Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 381
Wrangell police, working with law enforcement personnel from a regional task force, arrested three men on April 30 on felony drug possession charges. Justin G. Churchill, 39, Richard “Daniel” J. Eklund, 38, and Cooper J. Seimears, 39, were arrested after police confiscated a package containing 88 grams of methamphetamine (about three ounces), with a street value of approximately $17,600, according to a prepared statement issued by Wrangell police on April 30. The package had been shipped to Wrangell. Police Chief Gene Meek on May 1 declined to...
The 459-foot-long, 530-passenger Roald Amundsen is scheduled to start Wrangell's cruise ship season on May 8. To discuss plans for the season and share information, the borough's Economic Development Department has called a tourism stakeholder meeting for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Nolan Center. "This meeting is intended for businesses that operate within or provide services to the tourism industry. This includes tribal partners, agency partners, tour operators, accommodation providers,...
To clarify the school district’s and borough’s responsibilities for maintenance and repairs at the school buildings, the assembly has approved an agreement that says the borough will pay for major repair and rehab projects that cost more than $25,000. The district is responsible for “routine maintenance,” as specified in the three-page agreement adopted by the assembly in a unanimous vote on April 22. In addition to removing any doubt as to who pays for what at the schools — the borough owns the buildings and the school district covers op...
This year’s first tax-free shopping day in Wrangell is Saturday, May 3. Continuing a yearslong tradition, the borough assembly has approved a second tax-free day, accepting the chamber of commerce request for Oct. 6. The assembly vote on April 22 was unanimous. “These events have historically stimulated the local economy by encouraging increased consumer spending and supporting Wrangell's small businesses,” Borough Finance Director Jackson Pool reported to the assembly. “By temporarily removing the barrier of sales tax, these days help drive r...
The borough assembly voted 7-0 on April 22 to approve the chamber of commerce moving into the Nolan Center — in the interest of closer collaboration between the borough and the chamber. The move provides a more heavily trafficked site for visitor information than the chamber’s current offices in the Stikine Inn. Although the vote was unanimous, a couple of assembly members raised questions. “I’ve seen it go up and down too many times,” Assembly Member David Powell said of the chamber’s finances, adding that while chamber and Nolan Center staf...
Ann Hegney, who started work last September as the only counselor at Wrangell schools, has resigned and will leave after the end of the school year. Hegney is the school district’s third counselor since 2021. “The staff and students are great. I am leaving because my father is in decline and needs help caring for my sister, who has Down Syndrome,” Hegney said in a text last week. “It’s actually the best job I ever had,” she said of her work in Wrangell. Hegney came to Alaska from New York state with 36 years of experience as a teacher and...
Maylee Martin is shifting into gear for her new business, called Lady Driver Taxi. Though she started taking fares last week, she expects it could be early May before she goes to work full time giving rides around town. Martin will be the only driver, providing rides in her Subaru Outback. Lady Driver Taxi will operate noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 3 p.m. to bar closings on Friday and Saturday, Martin said. Any other time, text her at 907-660-7102 in advance to schedule a ride, she said. Martin had been working since February to...
The U.S. Forest Service, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, has closed the Stikine River to subsistence fishing for king salmon from May 15 to June 20. The preseason returns forecast for the Stikine River is 10,000 large king salmon (greater than 28 inches in length), which is far below the spawning escapement goal of 14,000 to 28,000. This is the ninth year in a row for the federal closure, intended to protect weak returns of the highly prized fish. State and federal fisheries managers are trying to rebuild the run....
The school board is advertising on a tight timeline for a new schools superintendent to start work July 1, to replace Bill Burr who has resigned effective June 30 after four years on the job. The deadline for applications is May 5, with the selection of finalists tentatively scheduled for May 7-9 and interviews with the board May 12-14. The board scheduled a special meeting for 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at Evergreen Elementary School to discuss additional “particulars of the superintendent search.” The board is expected to go into exe...
Members of the high school band, jazz band and choir spent three days in Juneau earlier this month for the 51st annual Southeast Music Festival. “There are no winners or losers at Music Fest,” and no trophies, said Tasha Morse, who is in her 17th year teaching music at Wrangell schools. “It is a learning experience. … It’s kind of like a master class,” with guest musicians, called adjudicators, listening and coaching the students one-on-one and in small ensembles. Music Fest was held April 10-12 at Juneau-Douglas High School, with morning and...
The community responded with 6,000 pounds of donated food after The Salvation Army cut back the days its free food pantry was open last month due to a shortage of donations to keep the shelves stocked. The donations allowed the pantry to return to its schedule of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday for families that need help. Previously, the pantry had cut back to every other week. “We’ve been tremendously blessed by this community,” Salvation Army Capt. Chase Green said last week. The 6,000 pounds included lots of canned goods and other shelf...
The Wrangell team in the annual Salvation Army Bible Bowl captured first place at the state level this month, the third year in a row the squad led the state. Wrangell won the national competition last year — the first time ever — and will try for a repeat in June in Los Angeles, said Capt. Chase Green of the Wrangell Salvation Army. “Hopefully, we’ll bring home the repeat,” he said. “There is more opposition,” Green said. “People want to beat them,” he said of the six-member Wrangell team. The state competition quizzed competitors on al...
The Alaska Press Club named the Wrangell Sentinel as the second-best weekly newspaper in the state last year. The awards were presented at the organization’s annual conference April 12 in Anchorage. “With one of the strongest news staffs among the six weekly newspapers competing, the Wrangell Sentinel — ‘The Oldest Continuously Published Newspaper in Alaska’ — consistently places multiple home-grown stories on each front page,” the judge said. The Sentinel, established in 1902, lost out for first place to the Nome Nugget. It’s the second time...
