit up with Christmas lights. Despite the cold and the rain, the parade drew a good crowd of people to watch the boats and the fireworks....

  • Erosion causes landslide at Public Works in Petersburg

    Brian Varela|Dec 24, 2020

    PETERSBURG - Water from this month's heavy rainfall ripped at deformities in a culvert that runs underneath the Public Works yard, opening up a portion of the pipe and causing a landslide near Hammer Slough. The culvert diverts water from a creek that runs parallel to Kiseno St. to Hammer Slough. When 6.63 inches of rain fell over the town on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, water in the creek became backed up as the culvert struggled under the volume of water, said Public Works Director Chris Cotta. The...