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It’s a two-sided coin, this. An opportunity to say goodbye to an entire community but also something that can only be written in broad strokes, absent the hugs and the clasping of hands that I usually prefer for my goodbyes. The reason is that today was my last day at the Wrangell Sentinel. I start my new job as a food and culture writer with the USA Today network in Boston in just five days. So, to all those who’ve been kind to me at any point in the past nine months — even if it was just a tiny little moment — I’m clasping my hands together,...
I am having a problem as I age. Well, sure, lots of problems, like my legs moving about as smoothly as an engine with cold motor oil on a winter day. Or a memory that drains faster than a smartphone left on video streaming overnight. Or an arthritic neck that moves about as easily as a frozen, rusted bolt. But I can handle those. They are physical reminders of aging. I know they are inevitable and cyclical, like the tides. So I just wait for the tide to change and go about life, though I did add a second handrail to the staircase at home. But...
Though a $5 million federal grant to help pay for expanding the generating capacity at the Tyee Lake hydroelectric station is “clearly frozen,” the head of the Southeast Alaska Power Agency hopes the funds will be released soon and the project can stay on schedule. The agency’s lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and others “feel fairly confident … that freeze will be thawed,” Robert Siedman, chief executive officer of the Southeast Alaska Power Agency, or SEAPA, said earlier this month. The Tyee money is caught up in the nationwide spending fr...
Before the high school boys basketball season started, head coach Cody Angerman said his goal was to win state. But he also said, “If we’re the best team possible by the time March comes around, that’s the best I can ask for.” After a tight second place Southeast finish to defending champions Metlakatla, the boys team is very much still in the running to achieve both those goals. The boys took home the silver medal after winning two of their three games March 5-8 at the Southeast tournament in Ketchikan. The Wolves got out to an impress...
For their senior project, Addy Andrews and Aubrey Wynne are helping to coach the middle school girls volleyball team. During their four-year careers playing high school volleyball, they three-peated as Southeast champions, with just as many showings at the state tournament. Now, with their varsity volleyball careers behind them, Andrews and Wynne hope they can help the next generation find the same passion for the sport they love. "We try and make sure that they enjoy it," Wynne said. "We both...
A group of homeowners has filed a lawsuit against the Native Village of Eklutna over a casino planned near Anchorage. It would be the third tribal-owned casino in the state, following by more than a decade much smaller operations in Metlakatla and Klawock in Southeast Alaska. The Eklutna gaming hall would be built on about eight acres of land, a few miles off the Glenn Highway, about 25 miles driving miles north of downtown Anchorage. “There’s a lot of horses and dog mushing, and that kind of activity out here,” said Debbie Ossiander, who lives...
The high school boys basketball team lost both games at Metlakatla on Jan. 3 and 4. The pair of away matchups was the second half of a four-game series against Metlakatla, dating back to Dec. 20-21 when the Chiefs came to town for Wrangell’s home opener. Despite a valiant third-quarter surge, Wrangell’s efforts were not enough to surpass Metlakatla’s early lead in the Friday game. After the Chiefs closed out the game with a strong fourth, Wrangell started off the weekend with a 41-55 loss. The Saturday matchup was more of the same. Wrang...
The Wrangell boys basketball team lost both home games to Metlakatla in their first competition of the season on Dec. 20 and 21 but playing in Metlakatla this weekend will give the high school squad an opportunity to get even with their southern rivals after an early bye week. The two-game series (one game Friday and one game Saturday) started off with a bit of a rude awakening for Wrangell. Metlakatla won the Friday game 49-26 in a triumphant display in the Wolves’ home gym. On Saturday, Wrangell was far more competitive, though the Chiefs s...
"You have to do hard better." That's what high school girls basketball coach Christy Good keeps telling her players. It's a phrase that she likes to fall back on, a mantra of sorts. Though those six words may not have any tangible meaning, they encapsulate Good's understanding of the game of basketball: Do the hard stuff and results will follow. Good, who is now in her fourth season as head coach, sat down with the Sentinel on Dec. 5 to discuss the upcoming season, her mindset as a coach and...
State officials and industry leaders trying to rescue the ailing Alaska seafood industry are facing daunting challenges, recently released numbers show. The industry lost $1.8 billion last year, the result of low prices, closed harvests and other problems, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Direct employment of harvesters last year fell by 8% to the lowest level since 2001, when counts of harvesting jobs began, the Alaska Department of Labor said. The monthly...
After a two-week hiatus, the girls high school volleyball team returned to the court, winning six of their seven matches in the second and final seeding tournament of the year. Their record was enough to secure the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Southeast championships held in Craig later this month. The three-day tournament in Petersburg Nov. 7-9 is one of just two tournaments that determines the seeding for the Nov. 21-23 Southeast championships. The Wolves got their Petersburg play off to a hot start on Nov. 7, brushing aside the hosts in two...
Wrangell resident Sandy Churchill was elected Alaska Native Sisterhood grand president for 2024-2025 Outgoing ANS Grand President Daphyne Alby and President Emeritus Millie Schoonover visited Wrangell to bestow the honors in ceremonies Oct. 24. Virginia Oliver was elected second grand vice president. Both are from Wrangell ANS Camp No. 1, where Churchill is president and Oliver is secretary. The Wrangell camps of ANS and the Alaska Native Brotherhood are scheduled to host the organization's...
