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The advisory board for the James and Elsie Nolan Center met for its quarterly meeting midday Tuesday after a five-month hiatus. Alice Rooney, Don McConachie, Olinda White and Marlene Clarke met with the center’s director and acting museum curator, Terri Henson, to discuss how things have gone since mid-July. “We’ve been pretty busy in the Center, which has been nice,” Henson told them. A pair of parties and several other Christmas-related events have wrapped up successfully, she explained. “We just finished up Dove Tree Lane, and that went well...
A pair of staff committees met this past month at Wrangell Medical Center, formed to improve response to patient falls on site and improve emergency preparedness. At the monthly meeting of its board of trustees on Nov. 19, hospital head Marla Sanger reported the falls committee was formed with representatives of the nursing, physical therapy, quality, and maintenance departments, as well as a community patient advisor. She said a federal follow-up visit the previous week confirmed WMC has dealt with a problem with its patient wheelchairs. The s...
The high and middle school halls and commons at Wrangell were crawling Friday and Saturday as around 80 teens ran through lines, practiced their best voices and otherwise prepared themselves before performing at the regional drama, debate and forensics (DDF) meet. "It ran a lot more smoothly than I was expecting," said Sydney Reed, Wrangell's new DDF coach. Though a longtime participant in the program, it was her first time as a host. "I was a lot more worried about it than I probably should...
Sydney Reed of Wrangell High School’s Drama, Debate and Forensics (DDF) teams is looking for volunteers interested in assisting meets being hosted at the school on Nov. 14 and 15. “To host a successful meet we need volunteers to sign up to time and judge events,” Reed explained. “We’re hoping that the six schools will all be coming.” There is a need to fill 160 volunteer slots, divided equally between judging and timing events for 90 minute periods. Clinics for the judging will be held next week on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7...
Some changes to the federally-administered subsistence fisheries were recommended by the Southeast Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council (RAC) at its three day meeting at Wrangell's Nolan Center last week. Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist Robert Larson explained the meeting's agenda featured an uncommon mix of proposals from the state boards of Game and Fisheries, since the regulatory cycles of both synchronized with each other this year. “It doesn't happen very often,” he noted. Of particular concern for Wrangell's sub...
Transboundary water issues and mining projects being developed across the Canadian border seem to gain prominence each week as a topic in Wrangell, with a sizable presentation on the issue delivered to the public Tuesday evening. United Tribal Transboundary Mining Work Group and Salmon Beyond Borders have gotten together with other interest groups to present their shared concern about the size and reputedly lax oversight of British Columbia projects currently being planned, with five mines in particular posing a threat to the salmon-abundant...
Aside from the matter of the Big Thorne timber sale (see story on page 1) there was not too much for the City and Borough of Wrangell Assembly to go over when it met for its regularly-scheduled meeting Tuesday evening at City Hall. At City Manager Jeff Jabusch's recommendation, the Assembly agreed to hire for one year the services of Ray Matiashowski as its lobbyist in Juneau for an annual fee of $34,000. “We solicited six different lobbyists,” Jabusch told the assembly. Two of the lobbyists were unavailable, and of the four available, he fel...
After Nov. 4 the last of the political adverts will finally hibernate for the year, marking the end of a particularly clamorous electoral season. But before Alaska voters cross that final hurdle and head to the polls, they should be aware of three measures awaiting them at the ballot. Ballot Measure 2 – Allowing marijuana legalization and regulation If enacted, this bill would tax and regulate the production, sale, and use of marijuana in Alaska, making its use legal for persons aged 21 or older, as is currently done with alcohol. A person w...
Salmon Beyond Borders and the United Tribal Transboundary Mining Working Group will be holding a presentation in Wrangell on the effects of large-scale mining on local river systems on Tuesday, 6 p.m., at the Nolan Center. The public forum is one of five planned for Southeast cities, including Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan and Petersburg. They will provide opportunities for residents to learn about open-pit mines planned in Canada's British Columbia province and their potential impacts on the region's commercial, sport, traditional and customary...
There was a good turnout for the Southeast Beasts' first-ever Alaska Day five-kilometer fun run and half-marathon Saturday morning, with around 65 participants. It was an almost perfect Alaska morning, with swiftly drifting clouds a creamy hue, a pair of ravens chasing after each other overhead, and not a drop of rain to be seen. Runners lining up at the starting line shuddered slightly as they were reminded of the season by a hearty gust. They seemed relieved when the air-horn finally sounded,...
