Sorted by date Results 1026 - 1050 of 1089
If you call 911 or go to the clinic or hospital, what are you looking for? I would hope to find PEOPLE trained to care for whatever problem I might have. It would help to know they have some experience, regular training updates, quality supplies and equipment, and decent facilities to work in. I’m not just talking about doctors, these PEOPLE may be any type of health care provider, such as EMTs, nurses, medical aides and all kinds of technicians, therapists, and counselors who work directly with people to improve or help cope with health p...
To the Editor: Attention Wrangell Voters, especially the 180+ voters that signed the hospital board recall petitions. Don McConachie and Pam McCloskey along with Wilma Stokes tried to deny us our right to vote on the recall. I for one have not forgotten that. I believe neither one of them should be on the assembly or Mayor. I will not support either one of them. Jerry Buthe Sr....
Why I left Wrangell by Dave McCandless, MD I have always considered my patients and the community to be my employers, no matter who signs my checks. Having cooled off a little, this is my “exit interview” to my employers on why I chose to leave Wrangell, which may be helpful in recruiting and retaining the health care providers you want in the future. It is interesting to me that no board member of AICS (Alaska Island Community Services) or WMC (Wrangell Medical Center) have asked about this. I suppose it is because they accept what they are...
Fall Is In the Air Frequently you hear the words, “fall is in the air”! Some look forward with anticipation to the crisp cold of fall with all the winter sports just around the corner. Others just dread it, feeling depressed just thinking of the long dreary nights ahead. It’s definitely a time of change, as earth’s life-cycle clock keeps ticking on, year after year. What sense do you make of it all? What’s life all about? Does it make sense to you? King Solomon, the wisest man ever, summed life up this way, in his book Ecclesiastes. “The thin...
To the Editor: Attention moose hunters: There are tree thinners on the island thinning trees so expect hunting inconveniences. Jim Collier...
To the Editor: The August 23 Wrangell Sentinel article regarding commercial blueberry harvest raised concern. My understanding is that Trail Mountain Harvesters would get the resource (the blueberries) for free and pay the pickers fifty cents per pound. That is about one-tenth of what domestic blueberries run in the grocery store on sale. I have picked Alaskan blueberries for over forty years, and consider blueberries and other berries to be an important part of our family diet. Wild blueberries run about 4.5 to 5 pounds per gallon, so TMH...
Psalm 12:5-6a NIV “Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise”, says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” And the words of the Lord are flawless. I believe that there is way too much that we try to do alone. And one of those things that we try to do is judge others. Not as in the court, but in our hearts. And then we often sometimes even go farther than that, we speak out. In the emotion of the moment we tell someone what we believe is the truth or the right of it all, text so...
Like many residents of Petersburg, fish often determines how I vote. As a former Executive Director of United Fishermen of Alaska and Southeast Alaska Seiners, I write to strongly encourage your readers to Vote Fish and support the coastal management initiative on August 28. You may be surprised to learn that Alaska’s fisheries have benefitted from the Alaska Coastal Management Program for more than 30 years. The Alaska Coastal Management Program has helped protect fish habitat and ensure harbor and waterfront development for the fishing indust...
To the Editor: Wrangell has recently gone through a major change of the WMC board of directors and our CEO was fired. I had a short opportunity to see him while he was moving his things out of his office. He seemed very depressed; I can’t blame him he has a family to care for and no means to provide now. It’s not over yet, why can’t it just stop. It seems now our care providers are getting it. In the past few years I’ve gone through some major medical issues. Some very professional medical providers have seen me. I try to ask all the questio...
To the Editor: Obama and the Democrats are happy that Obamacare was found constitutional including the mandate that every American purchase health care insurance. If someone here in Wrangell does not buy health care insurance a tax will be imposed on that individual. Of course I consider this move by the Democrats to increase the government in my life outrageous. I also believe Obamacare will lower the quality of healthcare here in Wrangell and make healthcare more expensive. I think we should have allowed the Republican alternatives like...
To the Editor: As a long time subscriber to the Sentinel, it gives me great pleasure to compliment you for the recent very substantial improvement to the newspaper’s coverage and quality of content. The changes in the past few editions are really noteworthy. I thought the July 12 edition with the pictures and written coverage of the 4th, the ravens’ damage, the local prominent people activities and even the police activity report were very good. Very informative and a real pleasure to read. Frank Roppel...
To the Editor: Peggy Wilson has been our representative for 12 years. During that time she has helped our community with many projects both large and small including Heritage Harbor. Our boat yard improvements include new concrete and a 250-ton boatlift. These are just a few of the projects Peggy has helped with. Our economy is picking up. Our schools are the best in the state. The primary election is August 28. Peggy is up against two Ketchikan opponents in the primary. It will be a tough race for Peggy but she can win if we get out and vote...
To the Editor: I would like to thank the Community of Wrangell for the loyal support year after year given to the Wrangell Senior Center. While comparing our building to the majority of centers statewide, we are lacking. Our center is old, has limited space, and very limited parking, in comparison to the majority. But in community support and pride Wrangell is light years ahead of many of the spacious beautiful facilities. For the past eight years I have had the privilege to serve on the State of Alaska Commission on Aging. The Commissioners...
