Sorted by date Results 9426 - 9450 of 10701
SITKA, Alaska (AP) - A dead juvenile humpback whale has been found near Sitka. The 30-foot long whale was located Thursday near the western shore of Kruzof Island. A fishing vessel notified Jeff Feldpausch, the resource protection director of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska. The tribe and a local whale biologist collected samples from the dead animal, which were sent to a NOAA lab to determine the cause of death. The biologist, Jan Straley, says it appears the whale had been dead for a while, and there were some post-mortem bite marks on...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Juneau police say a 35-foot whale-watching boat was taken out for an unauthorized spin recently. Witnesses called police after seeing two intoxicated people stumble down a dock and get on board the K’eet, a vessel used by Juneau Whale Watching. Witnesses also say the vessel was doing “doughnuts” in Auke Bay. Coast Guardsmen responded and took control of the boat. The boarding crew described the man and woman as drunk and naked. Police say 27-year-old Joshua Carrieri, a crewman on the vessel, was charged with driving while...
The Wrangell assembly approved a resolution requesting grant funding with the hopes of getting more water to a system that is often tapped. Jeff Jabusch, Interim Borough Manager, said there’s plenty of water but it’s not getting treated fast enough to meet the demand of the community. “By the end of the day, often times they’re getting down to where there’s just a few feet left in each one of them,” Jabusch said. “If we were to run out or if there were a major fire or if the canneries wanted to expand or any of those things we would have so... Full story
The Wrangell Borough Assembly approved a controversial $100,000 reimbursement during its August 27 meeting after services had been rendered. The reimbursement goes to Alaska Island Community Services to offset expenses incurred after it relocated its clinic to a new building site. Wrangell’s previous borough manager Timothy Rooney negotiated with AICS in 2009 to relocate its clinic, for the sake of convenience, next to where the Wrangell Medical Center would build its new facility—the Alpine site. In an e-mail sent to the assembly in 2011, Roon... Full story
PETERSBURG — An entangled humpback whale continues to remain snared in a gill net despite a two day effort last weekend to free the animal. Don Holmes with the Marine Mammal Center in Petersburg received a call Friday morning about the snared whale in Frederick Sound. He and other volunteers were granted permission from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association to assess the situation. “We found that the whale was completely wrapped on the flukes with the lead line draping across of the back... Full story
September 18, 1913: The Norwegian steamer Karen cut the rates between Wrangell and Petersburg so a great many members of the Arctic Brotherhood Camp of Wrangell and friends took advantage of the low rates and attended the dance given by the Petersburg Camp Saturday evening. The party reached Petersburg about six o'clock and were met at the dock by the Petersburg Brass Band and the townspeople who presented the visitors with a large key to the “Welcome and Hospitality” of the city. The music rendered at the dance was exceptionally fine. The hal...
Doug Ely, standing before Judge Trevor Stephens on Monday, was sentenced to 55-years in jail. During a week-long jury trial held in June, Doug Ely was found guilty of two counts of First Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and one count of Second Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor which was merged into Count One. Ely’s complete sentence is 55-years with twelve and a half suspended and fifteen years of probation. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life after being released on t...
On August 19 Wrangell Deputy Magistrate Leanna J. Splinter adjudicated the following case: Daniel Arthur Gonzalez-Fawcett, 24, was found guilty of Disorderly Conduct-Challenge To Fight. He was sentenced to probation for one year and ordered to pay $550 in fines and surcharges. On August 20 Wrangell Deputy Magistrate Leanna J. Splinter adjudicated the following case: Katherine C. Westrope, age 18, was found guilty of Drive In Violation Of Instruction Permit. She was ordered to pay $150 in fines and surcharges....
PETERSBURG – The Petersburg Borough continues to deal with an aggressive sea lion that’s been bothering people in the harbors all summer. Mayor Mark Jensen wrote a letter August 9 in response to the National Marine Fisheries Service’s lack of assistance in the matter. “We find it unfortunate that the National Marine Fisheries Service is unwilling to take any active role in removing this threat to our children, citizens, economic base and our quality of life,” Jensen wrote in the letter. Ha...
To the Editor: Wrangell Lions Club would like to thank the people of Wrangell who continue to recycle their aluminum through the Lions club collection boxes around town. If you have not taken notice of them, you can find collection boxes at Bobs’ IGA, City Market, Wells Fargo, Alaska Marine Highway (ferry terminal), Muskeg Meadows and Alaska State Housing Authority. We appreciate the support of these businesses. If you have larger pieces of aluminum to recycle we are able to make arrangements to take that also. The funds that are collected f...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The U.S. Forest Service plans to take a portion of the timber payments it has promised or paid out to 22 states, citing federal budget cuts. Collection letters from Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell went out to governors around the country Monday, saying money would be taken from funds used for habitat improvement and other national forest-related projects that put people to work under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Oregon stands to lose the most in the move, with nearly $4 million in...
KODIAK, Alaska (AP) - A Kodiak woman is leading a study to find out why Alaskans love salmon. The Salmon Project, still in an exploratory phase, aims to find out about the deep connections Alaskans have with wild salmon. “We wanted to understand how it relates to people’s lives and what values were associated with salmon fishing, salmon viewing or salmon eating,’’ project organizer Erin Harrington said. Harrington is leading the investigation to figure out whether Alaskans are interested in being united in talking about salmon and whether...
KAKE, Alaska (AP) _ The southeast Alaska community of Kake is trying to save its historic Keku Cannery. The cannery was named one of the nation’s most endangered historic places earlier this year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Gary Williams, the executive director of the Organized Village of Kake, fears the run-down building will collapse. He said if it comes down, it would be a disaster, with asbestos getting into clam beds and affecting subsistence fishing. Williams recently guided some visitors including a representative f...
