2010: New garbage cans, sharing native
foods and teacher retirements
January 6, 2010
Melati Kaye
January 2010
46 people took the plunge at the tenth annual polar bear swim at Institute Beach on New Year’s Day.
The borough received a $350,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) loan towards the landfill closure project.
A trailer burned down in Panhandle Trailer Court.
Seventh graders Corey Goicoechea and Darian Meissner placed second and third in the American Indian Heritage Essay Contest, Southeast Alaska category.
Alaska Island Community Services received a $3.7 million ARRA grant to build a new medical facility.
Shakes Island Tribal House/ Carving Shed project got a $16,207 Rasmuson Foundation grant.
Wrangell school district got funding to train regional teachers to implement distance education programs.
Two new garbage trucks arrived.
The hydroelectric intertie connecting Swan and Tyee lake hydroelectric projects was completed.
Dawson Construction and Nordic Marine Floats continued construction on Heritage Harbor.
Petersburg City and Wrangell City and Borough met and agreed on the need for hydroelectric development at Ruth Lake but disagreed about the development management for Cascade Creek.
The Healthy Wrangell Coalition speaker series started.
Bill Privett was named SEAPA Board member at large.
Goldie Sivertsen celebrated her 100th birthday.
February
Alaska-Canada Energy coalition called for Alaska to be at the table to develop a $400 million power line along the 60 miles of Alaska-British Columbia border.
The Wolves’ basketball team lost against Craig and the Haines Glacier bears but beat Petersburg in its Homecoming game.
The Lady Wolves’ basketball team beat Metlakatla, but lost to Petersburg in the Homecoming game.
The Wrangell Hospital auxiliary had a chocolate festival.
The Southeast Alaska Regional Solid Waste Authority tried to recruit towns within the region to participate.
The 2010 “Men of Wrangell” calendar was unveiled.
The Department of Transportation granted Wrangell $240,000 to continue design work for downtown revitalization.
The Material Science Survey class puts submersible under-water robots in the pool.
Breakaway Adventures took the Senior Center out for a boat ride, checking in on the Sergeif Island sea lions.
The Borough assembly voted to set the new Wrangell Medical Center and Long term care facility building as their top priority in the legislative priority list.
The Assembly began 0.8-mile extension of spur road.
The Port Commission increased Wrangell Marine Facility’s leasable land from 15,200 square feet to 21,543 square feet.
March
The City got new garbage cans.
The US Census Bureau partnership specialist visited Wrangell to discuss the importance of participating in the national population count.
The USFS looked to continue work on the Wrangell Ranger District Access and Travel Management Plan.
Americorps volunteers Annya Ritchie and Glenna Ellis led clean up efforts at Petroglyph Beach.
Installation of floats at Heritage Harbor, including piling was ahead of schedule.
The Chamber of Commerce asked to be added to the annual city budget due to a lack of funding from members and pull-tab sales.
The Assembly reconsidered a decision to allow the Department of Natural Resources permission to allocate Crittenden Creek for clear-cut logging.
The Assembly transferred ownership of Shakes Island Bridge to the Wrangell Cooperative Association.
WHS Sophomore Keith Hayes built an 18-foot aluminum boat with the help of Wrangellite Dave Sweat.
The Wrangell Carving Shed Committee and Alaska Native Brotherhood began work on rebuilding Chief Shakes Tribal House corner posts behind the SNO building.
Chris Cawthorne was chosen as designer for the mariners’ memorial.
The Wolves’ basketball team closed season in fifth place at Region V tournament.
The F/V Pantheon is found dashed on the rocks of Lesnoi Island.
Cruisewest announced plans to bring tour groups to Wrangell for 2010 season.
Tiffany Stevens offered a 13-week introductory course to learn American Sign Language.
WHS students Sydney and Haley Reed went to State DDF tournament in Anchorage.
The Wrangell Teachers’ Association and Wrangell School Board settle on new teachers’ contract, increasing deductible insurance policy, number of school days and pay for teachers with masters’ degrees.
The Denali Commission gave more money towards downtown revitalization.
