Articles from the December 31, 2015 edition


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  • 2015: The Year in Review

    Dan Rudy|Dec 31, 2015

    The year 2015 was largely a good one for Wrangell, with the appearance of several new businesses, large infrastructural developments undertaken by businesses, the formal opening of the Tribe's cultural center, and a balanced financial outlook for the city despite tumultuous budget negotiations in Juneau. The state deficit will remain the largest issue moving ahead into 2016, as will continued mining developments in Canada along shared waters. January On Jan. 12 and 14 the first of three sets of...

  • 'Hospital' billing calls possibly a flim-flam

    Dan Rudy|Dec 31, 2015

    Wrangell Medical Center is alerting residents to a recent phone scam seeking credit account information. Hospital development coordinator Kris Reed conveyed reports that a caller “with a strong foreign accent” has been claiming to be a representative of “a local medical center” or a member of its billing service, asking for payment on a medical bill. The caller has been vague on details and has been unable to give any particulars on a potential patient’s care. The hospital would like to remind residents its staff does not demand payment over th...

  • The Way We Were

    Dec 31, 2015

    In the Sentinel 75, 50 and 25 years ago. December 27, 1940: About 35 shooters and a few spectators turned out Sunday for the first annual turkey shoot of the Stikine Sportsmen’s Association of Wrangell, keen rivalry making it a highly successful affair. Seven turkeys were knocked off by the sharp-eyed crackshots, the birds going to Lloyd Benjamin, Chet Steear, Chad Wyatt, Howard Messinger, Cliff Kilkenny, Lloyd Ripley and Elvin Lindsley. Some very good scores were shot. The leather medal for missing the target entirely went to President Fred H...

  • Wrangell man remains missing as search concludes

    Dan Rudy|Dec 31, 2015

    Alaska State Troopers and the local fire department have suspended their search for a Wrangell man missing since Dec. 17. A welfare check was requested of Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department for Brandon Peterson, age 38, the second within the week. Peterson had last been seen in the early hours of Dec. 13 in the vicinity of Thoms Place, where he has a cabin. Peterson had been given a ride to the end of the road the previous day. Fire service volunteers were contacted to check on him that evening and found Peterson on foot at the roadside. In...

  • Police reports

    Dec 31, 2015

    Monday, December 21 Vacation check. Civil issue – individual spoke to officer. Tuesday, December 22 Noise complaint. Agency assist. Citizen assist – vehicle unlock. Agency assist – fire. Gary Stevens, 45, arrested on charges of DUI. Found property. Wednesday, December 23 Speeding: citation issued to Caitlin Cardinell, 25. MVA: no injuries reported. Theft reported. Thursday, December 24 Theft reported. Civil standby. Possible juvenile party. Friday, December 25 Beau Radach, 25, arrested on charges of Violation Conditions of Release. Citiz...

  • Power outage caused by aging infrastructure

    Dan Rudy|Dec 31, 2015

    Heralding the onset of winter, power went out across swaths of Wrangell the afternoon of Dec. 17 after a distribution feeder failed. At around 3:15 p.m. Feeder 1 near the Public Works yard went down, affecting distribution to much of Church and Cassiar streets, Evergreen Avenue and Spur Road. Power to Wrangell Airport’s runway lights was also cut out, though fortunately after a plane had already landed. “There were certainly some concerns to be had there,” commented Municipal Light and Power superintendent Clay Hammer. Residents elsewhere in to...

  • Resetting the beacon

    Dec 31, 2015

  • P&Z pass contract zone question to Assembly

    Dan Rudy|Dec 31, 2015

    In a brief meeting Dec. 23, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved findings of fact for a special contract zone requested by Wrangell Cooperation Association’s road office. The findings are based on discussions held by the commission at its Nov. 12 meeting, when it recommended allowing the WCA to build a permanent office, storage and maintenance facility for its Transportation Office at a property currently zoned residential. City staff had initially recommended denying the request, which would see the addition of a light industrial proper...

  • Fish Factor

    Laine Welch|Dec 31, 2015

    “Tis the season for even bigger Alaska fish catches when groundfish seasons open at the start of the New Year. Catches of pollock, cod, flounders and other groundfish account for nearly 85 percent of Alaska’s harvest poundage, and 67 percent of the nation’s total groundfish harvests. Those numbers could increase due to boosts in several catch quotas in both the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea for the next two year. For pollock, the nation’s largest fishery, the catch is up slightly to 1.3 million metric tons, or just under three billion pound...

  • Netting awards at the Hoop

    Dec 31, 2015

  • Basketball program preps for opening tip

    Dan Rudy|Dec 31, 2015

    While Wrangell's high school basketballers have been on the court for nearly a month, the teams' season officially begins Jan. 8 at their homecoming tournament. Both the boys and girls squads have already been participating in some preseason tournaments, the latest being the girls' alumni matchup on Dec. 23. The Lady Wolves starting lineup faced off against the "Old Timers" – a collection of former players and coaches in town for the holidays. "These are considered fundraisers actually, for t...