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A pair of new educators, and a face familiar to students and parents in the borough are the newest teachers to take the reins of three classrooms at Wrangell High School. Drew Larrabee, Jack Carney, and Anne Luetkemeyer are the newest additions to the staff at the high school, with Larrabee and Carney as new hires, and Luetkemeyer transferring from Stikine Middle School. Larrabee has taken over the shop class previously taught by Dave Brown, who retired at the end of the 2011 school year, while Carney is teaching life skills classes to include...
One of the most popular shows for kids on television in the last decade was Where On Earth Is Carmen San Diego as it scoured the world for the location of a thief who steals valuable artifacts from around the globe. For Wrangell High School students and parents, one question could be related to the title of that show – Where In The World Are The Class of 2012 Yearbooks? The yearbooks, which were to be delivered around May of last year, are now scheduled to be in the hands of parents and students in late October. WHS principal Monty Buness s...
Twyla Nore What background or experience do you have that qualifies you to be on the Wrangell School Board? I am a mother of four who has put my children through the Wrangell School System. I was very involved while my children went to school. Their education was one of my top priorities. They all went on to become productive alumni of Wrangell High School. Why are you running for the board? I currently have four grandchildren that are enrolled in the school system. I now have time to contribute...
Representative Peggy Wilson easily won the nomination for the Republican ticket in the race for District 33 on Aug. 28, with 986 votes cast in her favor – a 46 percent margin of victory. Wilson, who has held her seat in the legislature since 2001, will now face off against Democrat Matt Olsen and Rep. Kyle Johansen of Ketchikan in the Nov. 6 general election. The incumbent from Wrangell was effusive about her opponents the day after the election. “I really want to thank my opponents for keeping the focus on the race and not dirty pol...
The Wrangell School Board met in their first open session since a June 26 special meeting on Aug. 13. The meeting was rescheduled ahead from Aug. 20 in order for a quorum of members to be reached. According to a financial report issued by district business manager Pam Roope, the estimated ending balance of the district’s general fund budget totals $245,013. In a report to the board, district superintendent Rich Rhodes addressed a number of issues – including lowered test scores in a core curriculum. “The high school saw 85 percent profi...
August 15, 1912: A Southeastern Alaska nugget in the shape of a business opportunity faithfully worked was picked up by W.H. Bailey and partner who cleaned up $1,400.00 this season baking for the trollers in the vicinity of Forester Island. While the gold nugget may be rare in this section, the business opportunity makes profitable “diggin's” for an enterprising being. Mr. Bailey as seen in another column came in on the Uncle Dan from the west, with $700.00 as his share of profits from the short season, took passage for Seattle last night. Augu...
Brad Williams - 2014 What is your previous experience on boards or other relevant experience that would qualify you as a member of the Wrangell Medical Board of Directors? I was Chairman of the Board for the Mountain Book School District for 3 years. I was Chairman of the Board for the Montana Advisory Counsel for 1.5 years. I also have 35+ years dealing with various boards on a wide range of issues. I have very strong moral values to include a sense of right and wrong. I believe in and try to...
As current law stands, Wrangell has the highest municipal sales tax in the nation. An application by two Wrangellites to place a proposed taxation ordinance before the Borough Assembly could change that, however, by seeking to reduce Wrangell’s sales tax to 5.5 percent from its current 7 percent rate. The initial application for a suggested change to 5 percent, filed by Wrangell residents Ernie Christian and Rhonda Dawson, failed last week in part due to requirements covering initiative petitions under the Wrangell’s Municipal Code. Chr...
by Representative Peggy Wilson Hello again. After a short break to visit family, I wanted to report, from my Corner of the House, on all the latest news. Between budgets, a special session, and redistricting, there’s a lot going on. The best news is how well the Capital Budget came out. Because the legislature worked so carefully with the governor to keep expenditures at a reasonable level, there were very few vetoes. All the projects that are so critically needed in our District 2 c...
A member of the Alaska Legislature who is vying for the Democratic nomination to face off against Republican incumbent Representative Don Young in November was in Wrangell last week to meet citizens and discuss topics important to residents in Southeast Alaska. Representative Sharon Cissna, who represents District 22 in the University Heights area of Anchorage, is seeking to unseat Young, a member of the House of Representatives since 1973. Cissna’s district, which encompasses the neighborhoods...
The Wrangell School Board met in open session on Monday, May 21 to work on a number of action items and to accept a change in coaching personnel for a Wolves athletic team. Before action was taken on any items, however, Wrangell resident Steven Cole spoke to the board about his desire to see credits required for graduation lowered from 26, as Wrangell requires, to 21 as the State of Alaska requires. “You guys, by adopting the higher graduation credits, instead of letting the State of Alaska dictate them, you own the outcomes, good and b...
May 2, 1912: After eloquent pleas by Congressman Sulzer and Delegate Wickersham, the House of Representatives, unanimously passed the Alaska Home Rule bill providing Alaska a territorial form of government. This practically ends Alaska's long struggle for Home Rule as the Senate is expected to fall in line and ratify the measure. No opposition from the White House is anticipated. This bill provides for a legislative body of 16 representatives, four from each judicial district and eight senators, and two from each district to meet at Juneau on...