The Alaska State Museum Curator Steve Hendrickson gave a talk in Wrangell about Tlingit artifacts in St. Petersburg, Russia.
WHS Seniors Talea Danes and Jean Acuna visited the State Legislature in Juneau.
Wrangell Search and Rescue received Coast Guard’s Good Samaritan award.
Kutting Edge beauty salon opened downtown.
April
The SEARHC Traditional Foods program netted 4,500 gallons of hooligan on the Stikine and distributes much of it to elders in Kake, Wrangell and Petersburg.
Kake residents Thomas and Larry Jackson taught Traditional foods program participants how to render seal fat.
F/V Julia Kae and Southeast Herring Conservation Alliance brought four tons of herring eggs to port, supplying more than 80 people with the regional treat.
The Wrangell Annual Health Fair had 53 booths and three blood screening labs.
Sealaska made a presentation on the Sealaska Lands Bill at the SNO building. The bill proposes to mark 65-75,000 acres of Southeast Alaska lands for Economic Development by the corporation and 5,000 acres to Native futures lands, 3,600 acres to Sacred Sites.
The Assembly passed a bill in support of the Sealaska Lands Bill. Thorne Bay, Craig and Petersburg opposed the bill while Edna Bay, Port Protection, Point Baker voiced concern about whether the bill would surround their communities with private forests.
Quilting teacher Lisa Moore visited Wrangell.
WHS cancelled the girls’ softball season due to lack of interest.
Eleven new officers were installed into the Elks’ Club.
Wrangell’s Alaska State Trooper Joe Paul switched departments to become a local police officer.
The Wrangell Middle and High Schools teamed up to form a new school golf club.
The Wolves’ baseball team loses to Thunder Mountain in opening game of the season.
Many Wrangell residents missed April 1 census form return date.
Chris Cawthorne won a city-sponsored contest to hold runaway garbage bins in place. Cawthorne’s design included concrete retainer rings.
11 WHS students took a Close-up trip to New York City, Washington D.C. and Williamsburg, Va.
Congressman Don Young visited Wrangell and voiced his support for an Alaska-British Columbia intertie.
The American Legion made Bingo night smoke-free.
The Ball-field by Heritage Harbor was cleared for the community garden planting season.
Clara Haley recreated a cedar bark hat based on one found on an archaeological find on the Stikine River, with funding from the Rasmuson foundation.
State representative Peggy Wilson won the Wrangell Borough 1,506 additional acres of municipal land and added $3.2 million worth in state capital projects for Wrangell, including Chief Shakes Tribal house renovations, electrical system upgrades, landfill closure, road maintenance, wrestling mats for the school district and new medical facility and solid waste authority building funds in the spring legislative session.
Local government agencies and business promotion organizations teamed up to host a city business expo.
Oceania Cruises added Wrangell as port of call in its 2011 cruise schedule.
Darian Meissner won second place in the personal narrative category of the National Native American Student Artist Competition with an essay titled “Education is a life long journey.”
The second annual Fisher Fest is celebrated with cardboard boat building and racing competitions in the community pool.
Zak’s Café raised $4832.64 in their annual “Pay what you can” fundraiser for the Heifer foundation.
Twenty WHS music students go to Juneau for Southeast Music festival.
May
Cruisewest announced that it would dock in Wrangell twice a week through its 2010 season.
The Assembly transferred 1.44 acres to AICS. The land is next to the WMC’s new proposed medical facility site.
Former Petersburg and Wrangell City Manager Bob Prunella was hired as a consultant to Petersburg’s Borough formation process.
Muskeg Meadows opened for the golfing season.
The Stikine River birding festival celebrated with a birdhouse building lesson.
The Chamber of Commerce urged more participation in the 2010 Salmon Derby in an attempt to set a World Record as the biggest derby opening.
Senator Begich visited Wrangell and called for more direct federal to municipality fund distribution as opposed to federal to state distribution. The Wrangell Borough Assembly took the opportunity to push capital projects.
Alaska’s richest man, Bob Gilliam, visited Wrangell and called for local business owners to say no to pebble mine.
WHS graduated 20 students and bagged $165,000 in scholarships.
