Articles from the March 20, 2024 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
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WCA hires domestic violence prevention specialist
Kevin Gadsey, hired last month by the Wrangell Cooperative Association to work on domestic violence prevention, said the problem is more traumatic in smaller communities like Wrangell, where...
Legislature falls short in override of governor's school funding veto
Alaska lawmakers fell one vote short Monday in an attempt to override the governor’s veto of a comprehensive school funding bill, which included a permanent increase in the state funding formula for K-12 education and which could have provided an add...
Wrangell receives $2.5 million federal grant for water treatment plant
The federal appropriations bill signed into law earlier this month includes a $2.5 million grant for Wrangell's new water treatment plant, which is under construction and scheduled for completion in June 2025. The latest federal grant, added to the...
Wrangell will lose both school principals this year
Ann Hilburn is leaving her job as elementary school principal in Wrangell at the end of the school year when she will move to Tok in Alaska’s Interior to serve as special education director. This was Hilburn’s second year as principal after ser...
The Way We Were
March 20, 1924 A floating city with myriads of twinkling of lights! That is what a fleet of halibut vessels appear to be on a dark night to an observer on the deck of a ship as it approaches the halibut banks anywhere in Alaska waters from Frederick...
Community Calendar
BOOK FAIR 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 22, at the Evergreen Elementary School gym. Open to the public. Call Kendra at 907-874-2321 for more information. BAHA’I NEW YEAR (Naw Ruz) 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, M... Full story
Advocates hope seafood consumption survey leads to higher water quality standards
Clean water advocates believe a seafood consumption survey among Wrangell residents might help in their push for higher water quality standards. Together, the Wrangell Cooperative Association and the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary...
Assembly approves sale of six lots as part of hospital property development
The borough assembly unanimously agreed March 12 to move forward with the sale of six borough-owned lots behind the former hospital property. The six lots will be appraised and sold at market value to Wayne Johnson, a Georgia-based real estate...
Governor spaces out on state responsibility
Gov. Mike Dunleavy sank to a new low last week when he vetoed a bipartisan, long-needed comprehensive education funding package that had passed the House and Senate by a combined 56-3 vote. Yet he reached for new heights in explaining his low...
It's always been free, now it's free to see
The Sentinel has never charged for listings in the community calendar, which has been displayed on Page 2 for years. Easy enough for print subscribers to open the paper and see what’s happening in town, whether public meetings, fundraisers, youth a...
Governor vetoed school funding bill despite wide support
On March 14, Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed Senate Bill 140, which would have provided the largest increase in the base student allocation state funding formula for public schools since its inception. This legislation aimed to boost the base rate by $680...
Borough assembly narrows down candidates for manager
The borough assembly narrowed down the field of seven applicants for the borough manager job; a special meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, to interview the three finalists. The finalists include current interim borough manager and finance...
Trident strikes deals to sell Ketchikan and Petersburg plants
Trident Seafoods has announced the sale of its Ketchikan processing facilities to Silver Bay Seafoods, and the sale of its Petersburg operation to E.C. Phillips & Son. Trident has not announced buyers for two other Alaska plants it has put on the...
Parks and Rec converts racquetball court to expand weights/exercise area
The weights and exercise areas at the swimming pool and community recreation facility have expanded, with more equipment stationed in the converted racquetball court. Parks and Recreation Director Luc...
Mike Hoyt new IEA director at school district
In addition to his duties as activities director, Mike Hoyt will now also serve as the new Indian Education Act director for the school district after the resignation of DaNika Smalley on Feb. 29. Schools Superintendent Bill Burr confirmed that Hoyt...
High school senior volunteers for fundraisers and shooting range cleanup
High school student Cody Eastaugh has worked part time for almost two years at the Bay Company, known as BayCo, which specializes in marine sales and service at its Front Street location. While...
Police keep a camera eye on illegal trash dumping
Illegal dumping of trash, appliances and whatever else people don’t want to take to the waste transfer station has long been a problem in town. “It’s not just a Wrangell issue,” Police Chief Tom Radke said last week. Radke, who spent almost 26 years...
Governor believes teacher bonuses, charter schools are the answers
South Anchorage high school teacher Logan Pitney said his colleagues are making exit strategies to flee their bad financial prospects in Alaska. He called Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s teacher retention bonus plan a “Band-Aid on an arterial bleed.” Juneau Sup... Full story
Wolves finish season with loss to Unalakleet at state tourney
After three days of challenging games on the court, the Wrangell Wolves boys varsity basketball team's loss to the Unalakleet Wolfpack on the morning of Saturday, March 16, left them in sixth place...
Wrangell Little League needs volunteers before season opens April 1
The Wrangell Little League is preparing for a new season on the baseball diamond. But first, they need a few more volunteers. Little League player agent Kaelene Harrison said that while they’ve found almost all their head coaches, there are still a...
Legislature blocks governor's attempt to take over ferry advisory board
Alaska lawmakers on March 12 narrowly overturned an executive order from Gov. Mike Dunleavy that would have given him the sole authority to appoint members to the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board. The final vote was 33-26 to reject the governor...
State files $700 billion claim over EPA blockage of Pebble Mine
The federal government should pay Alaska more than $700 billion in compensation for the 2023 Environmental Protection Agency action that blocked development of the massive and controversial Pebble Mine in Southwest Alaska, Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s a... Full story
Police report
Monday, March 11 Agency assist: Pretrial. Complaint: Dog chasing cars. Tuesday, March 12 Traffic stop: Citation issued for expired registration, verbal warning for parking in a crosswalk. Agency assist: Protective services. Traffic hazard: Debris in...
NOAA Fisheries report points to growth in Alaska mariculture efforts
While Alaska’s mariculture industry is small by global standards, production of farmed shellfish and seaweed in the state has increased substantially in recent years, according to a new status report released Feb. 23 by the National Oceanic and A... Full story
