Sorted by date Results 751 - 775 of 840
A letter from Alaska’s deputy fire marshal is lending some clarity to recent claims that the older Wrangell Medical Center would face closure if a new facility is not funded and built in the borough. According to Robert Plumb, the deputy marshal based in Juneau, the federal guidelines covered in the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) could require renovations to patient rooms at WMC. “If the new hospital is not built, the (CMS) may require bathrooms in the resident rooms in the existing facility to be made accessible (meeting ADA req...
The Borough Assembly met in two sessions on Tuesday, June 12 to hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance relating to collection of utility fees, and to pursue a second reading of the ordinance during the regular session. Before the utility issue could be addressed in open session, however, assembly member David Jack, with fellow member Bill Privett, asked to have the agendized approval of the Wrangell Medical Center 2013 budget tabled until a future meeting. Jack asked to have WMC Chief Financial Officer Olinda White come before the...
To the Editor: I have worked for WMC for two years. During that time I have learned a lot about myself and a lot about other people. Working in a medical facility takes a caring, compassionate person. I believe everyone puts all they can emotionally, physically and spiritually into the work they do here. I am proud of the hard work the CNAs, nurses, and all WMC staff do. This is a sensitive job that takes a lot of heart, communication and teamwork. The WMC keeps our community safe. The hospital is a cornerstone to this community, employing and...
A formal complaint against the Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors was filed last week with the City and Borough of Wrangell – and is calling into question whether the board may have violated Alaska’s Open Meetings Act with a Facebook page. The Facebook group, under the name “Save Wrangell Medical Center,” is a closed group on the social network, and a screenshot taken by WMC recall proponent Judy Allen on June 7 purports to show five members of the board as taking part in the group. Closed groups on Facebook require users to obtain...
Governor Sean Parnell is greeted by Wrangell Medical Center CEO Noel Rea during his visit to Wrangell on Tuesday, June 5. Gov. Parnell met with borough officials and members of private industry at the Nolan Center to discuss capital appropriations, timber and hatchery issues....
The Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors met in special and executive sessions on Thursday, May 31 to take up issues related to WMC’s responsibility, if any, regarding being signatories to USDA loan documents for the new hospital project and to engage CEO Noel Rea in a discussion about his annual performance review. The resignation of Dr. James Yates from Alaska Island Community Services on May 30 overshadowed the main agenda items during public comment, however, when one concerned resident raised the question of emergency room c...
After a spirited public comment section of the Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors special meeting on May 31 the board retired into executive session to discuss CEO Noel Rea’s annual personnel review. While the review and discussion of his performance are confidential personnel matters, Rea said afterward that it was a productive session – and gave him goals to work toward in the coming year. “This was, by no means, a perfect review,” Rea said. “But it was a very thorough evaluation. It was good and I am pleased with it because i...
Two of Wrangell’s top government officials are now responsible for authorizing a set of agreements with the USDA regarding loans for the Wrangell Medical Center replacement project. That was the result of the Wrangell Borough Assembly special meeting on Tuesday, May 29 at City Hall. The special session agenda addressed a number of topics of concern; review and approval of a recommendation on contracts relating to the WMC replacement project – and authorization for Mayor Jeremy Maxand or Borough Manager Tim Rooney to be signatories to all USD...
Two of Wrangell’s top government officials are now responsible for authorizing a set of agreements with the USDA regarding loans for the Wrangell Medical Center replacement project. That was the result of the Wrangell Borough Assembly special meeting on Tuesday, May 29 at City Hall. The special session agenda addressed a number of topics of concern; review and approval of a recommendation on contracts relating to the WMC replacement project – and authorization for Mayor Jeremy Maxand or Borough Manager Tim Rooney to be signatories to all USD...
Sometimes a golf tournament in Wrangell isn’t about just going out to hit balls and spend time with friends and family. Once a year, at least, it’s about saving lives. The 5th annual Wrangell Medical Center Foundation golf tournament, which supports local cancer patients and commemorates former WMC administrator, the late Brian Gilbert, came to fruition last weekend despite early torrential rains and cold temperatures at Muskeg Meadows golf course. The tourney, which featured 10 teams of four pl...
Imagine, for a moment, a City and Borough of Wrangell without a hospital – any hospital. According to Wrangell Medical Center CEO Noel Rea, that could be the outcome if the June 19 recall election changes the majority composition of the WMC Board of Directors. The USDA, which was set to guarantee a $24.7 million loan for the hospital replacement project, has signaled that an overhaul in the makeup of the board would lead them to require the borough to obtain a general obligation bond to fund the facility, rather than a revenue bond paid for b...
With eight members of the Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors facing recall in a June election, tensions were high among members of the board, supporters of the recall effort, and citizens of the borough at the directors’ most recent meeting at WMC. At the May 23 meeting, board member Jim Nelson inquired of CEO Noel Rea whether allegations of WMC losing as many as 10 beds if the hospital is forced to update to current ADA standards was a “scare tactic.” “I think when the (general obligation) bond question came up everyone started...
Letter to the Editor: For the past four years my husband Russ and I have had the privilege of visiting your small town and being the auctioneer (Russ) for the fundraising auction for the Wrangell Medical Center. We have found everyone we meet to be most welcoming and friendly and would like to commend the people of Wrangell for their hospitality to visitors. Thank you all for making our stay so enjoyable. A big thank you to Police Chief Doug McCloskey for being such a good sport about the new hair cut. The half moustache was a bonus. Wrangell...
