Articles from the June 29, 2022 edition
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Loss of construction, Crossings and Trident jobs adds up for Wrangell
Two key economic indicators are falling in Wrangell—the unemployment rate, and the number of people in the labor force. Combined, the two datapoints help explain the ongoing worker shortage in the community, stressing out business owners who have t...
New Anan deck finished in time for season; restrooms could delay opening
The final inspection took place on June 16. An entirely new observation deck and shelter are still fresh with the smell of sealant. Anan Wildlife Observatory is almost ready for visitors at the start...
State ups catch limit for summer chinook troll fishery
Southeast trollers will be able to target about 23,000 more chinook salmon than last year in the upcoming summer troll opener, the Department of Fish and Game announced last week. All told, 106,900 treaty kings are allotted to the initial summer...
Jet boat operators look to ride growing wave of tourism
Michael Hicks has something to shout about. It's Wrangell. "I'm loud about Wrangell right now," said the senior director of marketing for American Queen Voyages. The company operates the 342-foot...
The Way We Were
June 29, 1922 The Fourth of July sports committee has arranged for a boxing match on the Fourth between Armie Allison, of Wrangell, and Joe Hill, of Petersburg. Both men are experienced boxers who have splendid records, and there is every reason to...
Borough finance director takes on two more jobs to give back to community
Running has provided Mason Villarma with the discipline needed to set and achieve goals, not only with the sport but in other aspects of life. It's training he will lean on as he is taking on two new...
Fourth of July schedule includes returning and new events
The fun is returning with four days full of games, music, food, booms, pops, pows and wows. In addition to all the popular events held at last year's Fourth of July celebration, six more have been inc...
Eric Halstead still on top of salmon derby leader board
Starting the final week of the Wrangell King Salmon Derby, Eric Halstead was holding his lead with a 43.4-pound catch. Almost four dozen fish had been weighed in as of Sunday evening, with no one coming close to Halstead in the second week of competi...
Let's not let politics ruin the nation's holiday
The colonies — later to become states — figured out that the new nation would be stronger as one, uniting behind a common cause and set of laws. Sure, there were intense debates around the meeting rooms, differing factions and multiple dis...
Suspending gas tax doesn't deserve any mileage
Election-year politics have a way of bringing bad ideas to the top — when they belong at the bottom of the settling pond. Yes, fuel prices are high, painfully so in many communities and particularly so for people and businesses that have no choice b...
Alaska needs to work at reversing the outmigration
By Nolan Klouda Executive director University of Alaska Center for Economic Development Anchorage Your favorite restaurant has an hour wait, even though you see empty tables. Operating hours for small businesses are reduced despite long lines....
Police do not recommend charges in milk mix-up at Juneau school
There is “nothing obvious” to recommend criminal charges in the milk mix-up earlier this month in Juneau when 12 children and two adults drank floor sealant served to them at breakfast during a summer program at Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ – Glacier Valley El...
State ferry system still short of hiring enough crew
The Alaska Marine Highway System has enough crew to operate its summer schedule, though it still lacks a sufficient cushion to handle worker illnesses, injuries and personal leave without holding over staff for extra shifts. “We have been holding p...
Alaska Airlines reaches deal with ground personnel union
SEATTLE (AP) — A union has reached a deal with Alaska Airlines for a two-year contract extension that provides substantial raises for 5,300 gate agents, stores personnel and office staff, as well as for ramp workers who load cargo. The Seattle T...
Country music star strikes a chord as Alaska Seaplanes pilot
Next time you're on a flight with Alaska Seaplanes, your pilot might be a country music star. Sam Riggs, a singer and songwriter with more than 30 million streams on Spotify and 30,000 subscribers,...
Court decides it's 3 candidates, not 4, after Gross drops out
The Alaska Supreme Court on Saturday upheld a lower court ruling that will keep Republican Tara Sweeney off the ballot for the August special election in Alaska’s U.S. House race. In a brief written order, the high court on an appeal affirmed the d...
Prescott's latest book mixes poetry, recipes and traditional knowledge
Wrangell author, poet and Southeast newspaper columnist Vivian Faith Prescott's latest book isn't like any other of her writings. She produced a collection of poetry and recipes after years of work,...
Elections Division rejects challenge to legislator's candidacy
JUNEAU (AP) — The Alaska Division of Elections has determined that Wasilla Republican state Rep. David Eastman is eligible to run for reelection. Eastman’s candidacy faced challenges over his affiliation with the far-right Oath Keepers group. Div...
Cruise ship bumps into ice near Hubbard Glacier
The 848-foot-long Norwegian Sun cruise ship bumped into a chunk of ice last Saturday while traveling to Hubbard Glacier, which drains into Yakutat Bay. Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed on Monday that the ship canceled its port call in Skagway on...
Jury finds for Northwest tribe in salmon farm accident
SEATTLE (AP) — A Washington state jury on June 22 awarded the Lummi Indian tribe $595,000 over the 2017 collapse of a net pen where Atlantic salmon were being raised — an event that elicited fears of damage to wild salmon runs and prompted the Leg...
Mel Bjorge dies at 53
Melville "Mel" John Bjorge, 53, of Wrangell, passed away on Sept. 12, 2021, from natural causes, the family said. Mel was born June 25, 1968, at Bishop Rowe Hospital. He was the last baby born at... Full story
Veteran Richard Wiederspohn dies at 72
Richard “Rick” Wiederspohn, 72, of Wrangell, passed away on May 27. Rick moved to Wrangell in 1966. He was a Vietnam veteran with the U.S. Army and a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge. Rick had a brief battle of pneumonia. He was surrounded by lov... Full story
SEARHC continues to expand behavioral health services in Sitka
SEARHC is continuing to expand its behavioral health services in Sitka and also to serve residents of other Southeast communities, an official of the health care provider has told the Sitka borough assembly. “I wanted to bring your attention to some...
Truth and healing commission would look at Native American boarding schools
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The federal government has a responsibility to Native American tribes, Alaska Native villages and Native Hawaiian communities to fully support and revitalize education, language and cultural practices that prior boarding s...
Skagway assembly votes $200,000 in child care subsidies
The Skagway borough assembly has earmarked $200,000 in subsidies for two licensed child care start-ups. The funding comes amid a child care crisis in Skagway that Assemblymember Reba Hylton, sponsor of the funding, said has been a chronic issue....
