Sorted by date Results 226 - 250 of 281
In his monthly report to the Port Commission on Dec. 4, Harbormaster Greg Meissner explained that plans to replace the dock at Shoemaker Bay Harbor are at the point where an engineer can be brought on site to draw up designs. Showing a preliminary design to commissioners, Meissner said Shoemaker would be looking at having five main fingers, with additional berths for 54- and 60-foot vessels. The materials used would consist of polyethylene tubs, doing away with wood or iron in the water and...
Wrangell’s Planning and Zoning Commission twice lacked a quorum at its scheduled evening meeting Nov. 13 and midday Monday rescheduling. Due to scheduling difficulties, Commission chair Terri Henson and Economic Development Coordinator Carol Rushmore were alone in the City Hall chambers at the Thursday night meeting. All seven commissioners were then notified of a rescheduling to Monday, but only Henson, Dorothy Hunt-Sweat and Don McConachie were able to attend. “Sorry everybody,” Henson said, as some residents had shown up to Monday’s meeting...
Wrangell seems to be in a fine position to prosper as attention in Alaska turns toward strengthening the region's various maritime industries. The Fishing, Seafood and Maritime Initiative (FSMI) has been developed by the University of Alaska and other public and private partners with the intention of supporting a strong and sustainable maritime workforce in the state. With over 500 firms and 70,000 employees, the maritime industry represents Alaska's largest employment sector, and its various "b...
Drawings for the future mariners' memorial at Heritage Harbor were unveiled at Wrangell's monthly Port Commission meeting on Nov. 6 in the City Hall Assembly Chambers. Drawn up by architect Christopher Mertl of Corvus Design in Juneau, the memorial plan calls for a concrete plaza designed to resemble wooden planking, a pavilion and weathered steel patina memorial wall evocative of the prow of a ship. "When it takes that curve it rakes out," explained Harbormaster Greg Meissner, going over the dr...
In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. November 12, 1914: Wrangell was visited by one of the worst storms last Sunday that has hit this port for several years. The storm started about two o'clock in the morning following a slight earthquake, and from then on a strong Southeaster was blowing 'til late in the afternoon. Considerable damage was done by the big wind and sea along the waterfront, several gas boats being driven on the shore and smashed more or less. Several shacks in the lower part of town were smashed and other damage was...
Members of the Wrangell Borough Assembly met Monday at a special midday session to formally approve election results certified by the Borough Canvass Board on Oct. 9. The official results included votes cast at the Nolan Center on election day, Oct. 7, as well as assisted and absentee ballots cast prior which were counted by the Canvass Board. For one 2-year term as Mayor, David Jack received 304 votes and Kipha Valvoda received 75. For two 3-year terms on the Assembly, Mark Mitchell received 27...
The unofficial results of Tuesday's local elections in Wrangell saw 312 ballots cast, considerably fewer than at last year's election. Of eight open positions there had been only two contested seats, one two-year term for mayor and a three-year term on the school board. Additionally, there were no measures or items on this year's ballot. For the mayoral position, incumbent candidate David Jack regained his seat with 242 votes. The other candidate, Kipha Valvoda, collected 59. For the school board, incumbent Susan Eagle collected 207 votes;...
Residents of Wrangell are invited to cast their votes in the Borough regular election Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Nolan Center, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Registered voters are asked to bring a form of identification to the polls. Official candidates for this year’s regular election include: – Two candidates for the position of Mayor, incumbent David Jack and Kipha Valvoda. The position is a two-year term. – Two candidates for a three-year term on the School Board, Aleisha Mollen and incumbent Susan Eagle. – Two candidates for two three-year terms on th...
Continuing pool woes concerned the Wrangell Borough Assembly when members Maxi Wiederspohn, Pam McCloskey, Mark Mitchell, Becky Rooney and Mayor David Jack met in their City Hall chambers Tuesday evening. “It seems that everything here has gone wrong at the same time,” reported Borough Manager Jeff Jabusch. Last month Wrangell public pool staff discovered a number of problems, including a significant leak, roof issues, some corrosion and electrical problems with a heat exchanger. Jabusch said a public pool in Juneau had experienced similar hea...
Closely mirroring the mood of the last Wrangell Borough Assembly meeting, dogs were on the mind of the Port Commission as it met for its first meeting of the season Thursday. Wayne Kaer came to the meeting bearing several grievances, the most urgent of which were the harbors’ uncontrolled canines. Kaer had not been able to speak his mind at the last Borough Assembly meeting because he had arrived after the time for public comment had already passed. He told commissioners that dogs’ rubbish was r...
What experience or qualities do you have that would make you an effective Port Commissioner? "Commitment to Wrangell and working with others. I have lived in Wrangell since 1983 and I'm committed to and involved with this town as my home. My wife, Carol Ross, and I owned and operated a business here until 2007. I am a board member now with KSTK and Coast Alaska. I attend St. Philip's Episcopal Church, where I have served on the Vestry Committee. I am a member of Wrangell Volunteer Fire...
An official list of candidates for this year’s City and Borough of Wrangell regular election on Oct. 7 was released by Borough Clerk Kim Lane on Friday evening. At the moment, only two offices are being contested, that of Mayor and for a seat on the Wrangell School Board. Two candidates announced they will be running for the position of Mayor, incumbent David Jack and Kipha Valvoda. The position is a 2-year term. For a 3-year term on the School Board, Aleisha Mollen will run against the i...