School Board President Georgianna Buhler resigned for personal reasons.
Teacher Jennifer Davies and Academic Counselor Lisa Nikodym were awarded a contract at Evergreen Elementary School for 2010-2011 school year, Diamond C Café won a bid to provide school lunch at $4 a lunch and $2 a breakfast.
Ryan Long won Alaska Press Club award for best sports photo for work at the Homer News.
Tom Kowalske joined the Wrangell ADF&G staff as a new assistant biologist.
Miss Alaska, Sydnee Waggoner, visited Wrangell for the Brian Gilbert Memorial Golf Tournament.
Kids learned about local fauna through interactive games and demonstrations at Sea day.
The Wrangell Borough Assembly approved $13.3 million budget for its 2010-11 fiscal year.
State Representative Peggy Wilson took to the campaign trail for 2011.
The Norris Gift Shop closed.
June
Randy Churchill Jr. won the Wrangell Salmon Derby with a 43 pounder.
Nola Walker, Tedi Sims, Peggy Lee, and Therese Pempeck retired from the Wrangell Public School District.
Wrangell Borough attorney Amy Gurton Mead resigned to begin work as Juneau Borough attorney.
Superintendent Woody Wilson announced his retirement effective June 30, 2011.
State Governor Sean Parnell signed $7.56 million in capital projects for Wrangell, and nixed funding for the Southeast Alaska solid waste authority’s first five years of operation.
Roadhouse Lodge on Zimovia Highway is slated to be rebuilt as condominiums.
Angoon Mayor Albert Howard sent Wrangell and Petersburg letters asking for support and cooperation in the Ruth Lake hydroelectric project. Angoon is the preliminary FERC permit holder for the project. Wrangell Assembly expressed misgivings about getting involved in the project.
The Public library summer reading program started.
WMC hired David Brown of David E. Johnson Architect Firm to design the new medical facility.
The Wrangell Assembly voted against prioritizing the Alaska-British Columbia hydroelectric transmission project.
Regency’s largest cruise ship, Seven Seas Navigator, stopped in Wrangell.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for USFS’s first road accessible cabin—Middle Ridge cabin.
The Carving Shed Committee received funding for a carving shed in Chief Shakes Tribal House renovations from State Capital Budget and Alaska Historical Commission.
The Assembly approved Wrangell comprehensive plan for 2010-2011.
Wrangell’s JOM Kaats'litaan Dancers performed at Celebration 2010.
The School Board approved revisions to the 2010 budget.
Hemlock, Etolin and Shtax'heen Roads and Pine Street received upgrades and cement paving through stimulus funding from the Indian Reservation road fund.
Borough clerk Christie Jamieson celebrated 30 years of service in the city government.
Kay Jaybusch celebrated 30 years at Wrangell Public Library.
July
Governor Sean Parnell visited Wrangell and explained his veto of start up funds for a Southeast solid waste authority because of a lack of support.
The Assembly and USFS met to discuss opening sections of the 56 miles worth of closed roads within the Wrangell District.
Local organizations mobilized to clear invasive weeds in the ranger district.
Megan Clark started as the new Wrangell Museum Director.
The Youth Court got a new funding program set in place—25 percent of adult criminal fines went to fund the program.
Jaci Wright was crowned July Fourth Queen.
Scott McAuliffe was crowned Bull of the Woods.
Felix Allen won the ‘toddler not yet walking’ ball race.
Bernie and Jerry Massin set off 1000 fireworks after 300 hours for setup in their last Fourth of July firework display.
The USFS told the Assembly it had four timber sales underway in the Wrangell District.
Senator Murkowski stopped in Wrangell and called for a united regional plan in the hydroelectric power debate.
The Assembly considered the next steps for a local solid waste incinerator and looked at coordinating recycling at the local dump.
Josh Ream visited Wrangell while conducting ecological and anthropological research for his UA Fairbanks PhD on amphibians.
Wrangell hosted and was ousted early in the 2010 Junior League All-Star Baseball Tournament.
The SNO building got a US Department of Housing and Urban Development funding for renovations.
The Bearfest symposium and festival had 50 events.