Tuesday's Regular Borough Assembly meeting was preceded by a public hearing on Ordinance 887 being proposed, an amended section of the Wrangell Municipal Code largely dealing with the control of animals within City and Borough limits. The revised ordinance has already been sent back to the Ordinance Review Board before for retooling, and this latest appearance would be its second reading. A number of the island's residents showed up to express their concerns that the wording of several sections...
Members of the Wrangell Borough Assembly met Monday at a special midday session to formally approve election results certified by the Borough Canvass Board on Oct. 9. The official results included votes cast at the Nolan Center on election day, Oct. 7, as well as assisted and absentee ballots cast prior which were counted by the Canvass Board. For one 2-year term as Mayor, David Jack received 304 votes and Kipha Valvoda received 75. For two 3-year terms on the Assembly, Mark Mitchell received 27...
After nearly 34 years of service, Irene Ingle Public Library will be getting a new head librarian after Kay Jabusch retires at the end of this year. She began there in June 1980, working closely with Irene Ingle – the previous head librarian for whom the library was renamed – before taking over her position after Ingle's retirement on Jan. 1, 1981. When Jabusch retires from the position on Jan. 1, 2015, assistant librarian Margaret Villarma will likewise assume the post. "I think the tra...
The unofficial results of Tuesday's local elections in Wrangell saw 312 ballots cast, considerably fewer than at last year's election. Of eight open positions there had been only two contested seats, one two-year term for mayor and a three-year term on the school board. Additionally, there were no measures or items on this year's ballot. For the mayoral position, incumbent candidate David Jack regained his seat with 242 votes. The other candidate, Kipha Valvoda, collected 59. For the school board, incumbent Susan Eagle collected 207 votes;...
Aleisha Mollen Wrangell School Board, three-year term Occupation: Service Manager, Wells Fargo Why do you want to be on the Wrangell School Board? "I care deeply about the youth here in Wrangell. They are a great group of kids and I want them to have the best educational experience possible. They are the future leaders in our community and our nation and I believe that making sure they have the opportunity at a better education will better us all. Making a difference in the schools today can...
Residents of Wrangell are invited to cast their votes in the Borough regular election Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Nolan Center, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Registered voters are asked to bring a form of identification to the polls. Official candidates for this year’s regular election include: – Two candidates for the position of Mayor, incumbent David Jack and Kipha Valvoda. The position is a two-year term. – Two candidates for a three-year term on the School Board, Aleisha Mollen and incumbent Susan Eagle. – Two candidates for two three-year terms on th...
People interested in entering their names for Wrangell Borough committee and board vacancy appointments need to submit their letters of intent before Monday, Oct. 6. There are ten vacancies that will need to be filled at the special swearing-in meeting of the Borough Assembly Oct. 13. So far only three letters of intent have been submitted. There are two three-year seats on the Planning and Zoning commission; two three-year seats with Parks and Recreation; two three-year terms on the Wrangell Convention and Visitors Bureau; two three-year...
Continuing pool woes concerned the Wrangell Borough Assembly when members Maxi Wiederspohn, Pam McCloskey, Mark Mitchell, Becky Rooney and Mayor David Jack met in their City Hall chambers Tuesday evening. “It seems that everything here has gone wrong at the same time,” reported Borough Manager Jeff Jabusch. Last month Wrangell public pool staff discovered a number of problems, including a significant leak, roof issues, some corrosion and electrical problems with a heat exchanger. Jabusch said a public pool in Juneau had experienced similar hea...
Despite the at times uncooperative weather, the Borough of Wrangell successfully hosted this year's annual Southeast Conference at its Nolan Center, from Sept. 16 to 18. About 180 visitors arrived for the three-day conference, fully booking every inn, hotel and lodge in town. Volunteers opened their houses to some attendees as well, but to accommodate the remaining attendees Trident Seafoods allowed the conference use of its bunkhouses. Volunteers were essential to the event's success, fixing...
By the time the fog finally dissipated Tuesday afternoon, the 56th annual Southeast Conference (SEC) was already underway at Wrangell's Nolan Center. Poor visibility prevented the appearance of the conference's opening speaker, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell, but there were a number of interesting presenters on hand to cover a wide array of topics near and dear to the region. “It's just a great opportunity to learn about all of Southeast,” commented Chere Klein, the Republican candidate for House District 36 in November's upcoming election. “It...