To the Editor: I have worked for WMC for two years. During that time I have learned a lot about myself and a lot about other people. Working in a medical facility takes a caring, compassionate person. I believe everyone puts all they can emotionally, physically and spiritually into the work they do here. I am proud of the hard work the CNAs, nurses, and all WMC staff do. This is a sensitive job that takes a lot of heart, communication and teamwork. The WMC keeps our community safe. The hospital is a cornerstone to this community, employing and...
To the Editor: I have lived in Wrangell for 3 years now and I have learned to love the people and the community. I agree with the overwhelming majority of people here who want to see a new hospital built and have pledged their financial support for that effort. I am, however, very concerned about an administration and hospital board that are out of control and feel they do not need to be held accountable for their actions and decisions that gravely impact our entire community. Lately the alarming bullying and intimidating tactics of these...
Letter to the Editor: For the past four years my husband Russ and I have had the privilege of visiting your small town and being the auctioneer (Russ) for the fundraising auction for the Wrangell Medical Center. We have found everyone we meet to be most welcoming and friendly and would like to commend the people of Wrangell for their hospitality to visitors. Thank you all for making our stay so enjoyable. A big thank you to Police Chief Doug McCloskey for being such a good sport about the new hair cut. The half moustache was a bonus. Wrangell...
by Representative Peggy Wilson Hello again. After a short break to visit family, I wanted to report, from my Corner of the House, on all the latest news. Between budgets, a special session, and redistricting, there’s a lot going on. The best news is how well the Capital Budget came out. Because the legislature worked so carefully with the governor to keep expenditures at a reasonable level, there were very few vetoes. All the projects that are so critically needed in our District 2 c...
To the Editor: In my ongoing effort to learn the truth about what the WMC board has or has not done with respect to discharging its responsibilities to the people of Wrangell, I have been somewhat frustrated by more than one board member. They appear to be incapable of giving me a straight answer. I am left to make my own sense out of circular responses that reveal more about the person speaking than they do about the facts I was seeking. Regardless of the conclusions I eventually reach as to the truth about the WMC board’s actions, the p...
To the Editor: I request that the Wrangell School Board take action to change the number of credits for a Wrangell High School diploma to be the same as the State of Alaska. I understand that the current credit requirement for a high school diploma in Wrangell is greater than the State of Alaska. That higher standard in Wrangell would cause students to take more classes and receive broader education, but it could also cause some students not to receive a high school diploma. This loss of potential graduates is the larger concern to me. Each...
To the Editor: Tax time has come and gone and here are the results for St. Frances Animal Rescue’s operation for the 2011 tax year. St. Frances Animal Rescue raised $16,578.18 while expenditures totaled $16,511.36. Without your ongoing support and help we would not have been able to continue the work that we do at the animal rescue. Total rescues that came through St. Frances for 2011 were as follows: 44 cats and 45 dogs, 32 of which we assisted in finding homes in other Southeast Alaska communities through their local animal rescue programs. S...
To the Editor: This is volume 2 of my last week’s letter. I have a master’s degree in social work. Between OCS and the court system, I have over 20 years experience doing child abuse/neglect and child custody investigations. In those capacities I faced exactly the same threat of liability for negligence that the WMC board does. Every single investigation case required me to make a comprehensive and exhaustive investigation. Each time I had to weigh the evidence objectively and make a decision. I agonized over many of those decisions when the...
To the Editor: I’ve managed to avoid weighing in about Lynn Campbell’s letters to the editor until I’ve nearly bitten off my tongue. I have always respected Lynn. She and her late husband have done so many wonderful things for this town that there are few people who would dare question her judgment. I’ve tried keeping my mouth shut out of respect for her, but I just can’t continue to do so. The following paragraph of Lynn’s first letter really set my hair on fire — not that the other rationalizations, attacks, and inconsistencies aren’t also i...
To the Editor: I am excited to say we are quickly coming to an end of the 2011-2012 school year. As the Superintendent of Wrangell Public Schools I have enjoyed working with staff, Board of Education and serving the community during this past year. Here is what I have come to realize after my first year in Wrangell. Wrangell has two dedicated Principals covering three schools and coordinating several programs who work hard for kids. A veteran staff who are very talented and have dedicated many years and an incredible amount of hours and time...
Genesis 1:1, John 3:16, Psalm 23. Most who are reading this article will know what those verses say. (FYI there is an entire best seller that goes along with them) We all just celebrated Easter. Each of us did it in a way that was personal. That celebration, the Risen Christ, A New Beginning, happened for each of us personally. We have also just arrived into spring from winter. All of the above is widely known and while there is mystery attached, we pretty much on the whole accept this information and live our lives as we will. Sometimes...
To the Editor: Early on a self appointed attack was directed at Dorothy Hunt-Sweat’s ability to gather correct information and then make a decision based on facts. I was, via teleconference, a participant in the 6 hour and 13 minute Fair Hearing. Each lawyer presented their facts and witness support. As soon as the lawyers’ summations were made, it was 20 days until a decision was required. Following my call from Texas - to a prominent board member - it became common knowledge that I was offering a very careful as well as a compassionate alt...