Articles from the March 11, 2021 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 23 of 23
New schools superintendent coming here from Interior Alaska
The Wrangell School Board has unanimously selected Bill Burr as schools superintendent. He will start in July, replacing Debbe Lancaster, who has been in the job since 2018. Lancaster resigned last...
The wait is over to resume in-person schooling
After temporarily moving to distance learning in response to an increase of COVID-19 cases in the community, Wrangell schools reconvened for in-person classes Monday. Junior James Shilts started the...
'What if' budget scenario could add to winter ferry service
A state Senate subcommittee had asked the Department of Transportation what it could do if it had more money to cover some of the gaps in the Alaska Marine Highway schedule. Part of the answer would...
Hold that line
The 477-foot-long Cable Innovator pulled in as close as it could at Shoemaker Bay on Monday to lay GCI’s fiber optic cable to a new onshore connection point. See the full story on Page 5...
State budget problem worse than it looks, legislative analyst says
Federal pandemic relief aid, one-time funding sources - some of doubtful legal authority - and other salves to ease the state budget pain in the fiscal year that starts July 1 only mask the underlying...
New COVID case reported
Wrangell's 34th case of COVID-19 was reported Tuesday afternoon. The city reported this latest case is a Wrangell local, who had not recently traveled. The person is not exhibiting any symptoms, the...
The Way We Were
March 10, 1921 E.L. Carpenter of the U.S. Engineering Department, who has been in Wrangell for some time to survey and give an official report on the site of the proposed breakwater, 350 feet in length from Shustak Point, is leaving for Seattle on...
Wrangell could receive half million in additional federal COVID relief
Wrangell can anticipate receiving about $500,000 in direct federal aid as part of this month's COVID-19 relief package, according to the city's lobbyist in Washington, D.C., Sebastian O'Kelly. The...
From the publisher: We've made it easier to put calendar items in the Sentinel
Sure, the Sentinel's main job is to report the news. But we also want to serve as the community bulletin board. Think of the newspaper as a weekly posting, delivered for everyone to see - even...
Editorial: The governor needs to read the calendar
Alaska is in a fiscal mess and Gov. Mike Dunleavy is making it worse. The state has spent almost all of its easily accessible savings. Budget cuts have hit hard at essentials such as the ferry...
Letters to the Editor
Legislature trying to help tourism economy I am working hard to encourage and protect our visitor industry and the economic potential of the upcoming tourism season despite the hurdles we have faced d...
Cable ship moves GCI fiber optic line this week
A ship built especially for laying fiber optic cable on the ocean floor was in front of Wrangell this week, moving GCI's Seafast communications cable into a safer position away from underwater power...
Shamrock Shufflers pick up their feet Sunday
The Shamrock Shuffle, a St. Patrick's Day tradition in Wrangell, is set for Sunday afternoon at the covered basketball court. This will the eighth-annual fun run, said organizer Lucy Moline-Robinson....
Waters around Wrangell pass quality test
Water quality samples taken in front of Wrangell Island last summer passed the test. The samples collected at six sites were tested by state researchers for fecal coliform and other bacteria, ammonia...
OBITUARY: Gordon Rooney remembered for his greeting 'because, beautiful'
Gordon "Gordy" Rooney Jr., born in Yakima, Washington, on Dec. 13, 1948, passed away on Feb. 25, 2021. Gordon and his family moved to Wrangell when he was a young boy. Growing up, he was raised in... Full story
Free tax prep assistance offered through mid-April
Tax season is not commonly thought of as an enjoyable experience. There is complicated paperwork, the stress of reviewing personal finances, the headache of doing math. Fortunately for Wrangell...
Alaska Fish Factor: Survey will ask Alaska fishermen, processors about COVID costs
It’s likely that no other fishing regions of the world reach out for stakeholder input as much as Alaska does to gather policy-shaping ground truth by state and federal managers and organizations. That’s demonstrated by two new surveys — one which...
Police report
Monday, March 1 None. Tuesday, March 2 Summons service. Warrant quashed. Dog complaint. Citizen assist. Wednesday, March 3 Drug information. Found property. Agency assist: Public Works. Thursday, March 4 Agency assist: Ambulance requested....
A peek at good weather
The week started clear, with blue skies over Heritage Harbor on Sunday afternoon, but the forecast was for rain and possible snow to return later in the week, reminding the community that winter is...
State, British Columbia end transboundary river data collection
Alaska officials and authorities in British Columbia announced they have completed and will not continue data collection on three transboundary watersheds, including the Stikine River, despite concerns from fishing and tribal interests that the effor...
Governor completes COVID isolation period
JUNEAU (AP) - Gov. Mike Dunleavy has said he is feeling better after contracting the coronavirus last month. Though his voice still gets slightly hoarse if he talks for too long, his other symptoms are now mild, he said Friday. He had a bad...
Anchorage lifts capacity restrictions on most businesses
ANCHORAGE (AP) - Anchorage will lift its coronavirus-related capacity restrictions on many businesses and will ease limits on other places where people gather under a new emergency order set to take effect March 8. City officials announced the...
Juneau eases COVID testing rules for travelers
JUNEAU (AP) – In a move intended in part to encourage a COVID-conscious visitors to Juneau, city leaders have approved changes to local testing requirements for travelers. Those include waiving a $250 COVID-19 testing fee for non-resident t...