Articles from the December 13, 2023 edition
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State agencies and borough collaborate on aid, repairs, monitoring
In the coming days, weeks and months, the borough and state will continue the multi-agency effort to repair Zimovia Highway, gather data about landslide risks and connect eligible community members... Full story
Drones, laser imaging and weather stations will monitor slide site
From remote weather stations to laser imaging to autonomous drones, the state and borough are working together to deploy cutting-edge monitoring technology at the 11-Mile landslide site. LiDAR maps that were created before and after the slide will...
Families who live out the road weigh landslide risks
After the 11-Mile landslide missed their home by about 600 feet on Nov. 20, Mandy Simpson and her family have been faced with a barrage of decisions — none of which are easy to make. On top of the pressures of evacuation, and of attempting to p...
Borough suspends search for Derek Heller
The borough on Dec. 6 announced the suspension of the search for Derek Heller, 12, missing since a Nov. 20 landslide took out his family’s home at 11-Mile Zimovia Highway. “The decision to end the active search comes after 15 days of tireless and... Full story
The Way We Were
Dec. 13, 1923 Red Campbell of the Mountain City Athletic Club has arranged with Mickey Prescot to train the latter, and believes that he will prove the best boxer in Alaska for his class. “The kid is game; he has brains and an almost perfect p...
Stress and grief counseling still available for residents
Therapy dogs Cupid and Tia calmly waited with their handlers Margaret Griffo and Terry Yeomans, greeting arrivals before class in the high school courtyard on Friday, Dec. 8, after starting their...
Residents advised to apply to learn if they qualify for disaster aid
A dozen Wrangell households had applied as of Dec. 7 for state financial aid to help them recover from the Nov. 20 landslide. The deadline to apply is not until Jan. 27, and an official with the state emergency management agency is encouraging...
Hungry Alaskans deserve better
The director of the state agency that manages the food stamp program for tens of thousands of Alaskans says the staff is again overwhelmed with work, delaying benefits for thousands of households by months. That’s months without the food a...
Elon Musk provides a megaphone for fraud
Elon Musk brought Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink to the world, which has mostly been good. He certainly is creative and extremely wealthy — gotta give him credit for that. Musk is brash and boastful, which has been obnoxious but mostly harmless. He a...
Haines shares what it learned from deadly 2020 landslide
More than 140 miles away in Juneau, Sylvia Heinz picked up her phone and read the news of the fatal landslide in Wrangell. "I put my phone down. I couldn't read it. I couldn't think about it. I felt s...
Music filled the week
Music teacher Tasha Morse conducted a combined choir of sixth through 12th graders in the final piece of the middle school and high school winter concert program at the high school gym on Dec. 5. It...
Next summer's draft ferry schedule same as this year
With the rusty Matanuska out of service pending repairs, the Kennicott scheduled for tie-up due to lack of crew and the Tazlina in the shipyard to add crew quarters, the state ferry system’s draft summer 2024 schedule is limited by the number of v...
Tlingit shadowbox theater tells why mosquitos are so mean
As two students on the far left of the stage narrated, fourth grade students silently enacted the scenes in front of a bright light and behind a white screen, allowing their shadows to tell the story...
Magical production takes the stage
Alisha Armstrong and Ander Edens played the central roles in the community theater stage production of "Cinderella" at the Nolan Center on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9-10. A large cast of volunteers...
After attorney general's letter, libraries report no issues with book collections
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor sent letters to libraries and school districts throughout the state in mid-November, warning that minors should not have access “indecent materials” at libraries and that parents must be given two weeks notice abou...
Wrangell wrestlers win 8 firsts, take third place overall at Southeast
The Wrangell Wolves wrestling team took third overall at the Southeast Division II regional championship, with eight individuals coming home with first-place finishes in their weight classes....
Giving it their best shot
Malachi Harrison studies and steadies as he prepares to take a shot in the annual Elks Hoop Shoot event on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the community gym. More than 40 youngsters participated in the fun and...
Murkowski pushes governor to support state funding for ferry system
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has sent a letter to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, urging him to include $23 million in his coming budget for the replacement of a state ferry. Dunleavy spokesperson Jessica Bowers declined to say whether the governor’s draft budget ...
Police report
Monday, Dec. 4 Obstructing work zone: Citation issued for disregarding highway obstruction. Child in need. Tuesday, Dec. 5 Agency assist: Alaska State Troopers. Scam. Wednesday, Dec. 6 Traffic stop: Vehicle owner was advised about registration....
Public memorial for Otto Florschutz at a future date
Otto Heinz Florschutz III, 65, a nearly 40-year resident of Wrangell, departed mortality on Nov. 20, 2023. A private service will be held for the family, with a public memorial to be announced at a... Full story
David Roy Churchill dies at 94
David Roy Churchill passed away on Dec. 3, 2023, at the age of 94 in Wrangell. A graveside service will be held at the Sunset Gardens Cemetery Columbarium at 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. "All of his fami... Full story
Harold (Har) Marshall Snoddy
On Dec. 1, Wrangell lost our special brother-in-law, close friend, fishing buddy and military hero. As Har would have said, “It’s time to go.” At the age of 82, it was time to rest and join his lovin... Full story
Federal government may enter Metlakatla's lawsuit against state over fishing rights
The Biden administration could jump into a high-profile lawsuit in which Metlakatla is fighting with Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration about tribal citizens’ fishing rights. The U.S. Department of Justice said in a filing Dec. 5 that it’s consi... Full story
Trollers association disappointed with Board of Fisheries decision
Alaska Trollers Association Board President Matt Donohoe said he’s disappointed by the state Board of Fisheries’ decision that he believes will cause continued harm to commercial trollers in Southeast. “I think residents of Alaska, sport and comme...
