Four dead, two missing after 11-Mile landslide covers homes
A massive landslide 11 miles from town destroyed three homes on Nov. 20 — including one that housed a five-member family — and stranded more than 70 residents who lived south of the slide. Timothy Heller, 44, Beth Heller, 36, Mara Heller, 16,... Full story
Highway reopens for limited hours, restricted use
Workers were able to clear out mud, trees and debris from the landslide zone to allow state and borough officials to reopen Zimovia Highway Tuesday morning for limited use. Initially, the two-lane road will be open for restricted hours: 8 to 8:30... Full story
Borough proposes auction, lottery system for Alder Top land sale
Borough staff presented their plan for selling the first 20 lots of the Alder Top Village (Keishangita.'aan) subdivision to the Economic Development Board and members of the public at a work session...
Borough accepts grant to update street address system
A nearly $90,000 state grant will help the borough reinvent the community’s address system so that first responders, internet providers and residents are on the same page — or in this case, the same street. At present, Wrangell’s homes and...
Angerman to serve on National Environmental Youth Advisory Council
Alexandra Angerman of the Wrangell Cooperative Association is one of 16 young people who will serve on a nationwide committee advising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on environmental...
Students gather with their favorite adults for Friendsgiving lunch
Tables and seats were organized for students and guests along the walls of the elementary school gym, with "Happy Friendsgiving 2023" coloring pages scattered on the tables, ready for crayons. The...
'Cinderella' ready to put best foot forward Dec. 9-10
As the Nolan Center community theater production of “Cinderella” prepares for shows the weekend of Dec. 9 and 10, director Haley Reeves has been delighted with the performance of cast and crew since rehearsals first began. “We’re miles from...
Small rental units near final step of approval process
Residents may soon be allowed to build small apartments on their properties for family members or to use as rentals. The assembly gave its initial approval to an ordinance that would let residents add rental units to their properties at its Nov. 14...
Unoccupied floathouse keels over at Inner Harbor
A vacant floathouse moored behind the Marine Bar at the Inner Harbor keeled over Nov. 14, around noon. An old boat tied up nearby also partially sank. Both belonged to an elderly resident who died...
Businesses look at working together to bring more shoppers downtown
Several store owners and managers are talking about the need to form a business association of some kind to work toward drawing more locals to shop downtown. Wrangell residents are spending an increasing amount of their dollars online, ordering...
Borough adjusts Mount Dewey project to fit within budget
Borough officials successfully negotiated down the cost of the Mount Dewey trail extension with the project’s only bidder to keep the work within budget. The assembly approved the contract at its Nov. 14 meeting after staff and the contractor cut...
SEARHC provides sign-up help with Affordable Care Act insurance
A SEARHC patient benefits staffer will be in Wrangell Monday through Thursday, Nov. 27-30, to assist people who have questions about health insurance and need help signing up for low-cost coverage through the Affordable Care Act federally operated...
Hospice organizes pair of annual holiday events
Groups and individuals can bring their decorated holiday trees to the Nolan Center this weekend for the Hospice of Wrangell annual Christmas Tree Lane fundraiser. The only rules are no real trees — only artificial ones to avoid any fire risk at...
Coast Guard crew rescued from crash near Petersburg
The U.S. Coast Guard said two of four crew members injured in a helicopter crash near Petersburg during a search and rescue mission late at night Nov. 13 have been released from the hospital. The...
Sitka assembly uses sales tax revenues to give $300 to every utility customer
The Sitka assembly has approved a one-time payment of $300 to all residential utility customers, spending more than $1 million of the city’s higher-than-expected sales tax haul this past fiscal year. The ordinance passed on a 5-2 vote on Nov. 14....
Lady Wolves take regional championship, prepare for state
After a dominant showing in the regional volleyball tournament Nov. 15-17 in Petersburg, the Lady Wolves won the Southeast high school championship for the second year running and will head to state...
The Way We Were
Nov. 22, 1923 Today at noon at the Wrangel Hotel the accommodations were taxed to capacity by an unusually large group that attended the regular weekday luncheon. Commissioner L.D. Henderson told of the progress of the educational movement and the...
Wrapping up the town
Dwight Yancey works from the line crew bucket to hang holiday decorations on Front Street light poles on Friday, Nov. 17. David McHolland was helping out at street level in the...
Police report
Monday, Nov. 13 Agency assist: U.S. Forest Service. Summons service. Tuesday, Nov. 14 Motor vehicle accident. Impersonating a public servant. Theft. Traffic stop. Wednesday, Nov. 15 Summons service. Thursday, Nov. 16 Traffic stop: Citation issued...
A 50-50 split good answer for land sale
Often, the best decisions are a compromise. Which is exactly what borough staff is proposing for the sale of 20 lots next year at the Alder Top Village (Keishangita.’aan) subdivision at the site of the former Wrangell Institute boarding school....
Annual PFD debate is similar to a food fight
I can be sentimental. Not often, but I’m working on it. I just need to figure out how to increase my sentimentality without decreasing my cynicism. Nostalgia is my favorite form of sentimentality. I enjoy recalling the more pleasant times before...
Walking is better for my health, as is the view
In my 20s and 30s, in addition to relying on public transportation to get around, I did a lot of walking. I briefly owned a couple of cars at different times, but they were, for the most part, older and often in disrepair. Plus, I mostly worked in...
Please everyone, pick up after your dog in the park and ballfield
I like to think of myself as a responsible dog owner. I have traveled with my dogs for the past eight years to Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho. We have visited many dog parks where I found the dog owners to be extremely responsible in...
Public needs more information on Permanent Fund's Alaska investments
The governor or Legislature, or both, need to conduct an audit available to the public or engage in serious oversight of the Permanent Fund’s recent erratic decisions. There is a growing threat to the Permanent Fund, and it is coming from the...
It's time to get back to things that matter
By Pastor Sue Bahleda Island of Faith Lutheran Church I like words with opposite meanings, like “trim.” One meaning is about eliminating unnecessary bits, like trimming fat from a steak. An opposite meaning is to decorate, like trimming a...
Classified ads
HELP WANTED Wrangell Senior Center is recruiting for a cook. The job is 20 hours a week, $18 an hour. Background check required. Apply at www.ccsak.org/jobs. For more information, call Solvay Gillen at 907-874-2066. FREE ADS Do you have something... Full story