Articles from the May 27, 2021 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 32
Time to celebrate
Graduation formalities were finished and down came the balloons, floating over the 14 graduates at last Friday's ceremonies at the community gym -- in the school colors, of course. For more photos,...
By Borough looks at options to use former hospital
Concerned with increasing cost estimates to repair and renovate the water-damaged 34-year-old public safety building, the borough assembly wants to explore a new option to see if it would be less expensive: Permanently move as many tenants as...
Legislators struggling to decide state budget, dividend
Alaska legislators are in the second week of a special session to finish work on the state budget for the fiscal year that starts in just five weeks, while also deciding the amount of this year's...
Assembly will return to in-person meetings
Zoom is a thing of the past for Wrangell borough assembly meetings. The next meeting June 8 will be in person, no more freeze frames, no more digital hassles. The assembly voted unanimously Tuesday evening to repeal the resolution directing online me...
There's hope for more cruise ship visits this summer
Congressional action exempting large cruise ships from having to stop in Canada on their summer voyages to Alaska will provide a boost to heavily tourism-dependent Southeast communities. Although Wrangell was never on the itineraries of the largest...
The Way We Were
May 26, 1921 That the Alaska Sanitary Packing Co. cannery in Wrangell will run this season is now a certainty, a cablegram having been received from O.A. Brown yesterday to that effect. It is not known how long the run will be, but it is expected...
Cruise ships return after Congress votes to waive required stop in Canada
Norwegian Cruise Line was the first operator to resume ticket sales for voyages to Alaska after Congress passed a bill that could help save the state’s annual summer pilgrimage of cruise ship visitors. Norwegian’s sailings will start the first wee...
Rooney, Carney win state wrestling titles
It had been about a dozen years since Wrangell High School wrestlers came home with two state title winners, and this year juniors Ryan Rooney and Liana Carney both took first place in their weight...
From the publisher: Postal Service needs to get back its ZIP
I know things change and I too sit around with friends and bemoan how it used to be, how we miss the old days, how much better things were then. Good thing I went online to complain to friends instead...
Editorial: COVID is still here, especially for unvaccinated
Just a couple weeks ago, Ketchikan reported 20 new COVID-19 cases in a single day and had more than 100 active cases in the borough. A week ago, the community still had more than 80 active cases and...
Letters to the Editor
We need to preserve the biggest of the kings Tyee is a Native word that has several meanings. The Big One is the one that describes a 30-pound or bigger king salmon. At the south end of Wrangell...
Wrangell drops face mask policy for fully vaccinated
Following new federal guidelines, the Wrangell borough has decided that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are no longer required to wear face masks in borough facilities, programs and activities. Individual businesses can set their...
School board, teachers agree on 3-year contract
The Wrangell teachers union and school board have agreed on a new three-year contract that starts this summer and includes a 1% raise each year and higher out-of-pocket deductibles for teachers enrolled in the district’s insurance plan. The c...
Dogs not to blame for waste piles at park
The weeks of cleaning up after others and asking pet owners to pick up what their dogs leave behind looks to have made a difference at Volunteer Park. Volunteer picker-upper Joan Sargent was at the park last Friday and said, “It’s so much bet...
Swimming pool needs lifeguards
The community swimming pool has had to cancel a couple of sessions due to a lifeguard shortage, but a training class is scheduled for June 1-4 and it’s still open for sign-up. “This year we really haven’t been able to recruit,” said Parks and Rec...
Salvation Army offers summer lunches, snacks for kids
The Salvation Army has rounded up enough community donations to provide free lunches for 50 children a week during June and July. Separate donations are funding snacks for 75. “People have donated specifically to make sure kids in Wrangell have f...
Changes to ferry system advisory board await governor's decision
Not a single legislator voted against the bill to reconfigure the public advisory board for the Alaska Marine Highway System, taking away from governors the power to appoint half the members. The Senate president and House speaker would each appoint...
Wrangell 1 of 4 cities selected for survey on pandemic hit to tourism
Wrangell is one of four Southeast communities selected for a joint U.S. Forest Service and University of Alaska Southeast project to learn more about how the pandemic has affected the tourism industry in the region and what it means for the economy...
Young gardeners at work
Evergreen Elementary School students last week exercised their green thumbs at the school's annual plant and seed sale and garden cleanup and prep for the summer. Fourth grader Brogan Booker spreads...
Joanne Roberts 'lived a colorful life'
Joanne J. Roberts, a 27-year Wrangell resident, died May 13 at the SouthEast Regional Health Consortium's Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center. She was 74, and died of pulmonary disease, her family said.... Full story
Lawmakers pass low number of bills
While the Alaska Legislature continues to work in special session this week on the state budget and deciding the amount of this year’s Permanent Fund dividend, lawmakers managed to pass 34 bills before the regular session ended last week — among the...
Cheer squad takes second in Southeast
The Wrangell High School cheer squad placed second in Division 2A in this year's virtual Southeast regional competition, and now they have the plaque and medals to prove it. The squad sent in videos...
Police make drug bust at post office
Wrangell police, assisted by several other law enforcement agencies, arrested Wilson Taylor Boon, 32, on a felony drug charge at the post office May 19. Boon was being held at the Wrangell jail as of Monday on a $10,000 cash bail. He was arrested in...
SEAPA still reviewing fire damage
The Southeast Alaska Power Agency continues to review damage and repair costs after a fire at its Zimovia Highway warehouse and office building May 13. The fire did not affect electrical service to the community. The Sentinel last week incorrectly...
