Sorted by date Results 9301 - 9325 of 10681
The high school drama, debate and forensics team is off to a good start on the season. Tournaments at Haines and Mount Edgecumbe have seen the team’s senior debaters Matthew Covalt and Tyler Eagle go to the finals, according to debate coach Stephen Prysunka. “I believe it’s the first time they’ve ever done it, and I believe it’s the first time at our school we’ve ever had kids go to a final in a tournament,” he said. “They came in second place, but it was two judges to one. They did a really good job.” At the Haines meet, held Sept. 20 and...
KETCHIKAN (AP) — A national newspaper has included Ketchikan International Airport in the list of the world’s 10 most thrilling airports for scary landings. USA Today published the list of harrowing airports as compiled by Airfarewatchdog.com. Also on the list are an ice runway in Antarctica, which could potentially crack under a plane’s weight, and an airstrip in Africa where planes taxi off a cliff and fall a bit before catching air. Ketchikan made the list because of a short runway, which is near the mountains and the ocean. Borough Mayor Da...
Wanted: a few tough women (and men) who aren’t scared of a few bruises. The Garnet Grit Betties, the Wrangell-based roller derby team, is looking for skaters to fill out a small roster, according to Katie Robbins. The team currently fields about seven or eight skaters, and while that’s enough to cover one session, called a jam, the team would really like additional players to give the team a competitive edge and allow them to travel and take on teams in Sitka, Petersburg, and Ketchikan. “Down the road, we’d love to compete against other teams,...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — School officials in Petersburg want clarification on a decades-old law their attorney reads as leaving districts responsible for the cost of school entrance physicals, an interpretation that could have financial implications for school districts statewide. The issue was raised by parents, prompting Petersburg school officials to seek an attorney’s opinion. “He said, Yep, they’re right,’’ superintendent Robert Thomason said. School officials believe they must follow the law but they also contend the law needs to be updat...
PETERSBURG – Petersburg recently found out that it has won Yachting Magazine’s ‘2013 Best Towns’ competition. Dan Harding, Associate Editor for Yachting Magazine, wrote in an article, “Joining the ranks of Oxford, Maryland and Beaufort, North Carolina, the Alaskan fishing village has reminded us that the appeal of a destination is not always measured in amenities and attractions, and that natural beauty and character are what make a place truly special.” And the same sea lion plaguing boaters this year might be the same animal Harding inc...
7 Juneau Lions Club 68th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. The 68th Annual Invitational Gold Medal Basketball Tournament will be held March 16-22, 2014 at the Juneau-Douglas High School gym. Player divisions for the 68th tournament will be “B”, “C”, and “Masters.” Any team that wishes to be considered for sending a B, C, or Masters Team should send a letter or an email that states the community they represent, division they desire to play, name of the team, and the name of one individual who will be the team point-of-contact. The Juneau...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) _ A broker established to help sign Alaskans up for health insurance under the federal health care law is suspending enrollments until problems with the online marketplace are fixed. Enroll Alaska’s chief operating officer, Tyann Boling, said Monday that the subsidy calculations for Alaskans are not correct and the concerns have been sent to the regional U.S. Health and Human Services director. Boling did not know when the issue would be resolved. “But as a company that provides a service to Alaskans, I’m not going to have...
SEATTLE – Alaska Airlines jetliners will soon fly more efficiently thanks to a new performance-enhancing winglet the carrier is installing on its Boeing Next Generation 737s, which will reduce fuel consumption be 58,000 gallons a year per aircraft. The split winglet will save the airline $20 million and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 57,000 tons annually, which is the equivalent of taking about 11,900 passenger vehicles off the road each year. “Reducing fuel consumption has been a top priority at Alaska Airlines for years,” said Mark Eliasen,...
The Wrangell Medical Center board unanimously elected Terri Henson to the board presidency Oct. 16, replacing Woody Wilson. Board members elected Bernie Massin vice president, Cori Robinson as secretary and Barb Conine as treasurer. The board re-organization meeting took place in the wake of the Oct. 1 election, in which Henson and Massin were re-elected to the board without opposition. Wilson served as board president from Aug. 29 and was the first medical center board president after a recall election removed six board members. Wilson lead...
The two-day Southeast Alaska Power Agency board meeting became in part a prism through which to view debate over the future of the Thomas Bay Power Authority. The TBPA debate has raised hackles both with SEAPA CEO Trey Acteson and board members, particularly the amount of misinformation SEAPA officials claim was circulated during a Sept. 24 meeting of the Wrangell Borough Assembly. Nor are factual inaccuracies limited to that assembly meeting, officials say. They cited a letter from Ketchikan Public Utilities to the Mayor, included with...
In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. November 13, 1913: The growing population of Wrangell has made it necessary to install 66 new boxes at the Post Office this week. The growing business that the local post office is doing has made the equipment too small, hence the installing of the new boxes which are right up to date. O.S. combination boxes of 2 sizes, 54 of one size and 12 a size larger. November 11, 1938: Upon recommendation of Mayor Fisk prompted by many applications he has received for further relief work, the city council at...
The borough port commission unanimously recommended a new ordinance to the borough assembly Oct. 17 after a public hearing. The ordinance empowers the harbormaster to auction derelict or abandoned vessels, as defined by state code, or boats in the harbormaster’s “opinion … is unsound, unseaworthy, and unfit for its trade or occupation” to auction or impound those vessels after 24 months. Harbormaster Greg Meissner told the commission the ordinance could affect as many as six boats currently taking up space at the marine service yard. The code w...
