Sorted by date Results 1 - 20 of 20
In last week's assembly meeting, Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen reported that the city had recently been informed by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that they had surpassed allowable levels of HAA5 in the water supply. HAA5, or Haloacetic Acids, is a byproduct of organic material in the water being treated with chlorine during the disinfection process. "It is important to remember organic material is always present in the source water treated for Wrangell's drinking water,"...
During Southeast Alaska's record breaking rainfall this summer, the Swan Lake hydroelectric facility reached its full capacity for the first time since the project was upgraded three years ago, according to a press release from Sen. Bert Stedman's office and Southeast Alaska Power Agency. Water levels reached the flashboards and forced a reservoir spill on July 24. The upgrade expanded the capacity of the hydroproject from 86,000 acre-feet to 111,800 acre-feet, according to the press release. Th...
The Freeberg family moved to Wrangell in April of 2019. Kyle Freeberg moved here to take a position as the town's state wildlife trooper. He has a total of three years of experience as a state trooper, the previous two spent in Fairbanks. His year as state trooper in Wrangell involved enforcing state laws, educating the public about important hunting and fishing regulations, and as he said in a July 2019 interview, working to increase collaboration between himself and the community. This...
Construction on the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial is coming along well, according to Mariners' Memorial Board Treasurer Jeff Jabusch. The steel for the memorial's walls themselves has been ordered, he said. The walls, once complete, will be where the plaques will eventually be placed. "We're hoping to get at least one wall actually finished and up before winter, and then get these three walls poured," Jabusch said. "Then we'll get everything leveled off to grade with gravel, and then probably won'...
The new Wrangell Medical Center is nearing completion, according to a press release from SEARHC. Several crews are on-site working on siding, concrete, drywall, and other aspects of the construction project. According to the press release, the facility is 80 percent complete. Installation of exterior siding is nearly complete, with only the courtyard walls and south-facing side of the facility left. The majority of plumbing has been completed, as well. Electric crews are currently installing...
Wrangell Parks and Rec announced a new photo contest for the public to participate in last Tuesday, Sept. 22. The "Pups In Parks" contest will give Wrangell dog owners a chance to go enjoy the great outdoors with their canines, and take a few pictures while they're out there. There will even be a chance for their dogs to be featured in a new parks and recreation calendar. Wrangell is a rather dog-friendly town, Parks and Rec Director Kate Thomas said. There are somewhere around 550 dogs on the...
The Public Safety Building has been a topic of much discussion and concern to city government. The building, which houses Wrangell’s police department, fire department, court, and DMV, is in disrepair. It was first constructed in 1987, according to Capital Facilities Director Amber Al-Haddad. Much of the discussion has been whether or not replacing the entire building would be cheaper than renovating it, and about the growing list of issues present in the building. Another problem has recently been added to the list, according to Borough M...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska reported six more deaths from the coronavirus — the highest number of deaths in a single day since the pandemic began, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services. The state also reported 128 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the most recent available data. The deaths include three men in their 60s, one man in his 50s and two men in their 70s. The state had previously reported a high of four deaths on Aug. 25. As of Friday, there were 4,424 active cases of the coronavirus in the sta...
A contractor at Southeast Alaska Power Agency’s Tyee Lake hydroelectric facility accidentally entered an incorrect control system input, resulting in a power outage in Wrangell and Petersburg Saturday morning, said SEAPA CEO Trey Acteson. SEAPA staff were conducting a training session associated with recent control upgrades when the error was made. Tyee Lake generation was lost at 9:15 A.M. on Sept. 26, said Robert Siedman, an electrical engineer with SEAPA. Power was restored 25 minutes later at 9:40 A.M. All the Wrangell and Petersburg c...
Sept. 30, 1920 The school benefit entertainment and dance given in the Redmen’s hall Friday evening was a huge success, both socially and financially. Hon. P.C. McCormack, treasurer of the school board, acted as chairman for the occasion, and his preliminary remarks met with a ready response. The following program was exceptionally well rendered, each number receiving an encore: Piano solo-Miss Erma Grant, Song-Miss Edna Mae Bidwell, Song-Miss Marjorie Johnson, Piano Solo- Glen Matheson, Vocal Solo - Miss Lillian Kelley, Irish Jig - Miss M...
