Articles from the January 3, 2024 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
School district counts on state funding increase
It’s been eight years since the state last increased its per-student funding formula for public schools — a 0.5% nudge that year — and years of stagnant funding have caught up with districts statewide, including Wrangell. “We have to count on fund...
Murkowski will push for federal aid to help with hillside monitoring
Alaska's senior senator, Lisa Murkowski, told community leaders she will push for federal funding to bolster monitoring efforts of hillsides out the road. "What we need to have is greater monitoring...
Borough sees interest in former hospital property
After sitting vacant for almost three years — spending about half that time on the market — the borough is finally seeing interest from private parties in buying the former hospital property on Bennett Street. Three parties have expressed interest, s...
Southeast lives with risk of landslides - and more in the future
Over the past decade, landslides have cost Southeast Alaska communities in both death and destruction - 11 deaths and tens of millions of dollars in property and infrastructure damage. Now...
The Way We Were
Jan. 3, 1924 The liveliest event of the holidays for Wrangell was the big doubleheader basketball game between local teams and visiting teams from Kake. The first game was played between the All Stars of Wrangell and the Kake school team, and...
Christmas tradition
Despite rain and chilly temperatures, residents watched from the shore and the City Dock as brightly decorated boats and fireworks lit up the sky during the annual Christmas boat parade on Dec. 22....
Wrangell far down on state-funded school repairs list
Wrangell is No. 16 on the statewide priority list and unlikely to receive any school repair money this year from the state’s Major Maintenance Grant Fund. The list, prepared each year by the Alaska Department of Education after reviewing e...
State postpones Zimovia Highway concrete repaving work to spring
Though the state Department of Transportation had hoped and planned to pave the rebuilt section of Zimovia Highway in the landslide area by early this month, the weather did not cooperate and the concrete work has been postponed to at least March....
Wrangell showed determination and resilience
As we wrapped up the Senate session in late December, I was anxious to leave Washington, D.C., to return home to Anchorage, with a stop in Wrangell, a place I still call home. I wanted to share my condolences, see for myself the damage from the Nov....
A new year's wish may come true
Wrangell could get off to a good start for 2024 if one of the three interested parties makes a reasonable offer to buy the borough-owned former hospital building, which has sat vacant for almost three years. Most any offer would be reasonable,...
We less partisanship, not more
Partisan politics itself is not evil. Disruptive, yes. Phony, certainly. Shortsighted, no doubt about it. On its own, partisanship is a childish game played by adults who care more about headlines, fundraising and winning elections than anything...
Assembly next stop for residential subdivision land sale
The Economic Development Board has recommended to the borough assembly that it put up half of the 20 lots at the Alder Top Village (Keishangita.’aan) subdivision in an online auction to the highest bidders, with the other half going on sale by l...
State council says no to hiring prison guards at 18
The Alaska Police Standards Council has voted down a regulation change that would have allowed the state to hire corrections officers as young as 18 years old — the current minimum age is 21. The Department of Corrections floated the proposal as a t... Full story
Fourth grader and mom share passion for Pokémon
When 9-year-old Syler Webster isn't busy with his fourth grade class, extracurricular activities or chores at home, he and his mom are keeping track of his growing Pokémon collection. For Syler's moth...
Borough looks to impose $300 fine for illegal tree cutting
People have been driving out the Spur Road and illegally cutting down trees on borough land and hauling away the logs, likely for firewood, Wrangell Police Chief Tom Radke said. In a move to combat the theft and damage to public property, the...
School district state travel account back to $52,000 deficit
The school district is advancing funds to cover student travel to state competition this school year, with the account at an estimated $52,000 deficit. The district is looking to the community and the newly created Wrangell Athletic Club to repay the...
Girls basketball team ready for season opener this weekend
After missing out on a chance to compete at last year’s state tournament by a two-point loss at regionals, Wrangell Lady Wolves basketball coach Christina Good is ready for her team to try again this season. “We’re due again, so we’ll see how it...
Wolves prepare for a new season of basketball
Wrangell Wolves head basketball coach Cody Angerman watched from the bleachers as his players went through drills and practice shots in a midday session at the high school gym on Dec. 28 during the winter break. “I don’t want to say it’s a rebui...
Middle schoolers join high school cheerleading squad
When high school cheerleading tryouts began in the fall semester, only three students initially signed up. Wanting to build interest in the sport, new head coach Tyla Nelson pushed school administrators to allow middle schoolers onto the squad....
School board offers to extend Superintendent Burr's contract
The school board has offered a three-year contract extension to Schools Superintendent Bill Burr, effective July 1, 2024, pending further negotiations. “We just wanted him to know that we want him to stay,” said David Wilson, school board pre...
Challengers file to run against Rep. Ortiz for state House
The primary election for the Alaska House of Representatives is more than nine months away and already five-term incumbent Rep. Dan Ortiz has at least two challengers for the District 1 seat that represents Ketchikan, Wrangell and Metlakatla. Robb...
U.S. closes loophole, bans import of Russian seafood processed in China
Russian-caught pollock, cod, salmon and crab that is processed in China will no longer be legally allowed in U.S. markets, under an executive order issued Dec. 22 by President Joe Biden. The action seeks to close a loophole that the Russian seafood... Full story
State forecasts another year of weak king salmon returns
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has released its forecast of the number of king salmon that could return to the Unuk, Taku and Chilkat Rivers in the summer of 2024. The department did not release a forecast number for the Stikine River,...
Federal government expands tribal consultations for managing land
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The U.S. government is entering a new era of collaboration with Native American and Alaska Native leaders in managing public lands and other resources, with top federal officials saying that incorporating more Indigenous k...
State works to clear backlog of delayed food stamp applications
The Alaska Division of Public Assistance processed more than 2,000 food stamp applications over eight days in mid-December as it works to clear a backlog that has kept thousands of Alaskans waiting for benefits. Earlier in December, food aid was... Full story