Sorted by date Results 5601 - 5625 of 10720
To the Editor: I recently read the story of the new maintenance director, Josh Blatchly’s, report to the (COF) School Board. This is the type of nonsense I expect from an unqualified, “just going to spend your money to justify my possession” type of person. Full disclosure, I was supposed to be in the running for this job, however, the (COF) didn’t even attempt to interview me. With over three decades of construction, remodeling, and building schools, the (COF) just passed me by. So these faulty doors open, close, and lock but need replaci...
James Frederick King, 89, passed away in Marysville, Washington on January 28, 2019. Jim was born on July 20, 1929 in Nipawin, Saskatchewan to Fred and Dorothy King. He was the youngest of four boys. His engineering work started as a surveyor of roads in Saskatchewan and Alberta before moving to Idaho where he designed portions of the Interstate highway system. Jim moved to Marysville where he started a surveying company and later worked at Alderwood Water District engineer. After retiring he...
After two hard-fought games this past weekend, the Wrangell Lady Wolves walked away with another set of victories in what has been a successful season. The girl's basketball team remains undefeated in conference games, now 6-0 after this weekend. The Metlakatla Miss Chiefs played against Wrangell in the Lady Wolves' second set of home games this season. Friday's game opened with Wrangell getting on the board first with a single point from a free throw. Both teams played a strong defensive game...
Wrangell Wolves Coach Cody Angerman said he knew going against Metlakatla would be a challenge. They were last year's 2A state champions, and have a very strong team this year. After last weekend's losses against the Metlakatla Chiefs, it proved to be a challenge Wrangell fell just short of meeting. Both games were tense and hard-fought, but the Wolves are now 3-3 in conference play. On Friday the game opened with an impressive three-pointer by the Wolves. They held a lead in the first quarter u...
KAKE — At 5:52 a.m. Saturday Alaska State Troopers received a report of a structure fire on Silver Spike Road in Kake. The owner of the residence, Loren Jackson, 39 of Kake, was unaccounted for. The Kake Fire Department extinguished the fire but the structure sustained major damage. On Sunday at about 1:30 p.m., AST and a Department of Public Safety Deputy Fire Marshal arrived in Kake to process the scene. Authorities recovered the body of Loren Jackson Jr., who lived in the home, on Sunday afternoon. The remains will be transported to the S...
The project to renovate Shoemaker Bay Harbor, which has been ongoing since last September, is about to enter a new stage in renovation. The project, a joint venture by Tamico Inc. and Rock-N-Road Construction of Petersburg, is aiming to update the harbor's old infrastructure and allow for bigger boats to dock. According to Wrangell Harbor Master Greg Meissner, new floats for the harbor will be coming into town on next Tuesday's barge. Jim Martinsen, with Tamico, said that they are expecting to r...
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang recently announced two director-level appointments as he continues to fill key leadership roles at ADF&G. Lang has named Dave Rutz Director of the Division of Sport Fish. Sam Rabung has been appointed the Director of Commercial Fisheries. Rutz and Rabung have long, distinguished careers at the department and bring a wealth of experience to their new roles. “Dave Rutz and Sam Rabung come to these positions with outstanding qualifications,” said Vincent-Lang. “Both have years...
The United States Coast Guard has located possible debris from an aircraft with three people onboard that was due to land in Kake Tuesday evening at 6:19 P.M., according to a USCG press release. On board the Guardian King Air 200 medical life flight, which departed from Anchorage, was a pilot, a nurse and a paramedic who were planning on picking up a patient in Kake. Because of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations, representatives from Kake Health Clinic and Guardian...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game released the winners of the 2019 Excellence in Service Award earlier this month. Up to five members of advisory committees across the state are given this award each year. This year, David Rak was one of the five recipients for serving as secretary of the Wrangell Fish and Game Advisory Committee, according to the Department of Fish and Game, for "24 plus" years. "I haven't gone back in my records to see how much 'plus' there is," Rak said with a laugh....
Moose meat was an important topic of discussion at the Wrangell Fish and Game Advisory Committee meeting on Mon., Jan. 7. The process by which meat from a forfeited moose is distributed through town is somewhat disorganized, said Committee Chair Chris Guggenbickler. The committee, and others around Wrangell, is interested in seeing a better system of distribution set up, one with more local control. As many Alaskans know, there are some tight restrictions on moose hunting. Alaska Wildlife...
January 30, 1919 In a letter from The National Red Cross to Wrangell Chapter: “Dear Madam, It is a pleasure to acknowledge the contribution of $1,344.69. The amount will endow two beds for a year in the American Hospital No. 1 at Neuilly, and we have asked our Commissioner to have a placard placed on the beds bearing the inscription, “Donated by the Wrangell, Alaska chapter, American Red Cross,” that those who enjoy the comfort of these beds may be aware of the donors. Though hostilities have ceased there are thousands of American boys sick...
The Wrangell school board held a meeting on Monday, Jan. 21, to meet with the district’s new maintenance director. Josh Blatchley came before the board to introduce himself, and to relate to the board some of the things he feels need attention, in regard to school maintenance. In general, he said, all of the buildings in the Wrangell school district are old, but are fairly sturdy. There are roofs that need patching in some places, but are generally in good shape. Heating and air conditioning in all the buildings are in good shape, as well. S...
