Articles from the May 13, 2021 edition
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House budget restores two offices in Wrangell
The Alaska House passed a version of the state operating budget Monday that would bring back the Department Fish and Game and Office of Children's Services to Wrangell, but the spending plan still...
Travelers cope as best they can with ferry woes
With frequent breakdowns of the Matanuska — the only state ferry scheduled to serve Wrangell through September — residents are adjusting to the uncertainty, although not always happily. Besides for canceled sailings, Mayor Steve Prysunka also is cri...
Peakaboo bunny
CeAirra Glaser loves to carry her pet rabbit, Luna, all over town to enjoy the sights, but not when it's raining hard. "Rabbits aren't supposed to get super wet," the high school sophomore said....
Ketchikan wrestling tournament spread COVID cases
A COVID-19 outbreak at a high school wrestling tournament in Ketchikan last month is linked to 23 infections in five communities across Southeast Alaska, including one case in Wrangell, according to health officials. Ketchikan High School hosted the...
The Way We Were
May 12, 1921 The opening of the Stikine River season, an event of great importance to the region, and especially to the residents of Telegraph Creek, British Columbia, and vicinity, will take place Saturday when about 25 passengers will leave Wrangel...
High school grads will walk the dock May 21
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it an unusual last year for Wrangell High School seniors, and that will culminate with a unique graduation ceremony stretched out on the city dock May 21. That assumes decent weather. The backup plan is back to the...
Students pitch in and pick up too
Jennifer Davies leads her third-grade class down Front Street on Friday to pick up trash as part of the two-day Community Collaborations project, sponsored by Wrangell Parks and Recreation. In...
Volunteers needed for Fourth; royalty kickoff set for May 31
Plans are set for the Fourth of July royalty kickoff event May 31, while planning is underway for the four-day holiday celebration a month later - but volunteers are still needed. "The big one we real...
From the publisher: Follow the laws, but fix them when they don't work
Consistency is a good thing, whether it’s parents applying rules to their children or elected officials following the law. Inconsistency can mean children misbehave because they know they will sometimes get away with it. And inconsistency can a...
Editorial: Keep politics out of fight against COVID
As if COVID-19 wasn’t destructive enough, politics has made it worse. It delayed vaccination drives and turned the needle into a political statement, dissuading millions from getting the shot. That needs to stop. If people choose not to get v...
Letter to the Editor
Herring eggs much appreciated Wrangell Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (CCTHITA) would like to thank Trixie Kalkins-Bennett of the Ketchikan Indian Community and fishermen from Ketchikan, Colleen James-Olson and Esther Reese,...
Students learn to fly without leaving the ground
High school students reached new heights with a university Upward Bound program. "We started out with some basic drones ... getting the basic mechanics down," said student Terra Hoyt. "Now we're doing...
State 'education tax' not graduating this year
Legislation to bring back a state tax on individual Alaskans to help pay for schools — which was abolished in 1980 as the state got rich with oil — looks destined for more homework and returning to class in committee next year. The bill moved out...
SEARHC urges children get vaccine
The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is encouraging everyone over the age of 12 to register for their vaccination shots. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years old....
Wrangell profits from strong stock market
Wrangell, just like most other investors, profited from stock market gains of the past year, adding about $1.5 million to the value of the municipal permanent fund over the past 15 months as the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached record highs. The...
Motor fuel tax hike legislation could run out of time
Legislation to increase Alaska’s state motor fuel tax rate for the first time since 1970 is in a calendar crunch. It was still in the House Finance Committee as of Tuesday, with lawmakers facing a May 19 adjournment deadline. The measure would d...
Governor disputes legislative change to ferry advisory board
The state Senate is considering House legislation that would restructure the 18-year-old ferry system advisory board, taking away the governor’s authority to appoint all of the members. House Bill 63 passed that body unanimously May 5, moving next t...
Hungry Beaver cuts hours until it can hire more help
Hungry Beaver Pizza, Wrangell’s longest-running pizza restaurant and part of the Marine Bar, is operating at reduced hours until the owner, Patty Kautz, 78, can hire some help. Kautz said she can’t maintain her usual pace of work. For the for...
Former parks director Ron Koch dies at 72
Ronald Grant "Papa" Koch, 72, who served as Wrangell Parks and Recreation director 1986-1997, died May 4 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. In addition to his time in... Full story
Batters up for the next four weeks
Sophie Andrews, of the Sharks, takes a swing during the Little League game last Thursday. Wrangell Little League teams will play every Wednesday and Thursday until June 10. Games begin at 6 p.m....
Petition drive underway in Juneau to limit cruise ships
Advocates of restricting cruise ship traffic to Juneau have started gathering petition signatures to put three questions on the municipal election ballot Oct. 5. The initiatives would make the ballot if supporters can gather signatures of nearly...
Fish Factor: Copper River 'first of the season' opener for reds, kings on Monday
Alaska’s 2021 salmon season officially starts on Monday with a 12-hour opener for reds and kings at the Copper River. All eyes will be on early Cordova dock prices for Alaska’s famous “first fresh salmon of the season” as an indicator of wild salmon...
Golf tournaments most every weekend to September
The loss of most cruise ship traffic to town will hurt Muskeg Meadows again this summer, but the golf course is open and it’s already on its third tournament of the season this weekend. Back in 2019, before the pandemic shut down cruise ship t...
Police report
Monday, May 3 Traffic stop: Verbal warning for no tabs displayed. Agency assist. Agency assist: Chimney fire. Criminal mischief. Tuesday, May 4 Citizen assist. Subpoena service. Agency assist: Ambulance. Citizen assist. Intoxicated person. Agency...
Seafood processor wants to take over Wrangell location
Tacoma-based Alaska Ice Seafoods, which specializes in geoducks, also markets crab under the Fathom Seafoods name, and it’s the crab and other seafood that is bringing the company to Wrangell. Alaska Ice Seafoods has asked the city to approve an a...
