Articles written by Caleb Vierkant
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Assembly focuses on two options for Public Safety Building
The assembly has directed borough staff to get two estimates for possibly resolving the longstanding deliberations over repairs to the rot-damaged Public Safety Building and the future of the former hospital building. One estimate would be for a...
Borough creates new deputy manager post
Borough leadership will expand in the near future, with the creation of a new position intended to help allow the borough manager to focus on bigger projects — in addition to taking on its own set of assignments. The assembly unanimously approved Aug...
Assembly rejects mask mandate, opts for public education
The borough assembly decided not to reinstate a local mask mandate at their Tuesday meeting. Rather, they asked borough staff to pursue a public education campaign strongly recommending that people wear face masks and take other safety precautions...
COVID outbreak in Washington distribution center affects Alaska grocers
A COVID-19 outbreak that shut down a Washington state warehouse that helps supply Wrangell IGA and other Southeast grocery stores disrupted shipments this month, but the operation has reopened and shelves and coolers are moving back toward normal....
So long Wrangell, and thanks for all the fish!
Did I format my entire letter saying goodbye to Wrangell so I could put a "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" reference in the title? Yes, yes I did. Looking back on the past three years of my life, I...
Schools will review mask requirement after first two weeks
The school board has decided to continue with its COVID-19 mitigation plan that requires students, staff and visitors to wear face masks in the buildings, though the policy will be reviewed again two weeks after classes begin. The plan approved at...
Borough approves cell tower lease at landfill
After a two-week delay due to an incomplete property appraisal, the borough assembly has approved the lease for a new cell tower. The first tenant of the new tower near the city landfill will be Verizon Wireless, though additional carriers could be...
Assembly takes first step to add deputy manager
Acknowledging that it’s not easy to run the borough as more projects are added to the borough manager’s work list, the assembly has decided it may be time to add a deputy manager at city hall. The assembly at a workshop Aug. 11 directed Manager Lis...
Masks required, new tracking system in place for school buses
Wrangell’s school bus operator is reminding parents and children that riders must wear a face mask, same as last year. But what will be new this school year is a software tool that will tell parents in real time the location of their children’s bus...
Nolan Center needs more staff to cover theater and museum
The Nolan Center, Wrangell’s museum, movie theater and community center, is suffering from a staffing shortage. The center has received some help from volunteers, but director Cyni Crary said they hope to hire for various new positions. “We’re basic...
State trooper gives advice to keep bears out of trash
The number of bears getting into trash and having close encounters with people or their pets is increasing, said Chadd Yoder, Wrangell’s state wildlife trooper. And it’s likely to get worse before it gets better, he said, as bears try to fatten up...
School sign-up opens next week
Registration for the new school year will open online Wednesday. In-person registration will be offered 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 17 at the high school gym. Classes start Aug. 30. Teachers start back at work Aug. 25. Families registering their kids for...
It's a dog's world at Jessie's Pantry
"I was trying to think of what to do while finishing up college virtually, here in Wrangell," Alex Angerman said. "My family and I were brainstorming, and it was actually my dad who thought of the...
Rally for Cancer Care fundraiser tees off this weekend
As the COVID-19 pandemic winds through its second year, many aspects of normal life are returning, including the annual Rally for Cancer Care golf tournament this weekend in Wrangell. The rally is a big fundraising event put on by the WMC...
Equipment delays slow down trash baler project
Progress on transitioning from moving Wrangell’s trash in open-top containers aboard barges to bales of shredded and compressed waste in closed containers is moving slower than expected due to equipment delivery delays, said Capital Facilities D...
Photographer shares advice during Bearfest workshop
Robert Johnson has made a living as a professional photographer for about 20 years, and found time again this year to share tips at a workshop as part of Wrangell's annual Bearfest. He advised people...
Junior entrepreneur at work with Lobtail Lemonade stand
"Mostly what I do, when I'm not busy, is I mostly sit inside and ... just think about what I'm going to do," Jonah Hurst said. Jonah, 8 years old, is the young entrepreneur behind Jonah's Lobtail...
Borough approves new Shoemaker cell tower
The borough assembly Tuesday evening approved a lease amendment for a new cell tower at the Shoemaker Harbor, which the developer said will bring improved cell service to the island. Action on a second agreement to lease borough land for a new tower...
Salmon runs have been weak
Salmon harvests are coming in slowly in the Wrangell-Petersburg area, according to Sea Level Seafoods and the state fisheries biologist out of Petersburg. Though it’s too early for a lot of specific numbers, both report catches have been lower t...
New leader has plans for more chamber events in the community
There's some new leadership at the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce, but the organization's mission is still the same: To promote and support local businesses. To do so, said the new executive director...
Fundraiser underway for family that lost boat to fire
The Della G, a Wrangell fishing vessel owned and operated by the Churchill family, was lost to a fire in Juneau on July 13. Nobody was on board the 32-foot boat at the time of the fire, according to news reports in Juneau. The Wrangell community has...
Borough will update cost estimate for water treatment plant
The borough assembly has directed the administration to pursue an updated cost estimate for solving Wrangell’s deficient water-treatment plant. Progress on replacing the treatment process has moved slowly since a 2017 cost estimate of nearly $10 m...
From the publisher
Newspapers report what happened. Sure, we also report some of what will or may happen in the days ahead, but most of the Sentinel tells you what occurred last week in the community that may affect or...
Wrangell hosts first Heart Walk with Petersburg
Dozens of people from Wrangell and Petersburg came together at the downtown pavilion Sunday morning for the first Heart Walk of their communities, organized as a fundraiser for the Children's Heart Fo...
Baked for Breakfast plans to mix old and new
The decision to open a business just sort of happened, according to Bridgette Petticrew. She and Celsee Churchill were sitting with their kids at dinner one night, and had a spur-of-the-moment idea...