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Members of the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department are rising to a national challenge to combat cancer, putting together a team for next year's Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle. Fire departments from around the world raise money for the annual event, sponsored by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Founded in 1949, the society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to researching and treating various blood cancers. Taking place on March 6, 2016, six Wrangell firefighte...
Thanksgiving is a special time of year for many Americans, a time to focus on family and the blessings of the past year. “It’s when the family comes home,” said Bonnie Roher, who along with her husband, Don, is organizing Wrangell’s 14th annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive. The goal of the drive is to provide a complete Thanksgiving dinner for local residents, particularly for families facing illness or catastrophe, single-parent households, multiple-member families, and single individuals. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner can be expensi...
Students of Brian Merritt's 4th grade class were given a presentation on fire safety by members of the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department on Oct. 15. The annual lesson has long been a part of the curriculum – too long, thought Dorianne Curley, WVFD administrative officer. Each year from kindergarten on up, local kids are given the same lessons: who to call in the event of an emergency (9-1-1), what to do in case of catching fire (stop, drop and roll), and other tried-and-true responses. "...
At its first meeting since the Oct. 6 elections, an unchanged Wrangell City and Borough Assembly discussed and largely approved a number of revisions to the Municipal Code on first reading. The proposed ordinances would clarify violations relating to littering, nuisances, distributing handbills, the burning of rubbish without permit, and other infractions, adding them to the minor offense schedule in Title 1. Staff notes indicate the change is a requirement of the state’s court system. Not listing the fines and applicable penalties in Title 1...
In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. August 12, 1915: According to advices given out, plans are being made for a new jail building for Wrangell. While only the estimate is yet made, it is believed that it will be carried through and the new jail building will be built on the site now occupied by the old courthouse. The facts of the affair have not yet been released but it is felt that the building will be two stories and will possibly contain a room for the commissioner's office. We have long felt the need of some new government...
Following recommendations made to the Wrangell Public School Board in April, the school district administration is pursuing a review of its current crisis response plans. Superintendent Patrick Mayer, administrative assistant Kim Powell, and maintenance director Fred Angerman met with emergency services personnel at the Fire Hall last Thursday for the second of several planning sessions. “We’re just collecting some baseline information,” Mayer said, something to build from at future meetings. By the end of the summer he hopes to have a comprehe...
The next steps have been taken on an agreement between the University of Alaska Southeast and Wrangell Public School District, with the establishment of an office for the university's technical preparation program. The tech prep program is offered for college credit through the university, and courses are taught by approved instructors using UAS syllabi. Enrolled students earn high school credits needed for graduation as well, and school superintendent Patrick Mayer explained the program will...
The Fourth of July Festival season began Sunday with the kickoff for this year's Royalty Court contest. The Wrangell Chamber of Commerce (CoC) sponsored a gathering at the Stikine Inn, introducing this year's two candidates, Kimberly Cooper and the Athletic Amateur Union basketball team. The competition has had teams run for Queen in the past, but CoC director Cyni Waddington explained this year's AAU team will set a first for size: 16 girls in the program will work together to sell tickets and...
The Stikine Sportsmen Association raised $48,000 at this year’s annual fundraiser dinner, about $7,000 more than the previous year. Its 35th Annual Game Dinner was held in Wrangell’s American Legion Hall on Feb. 28, and the money was raised through a combination of raffles, auctions, admission and donations. “We give all of it away,” explained Mike Otteson, on the group’s board. Stikine Sportsmen Association is a private organization that directs its funding toward a wide variety of programs and causes. “All our money is spent in town,” said...
In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. May 13, 1915: From the looks of the action of the town council last night, it is practically assured that Wrangell is going to have a baseball park and that we will be able to play the national game before the season is over. At a meeting last night the council set aside a section of town property in the eastern part of town, back of the dairy ranch, to be used as a town recreation park. Mr. William Lewis and F. Stanhope were given permission to build a ball diamond on the property if ways and means...
Wrangell residents are invited to shake off their winter malaise and step down to the annual Health Fair this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon inside the Nolan Center. The fair will feature booths put up by 45 different agencies, groups and organizations related to health and wellness. Participating groups are many and varied, aimed for all ages. Alaska Island Community Services (AICS) will have its Teddy Bear Clinic for the wee ones, Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department will provide free blood pressure checks for adults, and Hanna’s Place will h...
