Sorted by date Results 1 - 20 of 20
The Wrangell Borough Assembly began several days of budget workshops last Monday, June 1. The meeting opened with an overview of the borough's general fund for FY 2021, and then went into specific department budgets. Points of interest in the meeting included the budgets for the fire department, police department, and the public safety building. The general fund is facing a deficit this upcoming year. Total revenues and transfers for the general fund for FY 2021 are estimated at about $5.32 mill...
In a special meeting last Thursday evening, May 28, the borough assembly approved the purchase of a new ambulance. This purchase, according to Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen, is to strengthen a potential weak spot in the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It became glaringly apparent, recently, that a huge gap in our local medical capacity is an ambulance," she said. "You heard Captain Sprehe speak tonight, now that we have to consider every individual a screen positive because so many...
The Southeast Alaska Indiginous Transboundary Commission has been led by Wrangellite Tis Peterman since 2017. Before that, Peterman was part of the group that put the organization together back in 2014, representing the Wrangell Cooperative Association. SEITC has worked to raise awareness of the risks transboundary mining represents to Southeast Alaskan waters since their founding. The organization will be continuing this mission without Peterman moving forward, however, as she intends to... Full story
After several years with the Wrangell Public School District, Wrangell resident Drew Larrabee will be leaving town to take a new position as K-12 principal in Tok. Larrabee and his family first moved to Wrangell eight years ago, he said. He has been the fabrication teacher for Wrangell High School for the past eight years. Larrabee said that he and his family are going to miss the Wrangell community and school district a lot, but this move is meant to help him advance his career goals. "I had...
The local Resource Advisory Committee, which covers the areas of Wrangell, Petersburg, and Kake, held a series of meetings last week. The RAC, for those who are unaware, is a committee of residents of these three areas that advise the Forest Service on what projects to pursue. There were a variety of interesting and pertinent projects covered in the recent RAC meetings. In their meeting on May 27, the RAC elected committee co-chairs Kim Powell and Patrick Fowler. They also approved of a proposal to spend $40,000 on dock repairs in the City of...
In the May 21 edition of the paper, in the story about the senior awards night, it was reported that the Joel Wing and Allen Benjamin Scholarships were awarded from the Wrangell Emblem Club. These two scholarships actually come from the Elks Lodge....
The Wrangell Convention and Visitor Bureau met last Thursday, May 28. The main topic that day was an ongoing discussion of how the bureau can improve Wrangell's social media presence. To promote local businesses and encourage tourists to come to Wrangell, the CVB is interested in using social media to achieve these goals. Lucy Robinson, with the Parks and Rec Department, was invited into the meeting to talk about important aspects of social media marketing they need to keep in mind. "Lucy has of...
The Wrangell Parks and Rec Department hosted a workshop last Wednesday, May 27, to discuss their plans to reopen. The main Parks and Rec facility, housing the gym and swimming pool, closed on March 13 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the state has been moving to reopen, the department is putting plans in place to do the same. Parks and Rec Director Kate Thomas explained in a presentation that they would be doing a soft opening, in line with state guidelines from phases three and...
Prior to their budget workshop on Tuesday evening the Wrangell Borough Assembly held an emergency meeting to pass an ordinance establishing quarantine requirements for out of state travelers. Emergency Ordinance No. 978, according to the agenda packet for the meeting, requires that travelers from outside of Alaska, or outside of the United States, quarantine for two weeks when they come to Wrangell. However, this quarantine can be bypassed if the traveler in question has proof of a negative...
On Wednesday, May 27, members of the Wrangell Unified Command met via videoconference to consolidate pandemic information and response from respective local organizations. Wrangell Medical Center (WMC) leadership commented on expansion of testing for select community organizations, while the City and Borough of Wrangell (CBW) Manager announced new cleaning supply stock and the potential purchase of an ambulance with CARES Act funding. Representatives from Emergency Medical Services (EMS),...
May 12: Wolfe Larsen was arraigned on charges of leaving the scene of an accident. The hearing was scheduled to continue on May 19. May 18: A minor offense trial was held between the City and Borough of Wrangell vs. Myrna Torgramsen II, on charges of a dangerous dog violation. The defendant failed to appear. A default judgment was entered, ordering Torgramsen to pay a fine of $300 and a $20 police training surcharge, as well as costs for entering and collecting on the default judgment. A felony first appearance was held for Lolita Larsen, charg...