Wrangell is one step closer to a budget as the Borough Assembly passed their 2012 draft budget with little fanfare last week during their regular session meeting at City Hall. Comment came, however, during the public hearing held before the regular meeting – and saw one local businessman asking for a reduction in the current 7 percent sales tax levied on goods and services sold in Wrangell. Ernie Christian, manager of Otteson’s True Value, asked the board whether a reduction to 5 percent might be feasible for the community. “Thinking back...
The Wrangell Borough Assembly met in open session last week to take up a number of new agenda items and included discussion on the formation of a hiring committee to help in choosing a successor to current Borough Clerk Christie Jamieson. Jamieson, who has spent the past three decades in service to the borough, plans on retiring from her position in the beginning of July. The committee, which consists of Jamieson, Borough Manager Tim Rooney, Mayor Jeremy Maxand, and Assembly members Pam...
A special recall election set for June 19 is asking voters to determine the fates of eight members of the Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors. The election, which is seeking the ouster of all board members except Dorothy Hunt-Sweat, may have a larger effect, however, than changing the composition of the hospital’s leadership team – it may signal a change in the support of the USDA and their backing of a $24.7 million loan to finance the construction project. According to Jim Nor...
Do you know of a Wrangellite who has made a positive impact on the health of our community? Is there a neighbor out there who labors to help our children grow healthier or our elders enjoy the benefits of eating well and regular physical activity, someone who works hard and may not be recognized for their efforts? The Janet Buness award would be a wonderful way to recognize them and let them know that someone has noticed. This award is for a person(s) in Wrangell who has improved the health of Wrangell. This can be a direct provider (i.e. nurse...
Alaska Superior Court Judge Kevin G. Miller has denied a local physician’s request to be allowed to work at Wrangell Medical Center pending the court’s decision on his appeal to having his privileges at the hospital denied. In March, the WMC Board denied Dr. Greg Salard the right to see patients at the hospital. Salard soon filed an appeal in Wrangell Trial Court. He also requested the court allow him to work at WMC while his appeal is considered. In his order filed Friday, April 27, Miller states WMC followed the required procedures set out...
At a special meeting Tuesday, the Assembly voted 4-3 in favor of a resolution that creates a special election in Wrangell June 19, allowing the public to vote on whether or not the majority of the hospital board should be recalled. Unlike the Assembly’s vote on the resolution last week, four Assembly members voted “yes” on the resolution Tuesday night. All Assembly members were present for the special meeting. Assembly members Bill Privett and David Jack spoke in favor of passing the resolution Tuesday. Privett said those who filed the recal...
Members of Junior Girl Scout Troop #4156 couldn’t resist jumping in the pile of leaves they raked on April 25 near the Wrangell Medical Center. Along with raking, the troops planted flowers and fertilized in front of the hospital. After the gardening work, the troop visited with residents in WMC’s long-term care facility. Back row: (Left to right) Karri Buness, Madison Blackburn, Jing O’Brien. Middle Row: (left to right) Danika Smith, Maddy Harding, Kaylyn Easterly, Sophie O’Brien, Laura H...
The Wrangell Medical Center (WMC) wants to bring back an Anchorage attorney to lead a workshop on Alaska’s Open Meeting Act. In early March, the City and Borough of Wrangell hosted two free days of training on the state law. The classes, open to the public, were taught by Michael Gatti, an attorney who works for a private firm in Anchorage, and Krista Stearns, who serves as the city attorney in Kenai. At its meeting last month, the WMC Board of Directors agreed to bring Gatti back to Wrangell to lead a workshop for board members on the Open M...
One came from Janell Privett, whose request includes a list of 14 items of information including WMC’s total expenditures on various legal fees and travel expenses for hospital administration and board members. Privett initially made her Freedom of Information (FOI) request in writing to WMC Chief Executive Officer Noel Selle-Rea March 19. She came to the Board meeting last week to ask the WMC Board members to reconsider her request for information — what hospital staff has estimated would total 6,000 pages in documents. If her request is fulfi...
On Tuesday night, the Assembly voted 3-2 on a resolution that will create a special election June 12 regarding the recall petitions filed against eight of the nine Wrangell Medical Center Board members. Early Wednesday morning the City and Borough of Wrangell announced that vote no longer counts, as it was determined four “yes” votes were needed. “An affirmative vote of four members of the assembly is required for adoption of a resolution,” the Wrangell municipal code states. Borough Clerk Christie Jamieson said Wednesday afternoon the Assembl...
The Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors has decided to distribute a questionnaire regarding WMC Chief Executive Officer Noel Selle-Rea’s annual performance evaluation. At the April 18 WMC Board meeting, Board President Mark Robinson said in the past, evaluations of WMC CEOs have been either “painful” or “non-existent.” “This year, I decided I want to get more quantitative in the process,” Robinson said. The main outcome of the performance evaluation is to hopefully create a planning document that can help the WMC Board and CEO “improve...
To the Editor: I’ve managed to avoid weighing in about Lynn Campbell’s letters to the editor until I’ve nearly bitten off my tongue. I have always respected Lynn. She and her late husband have done so many wonderful things for this town that there are few people who would dare question her judgment. I’ve tried keeping my mouth shut out of respect for her, but I just can’t continue to do so. The following paragraph of Lynn’s first letter really set my hair on fire — not that the other rationalizations, attacks, and inconsistencies aren’t also i...