The 2025-2026 Wrangell Travel Guide, a joint project of the Sentinel and the borough’s Economic Development Department, is now available around town. The 52-page, full-color booklet features as its cover photo a brown bear family walking along, minding their own business at the Anan Wildlife Observatory, continuing the annual guide’s theme of showcasing the bear observatory as a prime attraction for visitors to Wrangell. The updated guide includes stories, maps and suggestions for visitors, including a full-page table listing boat charters ava...
As has been routine in recent years, the state has closed the waters in front of the Stikine River to sport fishing for kings or retention of the salmon though July 14. The annual closure is a continuing effort to rebuild the river’s depleted runs. The closure of District 8 covers the waters around the top half of Wrangell Island to the eastern half of Zarembo Island, and up the east side of Mitkof Island. Districts 6, 7, 9 and 10 as far north as Frederick Sound and into Chatham Strait and south of Etolin Island are closed to king sport f...
Police on Saturday arrested Ethan Robison, 22, on multiple charges after he allegedly hit one vehicle and ran two others off the road before losing control of his own vehicle and crashing off the highway. Police said they received a report about 5:25 p.m. Saturday, April 5, “of a potentially intoxicated driver” in a pickup truck near Evergreen Trailer Park on the north end of the island. “Shortly after, the same truck hit a vehicle at the intersection of Bennett Street and Zimovia Highway,” according to the Wrangell Police Department stateme...
Prompted at a work session with the borough assembly last week to gather more public input into its long-term budget plans, the Wrangell school board is seeking volunteers to serve on a special committee. The school board announced March 28 that it is seeking letters of interest from people willing to serve on an ad hoc committee “to research long-term budgetary considerations,” such as a four-day school week, consolidation of the district’s three schools or other measures to cut expenses. “This is your opportunity to be a part of what could l...
The beach between City Park and Heritage Harbor reopened to the public last week after a closure of more than six months to repair damage to the community’s sewage outfall line. The borough last month collected and tested samples from the beach to ensure the area is safe for the public. “Results of those tests have come back within regulatory compliance and historical averages,” according to a March 28 announcement from City Hall. A boat owner last September pulled anchor in front of the beach area, damaging the deepwater outfall line from...
A couple of Wrangell kids scored victories in the state Elks Hoop Shoot competition. Jude Johnson placed second in the state among boys 10 and 11 years old, with his score of sinking 15 of 25 free throws at the Wrangell event. Connor Blake placed third in the state among boys 12 and 13 years old, with his score of making 18 of 25 shots. They were among the half-dozen kids who placed first in Wrangell’s annual Hoop Shoot in November. Their scores were sent to the state director, who ranked their record against first-place finishers from the 1...
The House Finance Committee is scheduled to take public testimony on the state operating budget over three days this week, with several Southeast communities, including Wrangell, on the calendar for Friday afternoon, March 14. The time slot for Southeast residents to testify is set for 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday. Individuals will be limited to two minutes each to give the committee their opinions on the state spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Anyone in Wrangell who wants to testify is asked to come to the Legislative...
After a monthlong closure to in-person dining and a temporary suspension of van rides, the Senior Center is back open for both. The center reopened with prepared lunches last week, and will reopen for in-person dining Wednesday, March 5. Van rides are expected to resume this week, too. The center had been closed due to temporary staffing issues; John Waddington was hired last week as the new driver. As of March 5, the center will be open Tuesdays through Fridays for in-person dining and van rides for senior citizens to medical appointments,...
A team from Oregon State University’s Sustainable Tourism Lab wants to hear from you. The borough linked up with the academic team to better understand the community’s opinions about tourism. The survey is available at http://beav.es/wrangell and the deadline to complete the short questionnaire is March 20. On Feb. 21, a member of the team joined City Hall’s monthly economic development coffee chat at the Stikine Inn, and community members offered up ideas to better understand Wrangell’s tourism economy. For example, one community member...
After just under two years in business, Island Tire Repair closed down its operations last week. “Hate to say it but the business is shut down as of today at 3 p.m.,” according to the company’s Feb. 17 post on the Wrangell Community Facebook page. “Going to have a sale at the shop tomorrow starting at 10 a.m.” Business owner John Hurst did not respond to messages from the Sentinel asking for more information. “Everything is for sale,” the Facebook post said. “I want to say thank you to all my customers for being with us for these last two...
The Wrangell Sentinel has a new front-page masthead and logo, honoring the history and culture of the Tlingit people. The new logo incorporates a representation of the Bear Up The Mountain Totem, with permission of the Naanya.aayi' clan. The new artwork replaces a different totem that had been part of the Sentinel for more than 50 years until last fall when it was deleted from the newspaper logo at the request of the clan. Bear Up The Mountain tells the story of how a bear led villagers up a...
Wrangell Elks Lodge No. 1595 received $19,000 in state and national Elks funds which the lodge has distributed to four separate community programs. The grant funds were distributed to the school wrestling program, Senior Center, Parks and Recreation’s youth swim program, and for grocery gift cards for veterans and their families. The checks — and burgers — were presented at the Elks Club weekly burger night Thursday, Feb. 13. “The Wrangell Elks Lodge is proud to support these programs and more in our community,” said Dawn Angerman, a lodge trus...