The State of Alaska Joint Boards of Fisheries and Game last night unanimously voted to nominate Doug Vincent-Lang as Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game. Vincent-Lang, who has more than 34 years of experience with the department, has been acting commissioner since last month. With the nomination, Vincent-Lang’s name has been forwarded to Gov. Michael J. Dunleavy for appointment. Pending appointment by the governor, he will then be considered for confirmation by the legislature. “I’m pleased there is unanimous support by all membe...
The Lady Wolves basketball team travelled to Haines to face off against the Glacier Bears in the second weekend of conference games this season. Things went in Wrangell's favor in both games, and the team walked away with two more victories under their belts. The Lady Wolves are now 4-0 in conference play. On Friday night, Jan. 18, the Lady Wolves took a commanding lead right from the start. They lead by 23 points by the end of the first quarter, with Haines not able to make a single basket. By...
Over the recent holiday season, the city and borough of Wrangell issued a RFP, or “request for proposal” for municipal legal services. Borough Clerk Kim Lane explained that the borough assembly, by majority, opted to see what other legal representation could be available for Wrangell, as opposed to their current law firm Hoffman & Blasco. It was not that Wrangell was dissatisfied with this firm’s services, she said, they just wanted to see what other options there were. The RFP went out to multiple lawyers, according to Borough Manager Lisa...
The Wrangell Wolves basketball team had a hard-fought set of games against the Haines Glacier Bears last weekend. Each game had its tense moments, as both games were determined by only a few baskets. In the end, the Wolves were able to claim one victory, and one loss, against Haines. After last weekend, the Wolves are now 3-1 in conference games. Wrangell held a decent lead through the majority of Friday's game, on Jan. 18. They held a 12-point lead at one point, in the second quarter. Things...
Water levels in Swan and Tyee lakes were a hot topic at Tuesday night’s assembly meeting. Mayor Steve Prysunka gave a presentation to the borough assembly, informing them that Wrangell might be facing power supply issues in the future. He explained that there are three communities in question with this looming issue: Wrangell, Petersburg, and Ketchikan. Ketchikan gets most of its power from Swan Lake, while the power plant at Tyee supplies Wrangell and Petersburg. However, extra power from Tyee Lake can be sold to Ketchikan, when it is availabl...
The borough assembly held a short special meeting last Friday night, Jan. 11. The purpose of the meeting was to approve of two tail insurance policies for the Wrangell Medical Center. Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen explained that tail insurance is designed to cover something that happened in the past, but had consequences that only become apparent in the future. “So rather than insuring operations that ‘are’, you’re insuring things that occurred in the past,” she said. “So if someone should file a claim against operations, or a decision, o...
Four students from Wrangell High School will be heading to Juneau Jan. 27 to Feb. 1 to learn more about behavioral health and potential careers in the field. While in Juneau, they will be touring health care facilities, shadowing people, and learning more about the field. Pictured from left to right: Zoe Affholter, Donna Massin, Tasha Massin, and Jing O’Brien. Donna Massin will be chaperoning these three students and Elizabeth Johnson (not pictured)....
The 2019 cruise season is just around the corner. Starting in April and ending in October, about 57 cruise ships are scheduled to stop at the city dock. To get ahead of the upcoming busy season, city officials and businessmen all came together on Wed. Jan. 9 to discuss what the city’s priorities should be for the upcoming and future cruise seasons. The largest of these ships is Holland America’s Maasdam, 719 ft. in length and capable of carrying 1,258 passengers. According to a draft schedule provided by Carol Rushmore, Wrangell’s econo...
Wrangell’s planning and zoning commission met last Thursday evening to review and approve of the rezoning of several lots owned by Armstrong Rents, LLC. Robert Armstrong came before the commission to give some history on the lots, which are located on a stretch of land between Front Street and Church Street to the west and east, and Episcopal Avenue and Case Avenue to the north and south. These lots came into his family’s possession over many years, Armstrong said, when his father first came to Wrangell. “Curley” Armstrong came to Alaska on May...
January 23, 1919 The people of Wrangell enjoyed a treat Saturday evening when Richard Surratt’s motion pictures of the Stikine River and its wonderful scenery were shown at the Rex Theatre. The pictures are so real that if any one who knows the Stikine should suddenly awaken from a snooze while the pictures were being shown he would think he was aboard the Hazel B III bound for Telegraph Creek landing, at the head of navigation. From Wrangell to Telegraph Creek the voyage is one continuous panorama of scenic grandeur, of which Mr. Surratt’s pic...
The Wrangell borough assembly met last Tuesday night to hear an update on the transition of the Wrangell Medical Center to SEARHC control. The regional healthcare consortium took over the medical center late last year and is in the process of building a new hospital in Wrangell. In the meantime, the WMC will be run by SEARHC until the new hospital is ready to receive patients, reportedly in 2021. Dan Neumeister, with SEARHC, said the transition has been very smooth for the hospital’s employees. There have also been some technological and i...