PETERSBURG – The Petersbug Borough Assembly approved a sales tax-free day scheduled for Saturday, October 5. Assembly member Susan Flint said sales tax revenues are ahead of budget this year and the time period would be good for residents. “October is a month where it’s pretty much residents living in Petersburg, or shopping in Petersburg,” Flint said. “I think it would be a better time to have it than when it was in May when we’re full of visitors.” The Chamber of Commerce Retail Committee proposed a sales tax-free day last May but the assembl...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Like so many visitors to Alaska, Phyllis McNamara was eager for a seven-day cruise along a majestic stretch of coast that is teeming with whales, bears and glaciers. But the Indianapolis woman and her friends were among hundreds of tourists who had their vacation plans scuttled when a mechanical problem aboard the 965-foot Millennium forced the cruise operator to cancel six Alaska sailings. “This is becoming just a nightmare,” said McNamara, 68, who went ahead with a planned land excursion in place of the cruise. Cyn...
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski intervened on behalf a Wrangell daycare operator after a US Forest Service officer issued her a citation in July for picnicking with her daycare children at Middle Ridge in the Tongass National Forest. US Forest Service Law enforcement officer Doug Ault fined Marilyn Mork $375 for operating a business on federal land without a permit. Mork said former U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski caught wind of the situation, made a copy of the citation and sent it to his daughter, Senator Murkowski. Murkowski happened to be meeting... Full story
It was during a typical cold Southeast Alaskan November day in 1968 when Felix Villarma tied his 20-foot wooden scow onto a Kadin Island beach. He was in a draw and nearing the top of a mountain, sneaking through the foliage and the rain, when he saw a doe about 100 yards away. “I watched her watch me, then all of the sudden this big buck walked right next to her and looked down the mountain at me,” Villarma said. “I put my 270 to my shoulder and had it in my crosshairs, aimed for the neck... Full story
In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. September 11, 1913: Long before the first day of September, all the veteran duck hunters and the cheechakos had carefully inspected their old breech loaders, pump or automatic putting everything in readiness for the day that they could land both feet on the famous hunting ground. The first party to depart were Rollo Shangle, Geo. Sylvester, T. Case and Clarence Lewis. Being the first hunters of the season they kind of took the ducks by surprise and brought back the limit. On Sunday, Harry Gartley,...
On August 13, Wrangell Magistrate Chris Ellis adjudicated the following cases: Katie Barger, 15, was found guilty of Minor Consuming Alcohol. She was sentenced to probation for one year and to contact Wrangell Youth Court by August 19, 2013, complete process and follow orders. Laven Ritchie, 16, was found guilty of Repeat Minor Consuming Alcohol. He was sentenced to probation for one year, ordered to pay $510 in fines and surcharges, perform 48 hours of Community Work Service and to have his driving privileges revoked for 180 days. Kyler Nore,...
Genevieve Murphy, Wrangell local Steve Murphy’s niece, shared her experiences last Tuesday about working in Mali in West Africa while volunteering for the Peace Corps from 2011 to 2012. The main language spoken in Mali is French but many dialects are also spoken in different regions throughout Mali like Bambara or Dogon. Mali is also the country where Blues music originated. Murphy spent her time with a host family in Sikasso while working at a micro finance bank. While there Murphy joined a large celebration for the 50th anniversary of the P...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - State labor officials say Alaska’s unemployment rate for July was 6.3 percent. The department said in a release that the rate is up three-tenths of a percentage point from the revised rate in June. The national unemployment rate for July was 7.4 percent. Summer jobs helped keep unemployment rate low throughout Alaska. The lowest rates were in Bristol Bay and Skagway, at 1.1 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively. Officials say both areas have small year-round populations, and each depends heavily on summer jobs. In B...
To the Editor: As I am about to launch my boat I want to thank the fine folks of Wrangell and to compliment you on your City Ship Yard. I came to Wrangell two months ago and had no clue as to how I was going to fix my boat or what it might involve. With the assistance of Alan and Leslie Cummings of The Grand View B&B I was off to a good start. I contacted a first class glass man at Keller Marine. Steve did a great job and I was able to have my boat in town in the yard. Once we started digging in to the bad decks I found that my fuel tanks neede...
PETERSBURG – Petersburg Mayor Mark Jensen wrote a letter to Senator Mark Begich on behalf of the borough reinforcing the need for the U.S. Coast Guard ANACAPA’s continued operation. This after the USCGC announced its plan for phasing out 110-foot vessels like the ANACAPA in favor of new 154-foot fast response cutters, or FRC. Plans call for the purchase of 58 FRCs during the next several years. Jensen’s letter asked questions regarding how much longer the ANACAPA would remain in Peter...
Three crewmembers of the 75-foot tender Pacific Queen are safe after they abandoned ship when the vessel began experiencing uncontrollable flooding early Wednesday morning near Lung Island. John Klingenberg, U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist, said the crew issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast, or UMIB, which is a location signal that makes mariners in the area aware of the situation. The crew then loaded aboard a life raft. Another vessel eventually arrived at the scene. Klingenberg said the Windham Bay rescued the Pacific...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - In Juneau, fishing is a hobby for some and a lifestyle for others. For 17 Alaska Native youngsters, fishing provided a way to get in touch with their centuries’ old roots and get to know other middle-schoolers before classes start. Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, a locally based non-profit focused on preserving and teaching Tlingit and Haida culture, put on its first ever middle school fishing camp last week, teaching kids 11- to 14-years-old traditional methods like gillnetting, trolling and setting crab pots. John S...