Sentinel publishers sell to former Wrangell editor

Former Wrangell Sentinel owner Larry Persily has agreed to

buy the weekly newspaper from Petersburg couple Ron and Anne Loesch, who have owned it for 17 years. Depending on the schedule for the closing agreement and transition details, Persily will take over Jan. 1 or Feb. 1.

"My wife and I started in Alaska journalism with the Sentinel in 1976, and it just feels right to buy the paper at this time and help build on its 118-year history," Persily said.

Sentinel staffers Caleb Vierkant and Trish Schwartz will remain with the newspaper, while Persily, who lives in Anchorage, will assist with news writing, editing and management, making frequent trips to Wrangell.

"I'd like to add to the number of pages each week, update the website and help Vierkant and Schwartz add to the Sentinel's quality, always striving to be fair, informative and sometimes fun, while presenting the community's news," he said.

In December 2003, the Loeschs purchased the paper from Seanne Gillen Saunders who had operated the paper for seven years. "We're thrilled to have Larry take over the Sentinel and are glad that Caleb and Trish will continue their work at the Sentinel. We're fortunate to have such dedicated employees," Loesch commented.

Loesch started his Alaska newspaper career at the Ketchikan Daily News in 1973 as a press operator. In July 1976 he purchased the weekly Petersburg Pilot. With over 44 years at the helm

of the paper, he is the second longest tenured publisher in the state of Alaska, behind Thad and Sandy Poulson at the Sitka Sentinel. They have owned that paper since December 1975.

Persily and his late wife,

Leslie Murray, owned and operated the Sentinel from May 1976 to October 1984. After leaving Wrangell, they moved to Juneau, where they each worked for different newspapers. Murray died in a car accident in 1987.

After leaving Wrangell, Persily worked for The Anchorage Times, Associated Press, Juneau Empire, Anchorage Daily News and Petroleum News, and at different times owned a weekly paper in Juneau and The Skagway News.

In addition to his journalism career, Persily has served in several federal, state and municipal positions in Alaska, including deputy commissioner at the Alaska Department of Revenue from 1999-2003.

He is finishing work this month as the visiting Atwood Chair of Journalism at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The chair is endowed by the Atwood Foundation, in memory of the late Bob and Evangeline Atwood, owners of the Anchorage Times from 1935-1989.