Articles from the January 25, 2023 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
Potential investors present plan to turn old hospital into senior living center
The borough has been trying to get the old hospital property off its hands for the better part of a year. After a $360,000 price cut and months of languishing on a public surplus website, the property has attracted its first potential investors. Jim...
School district draft budget draws on reserves to balance revenues and spending
If not for drawing on its fund balance, the Wrangell School District’s 2023-2024 budget would come up short. However, by drawing $112,000 from its general fund balance, the first draft of the budget matches revenues with expenditures. Tammy...
Friends wrangle words in new community Scrabble group
Wordsmiths, fans of crossword puzzles, word nerds and casual spellers alike now have a place to test their knowledge and battle it out with friendly competition. A new community Scrabble group...
Federal legislation makes Wrangell eligible for final round of pandemic aid
Last September, the borough was excluded from the final round of federal pandemic aid, which distributed $27 million to Alaska communities through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. However, recent legislation will make funding available to...
The Way We Were
Jan. 25, 1923 The cost per capita of schools in incorporated towns and school districts in the territory last year was $97.31, and of schools outside of such towns and districts was $103.14 according to a recent statement made by Commissioner of...
Business manager and IT director resign from school district
The Wrangell school district’s business manager and information technology director have both resigned from their positions. Bob Russell, the IT director, will finish out his contract and leave the district at the end of the school year. Tammy...
New podcast episode tells the morbid tale of Deadmans Island
When podcaster and historian Ronan Rooney came home from college in the summer, he got a job guiding tourists around Wrangell, showing them the island's sights and sharing its stories. When they'd...
There is hope for redeveloping hospital property
A group of developers has offered the borough $350,000 for the former hospital property, which is $120,000 less than the new asking price and $480,000 less than the old asking price of last year. But what’s really new is that anyone is offering...
School finances need long-term answer
The staff, faculty and students at Wrangell’s three public schools work hard and believe in the importance of education. Parents help out with volunteer work, and the overall community pitches in, too. The borough this year is contributing the...
Teens use project to help preserve cultural heritage
Five benches on Shakes Island that have been there possibly more than 50 years are showing signs of their age. Thanks to two Wrangell teens, the benches will soon be replaced with all new ones....
Wrangell nets more wins than losses in Petersburg homecoming weekend
It may have been Petersburg's homecoming weekend but two of Wrangell High School's basketball teams were the ones coming home with wins. In two days of tough competition last Friday and Saturday,...
Ferry system says it has enough crew to run summer schedule
Other than still needing crew if it is to put the Hubbard into service for the first time since it was built a few years ago, the Alaska Marine Highway System believes it has enough staff to operate the confirmed runs of its proposed summer schedule...
NOAA work says fishing nets pose risk to Wrangell area porpoises
There are at least two distinct populations of harbor porpoises in Southeast Alaska waters, and one of them — which swims around Zarembo and Wrangell islands — appears to be particularly vulnerable to deaths from entanglements in commercial... Full story
WCA needs dancers and storytellers for tourism season
The steady drumbeat and voices singing in unison, mixed with formline artwork regalia are unmistakable as Tlingit storytellers and dancers share their Native culture while curious visitors look on. It’s a way to share the past and keep tribal tradi...
Library digitization project will make Sentinel's full archives accessible online
Armchair historians and amateur genealogists rejoice — the entire Sentinel archive will be digitized and easily searchable online. The Friends of the Library has received a $17,000 Rasmuson Foundation grant, which, combined with community...
Anan bears photographer wins national award
Juneau photographer Mark Kelley has been to Anan Wildlife Observatory 13 times, which turned out to be a lucky number for his portfolio of bear photos. A collection of his 10 favorite Anan photos...
Governor names Sitka judge to Alaska Supreme Court
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has appointed Jude Pate of Sitka to the Alaska Supreme Court, making him the first justice to come directly from someplace other than Juneau, Anchorage or Fairbanks since 1960. Before Pate, the last justice who met those standards... Full story
State sues to stop transfer of Tlingit and Haida Juneau parcel into federal trust
What was described by a Southeast tribal leader as a benchmark achievement has led to what could become landmark litigation over Native lands. The state of Alaska filed a lawsuit Jan. 17 against the federal government over a small plot of land in...
Registration open for Alaska Native Traditional Games in Juneau
Long jumps, high kicks, feats of strength, epic displays of agility, balance and coordination — all this and more will be on display at the 2023 Traditional Games in Juneau. Registration is open for the Traditional Games, also known as the Alaska...
State sued over monthslong delays in issuing food stamps
Ten Alaskans are suing the state, saying it failed to provide food stamps within the time frames required by federal law. The complaint, filed Jan. 20 in Superior Court in Anchorage, said the state had failed to provide needed services and “has sub... Full story
Study shows kelp can remove carbon and nitrogen pollution
The water-filtering abilities of farmed kelp could help reduce marine pollution in coastal areas, according to a new University of Alaska Fairbanks-led study. The paper, published in the January issue of Aquaculture Journal, analyzed carbon and...
Republicans organize state House by including lawmakers from Native rural areas
JUNEAU — A newly formed House majority — comprised of 19 Republicans, two Democrats and two independents — finalized its membership last Thursday, signaling a rightward shift in the chamber after six years of bipartisan coalitions composed...
Police report
Monday, Jan. 16 Threats. Agency assist: Fire Department. Traffic stop: Verbal warning for no headlights. Disturbance: Cutting firewood too late at night. Tuesday, Jan. 17 Domestic. Summons service. Summons service. Arrest: Assault and misconduct invo...
Polar bear kills mother and son in Northwest Alaska village
A mother and her young son died Jan. 17 in an extremely rare attack by a polar bear in the Northwest Alaska village of Wales, the state’s first fatal polar bear mauling in more than 30 years. Alaska State Troopers identified the victims as 24-year-...
Classified ads
SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR PILOT COMPOST PICKUP PROGRAM WCA IGAP has 20 available spots in its Pilot Compost Pickup Program. Participants will be given a bucket with a lid and easy-to-follow instructions. Participants will fill their buckets with household...