Sorted by date Results 4369 - 4393 of 7980
Easter is typically a time for people to come together for religious services, Easter egg hunts, or any other number of community events. This Easter, however, will be unique thanks to the COVID-19 virus. Many churches have closed their doors and moved services online. Federal, state, and local officials also recommend that people try to socially distance and avoid gatherings. With this in mind, however, there are still plans in place to make sure the holiday is still recognized. Hannah's...
Effective immediately, all Borough playgrounds are closed to the public. Parks and Recreation discourages use of park shelters, picnic tables, and benches as a means of mitigating the transmission of COVID-19. Public health officials say that the coronavirus can survive on hard surfaces common in playgrounds and other recreation facilities for days or longer. People of any age can get infected with COVID-19 and spread it to others whether or not they develop symptoms themselves. Parents and children could not only get a serious infection...
PETERSBURG – Petersburg Medical Center has informed the Borough of Petersburg of a positive test result for COVID-19 in Petersburg. The individual had traveled to the Lower 48, returned to Petersburg in mid-March and took all necessary precautions to stay home and isolate. The individual had mild symptoms and testing was performed in late March by a commercial laboratory in the Lower 48. The individual continues to be following isolation guidelines and is improving. State of Alaska public h...
7: Kory Versteeg pled guilty to a commercial fish king crab gear marking violation. Charges of a buoy marking violation and using crab pots that did not allow escapement of undersized crabs were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. He was ordered to pay a fine of $5,000, with $5,000 suspended, and a police training surcharge of $50. All crab pots, buoys, bait jars, and other gear seized shall be forfeited. He will also be on probation for one year. March 17: Taylor Stavee pled guilty to a charge of driving with a cancelled/revoked/suspended...
The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, according to several members of Wrangell's local government, has been doing a very good job of communicating with them during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Assembly Member David Powell said that communications between SEARHC, Mayor Steve Prysunka, and Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen have been taking place almost daily. Prysunka and Von Bargen are really on top of things, he said. Assembly Member Drew Larrabee added that, in his opinion,...
Tourism is an important industry for Wrangell, and one that has typically shown slow but steady growth over the years. A 2019 study by Rain Coast Data reports that the visitor industry accounted for nine percent of all private sector jobs on the island, and made $2.9 million in workforce earnings the previous year. According to the study, a little over 20,000 tourists came to Wrangell in 2018, a six percent increase from 2017. Preliminary estimates of the 2019 tourist season indicated about 26,4...
The Wrangell Fire Department and other public safety officials were called out the road Thursday afternoon, March 27. Dorianne Sprehe, with the fire department, said they received a direct call about a house fire at 2:03 p.m., had a fire engine out of the station three minutes after that, and were on-scene by 2:14 p.m. According to Sprehe, the blaze was a chimney fire in a house at 8 mile on Zimovia Highway. The home belonged to the Naumann family, resident Robert Naumann confirmed. The fire was...
David Macri was brought on as the new principal of Stikine Middle School and Wrangell High School in August of 2018. One year and seven months later, however, he has resigned from the position. Teacher Jack Carney has taken over the role as interim principal for the remainder of the school year. "Effective immediately, Jack Carney will be the principal for Stikine Middle School and Wrangell High School," Superintendent Debbe Lancaster wrote in an email on March 25. "This arrangement will end on...
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused many lifestyle changes in communities across the world, including here in Wrangell. With social distancing and self-quarantining, many people are doing their part to keep the virus from spreading in Wrangell. The city's grocery stores, City Market and Wrangell IGA, are also taking steps to lend a helping hand, and mitigate their own risks, during this time. Jake Hale, with City Market, said he has heard from some community members about concerns of food...
The Wrangell Borough Assembly met via teleconference last Tuesday evening, March 24. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has spread to Alaska even though not in Wrangell, city officials have taken precautions to mitigate any risk of the virus spreading in Wrangell by cancelling unnecessary meetings, and only holding necessary ones remotely. During last week's meeting, the assembly approved of a preferred alternative to a reservoir bypass project. The city is under contract with Shannon & Wilson Engineer...
On Wed., March 25, Wrangell COVID-19 responders participated in their weekly joint meeting to discuss the latest actions made in preparation for the coronavirus reaching the island. City and Borough of Wrangell (CBW) leadership discussed state travel mandate advertisement and enforcement, while Wrangell Medical Center (WMC) administration provided information on the surge plans, should the local healthcare facility see unprecedented levels of admittance due to the coronavirus. Representatives...
The City and Borough of Wrangell held a special meeting via teleconference last Sunday afternoon, March 22, to issue an emergency "shelter in place" order. The assembly recently granted the mayor and borough manager the ability to issue emergency orders in the interest of public health, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen issued Wrangell's first emergency orders last week, limiting restaurants to to-go service only and limiting public gatherings to a maximum of...