Federal employees returned to work Oct. 17 after sixteen days of government shut down. As widely reported, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and Democrats in the Senate reached a deal Oct. 15 to return federal employees to their offices until at least Jan. 15. Budget negotiations to keep the government open longer are continuing. The largest federal presence in Wrangell is the U.S. Forest Service, with 24 employees. Those employees were hard at work on their first day back trying to bring various systems online and return...
To the Editor: Why I can’t move to Wrangell ... along with many others. I grew up in Wrangell. Most of you probably know me, or at least know of me. I’ve spent roughly two-thirds of my life here in Wrangell. Now that I’m looking for a place to settle Wrangell is, of course, on my list of options. But I can’t. Wrangell isn’t a viable option for me or for a lot of other people and businesses because Wrangell lacks something that prospective residents and businesses need - real internet access. On an average day, I use between three and five giga...
Mike and Barb Rugo, of Wrangell, Alaska are pleased to announce the engagement of their son Jess Micheal Rugo of Wrangell to Emily Kay Runyan of Phoenix, Ariz. Emily is the daughter of Lori and Ray Runyan of Chanhassen, Minn. Emily has a teaching degree from Northern Arizona University. Jess has a parks, recreation and leisure degree from the University of Minnesota. A wedding date will be announced at a later date....
Diane Lavern Ritchie, 62, passed away October 4, 2013, suddenly in Seattle, Wash. from complications from her illness. Diane was born August 19, 1951 to Edward and Karen Johnson in Wrangell, Alaska. She graduated from Wrangell High School; was a cheerleader and on the drill team. She was a dental assistant for Dr. Floyd and later a speech therapist at Evergreen Elementary. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, John Fabrello, Alan Ritchie and brother-in-law, Darrell Allen. She is...
In two jamborees over successive weekends, the Lady Wolves demonstrated an acrobatic style at the net that makes them competitive with regional volleyball powers. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, said head coach Jessica Whitaker. “Passing,” she said, when asked what about the Lady Wolves could stand improvement. “For the most part, they’re passing in the correct direction, it’s just nailing down the accuracy and getting the actual spot we’d like it in instead of having the setter run all over the...
Caity Rooney of Reno, Nev. announces her engagement to Andre Shafer of Reno, Nev. Rooney is the daughter of the late Michael “Bucky” Rooney, Lauren Woolery Patterson and the late Michael Patterson, all of Wrangell. Shafer is the son of Karen and the late Richard Shafer of Sparks, Nev. Caity attended Wrangell High School and Silver State Beauty College in Sparks. Andre is currently a student at the University of Nevada in Reno. They plan a July 2, 2014 a wedding in Wrangell....
The borough assembly voted 5-1 Tuesday to reject changes to borough code during a first reading. The changes would have given the harbormaster powers to impound or remove abandoned and derelict vessels from the marine service yard at the port. Harbormaster Greg Meissner had told the port commission that the changes were necessary in order to deal with up to six boats currently housed in the yard. Assembly members seemed to have no complaint with the primary text of the change, which officials have said was made to bring borough code into...
PETERSBURG – This year’s moose hunt is the third highest harvest on record with a total of 85 animals taken from the region. The highest record was in 2009 with 108 moose being harvested and the second was in 2011 with 88 moose taken. Rich Lowell, Area Wildlife Biologist for Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said the majority of moose are taken during the first two weeks of the hunt, which was the case this year as well. Forty-six moose were taken during the first half of the hunt while 39 were taken during the second. “We’re killing more moo...
Local residents ran, heard speakers, and dined on soup to celebrate Alaska Day Friday and Saturday. The state holiday, observed Oct. 18 every year, commemorates the day Russian officials signed the territory of Alaska over to American officials at Sitka in 1867. The day features prominent displays of the Alaska state flag, and in at least one case a big fur hat. The hat in question belonged to Bruce Jamieson, who won the Alaska costume competition at the Alaska Day run Saturday, and the...
By Brian O’Connor Sentinel writer The borough assembly cut an additional candidate from the list of applicants for the borough manager job during a closed executive session Sept. 10. Four candidates now remain in the hunt for the position. They are: retired borough clerk and former legislative aide Christie Jamieson, current interim borough manager and finance manager Jeff Jabusch, current Alaska Commission on Aging planner Jon Erickson, and Kyle H. McCain of Shavano Park, Texas, where he was most recently city manager for just under two y...
Spooks, vampires, and ponies descended on downtown Oct. 12 for the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce Pumpkin Patch. Organizers said the event was a success. Activities included a cake walk, face painting, pony rides, and other family-focused activities. Chamber officials estimated the attendance at about 140 people. “We had about 200 pumpkins, and at the end of the day we had very few left,” said Cynthia Waddington. “It was a huge success.” Organizers were grateful to all organizations and busines...
Local U.S. Forest Service employees express frustration with the ongoing government shutdown this week. The Wrangell Unit of the Tongass National Forest has been closed for 15 days following negotiations between the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives and the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate Oct. 1. The office’s 28 employees have been instructed call a 1-800 phone number each day to determine whether the office will be reopened, according to Forest Service Ranger Bob Dalrymple. D...
In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. November 13, 1913: Yesterday at high noon at the Presbyterian Church which was beautifully decorated for the occasion occurred one of the prettiest weddings of the season, when Mr. J.G. Bjorge and Miss Bessie Swift were united in Holy Wedlock by Rev. J.S. Clark. Just at High Noon the bridal party was ushered in to the strains of Lohengren’s Wedding March. Mr. Roy Cole gave the Bride away. The Bride was charming in a gown of white satin charmeuse with a chiffon over dress of pearl beading and wore a...