Wrangell's High School boys basketball team members were welcomed as hometown heroes last Thursday, after taking fourth at the State Tournament in Anchorage last week for the 2A division. It was the team's first trip to State in more than a decade, and though it did not bring back a title Wrangell's players brought home several awards. "I was really proud of the boys," said the Wolves' coach, Ray Stokes. "They all did great." The team won two of its three games, and beat region rival Metlakatla...
Earlier this month, three members of the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) were able to gear up and attend this year's Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle, Wash. Firefighters Chris Hatton, Adam Sprehe and Dorianne Curley made the trip along with Tim Buness. The three joined 1,897 other firefighters on March 8 to climb the Columbia Center, the West Coast's second-tallest skyscraper. In its 24th year, the annual charity event draws firefighters from around the world, raising money and...
February 11, 1915: For the purpose of boosting the proposed new hall for the Moose Lodge the ladies of that organization will give a unique affair on Saturday evening in the Redmen’s Hall. We were told that it would be a “necktie party.” In the state of Alabama where we were raised a necktie party meant a hanging. Knowing that the Moose ladies are not going to string us up (even if we do deserve it) we asked for an explanation, and two charming little ladies told us all about it. As nearly as we can remember it is like this: Ladies are reque...
A bit short-handed at its regular Tuesday-night meeting, Wrangell City and Borough Assembly nonetheless reviewed the first readings of several ordinance revisions. Members Becky Rooney, David Mitchell, Daniel Blake and Mayor David Jack discussed a proposed ordinance No. 893, relating to weapons and discharge of firearms within the Borough limits as well as adding a section regarding abuse of the 911 emergency system. The proposal would strike much of the rules previously on the books relating to concealed weapons and carrying loaded firearms,...
Rate changes being adopted by Wrangell’s Parks and Recreation Department will be phased in over the next three years, its board members decided at their monthly meeting Nov. 19. Beginning in the new year, corporate-rate discounts for use of the community pool will be phased out. The way year-round passes are currently priced, individual passes cost $300 for unaffiliated community members, while those employed at a participating business or agency can purchase passes at a rate linked to the size of their workplace. The difference can be quite s...
Wrangell Medical Center staff released information Tuesday that it will be strengthening their preparations for handling infectious diseases on the island. While the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has brought the subject to the world’s attention, diseases that require similar infection control responses such as measles have been making a resurgence in the United States. The Center for Disease Control reports nearly 600 cases of measles since January, spread among 22 states including California, Oregon and Washington. Since this is more than t...
Scores of families came to the gym at Evergreen Elementary School Saturday morning for this year's Wrangell Early Childhood Coalition – Best Beginnings Children's Fair. "It's going very well," said Krissy Smith, the coalition's executive director. Manning the door, by midday she figured it was rivaling last year's turnout. "It's been too busy to count them at the door," she said. Later in the day, she was able to calculate that 364 participants of all ages had attended. In addition to handing o...
What experience or qualities do you have that would make you an effective Port Commissioner? "Commitment to Wrangell and working with others. I have lived in Wrangell since 1983 and I'm committed to and involved with this town as my home. My wife, Carol Ross, and I owned and operated a business here until 2007. I am a board member now with KSTK and Coast Alaska. I attend St. Philip's Episcopal Church, where I have served on the Vestry Committee. I am a member of Wrangell Volunteer Fire...
There are a lot of reasons people decide to get a dog. Besides being pets or boon companions, canines can also serve in a number of capacities from assisting the blind to herding, hunting, detecting pests and sledding. Steve Prysunka decided he wanted his family dog to help his community as a tracking dog for Wrangell Search and Rescue, a division of the volunteer fire department. It will fill a need since Wrangell's emergency services have not had local access to search-and-rescue dogs for the...
In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. June 25, 1914: After being away for fifteen days on a prospecting trip, Richard Hofstad, Ole Johnson and C. Lauritsen arrived back in town late Tuesday evening. The boys went from Wrangell to Chichagof Island for the purpose of locating a large ledge of marble, and after the second day on the island, the marble was located and four claims staked. After the marble had been located, the boys started to look over the country and found some floaters in a small creek, and after tracing it up, located...
Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tim Buness celebrated his 25th year on the job with cupcakes and congratulations earlier this month. Buness is the second consecutive fire chief with that name to hold the post. His father served for 25 years as chief before him, and before that, his next-door neighbor served in the post. Buness – who also works as an electrician – manages the department's 35 volunteer personnel and one full-time administrator on a part-time basis, and was born and rai...