The Wrangell Ports and Harbors Commission voted 3-0 June 5 to take over management of the Meyers Chuck dock and seaplane float from the state Transportation Department. State officials originally proposed the transfer and offered $1.4 million to sweeten the deal. About half of that money will go into a reserve fund, to be supplemented by dock fees with the goal of eventually replacing the seaplane float and dock at the mainland community, which has seven remaining full-time residents. Greater potential also exists to use that portion of the...
The Wrangell ports commission voted 4-0 Thursday to approve a final draft for the Mariners Memorial. The draft plan represents features compiled from among three options presented to the commission by Juneau-based landscape artist Chris Mertl of Corvus Design. It will now head back to Mertl, who will prepare draft blueprint documents of the Memorial's features, designs which could be taken to charitable organizations, the state legislature, or other potential funding sources. The designs have be...
In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. April 30, 1914: Work was started this morning on the riverboat of Wm. Strong’s, the Winifred, pertaining to getting her into commission for a trip up the river within the next week. Mr. Strong received a wire from W. Hyland at Telegraph Creek in which he stated that it would be impossible for Eddie Kalkins to get to Wrangell in time to make the first trip on her as he was detained inside. He also stated that the river has been clear at Telegraph for the past three days. They expect to have the b...
Members of the public told port commissioners they preferred the second of three options for the proposed Mariners Memorial. At a second public workshop Thursday evening, a clear consensus emerged among attendees that while the second option offered the most pleasing esthetics and the best way for individuals to approach the monument, elements of another option appealed to them. They said they generally preferred a grand staircase visible in one of the other three possible layouts presented by...
After two winter sinkings in the Wrangell area, port commissioners and the harbormaster said the time has come to discuss a possible insurance requirement. The subject has been on the commission’s agenda since the previous meeting in March. Discussion – commissioners took no vote on the issue – mentioned the requirement but also focused around possible alternatives to an outright requirement. Former port officials present at Thursday’s regular port commission meeting said a requirement had in the past faced criticism – and eventual defeat ...
The Wrangell School board voted 4-0 Monday to fill two critical positions. The board offered Deidre Jenson, interim principal of Evergreen Elementary School from early in the second semester, the same job full time. Jenson, formerly of Thorne Bay, previously said she would accept the position if it were offered. She said Monday she was happy to have been offered the position. The board also voted to offer the position of secondary principal – the joint position for Wrangell middle and high schools – to Colter Barnes, currently a principal in...
A Juneau designer presented three draft options on Monday for a potential layout to the Mariner's Memorial at a public workshop. An octagonal lighthouse pavilion is part of each design, but could be located toward the envisioned entryway for the memorial, at the memorial's midpoint, or at the end. All three drafts used landscaped vegetation to screen the memorial from the noise and bustle of nearby Heritage Harbor and the boat ramp, to create a solemn ceremonial air with a strong connection to n...
Sentinel writer The Wrangell Mariner's Memorial is presently about 3,500 square feet of black empty pavement scattered with mussel shells. It could one day be an educational space. It could one day be an artistic exhibition. It could one day be a memorial shrine. It could one day be a historical exhibit and a place for community gatherings. It could be a navigational aide. It could one day be a tourism draw, though that's not its primary focus, planners said. Wrangell Ports and Harbor...
The borough assembly voted 5-0 Tuesday night to approve a no-bid design contract with Juneau-based Corvus Design. The contract allots $11,372 from a $35,000 state grant to renovate heritage harbor for that purpose. Port commissioners previously said the contract was designed to be no-bid in order to avoid a prolonged bidding process which might stretch past the June 30 expiration date for the grant. The money “is part of the starting of this thing?” assembly member James Stough asked harbormaster Greg Meissner. “Is that what this is?” The goa...
The Wrangell Ports & Harbors commission voted 4-0 three times Tuesday night. Commissioners unanimously approved a no-bid professional services contract with Juneau’s Corvus Design. The vote means, pending approval by the borough assembly, port officials would repurpose approximately $11,372 of state money for the construction of floats and upland improvements for Heritage Harbor. About $24,000 would remain from those funds, any unused portion of which will be lost by June 30, if the assembly approved the contract, commissioners said. The c...
The Chief Shakes House rededication was easily the biggest event of 2013 in Wrangell. However, the year was filled with events and news stories big and small. On the first edition of 2014, the Sentinel pauses to recollect the stories throughout the year. January An electrical fire damaged the fish tank at the Nolan Center, causing it to be removed. A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off of Craig Jan. 4, rattling windows and nerves in town. The quake caused no major damage in town, but...
To the Editor: Concerning the Wrangell Mariners Memorial: In order to encourage more community involvement and add depth to Wrangell’s Mariners Memorial, I would like the community to consider adding a series of kiosks depicting the history of maritime culture associated with Wrangell. The addition of educational kiosks sponsored by specific organizations would help this project obtain additional grant funding. The Nolan Center has interpretative kiosks outside the building conveying site information. I would like the community to consider a s...
In the Sentinel 75, 50 and 25 years ago. November 18, 1938: The Hospital Auxiliary staged a very successful benefit for the Bishop Rowe General Hospital on Armistice Day when 65 persons registered between the hours of 3 to 5 and attended the annual silver tea, postponed from last May. Perhaps the greatest surprise to the tea patrons was the fact that quantities of garden flowers, particularly snapdragons, had been saved from the heavy frost of preceding days and were used to center the daintily arranged tea tables and wherever a vase could be...