The WMC got preliminary design for new hospital site.
The Wrangell Museum got a summer intern, Laura Nadelberg.
Spruce aphids affected many Wrangell Spruce trees.
Twenty six riders competed in the third annual horse show.
The Assembly questioned whether the WMC Board of Directors could create their own bylaws and elect their own officials without Assembly review.
The WMC selected Layton Construction company to manage construction of the new medical facility.
WMC was given a “B” in an independently surveyed patient safety report card. Fifty two percent of hospital employees responded to the survey.
Wrangell showed a lower rate of abuse from harmful legal substance than the national average, according to the first year’s data from AICS Counselor Jayne Bauer’s two-year study of the subject.
August
Wrangell Resource Advisory Committee announced that it still had $2.5 million to spend on local community projects.
One hundred and twelve youngsters finished the library summer reading program with pizza, cupcakes and a pool party.
Dan Pakula passed away. He owned the Stikine Riversong Lodge at Telegraph Creek.
Congressman Don Young secured $250,000 in Federal funding for Wrangell city road improvements.
A new home school kids club opened.
Aaron Powell took over as the new owner of Totem Bar.
AICS’s new facility started the permitting process with Army Corps of Engineers.
Chuck Jenkins built a new 60-foot tall building in the Marine Service Facility.
Five families took part in fish camp on Farm Island during SEARHC’s traditional food project.
A rally for Cancer Care drew 118 participants for a golf tournament at Muskeg Meadows.
The dungeness crab season closed with 2.5 million pounds of shellfish caught in the southeast region.
WMC updated its nepotism policy as part of a personnel policy after objections from assembly member Jeremy Maxand that the relationship and later marriage of Noel and Mari
Rae created an untenable work environment.
USFS Chief Tom Tidwell stopped in Wrangell to discuss the sustainable harvest of timber.
Wrangell and Petersburg experience power outages due to glitches with the exciter unit at Tyee Hydro facility.
The Governors’ Council on Disabilities and Special Education used the Nolan center to hold a special meeting to redesign a state-level plan for employment, housing, transportation and healthcare options for those with disabilities
Wrangell contestants brought home 21 ribbons from the Southeast State Fair.
September
The Wrangell Lady Wolves' volleyball team lost its first two games of the season to Craig.
The Men’s cross country team finished first in conference at Craig.
US Congress hopeful Harry Crawford stopped in town and pushed for a renewable energy initiative.
The Thom’s Lake Cabin renovations were completed and opened to the public.
The USFS tarped large sections of wilderness areas in an attempt to ward off invasive Knotweed.
Evergreen Elementary won a National Blue Ribbon award.
The WMC’s Board of Directors voted to have a new medical facility built with factory made components rather than custom made to save costs.
The Wrangell Primary election ballot included four hospital board candidates (for two openings), three school board candidates (for three openings), one mayoral candidate (for one opening), two Assembly member candidates (for two openings) and one port commission member (for one opening).
Salvation Army church captains Ronnie and Debbie Davis came to town.
Sharon Gillespies’s Begonia flower arrangement took best in show at the 2010 harvest festival. Emily Cox’s “Drunken potato soup” took Best Soup entry.
At 316, Wrangell school enrollment was up from last year.
The Carving Shed office opened downtown.
Cruisewest wrapped up its 2010 season and laid off 106 employees nationwide and officially announced closure—leaving Wrangell charter operators stranded with thousands of dollars owed.
The F/V Barren Islands tipped over on the grid at Shoemaker Harbor.
Corner posts for Shakes Island Tribal house arrived and were stored at temporary carving shed.
The Assembly called for answers and refund from Cascade Creek LLC for the stalled Thomas Bay hydropower development project.
The Assembly asked the WMC Board of Directors to run all new facility contract decisions by the Assembly.
The Lady Wolves’ volleyball team got its first win of the season in Metlakatla.
The men’s cross country finished third in the region, behind Edgecumbe and Haines, Women’s team closed at seventh in the region
October
Wrangell saw its first electioneering in Wrangell history during state primary election. Residents held signs in support of building the new elementary school playground.
