Articles from the April 15, 2021 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
City reports another COVID case
City officials reported a new COVID-19 case Tuesday afternoon, bringing to 17 the number of positive cases since April 8. The case "is due to community spread," the city's 5:30 p.m. announcement said. "This is the only information about the case at... Full story
Federal aid provides $700,000 boost to school budget
The latest Wrangell School District draft budget for the next school year includes an estimated $700,000 in additional federal relief aid, but board members expressed concern that the money, while...
City extends declaration to protect any relief funding
To ensure the city qualifies for federal and state disaster relief funding, the borough assembly has voted to extend Wrangell's emergency declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic. In the same meeting...
The shots are real, even if they are virtual
Kendra Meissner, a junior on the Wrangell High School girls basketball team, prepares to release a 3-point shot in this year's virtual 2A Region V shooting competition. Brett Abrahamson, a graduating...
Summer cruise ship traveler numbers continue to slide
After no season last year, Wrangell started 2021 with hopes of as many as 20,000 tourists coming to town this summer aboard cruise ships of varying sizes, with capacity of between 40 and 700...
The Way We Were
April 14, 1921 Richard Suratt, Wrangell’s movie photographer, sent recently to the company he represents an interesting group of pictures which were taken on his recent trip to see construction of the Alaska Railroad. The one that will no doubt excit...
Graduation preparations underway, maybe at the city dock
After a long and strange pandemic year, Wrangell's graduating seniors are preparing for the end of their high school education in May. Plans for a different, but in-person, graduation ceremony are...
Wrangell reports 9 COVID cases in 6 days
Wrangell tallied nine COVID-19 cases between last Thursday and late Tuesday afternoon, as the community is dealing with a spike in infections. "Health officials have found evidence of community...
Editorial: Good advice on taxes
Though the Legislature is not looking to adopt a state sales tax or income tax this year, most lawmakers know it is inevitable. And most Alaskans should know it too, considering how we have dipped...
From the publisher: Alaska needs to market 2021 before it's too late
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan became law on March 11. Much of the federal money is directed to help states, cities, businesses and individuals recover from the economic damage of the...
Reflections: Finding beauty in the everyday
I know better than to romanticize beach glass. I know most began as beer bottles, with a random bottle of SKYY vodka contributing a little blue among the white and green and brown. But I also know...
Barge ramp due for repairs
Repair work to the city's barge ramp will be necessary in the near future, according to Harbormaster Steve Miller, though a timeline and budget for renovations are still being drawn up. Miller reporte...
Governor wants national marketing campaign for Alaska tourism
Gov. Mike Dunleavy said he wants to use federal pandemic relief dollars for a national advertising campaign to support Alaska's tourism industry, though he provided no details or budget for the...
Wrangell takes second in Tom Sims Invitational
The Wrangell Wolves high school wrestling team took second place at the Tom Sims Invitational, their first home meet of the season, last Friday and Saturday. After two days of wrestling, the Wolves...
Assembly adopts changes to liveaboard definition
The borough assembly adopted changes Tuesday night to the harbor's liveaboard fee policy to make it easier for collection. The assembly earlier had backed away from a plan to increase the liveaboard f...
Legislators try again to tax e-cigarettes
Legislators are trying again this year to tax "electronic smoking products"- e-cigarettes and vaping devices - the same as tobacco products. Bills to extend the state's tobacco tax to electronic smoki...
Carly Allen takes over at Wrangell Medical Center
Leatha Merculieff, who has served both as SEARHC vice president and as Wrangell hospital administrator since SEARHC took over the facility in 2019, has been promoted to the consortium's senior vice...
Little League bats back in business May 1
With somewhere close to 100 kids signed up, Wrangell Little League is gearing up for a new baseball season this summer. League President Briana Schilling said she is excited to see so many people...
Dan Nore dies at 79; he made friends everywhere
Albert Daniel Nore, 79, of Wrangell, Alaska, peacefully passed away on April 4, 2021, at his home, surrounded by loved ones. Dan was born on Sept. 6, 1941, to Bert and Zona Nore at Bishop Rowe... Full story
Fish Factor: Maritime industry recruits Alaskans for seafaring jobs
Alaska fishermen displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic are being recruited for seafaring jobs aboard U.S. cargo barges, tankers, towboats, military support vessels, research and cruise ships and more. The Seafarers International Union (SIU) is searching...
Police report
Monday, April 5 Agency assist: Hoonah Police Department Agency assist: Hospital Warrant check. Suspicious person. Tuesday, April 6 Agency assist: Search and rescue. Dog at large. Agency assist: Fire Department. Agency assist: Hoonah Police...
State pauses J&J one-shot vaccinations
JUNEAU (AP) - The state health department said Tuesday upcoming appointments for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in Alaska are being canceled or delayed after federal agencies recommended a “pause”to review reports of rare but pot...
Florida sues to get cruise ships sailing again
MIAMI (AP) - The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, demanding that cruise ships be allowed to start sailing immediately. Gov. Ron DeSantis said April 8 the federal no-sail order is outdated and hurts the state as...
Anchorage mayor lifts limits on outdoor gatherings
ANCHORAGE (AP) - Anchorage will lift all limits on outdoor gatherings in a new coronavirus emergency order that will take effect on Friday night. Outdoor gatherings will no longer have capacity restrictions, though mask and social distancing...
South African COVID variant reported in Alaska
ANCHORAGE (AP) - Health officials have reported a case of a coronavirus variant in Southcentral Alaska first detected in South Africa. The Alaska case was reported as first identified in March in the region that includes Anchorage and the...