The Wrangell High School wrestling team secured six podium finishes at the Juneau Southeast Showdown on Oct. 26-27. Senior Vanessa Johnson finished first in the girls 165-pound bracket while sophomore Jackson Carney continued his unbeaten season, finishing first in the boys 140-pound class. Ben Houser, Della Churchill, Cody Barnes and sophomore Hailey Cook all finished second in their respective events. Senior Kyan Stead came in fourth place for the boys 125-pound weight class. Of all the...
SALVATION ARMY Christmas toy assistance sign-up is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays until Nov. 5. Bring identification for all adults and birth certificates for children in the home. Thanksgiving sign-up is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays until Nov. 12. Sign up at The Salvation Army. For more information or to schedule sign-ups for another day or time call 907-874-3753. COMMUNITY CHORALE REHEARSALS 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Mondays at the high school music room for the Christmas concert. Use the back entrance. All singers are welcome. Contact...
The Wrangell High School wrestling team competed in its first meet of the season this past weekend in Hoonah. The three-day meet Oct. 17-19 was a success for the Wolves, as they boasted four tournament champions, three second-place finishers and two bronze medalists. On the girls side, senior Della Churchill finished atop the podium in the 120-pound bracket, while Hailey Cook won the 114-pound weight class against her nationally ranked opponent in the gold medal match. For the boys, sophomore...
COMMUNITY CHORALE REHEARSALS 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at the high school music room for the Christmas concert. Use the back entrance. All singers are welcome. Regular rehearsals will be on Mondays starting the following week. Contact Bonnie at 907-796-9632 or bonniede@aptalaska.net for more information. FALL STORYTIME for children 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays at the Irene Ingle Public Library. Stories, crafts and snacks. This week’s theme is Alaska Day, the anniversary of the transfer of the territory of Alaska from Russia to the United S...
Head coach Brian Herman has been confident about the girls volleyball team all season long — like, really, really confident. After this week, one thing is clear: Herman has every right to be. The team won eight matches in half as many days, including a seven-match stretch at the Southeast seeding tournament where the Wolves did not drop a single set. The seeding tournament was a three-day affair, with the first match on Oct. 10 before competition wrapped up on Saturday, Oct. 12. It was the first of two seeding tournaments the team will play in...
Third-year head coach Jack Carney feels good about his team, and he's got his eyes fixed on a handful of state titles. "We're in a high point," he said. Carney expects 22 wrestlers for the 2024 season: eight girls and 14 boys. There will be just three seniors on the roster, including returning standout captain Della Churchill. A two-time region champion, Churchill was voted Outstanding Female Wrestler of the tournament at the Southeast championships last year. This year, her coach hopes she can...
These Wolves just keep getting quicker. At the Ketchikan Invitational on Sept. 20-21, Wrangell swimmers claimed 14 new personal-best times — 12 at the individual level and two by the relay teams. The trend pleased head coach Jamie Roberts, who at the start of the season told the Sentinel that incremental improvement is her No. 1 priority for the 2024 swimmers. Roberts said swimmers often see quick improvement after the first month of practice as their endurance levels reacclimate to in-season swimming. But as the team wraps up its second m...
STATE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE will be in Wrangell on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 18-19, and will see clients in the clinic and conduct hearing and vision screenings at Head Start and the elementary school. Immunizations, birth control and STD screening, well-child exams for kids up to age 7, TB screening and medication, Narcan kits and medication disposal bags will be offered. The Public Health Center is in the Kadin Building, 215 Front St. Call 907-723-4611 to make an appointment. RECYCLE SALE FUNDRAISER for St. Frances Animal Rescue and BRAVE a...
NOLAN CENTER THEATER “It Ends With Us” rated PG-13, at 6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13-15. The drama romance runs 2 hours and 10 minutes; tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for children under age 12. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. COMMUNITY MARKET from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Nolan Center. Check out the locally grown and handcrafted item BABY RAVEN READS 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Nolan Center classroom. Theme is Devil’s Club. Alaska Native families with child...
BASKETBALL SKILLS CLINIC 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept 6; 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7; 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 8. Coach Mark Cascio will teach shooting with confidence, effectiveness on ball defense, quick and clever transition, essential actions to score. At the high school gym. For eighth through 12th graders. Walk-in registration, $50. Scholarships available. Call Coach Good 707-779-9505 or Coach Allen 907-305-0910 with any questions. Sponsored by the AAU Sports team. MUSKEG MEADOWS championship 18-hole, individual...
The cross-country season is officially underway. The boys team finished second overall in the team score, with Boomchain Loucks taking first handily. On the girls side of things, Kalee Herman was Wrangell's highest finisher, with Bella Ritchie crossing the finish line just behind her. The girls finished in 11th place at the race Saturday, Aug. 24, in Petersburg. Wrangell raced against all Southeast schools in the 5K race. And though head coach Mason Villarma saw the meet as a "test effort,"...
Some of the best times in life are when a bad thing turns into a good thing. When frustration and disappointment transform into happiness. It’s not magic, though it seems magical. It’s when someone you don’t even know steps up and does something nice. I recently flew to Washington, D.C., and being frugal, which sounds so much better than cheap, took a 53-minute train ride from the suburban airport to the stop closest to my downtown hotel, rather than the more convenient but 20 times more expensive taxi. The Metro train station was almost a mil...
Former President Donald Trump has a narrow lead in most polls in a tight race for the White House, but he is far and away the leader in handing out personal insults. This guy tosses out crude nicknames, offensive language and outlandish statements like shark hunters toss out stinky chunks of fish meat to attract their catch. It’s called “chumming,” but there is nothing chummy about U.S. presidential politics. And the “catch” is voters. Trump has a massive mental thesaurus of insulting names for his political opponents, a strategy he has relie...