Wrangell passed ballot measure 1 for a general obligation bond of $225,000 towards a new school playground at Evergreen elementary school. Jeremy Maxand was elected as the new mayor.
The USDA granted WMC a $19.5 million loan toward a new medical facility.
Wrangell hosted 2010 honor choir and band festival.
The Men’s cross country finished seventh at State meet in Juneau.
Cascade Creek LLC (developers of Thomas Bay hydro project) was bought by Canadian company Alaska hydro corporation, which is publically traded on the Toronto stock exchange.
Rainforest Islands Ferries examined the possibility of starting service between Coffman cove, Wrangell and Petersburg.
Haley Gleason joined the Women In Safe Homes program as the new local advocate.
The Wrangell Resource Advisory Committee received 70 proposals and funded Bearfest events and Banana point renovations.
Petersburg Shipwrights closed for the winter.
November
Forty six percent of Wrangell voters turned out for elections. Locally, a majority of voters backed Lisa Murkowski for senator, Don Young for Congressional representative, SeanParnell for governor and Peggy Wilson for state representative.
The Wrangell Borough assembly remained unconvinced that working with Cascade Creek LLC was in the best interests for the City and Borough of Wrangell.
The state Harbormasters and Port Administrators conference in Wrangell attracted 60 attendees.
The Port Commission discussed whether retail should be allowed in Wrangell marine repair facility.
SEAPA gave Wrangell $137,226 in rebates, made possible through the completion of the Swan-Tyee intertie.
The Lady Wolves finished the volleyball season in fifth place for the region.
The Tlingit and Haida Headstart program celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary.
The Native Heritage fair, school assembly, “Alaskasize” video marked Wrangell’s native heritage month celebrations.
Richard Rhinehart had a raven clan hat repatriated back to him from a museum in Pennsylvania
The Borough and WMC worked on gathering documents for a special election to accept an USDA loan.
The Borough and Chamber of Commerce organized bus tour to consider new uses for 134-acres previously owned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the 120-acre Wrangell Saw Mill site.
The Wrangell Sentinel celebrated its 108th year of continuous publication.
The NOAA forecasted a cold and snowy winter for Southeast Alaska.
The Borough selected Rand M Engineering of Ketchikan as the contractor for new playground building project.
Breakaway adventures took third graders on a tour of the Le Conte glacier.
Wrangell residents vented frustration at stalled Front Street and downtown revitalization plans during a public forum for the environmental assessment of the plan.
The Nolan Center got a new grand piano.
Wrangell got a new state trooper—Russ Landers.
December
2010 was a fair season for Wrangell and Petersburg pot shrimpers, who harvested 51,000 pounds in Districts 6 and 8.
The Wrangell holiday season kicked off with the festival of lights and Jolly Shopping weekend.
WHS mourned the loss of sophomore Amy Gladsjo, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Sea level Seafoods had a decent 2010 season.
Wrangell Artist Brenda Schwartz-Yeager opened a new show in Juneau with paintings made during a Forest service artist-in-residency program.
The Port Commission adjusted barge fees from tonnage to length based system.
The Wrangell Wolves Wrestling team ended its season at fourth out of 16 teams, sending six wrestlers onto the state tournament.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game project high pink returns for districts 6 and 8 in upcoming season.
Museum Director Megan Clark presented the Assembly with a new collections management policy, in the first step towards state museum certification.
The Wolves’ Men’s basketball team won one game, lost another to Petersburg during its Homecoming match. Lady Wolves lost both.
WHS placed 21st out of 43 teams at the State Wrestling tournament.
The Alaska Crossings Wilderness Therapy Program closed their 10th year of work in Wrangell with an expectation of growth in staff and services next year.
Pat Taylor was recognized by the Department of Transportation for outstanding service for the fourth year in a row.
The Wrangell Marine Repair facility ended 2010 with most businesses having full calendars until next summer.
A new marine observer program for area gillnetters is coming to District 6 and 8 in 2012. Data collection and logistics will be settled in the 2011 fishing season.
See print edition for complete local coverage. Content (C) 2010 Wrangell Sentinel