Articles from the March 9, 2022 edition
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Lawmakers propose $1,300 'energy relief check' for Alaskans
State House lawmakers have proposed paying Alaskans almost $1,300 as an “energy relief check” on top of the annual Permanent Fund dividend. As presented by the House Finance Committee on Friday, the two payments would total about $2,500 this yea...
Borough, SEARHC negotiating voluntary tax payment agreement
The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium and the borough are negotiating another year of voluntary payment in lieu of taxes on the nonprofit’s property in town. SEARHC paid property taxes when the clinic and hospital were under construction, F...
Forest Service increases Anan permits in overbook strategy to meet capacity
The Forest Service is bulking up how many permits it issues to the Anan Wildlife Observatory in order to allow as many visitors to the site as people and bears can handle, while also protecting the habitat. And it has a mid-March start date for a con...
Fifth grade fundraising focuses on furry friends
Students at Evergreen Elementary are looking to make a difference in the community by making a difference in the lives of pets needing forever homes. The fifth grade class leadership group learned that St. Frances Animal Shelter was itself in need...
The Way We Were
March 9, 1922 The following excerpt from a letter of Acting Governor Thiele will interest residents of Wrangell who are being asked to join the Alaska Historical Association. “I heartily concur with you in securing an appropriation from the coming L...
Borough receives nearly $500,000 from state to help cover revenue losses
The borough has received a nearly half-a-million-dollar state grant, intended to help Wrangell cover some of its revenue losses due to the pandemic’s hit to the economy. The grant is $469,785, which the borough assembly may put toward buying a new g...
Ferry system still short of hiring target for summer schedule
State ferry system and Transportation Department officials plan to gather this week in Ketchikan to consider options for fulfilling the advertised summer schedule amid a continuing shortage of onboard crew. The department failed to meet its self-impo...
Forest Service considers building new cabin on road system
The Forest Service is considering building a new cabin at Highbush Lake on the Wrangell road system. The project is listed on the Forest Service’s Schedule of Proposed Actions, or SOPA, which “contains a list of proposed actions that will soon beg...
Schools and students teaching and learning well
The face mask debate is over for now — hopefully for good, if the community can stay healthy — and annual budget deliberations are starting over how much the borough will contribute to education and how the school district will spend its local, sta...
Alaska cannot afford to sit out this war
The state of Alaska, Congress and the president, individual companies and people do not all have the same capabilities and authority to show their disgust and dismay at Russia’s unprovoked, murderous attack on Ukraine, a sovereign nation at war w...
Ukrainians deserve to govern their own country
My hometown in Poland, Chelm, is 20 miles away from the border with Ukraine. My mother called me Feb. 26 and told me refugees are coming to my hometown, mostly women with kids. It looks like most of them are just passing by to get far away from the...
Alaska could contribute more to world's energy independence from Russia
It is anguishing to reflect on the current news coverage of the Russian assault on Ukraine. Most Americans feel a sense of guilt because of the humanitarian Injustice being done, and we want to provide some meaningful and timely assistance. The...
Thank you for helping to protect our community during COVID
As COVID-19 numbers come back down and mitigation plans are slowly being lifted, I want to say thank you to all of those who helped get us this far. Thank you to everyone who wore their mask, got vaccinated and canceled social plans all on your own...
Social-emotional life skills fair to help kids with resources and opportunities
What’s being labeled as a social-emotional fair is aiming to give kids skills that will be useful to them in life after school. On April 5, Wrangell High School and Stikine Middle School will host an event that involves various organizations t...
Owners uncertain about Stikine Inn expansion plans
A planned expansion doubling the number of rooms at the Stikine Inn, Wrangell’s only operating hotel, has been delayed for at least a couple of years due to the current economic climate. The business owners had purchased property from the borough to...
Great-grandma steered her to a drive-through business
Sara Gadd brewed up a business plan in 2019 that would keep coffee and customers flowing. At nearly 2 years old, Drive-Thru Brew has served countless customers and helped Gadd realize a dream of...
Police report
Monday, Feb. 28 Citizen assist. Agency assist: U.S. Forest Service. Tuesday, March 1 Vehicular assault. Agency assist: Hoonah Police Department. Wednesday, March 2 Parking complaint. Parking complaint. Welfare check. Agency assist: Ambulance....
Text delivers good news for Wrangell business owner
The owner of a Wrangell company that makes body care products learned by a text that she had won the grand prize at a state competition for commercial goods made or derived from Alaska seafood. She...
High school athletic director to resign at end of school year
After 12 years working in Wrangell's schools, Trisa Rooney has decided to move on. Rooney will resign from her position as activities director at the end of the school year, citing a need to take...
Governor joins legislators in call for state to divest from Russia
A growing number of state lawmakers are asking the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. to divest assets from any Russian government or state-owned institutions amid Russia’s war against Ukraine. Senate Democrats last week were the first to initiate the call....
Trade war, COVID and now Ukraine invasion eat into Alaska seafood sales
First a trade war, then a battle against an infectious virus and now a real war are all affecting Alaska seafood exports. Shipments to China fell from as high as 30% of Alaska’s total seafood export value in the 2010s to 20% in 2020. “The U.S...
Senior's art project places emphasis on Tlingit culture
Sophia Hagelman discovered a love of art at 9 years old when she saw her mom's sketchbook. She took up the hobby herself and has used those skills to create her senior project. Last fall, Hagelman...
Man rescued from floating ice in Cook Inlet
ANCHORAGE (AP) — An Alaska man walking on a shoreline wound up clinging to a chunk of ice for more than 30 minutes in frigid water when the shoreline ice broke loose and carried him out into Cook Inlet. Jamie Snedden, 45, of Homer, was rescued F...
Skagway dogs ride a bus to their daily walk
It's raining cold, large drops that pool on the treacherous ice in Skagway, making it the kind of day that discourages dog walking. Regardless, Mo Mountain Mutts pulls up to Seven Pastures in their...
No more limits on individual contributions to Alaska political campaigns
JUNEAU (AP) — Individuals will be allowed to make unlimited contributions to candidates for governor and the Legislature this year under a decision by the state commission that oversees Alaska campaign finance rules. The Alaska Public Offices C...
