Articles from the June 10, 2021 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 30
By 
Businesses report hiring struggles
Much like the rest of the country, several businesses in Wrangell said hiring has become a greater struggle than in the past. “I haven’t had a full staff in a year and a half,” said Josh Young, with J&W’s. “I hired my first new employee in over a yea...
Sales tax collections better than expected
Despite the pandemic and its hit to the economy, Wrangell’s sales tax collections were higher than expected last year and, though lower this year, still coming in several hundred thousand dollars better than anticipated for the fiscal year that e...
Yancey ready to sell Rainforest Islander and retire
A little over a year after being put back in the water, the Rainforest Islander is for sale again. Owner Eric Yancey has been operating the Islander under Breakaway Ferry and Freight. He has also...
Assembly adopts policy for use of police body cameras
The borough assembly on Tuesday evening approved a policy for use of body cameras by the Wrangell Police Department. Under the policy, “All sworn Wrangell law enforcement employees will be issued a BWC (body worn camera) and trained in the basic o...
The Way We Were
June 9, 1921 A group of mining men are financing an expedition into the Cassiar District in northern British Columbia where, it is believed, they will find a new Eldorado. Stuart Henderson, a lawyer and promoter, heads the enterprise. The morning of...
Community gathers for blessing of fleet
Community members, local organizations and mariners gathered together at the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial last Sunday afternoon for a blessing of the fleet. The blessing is a tradition in seaside...
Assembly rescinds funding for Sea Level COVID testing
The borough assembly on Tuesday night rescinded $70,000 in funding to cover COVID-19 tests for employees of Sea Level Seafoods, after rejecting an amendment to expand the funding to all seafood processors in Wrangell. The assembly originally...
Fire damages trailer home on Shoemaker Loop
Friends started a GoFundMe campaign Tuesday evening for the Halee Mathis and Darryl Bartlett family after an afternoon fire damaged their trailer home on Shoemaker Loop Road. No one was home at the time of the fire, Bartlett said, except for the...
From the publisher: Alaska elections will be different next year
Yeah, I know, it's 14 months from Alaska's 2022 primary election for governor, legislative seats and two of the state's three members of Congress. And who wants to spend the summer of 2021 fretting ov...
Editorial: Borough has good plan for Institute property
It was 25 years ago last month that Wrangell received title to the former Institute property near Shoemaker Bay. The 134 acres have mostly been unused since the Bureau of Indian Affairs shut down the...
Letters to the Editor
Ortiz supports cautious draw on Permanent Fund The state budget is currently being negotiated in a House-Senate conference committee, with its final passage through both the House and Senate hopefully occurring this week. When the Alaska Legislature...
Juneau petition campaign to restrict cruise ships fails
Advocates who wanted to limit cruise ship visits to Juneau failed to gather enough signatures to place three initiatives on the October municipal election ballot. The group, Juneau Cruise Control, needed about 3,000 signatures to put the questions on...
Lawmakers let tax legislation slide to next year
Not surprisingly in a state that hasn’t raised its motor fuel tax rate in 50 years, the Alaska Legislature this session failed to approve a measure to raise the rate, nor did it pass legislation to tax e-cigarettes the same as tobacco products or rei...
King salmon derby returns after missing past 3 years
Wrangell’s first king salmon derby since 2017 is just days away from dropping hooks in the water. The derby opens Tuesday and will run through June 30, ending in time for the start of the long Fourth of July holiday weekend. The community’s 66th kin...
Chamber plans for 4-day 4th celebration
Plans are underway for a four-day Fourth of July celebration in Wrangell, with just a few gaps still to fill. Chairpersons were needed as of Monday for the July 3 Big Wheels races and July 4 parade, said Stephanie Cook, of the Wrangell Chamber of...
Wrangell sees first COVID cases in town since May 6
In the first reported cases since May 6, borough officials announced two new COVID-19 infections June 2. Both were Wrangell residents, both initially showed no symptoms when they were tested, and one had recently traveled outside of Alaska. Both were...
Torvend, Bacon wed July 3
Todd Torvend and Stacie Bacon will be married at 6 p.m. July 3 on the City Dock. A reception will follow at the Elks Lodge. “Everyone is invited who wants to share our day....
Serving up this week
Warm-ups and learning to pass the ball are part of the instruction as Wrangell Parks and Recreation kicked off its six-day youth volleyball program Monday afternoon. The department's Lucy...
Police report
Monday, May 31 Intoxicated person. Traffic stop: Citation issued for speeding. Noise complaint: Unfounded. Tuesday, June 1 Traffic complaint. Citizen assist. Wednesday, June 2 Traffic complaint. Agency assist: Ambulance. Agency assist: Arrest for...
Imagination led to fantasy, sci-fi writing for former resident
"I always enjoyed reading, I plundered the local library when I was a kid," said Max Florschutz. Florschutz, 35, lives in Utah but grew up in Wrangell. He moved away to attend college at Bringham...
Silversea confirms plans for 3 cruise stops in Wrangell
Silversea Cruises, operator of the 600-passenger Silver Muse, last week confirmed its resumption of cruises to Alaska, with its website listing three sailings that include stops in Wrangell. The Silver Muse, with capacity for 400 crew members, will...
Buyers wait for opening of Alaska salmon harvests
Eager buyers are awaiting Alaska salmon from fisheries that are opening across the state, and it’s easy to track catches and market trends for every region. Fishery managers forecast a statewide catch topping 190 million salmon this year, 61% h...
Steve Urata excelled in school and in life
Stephen Dale Urata, 69, died May 24 in Anchorage. Steve was born on Oct. 8, 1951, in Wrangell. He was the second son born to Jack Ichiro and Ann Haruco Urata. He is survived by his older brother Jack... Full story
Summer lunch program
Kindergartener Parker Christopher Mork receives a snack bag and lunch voucher from Lt. Jon Tollerud of the Wrangell Salvation Army on Monday. The Salvation Army has started a new summer snack and...
Feds say Florida lawsuit threatens Alaska cruises
The Petersburg borough is offering $10,000 in prizes during June to encourage residents who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 to get the shot. The Sleeves Up Petersburg drawing is sponsored by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services,...
