Articles from the January 27, 2022 edition
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Borough may hire tow company to collect languishing vehicles
The police department is putting together a plan to hire a tow truck company from Petersburg to come over in the spring and haul to the borough's impound yard vehicles that have been abandoned for too...
Assembly approves $1.1 million for engineering new water plant
The borough assembly on Tuesday approved $1.1 million for design and engineering of a new water treatment plant, though actual construction will depend on additional funding. The project is a top priority for the borough. The assembly authorized the...
Borough receives more at-home test kits amid record number of COVID cases
Wrangell's emergency operations center last week received 650 COVID-19 at-home test kits from the state health department, reviving its supply which had dwindled to none amid the community's record...
Coastal legislators dislike governor's spending plan for ferries
Though they say the level of funding for the state ferry system in Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is adequate, coastal legislators don’t like that the governor wants to use one-time federal money to pay the...
The Way We Were
Jan. 26, 1922 The high school English I class had a first introduction to debating last Friday. The question was, “Resolved, that the Petersburg basketball team has a chance of winning over the Wrangell High School team next Saturday.” The...
School day face mask protest attracts 14 students
The kids gathered atop the sledding hill across from Evergreen Elementary, next to a small fire in which they burned face masks. They carried signs reading "Unmask Wrangell Youth!!" and "Unmask our...
Cruise ships could carry as many as 17,000 passengers to Wrangell this summer
The borough’s convention and visitor bureau has released its draft cruise ship schedule, painting an updated picture of how many passengers might fill the streets of Wrangell, take in the sights and charter local fishing and sightseeing guides...
Chamber begins royal recruitment efforts
Feel like getting the royal treatment? Well, it’s going to take some hard work. Wrangell’s chamber of commerce has begun recruiting efforts for this year’s royalty competition, with winners announced during the Fourth of July festivities. The c...
Governor's spending plan would produce a deficit
The Alaska Legislature gaveled into session last week. The Legislature’s main duty is creating and passing a budget for the state. To do this, we start by considering last year’s budget and the budget proposed by the governor. I’d like to tell...
No need to wait on this non-endorsement
The primary election for governor is less than seven months away, on Aug. 16, with the general election in November. And though it’s only the end of January, there is no need to delay this endorsement call: Wasilla Rep. Christopher Kurka is not who...
Being insightful not meant to incite
Word choice matters. Thinking through how others will read and perceive words is important, especially when sharing opinions. The Sentinel editorial last week is a case in point. My purpose in the editorial was that the borough assembly could have...
Larger composting machine could start churning scraps into plant food this year
A former concessions stand in City Park is slated to be the site of a commercial-scale composter that could give second life to food scraps on a bigger scale, potentially reducing the volume of trash...
Legislators cautious of overreliance on high oil prices
In a break from past practice, the Alaska Department of Revenue this year will provide monthly updates to legislators whenever projected oil prices — and state revenues — move up or down more than 10%. Several legislators worry that could...
Harbor paid $21,000 to lift derelict tug that sank in snowstorm
Earlier this month, a derelict tug boat, the Bee, went down in Shoemaker Bay, and five other vessels almost did, after heavy snow loads and single-digit temperatures weighted down Wrangell. The...
Fisheries Board will reconsider moving meeting out of Southeast
The Alaska Board of Fisheries, which had planned to hold its Southeast and Yakutat shellfish and finfish regulations meeting in Ketchikan this month before a surge in COVID-19 cases and winter-weather travel problems forced its cancellation, has...
Lady Wolves wins first place at Talkeetna tournament
The Wrangell High School girls basketball team dominated their first three games of the season to win the Rally at Denali tournament last weekend. In three games over two days in at Susitna Valley High School in Talkeetna, the Lady Wolves defeated...
Boys team rallies to win third place at Denali
A win, a loss and a win. The Wrangell boys basketball team had three vastly different games against three differently matched teams, ultimately winning third place at the Rally at Denali high school...
Numerous local scholarships available to high school seniors
Wrangell High School seniors have potentially more than $70,000 in higher education scholarships available to them from local organizations. Funds range anywhere from a one-time $100 award to $5,000 per year for four years. Though application...
New memorial scholarship focuses on commercial fishing, in honor of Deckers
The scholarship fund created to honor the memory of Helen and Sig Decker is a little different from most. In addition to the usual requirements of being a graduating high school senior who is going...
Supreme Court upholds new election system in Alaska
JUNEAU (AP) — The Alaska Supreme Court has upheld a voter-approved election system that ends party primaries in the state and institutes ranked-choice voting in general elections. A brief order on Jan. 19 affirmed a lower court ruling from last...
Panel recommends raise for legislators but cut to living expense payments
JUNEAU (AP) — A commission tasked with reviewing legislative pay voted Jan. 18 to raise the annual salary for Alaska lawmakers but to restrict the daily allowance lawmakers can receive. The changes will go forward unless the Legislature votes to...
Judge rules firing violated state employee's free speech rights
JUNEAU (AP) — A federal judge on Jan. 20 sided with a former state attorney who alleged she was wrongly fired over political opinions expressed on a personal blog. U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick ruled that Elizabeth Bakalar’s December...
Ferry system expects no delays from Kennicott accident
The state ferry system reports that the Kennicott’s return to service in late April will not be delayed after it collided with the Hubbard while docking in Ketchikan a couple of weeks ago. “We’re still in the investigation phase, so I’m...
Correction
The Sentinel incorrectly reported in the Jan. 20 issue that Lindsay Pomeroy worked at Alaska Crossings. Only her husband, Sebastian, worked at Crossings. She works at the elementary school....
Police report
Monday, Jan. 17 Agency assist: Ambulance. Citizen assist. Traffic stop. Tuesday, Jan. 18 Agency assist: Ambulance. Traffic stop. Agency assist: Hoonah Police Department. Traffic stop. Agency assist: Ambulance. Agency assist. Wednesday, Jan. 19...
