Borough approves sale of hospital property to real estate developer

The borough assembly approved the sale of the former medical center and six adjacent lots to property developer Wayne Johnson on April 9. Johnson is a Georgia-based real estate developer hoping to build a 48-unit condo-style housing development...

Tlingit and Haida continues pressing Denver museum to return cultural objects

In 2017, a delegation from the Tlingit and Haida tribes flew to Colorado to meet with officials from the Denver Art Museum. The dozen tribal members came to discuss the return of a 170-year-old...

Latest state budget proposal falls short of funding Wrangell school repairs

The Alaska Senate has passed a capital budget to fund roads, school repairs and rebuilds, housing, water and sewer systems and other public works projects across the state — but the spending plan is short of funds to cover repairs to Wrangell’s...

Forest Service adds staff in Wrangell, mostly to work on recreation projects

The U.S. Forest Service is adding a dozen new positions in Wrangell, plus changing two jobs from seasonal to permanent. Most of the new hires are on the job, with a couple still in the hiring...

Volunteer student group expands focus, starts selling lunches

A high school organization founded by students several years ago aimed at inclusivity and students helping each other has expanded its focus, and its store in the school's commons area is selling an...

Wrangell may receive state funds to start planning emergency route

The state capital budget approved by the Alaska Senate last week includes $200,000 for the borough to start planning an emergency access route for when Zimovia Highway is blocked by landslides or other disasters. The route would connect the old...

Borough approves pay raises for union, non-union employees

The borough assembly approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on April 9, covering public works, light and power, port and harbor and maintenance jobs, totaling about 23...

Assembly approves Villarma's borough manager contract

The borough assembly on April 9 approved Mason Villarma’s contract as borough manager. The assembly vote was unanimous. Villarma went to work as finance director in September 2021 and has been serving as both finance director and interim borough...

Court strikes down state money for homeschooled students

An Anchorage Superior Court judge has struck down an Alaska law that allows the state to allocate cash payments to parents of homeschooled students, ruling that it violates constitutional prohibitions against spending state money on religious or... Full story

Annual birding festival flies into town April 24-28

The time of year is approaching when birds flock to the river flats, and Wrangell is once again hosting the Stikine River Birding Festival. The festival will run from April 24 to 28 and will include a variety of bird-themed events and activities...

Forest Service hosts public workshop for management plan revision

After more than a quarter-century, the nation’s largest national forest is getting a new management plan. On April 22, Wrangell community members will get a chance to learn about the proposed revisions to the forest plan and share their thoughts....

Chamber hands out annual volunteer, business, educator and citizen awards

The chamber of commerce at its annual awards dinner last weekend honored several members of the community for their service, including the fire department and emergency medical services crew, municipal electric line crew and borough employees for...

State House approves budget with one-time boost in school funding

The Alaska House has sent to the Senate a state operating budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 with an almost $2,300 Permanent Fund dividend that would be the single largest expenditure in the spending plan. The budget also includes $175...

Alaska House rejects proposal to put the PFD in state constitution

The Alaska House of Representatives on April 11 rejected a constitutional amendment that would have guaranteed payment of the annual Permanent Fund dividend. The final vote was 22-18, five votes short of the two-thirds majority required to advance... Full story

Wrangell loans ambulance to Ketchikan after station fire

The South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department station in Ketchikan caught fire early morning April 9, damaging multiple fire and EMS response vehicles. When the Wrangell Fire Department heard about the damages, they responded quickly by lending an...

Wrangell team places 2nd in middle school volleyball tournament

One of Wrangell's two teams placed second in the Stikine Middle School Invitational Volleyball Tournament, losing to Klawock in the final, while a Petersburg team took first place in the other...

The Way We Were

April 17, 1924 To meet the expense of sending contestants to the meet which will be held in Juneau next week instead of Ketchikan as first planned, the Wrangell PTA staged two benefits during the past week. The first was a food sale and tea held...

Community Calendar

NOLAN CENTER THEATER “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” rated PG-13, at 6 p.m. Friday, April 19, 6 p.m Saturday, April 20, and at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21. The adventure comedy fantasy runs 1 hour and 55 minutes; tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for...

Brian Hernando Fennimore dies at 53

Brian Hernando Fennimore, 53, passed away on March 14, 2024, in Wrangell after suffering from brain cancer. Brian was born on June 16, 1970, in Seattle. He grew up in Wrangell and was a 1988 graduate... Full story

Steven Brian Gerard dies at 54

Steven Brian Gerard, of Wrangell, died unexpectedly on Feb. 20, 2024. The family is deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at... Full story

Police report

Monday, April 8 Agency assist: Hoonah Police Department. Deer complaint. Tuesday, April 9 Burglary alarm. Harassment. Found property. Harassment. Dog at large. Disturbance. Wednesday, April 10 Agency assist: Hoonah Police Department. Dog at large....

Alaska House made the right decision

The Permanent Fund dividend is important to a lot of Alaska households, but so is education, public safety, ports and harbors, roads and more. The state House did the right thing last week in rejecting a proposed constitutional amendment that would...

Time to let younger people take the lead

Neither President Joe Biden, 81, nor former President Donald Trump, 77, is necessarily too old to be president. Their biggest flaws are not their ages, it’s that they are blocking and discouraging younger people from getting a chance to lead the...

Community support essential for raising safe, healthy children

April is National Prevention of Child Abuse Month. The Alaska Children’s Trust partners with organizations around the state to create awareness and help nurture healthy families. BRAVE is one such group working in Wrangell to build a positive...

Classified ads

HELP WANTED Join our team as Americans for Prosperity--Alaska Grassroots Associates working part-time for freedom, opportunity and prosperity in Wrangell. Engage with fellow Alaskans by conducting door-to-door canvassing ---- no sales. Minimum 20...

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