Monday, Sept. 21 Agency Assist: Alarm. Illegal Parking: Vehicle parked in front of fire hydrant by middle school. Tuesday, Sept. 22 Threats. Driving Complaint. Dog Complaint: Barking. VCOR: Arrest, for Violation Conditions of Release. Wednesday, Sept. 23 Citizen Assist. Parking Complaint. Found Property. Dog Attack. Emotionally Disturbed Person. Thursday, Sept. 24 Agency Assist: US Forest Service. Friday, Sept. 25 Agency Assist: Harbor Department. Traffic Stop. Saturday, Sept. 26 Three Agency Assists for Hoonah P.D. Suspicious Circumstance....
The Aspen Daily News in Aspen, Colorado runs a statement every day on their front page Flag that states: “If you don’t want it printed, don’t let it happen.” It’s a bit brash for our taste, but the words apply to this newspaper when it comes to public record reporting that appears on our pages. Recently we’ve had three persons request that we remove police and court reports that pertain to cases they were involved in. They cite invasion of privacy concerns and correctly state that the information will jeopardize future hiring opportuniti...
To the Editor: My dad lived in Wrangell from 1944-1949. There was a gentleman who worked at the power house and handmade boats. He gave my dad one and it is amazing. My dad, now 85, was wondering if anyone knows his name and if his family is still in Wrangell. I know this is a long shot but he said that he should email the Sentinel. He however cannot see well so I am emailing you. My dad's name is Charles Milles and his mom was a teacher, Grace Montana (Logan) Milles. Any suggestions? Michelle (Milles) Evans, Phone: 907-322-1461. Email:...
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the online Southeast Conference Annual Meeting. The organization has a long history of advocating for our region’s people and economy. Did you know that it originally started as a group to promote the creation of a transportation system in Southeast, which went on to become the Alaska Marine Highway System? Of course, since then, it has grown to include all industries pertinent to Southeast, such as mining, timber, tourism, and fishing and m...
Wrangell's high school swim team held their first meet of the season last Friday and Saturday. Coach Jamie Roberts said this was a virtual meet, with Wrangell swimmers competing in their own pool against other swimmers across the region. Friday results Aaliyah Messmer swam 31.02 in the 50-yard freestyle, and 1:11.26 in the 100-yard freestyle. Renee Roberts swam 25.89 in the 50-yard freestyle, and 57.12 in the 100-yard freestyle. Jack Roberts swam 25.99 in the 50-yard freestyle, and 57.79 in the...
Wrangell's cross country team competed in their second meet of the season Saturday, Sept. 28. Like their first meet of the season, on Sept. 12, it was a virtual meet against several other competing schools. Results were provided to the Wrangell Sentinel by WHS Activities Director Trisa Rooney. Rooney said that there were five competing teams: Juneau Douglas, Thunder Mountain, Gustavus, Petersburg, and Wrangell. For the boys' race, first place for Wrangell went to Ethan Blatchley with a time of...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal appeals court will not hear an Alaska absentee ballot lawsuit before the Nov. 3 general election. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request Tuesday for an emergency order ahead of the election. The decision likely eliminates the possibility a judge will require the state to send absentee ballot request forms to all voters before November, which was the goal of the lawsuit by the Disability Law Center of Alaska and other plaintiffs. Alaska voters must request absentee ballots to vote by mail. The state p...
Some surprising results are revealed in the first of a series of briefing papers showing how Alaska’s seafood industry has been affected by the pandemic from dock to dinner plates. The updates, compiled by the McDowell Group for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), show that so far the amount of seafood that has been harvested is in line with previous years. “While 2020 harvests have been significantly lower in some salmon fisheries…the declines are due to weak runs rather than reduced effort or other forces that might have some...