To the Editor: I am excited to say we are quickly coming to an end of the 2011-2012 school year. As the Superintendent of Wrangell Public Schools I have enjoyed working with staff, Board of Education and serving the community during this past year. Here is what I have come to realize after my first year in Wrangell. Wrangell has two dedicated Principals covering three schools and coordinating several programs who work hard for kids. A veteran staff who are very talented and have dedicated many years and an incredible amount of hours and time...
Wrangell Public School District is expected to receive $84,517 from the State of Alaska to use towards the upcoming school year’s budget. The extra money is part of a one-time $25 million allocation to Alaska schools approved by the State Legislature Sunday. District Superintendent Rich Rhodes announced the news at Monday’s School Board meeting, as well as other additions to the school budget. Rhodes said Wrangell will also receive a proposed additional $17,772 for Career and Technical Education and Vocational Education, which will mainly be...
To the Editor: There is no finer example of small town politics than Wrangell. Mistrust, rumors, false accusations, lies, and some truths all blended together. Today I received an email from a former resident who lamented on all the negativity posted by Wrangell residents to Facebook. This person lived here over forty years and follows local news. He would like to blame weather, rain, and dark dreary days as the cause but it is his observation that no other community in all of SE Alaska acts like this. It is sad. I received my Wrangell...
The Wrangell Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Action Plan outlines a dozen priority projects aimed at enhancing local recreation opportunities for residents and visitors. Last week, a public meeting was held on the final drafted plan, and those who helped form the plan expressed hopes of how it will be used in the community. Borough Economic Development Director Carol Rushmore, also a member of the Wrangell Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Core Team, said she hopes local organizations and groups will endorse the plan to help move it forward. Ideal...
The Wrangell School Board voted three-to-one Monday in favor of having a fruit tree orchard planted on property at the elementary school. The orchard is being provided by the Fruit Tree Planning Foundation’s (FTPF) “Communities Take Root” program. In January, FTPF arborist Rico Montenegro visited Wrangell to scout possible locations for an orchard. Kris Reed of the volunteer Tree Care Committee told the school board last month the space in front of the elementary school on Bennett Street would be an ideal location to plant 30 to 40 trees...
Rep. Don Young was in Wrangell Monday as part of a Southeast Alaska tour this week for the state’s sole U.S. congressman. During his quick visit, Young met with community members and business representatives at the Nolan Center for lunch where he heard about a number of issues facing Wrangell as well as local economic development projects. Nearly a dozen people attended Monday’s event with the congressman. Members of the Wrangell Cooperative Association talked about the restoration projects on Shakes Island. Mark Robinson, chair of the Wra...
The 2012 Wrangell birthday calendar is completed. It has been mailed. Printing takes approximately 30 days. They should be available for distribution the end of April or the beginning of May 2012. Because of the setback, the calendar year will begin May 1st, 2012 and run thru May 31st, 2013. I apologize for impeding the completion and I take full responsibility. No excuses, I will just say that I had a lot going on and was unable to complete everything on schedule. Please accept my sincere heartfelt apology. I would like to “explain” what I k...
Kris Reed of the volunteer “Tree Care Committee” asked Wrangell School Board members Monday night if they would consider using space in front of the elementary school to plant a future fruit tree orchard. Wrangell was granted an orchard last year through the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) Communities Take Root program, after the Wrangell Medical Center submitted an application. FTPF Aborist Rico Montenegro visited Wrangell last month to scout locations of where some 30 to 40 trees could be planted to create the orchard. Reed said Monday...
Carrie Wallace has spent the majority of her life working with children. From teaching Sunday school as a teenager to now leading the classroom at Wrangell’s Head Start Center, Wallace, 67, has helped shaped the minds of her young students and encouraged them to grow, learn and explore. Throughout her adult life, Wallace has led summer youth recreational programs, organized Girl Scout camps, and served as a substitute teacher for the school district before being hired as a classroom aide for s...
Three Wrangell High School (WHS) juniors recently returned from a five-day trip to the State Capitol to participate in the legislative session. Joel Cole, Lorenzo Silva and Blaine Wilson traveled to Juneau Feb. 8-15 and lobbied for House and Senate bills that would ultimately grant their school more funding. Silva,17, made the trip to Juneau as a sophomore, and after having “so much fun,” he said he wanted to serve as a student lobbyist again this year. One would think Silva has an interest in...
January The Wrangell School Board found $128,451 in additional, unspent funding from a federal program. In passing their 2011 budget, the board also accepted an $8,300 grant for the Upward Bound program. Master carvers Steve Brown and Wayne Price visited Shakes Island to begin discussions on the renovation of the Tribal House and to propose a traditional tools class. The US Forest Service began a scoping project for an Environmental Impact Study regarding timber sales and road construction for...
A message of hope came to the students of the Wrangell School District last week in an attempt to build self-confidence among the young men and women of the borough. The duo of Bob Lenz and Arden “AJ” James brought that message to Wrangell on Friday, Dec. 2 to share an anti-bullying program for the students of Wrangell High School and Stikine Middle School. “We really want to bring encouragement to people, teach about respect and valuing authority, and how to do the right thing when it comes...
In what promises to be an important election for Southeast Alaska voters in 2012, District 3 State Senator and Angoon businessman Albert Kookesh has filed to challenge Republican District 1 Senator Bert Stedman for leadership of a new district created after reapportionment. The new district, currently named “District Q,” encompasses Wrangell, Ketchikan, Haines, Angoon, Sitka, Hoonah, Prince of Wales Island and a number of other small towns and villages in Southeast Alaska. Kookesh, a Dem...