Articles from the May 24, 2023 edition
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Wrangell schools looking at $425,000 in additional state funding
The budget that legislators approved last week and will send to the governor for his signature into law or veto would provide about $425,000 in one-time additional state funding to the Wrangell school district for the 2023-2024 classroom year. That...
Graduates thank their teachers 'for everything you do'
There were plenty of smiles, hugs and tears of joy in a ceremony lasting nearly two hours. Not a moment of the Wrangell High School 2023 graduation was wasted as speakers and video presentations...
Legislature settles on $1,300 PFD, with bonus if oil prices climb higher
Alaska lawmakers reached a compromise on the state budget and adjourned after a one-day special session last week, approving a $1,300 Permanent Fund dividend for this fall with the possibility of a second, smaller payment next year if oil revenues...
Ander Edens has high hopes for big 4th of July ticket sales
As Wrangell prepares for its biggest event of the year - the Fourth of July - one teen has taken it upon himself to ensure that the celebration will be prosperous for years to come. Though Ander Edens...
The Way We Were
May 24, 1923 The health center is now established in the quaint old building which has stood for more than half a century on the government reserve near the courthouse, and which during the past 10 years was used for a time as a U.S....
Trident on track to start processing salmon early July
Trident Seafoods is on schedule with preparation work to reopen its processing plant on the Wrangell waterfront after a three-year closure. “We expect to start handling fish the week of July 10,” focusing on chum and pink salmon, Southeast...
Community reminded that seniors appreciate visitors
Though pandemic restrictions were hard on all community members, they were particularly hard on elders, many of whom endured long-term isolation because of the risks COVID posed to their immune systems. Now that the federal government declared the...
Forest Service to tackle backlog of maintenance projects
Wrangell’s recreational infrastructure is about to get a much-needed makeover in the coming months and years thanks to federal maintenance dollars from the Forest Service. The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), signed by then-President Donald...
Legislature needs to finish its school work next year
The Legislature earned a passing grade for approving a substantial increase in state funding for public schools — the first since 2017. Think of it as a small gold star for effort, but they still will need to retake the class next year. Rather...
PFD political compromise works for a year
The Alaska Legislature is no different than a typical American household – torn between spending every last dollar from their paycheck on immediate wants or saving some for the inevitable future needs. When the wants win out, money often is short...
Life in the fishbowl can have conflicting outlooks
There are large calendar pages tacked to a wall in the Sentinel office. May through September list the cruise ships scheduled to stop in Wrangell on specified days. We keep them there for easy reference. However, we don’t really need the pages to...
God reminds us that we are enough
You are seen! Many times, we wander through life or even just the day and feel like no one is there or no one cares. We even do things at times to get noticed. We want the adoration or appreciation of others. And yet, sometimes it is unfulfilling. No...
Reader appreciates the Sentinel's award-winning, quality journalism
I just wanted to give a big shout-out for all the recent awards the Sentinel staff received at the annual Alaska Press Club contest. I won’t try to name them all. Wrangell should be very proud of Larry Persily and the entire crew at the newspaper....
Parks department to help kids, adults stay active this summer
Whether you prefer working up a sweat on the court, concocting delicious dishes in the kitchen or taking a relaxing stroll through the woods, the Parks and Recreation department will be offering community members of all ages ways to stay active,...
Wrangell students share their See Stories statewide
Look out, Martin Scorsese You've got some up-and-coming competition on your hands. Stikine Middle School students spent the past two weeks recording video footage and conducting interviews as part of...
Tiny's Taxi makes its big debut to honor grandma
Mike Lewis, the owner of Tiny's Taxi, is committed to offering 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service, even if he has to sleep with his phone and headset to do it. The new business has been giving rides ar...
Salvation Army opens registration for youth lunch program
Summer vacation may be the best time of the year for kids, but it can be tough on working parents to provide lunches for their children during the day. The Salvation Army is partnering with the borough’s Parks and Recreation Department to keep the...
More than 4 years after launch, state ferry Hubbard finally goes to work
The Hubbard pulled away from the dock at the Ketchikan Shipyard on May 18, headed for its first passenger sailing — more than four years after it was built at a cost of about $60 million. Carrying a crew of 24 — with newly installed sleeping...
Career planning class preps students for life after high school
At a time of year when most students are more concerned with sunshine and playing than with academia, one class is giving them the ability to plan for their future so they don’t miss out on sunnier days. A job skills and career planning and explora...
By air and by sea, Scenic Eclipse passengers tour Wrangell in style
An Airbus H130 helicopter takes off from the back of the Scenic Eclipse in front of Wrangell on May 15. The helicopter is one of two in the Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours fleet and can be added to a...
Awards, scholarships ceremony highlights student achievements throughout year
As the school year wraps up and learning winds down, students were recognized for their outstanding achievements. The annual academic and scholarship award ceremony held on May 16 in the Wrangell...
Senate approves tax on e-cigarettes; House may take it up next year
Legislation to impose a state tax on e-cigarettes and vape products passed the Alaska Senate on the next to last day of the regular session, but will have to wait until next year for consideration by the House. The House did not take up the measure... Full story
Legislature sets Don Young Day to honor late congressman
The Alaska Legislature passed a bill May 16 to establish June 9 as Don Young Day, commemorating Alaska’s late congressman, who died in March 2022 after 49 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives. Young, a Republican known for his...
Legislation designates October as Filipino American History Month
October will be Filipino American History Month in Alaska if Gov. Mike Dunleavy approves a bill that passed the state House and Senate unanimously. House Bill 23, from Anchorage Rep. Genevieve Mina, is largely ceremonial — it does not declare an... Full story
Drug overdose and mental health legislation carried over to next year
A pair of criminal-justice bills that failed to win state legislative approval in the session that ended last week will be back next year. The first bill would reclassify drug-overdose deaths as second-degree murders instead of manslaughter cases. It... Full story