Travelers cope as best they can with ferry woes

With frequent breakdowns of the Matanuska — the only state ferry scheduled to serve Wrangell through September — residents are adjusting to the uncertainty, although not always happily.

Besides for canceled sailings, Mayor Steve Prysunka also is critical of ferry system management’s approach to dealing with COVID-19 cases among the crew.

Crew members aboard the Matanuska tested positive for COVID on both the April 18 and 25 sailings into Ketchikan, posing a risk for others on board the ship and for communities where it stops, the mayor said.

“I appreciate that the ferry breaks down, like it di...