4/1/20 COVID-19 Update Mayor Steve Prysunka and Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen hosted a brief teleconference, on Wed., April 1, to share pertinent information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic with the public. There are still no confirmed cases of the virus in Wrangell as of this date, Prysunka said. However, this is not cause for relaxation. Von Bargen said she was recently part of a teleconference with other city managers across Alaska, along with representatives from FEMA and the Department...
Governor Mike Dunleavy announced two new statewide health mandates Monday, March 23, in response to the ongoing spread of COVID-19 in Alaska. These are the ninth and tenth health mandates the state government has announced regarding the virus. Many local communities have been taking steps of their own to mitigate the risk of the virus spreading further. These mandates, however, are meant to help statewide efforts to combat COVID-19. The first of these two mandates, Mandate 009 took effect on...
While many events have been postponed or cancelled in response to the spread of COVID-19, in Alaska and across the world, Economic Development Director Carol Rushmore said that a high response rate to the 2020 census is still important. Rushmore, who also serves on Wrangell's census committee, explained in previous meetings that census does much more than help government officials count people. Information provided by the census helps determine how federal and state funding is divided up for...
As many readers are aware, the COVID-19 virus is continuing to spread around the globe. A relative handful of cases have been confirmed in Alaska, but many people and organizations around the state are taking proactive steps to lessen their risk of contracting or spreading the virus. According to the CDC, the elderly are among high-risk groups of people when it comes to COVID-19. For this reason, the Wrangell Senior Center has temporarily closed its doors. "We're not doing what they call...
To expedite the COVID-19 testing process and eliminate unnecessary contamination of primary care clinics, the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) recently opened alternative testing sites in Juneau, Sitka, Wrangell, Haines, and Klawock. Appointments may be required for testing. For information on screening, call: In Wrangell call 874-4700. Each alternative testing site is manned by a SEARHC clinician in approved personal protection equipment (PPE), including mask, goggles,...
Wrangell's Planning and Zoning Commission met last Tuesday evening, March 17, to hold a series of public hearings on several permit requests and agreement modifications. The first hearing was on a conditional use permit request for agricultural development. This request came from Laura and Dwane Ballou of Oceanview Gardens. They recently purchased Lots 14A and 14B of USS 2589, in an area more commonly known as Sealy's Mt. The Ballous propose to use the land for raised beds, orchards,...
Due to the spread of COVID-19 through Alaska, many people and organizations have had to suddenly alter their schedules and day-to-day operations. The Wrangell School District, for example, is looking at an extended closure right at the tail end of the school year. All schools in Alaska are to remain closed until May 1, according to an announcement by Governor Mike Dunleavy, to help mitigate the spread of the virus. This is especially important in Wrangell, Superintendent Debbe Lancaster wrote...
Despite concerns of COVID-19, construction of the new Wrangell Medical Center has continued largely unhindered. Work on the new hospital began back in April of 2019, with an official groundbreaking ceremony in June, after the City and Borough of Wrangell and SEARHC came to a mutual agreement on the project. Work is nearing the one-year mark, and so far everything is largely on track. Current activities at the construction site include sheathing the exterior of the building, roofing work, and ins...
March 10: A bail hearing was held for Duke Aitken, charged with assault in the fourth degree and violating conditions of release. The court agreed to re-issue his conditions of release to allow for visitation with his children. March 17: A calendar call and status hearing were held for Casey Seimears, charged with criminal trespass, theft, and a probation/parole violation. An omnibus hearing was scheduled for April 27, a calendar call for June 16, and a trial for June 23. A calendar call was held for Valerie Nakamura, charged with possession...
The Wrangell Borough Assembly held a special meeting on Tuesday afternoon, March 17. In response to the global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), which recently reached Alaska, the assembly decided to meet to determine how best to handle the situation, and mitigate chances of the virus spreading locally. There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wrangell as of March 17, but the assembly felt it was important to be proactive. As part of an effort to encourage social distancing, the...
Two new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been identified in Fairbanks, bringing the total known cases in Alaska to three. Conditions and guidance regarding COVID-19 is changing by the hour. Please understand the following facts about COVID-19 and Wrangell: Persons Most at Risk: 1) Persons age 60 and older; 2) Persons with underlying health conditions. Wrangell's Age: Wrangell has one of, if not the, highest population of Senior Citizens, per capita, in Alaska. That means a...
The Recall Dunleavy movement, an ongoing effort to oust Governor Mike Dunleavy from office, has entered into its second round of signature gathering. The group successfully gathered about 49,000 signatures in the first phase of the recall process. According to the organization's website, www.recalldunleavy.com, 21,768 signatures have been gathered as of March 9. Over last weekend, supporters of the recall effort set up shop in Wrangell, adding 66 more signatures to the list. "I think that it's i...
JUNEAU – Today, a bill that requires state regulated private health insurers to cover telehealth services was signed into law by the governor. Rep. Ivy Spohnholz (D-Anchorage) sponsored House Bill 29, which passed the Legislature with overwhelming support. Access to telehealth is an important tool for healthcare workers to respond effectively to the new coronavirus, COVID-19, as it allows Alaskans to access initial screenings and routine healthcare without a risk of being exposed to the d...