May 25 Agency Assist: Hoonah P.D. Suspicious Circumstance. May 26 Agency Assist: Hoonah P.D. Arson: Unfounded. May 27 Trespass. Agency Assist: Hoonah P.D. Traffic Stop: Verbal warning to park vehicle until brakes fixed. Probation violation. May 28 Found Property. Vehicle Theft. Domestic Violence. Agency Assist: Search and Rescue. Driving Complaint. Citizen Report Driving Under Influence: Unfounded. May 29 Subpoena Service. Agency Assist: Line Crew. Agency Assist: Fire Department. Traffic Stop: Baylee Thrush, 22 : Citation issued for speeding....
The COVID-19 pandemic has dominated our lives, and it has been the focus of Alaska leaders in an effort to slow the spread. However, I also want to begin focusing on what we will face once the pandemic subsides. Alaska has challenges different and greater than other states, such as the following declines in: the financial markets tied to the Permanent Fund, demand for seafood, the visitor industry, the rural healthcare system, and the oil industry. The Alaska economy cannot be rebuilt unless we...
Fred John Bache, 78 died April 2, 2020, at home with the love and support of his family and friends. He was born in Aberdeen, Washington on June 7, 1941, to Swiss immigrants August Bache and Johanna Stuber-Bache. He went to schools in Aberdeen, graduating from Weatherwax High School in 1959, Grays Harbor College in 1961, and then completing his undergraduate and advanced degrees at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1966. He supported his education by working for Mayr Brothers Logging Company and commercial halibut fishing in... Full story
Recycled fishing nets from Cordova will soon help launch a new clothing line by Grundens, the maker of the iconic foul weather gear “built by fishermen for fishermen for over a century.” The Copper River Watershed Project is “refreshing” its net recycling program underway for a decade that’s been backed by the Pacific Marine States Commission. Now, the program wants to broaden its base and stand on its own, said Shae Bowman, Watershed operations manager. “The vision with a new program is to create a self-sustaining recycling program tha...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Ocean Beauty Seafoods and Icicle Seafoods Inc. announced plans Friday to merge parts of their operations under a new company. The merger, set to take effect Monday, will include Ocean Beauty and Icicle shoreside plants in Alaska, according to a release. Financial terms were not released. Ocean Beauty and Icicle Seafoods each will own a 50% stake in the new company, OBI Seafoods LLC, the release states. Mark Palmer, president and CEO of Ocean Beauty, will be CEO of the new venture. John Woodruff, chief operating officer a...
Last Thursday evening, May 27, some Wrangell residents were recognized for their heroic actions during a fire. On Saturday morning of May 16, a trailer at the Panhandle Trailer Court caught fire. Dan Flickinger (left), Duke Aitken (right), and George Howell (not present) helped rescue the trailer's resident, Norm Canaday. They used a mattress to help Canaday jump out of his back door safely and get away from the burning building. Members of the fire department and city government convened...
With the recent death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis at the hands of police, there have been protests and riots across the country against police brutality. In Wrangell, last Sunday evening, a candlelight memorial service was held. According to the event's Facebook page, the memorial was put together to recognize lives lost to police brutality in America. A crowd of about 45 stood in silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time that George Floyd had a police officer's knee on his...
June 3, 1920 Thomas Dalgity last evening received a cablegram from United States Marshall J. M. Tanner appointing him deputy marshal at Wrangell, the appointment to take effect as soon as his oath of office reaches him. Mr. Dalgity has been jailer in Wrangell for several years. Since the death of H. J. Wallace on May 5 Mr. Dalgrity has been acting deputy marshal. In the meantime L. K. Carson has been acting as jailer and will probably continue to hold this position under the new deputy marshal. June 1, 1945 During the month of May Wrangell...
In an effort to help local businesses stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City and Borough of Wrangell recently made a bulk order of hand sanitizer to distribute around town. Borough Clerk Kim Lane said they purchased 48 gallons of hand sanitizer from WESCO, a supply chains solutions company. Business owners were invited to stop by city hall last Thursday afternoon, May 28, to receive 16 oz. of hand sanitizer for their stores. Pictured here are city employees Lane (right) and Aleisha...
