Articles from the September 10, 2020 edition


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  • School year starts with in-person classes

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 10, 2020

    Wrangell Public School District has opened its new year with in-person classes. The final decision between in-person and online classes was made the Thursday before the first day of school, on Sept. 3. In a school board meeting on Aug. 31, Superintendent Debbe Lancaster said Sept. 3 was the soft deadline for a final decision, upon consideration of the district's enrollment numbers and staffing needs. "Taking into account our current staffing model, student enrollment numbers, and mitigation...

  • Assembly discusses local COVID-19 risk assessment

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 10, 2020

    During the Wrangell Borough Assembly on Tuesday evening, Sept. 8 they discussed a community risk assessment of Wrangell for COVID-19. This risk assessment was created by Wrangell's Emergency Operations Center, to help determine how at-risk the community might be to the pandemic. The assessment takes into account information like the 7-day and 14-day average case count in Wrangell, the amount of community spread of COVID-19, the average number of close contacts per case, and the number of large...

  • Fishing derby results

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 10, 2020

    With the close of Labor Day weekend, Wrangell's coho and halibut derbies have come to an end. Results have been posted to the chamber of commerce's derby website. In the halibut derby, first place went to Steve Keller, bringing in a 176.8 pound halibut on Sept. 6. Second and third place went to Elmer Mork and Jeremy Stolley, catching halibut weighing 96.4 pounds and 63.4 pounds, respectively. While coming in third in the halibut derby, Stolley took first place in the coho derby. He brought in a...

  • EDC reviews grant opportunities, recommends changes

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 10, 2020

    The Wrangell Economic Development Committee met last Thursday, Sept. 3, to review grants the city is offering to individuals and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. They wanted to see how the community has received the grant opportunities so far, and what changes could be made to better improve them. According to Economic Development Director Carol Rushmore, as of Sept. 2 they have received 189 applications, requesting a total of $257,411 in assistance. Of these, 162 have been paid out in...

  • New harbor master introduced in Port Commission workshop

    Caleb Vierkant|Sep 10, 2020

    The Wrangell Port Commission held a workshop last Thursday evening, Sept. 3. During this meeting, the new harbor master for the city was introduced. Steve Miller will be taking over as harbor master in the near future. Current Harbor Master Greg Meissner will be retiring soon, according to Keeleigh Solverson with the harbor department. Meissner first announced his intentions to retire in February of this year, according to a Feb. 13 article in the Wrangell Sentinel. Meissner confirmed that he...

  • Death Notice

    Sep 10, 2020

    Royann Churchill, 71, of Wrangell, Alaska passed away on September 5, 2020 at the Wrangell Medical Center. Condolences can be sent to Kathy Binkie, PO Box 1574 Haines, AK 99827, Leonard Vazquez, 932 Lindberg Ave. Alamogordo, NM 88310. An obituary will be released at a later date. Due to coronavirus at this time, no services are planned.... Full story

  • Kodiak to be first debate between candidates in Alaska's highest-profile political race: the U.S. Senate

    Laine Welch|Sep 10, 2020

    Kodiak has again scored a first debate between candidates in one of Alaska’s most high-profile political races: the U.S. Senate. Kodiak has been hosting debates for congressional and gubernatorial hopefuls since 1999 with a single focus: Alaska’s seafood industry. The date and format for the U.S. Senate faceoff are still being finalized, but it will occur in close proximity to the annual ComFish event on September 17 and 18, bumped by Covid from its traditional dates in March, and now set to be a virtual experience. Republican Senator Dan Sul...

  • Alaska ranks last in phone, mail, online census responses

    Sep 10, 2020

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Alaska ranks last in U.S. Census responses that do not involve census takers making personal visits, including phone, mail or online participation, officials said. The state has the lowest level of “self-response” so far during the 2020 Census, Alaska Public Media reported. It had a rate of 49.5% by computer, phone or mail as of Sept. 1, while the national rate of self-response is 63%, census officials said. Alaska’s overall response rate remains about 5% lower than in 2010. “Some people are fearful or not trusting...

  • The Way We Were

    Sep 10, 2020

    September 9, 1920 Sourdoughs of Alaska read with interest lately the repetition of the name Wrangell in the press dispatches. Wrangell, in Alaska, was the first town in the territory reached by the airplanes in the flight from New York to Nome. From the Crimea came news of the activities of General (Baron) Wrangell as the head of anti-Bolshevik forces. He is undoubtedly a descendant of the other Baron Ferdinand P. von Wrangell, a governor of Alaska under Russian rule in the thirties of the last century. The bustling port of Wrangell of course...

  • Sunset

    Sep 10, 2020

    The sunset on the evening of Monday, Sept. 7, seen from Stikine Avenue....

  • Police report

    Sep 10, 2020

    August 31 Sexual Assault Alarm Agency Assist: TSA Agency Assist: Hoonah PD Citation issued to Steven Forrest for dog at large Citizen Assist Courtesy Transport September 1 Parking Complaint Theft Citizen Assist Criminal Trespass: Arrested: Christine Abrahamson, 45, on charges of Criminal Trespass 1/Title 47 – Detox. September 2 Found Property Citizen Assist: Vehicle Unlock Traffic Hazzard September 3 Dog Complaint Welfare Check Subpoena Service Reddi Report Assault September 4 Dog Complaint Agency Assist: OCS September 5 Unsecured Premises: O...

  • Dan's Dispatch

    Dan Ortiz|Sep 10, 2020

    I’ve lived in Ketchikan for almost my entire life and have seen the waves of different industries in Southeast crest and fall. Whether it is commercial fishing, timber, or tourism, our economy relies on working with what is available to us: fish, trees, and beautiful sites. A growing, healthy industry utilizes what we have in abundance: our coastline. The mariculture industry responsibly utilizes what we already have in abundance, and I am pleased to support it as it continues taking root in S...

  • Over 150 backpacks and laptops passed out by WCA

    Sep 10, 2020

    Ahead of the start of the new school year, the Wrangell Cooperative Association distributed 157 backpacks and Chromebooks. The supplies were part of the Tlingit and Haida Central Council's back-to-school backpack drive, helping ensure native children have the supplies they need for the new school year. Instead of supplies like notebooks and pencils, however, this year the kids received laptops to help them with distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic....