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Power restored to remaining 90 homes without light in Wrangell
The aftermath of an unexpectedly strong Tuesday weather system affected life in Wrangell, postponing community events and unfurling an outpouring of support amid power outages. Power was restored to... Full story
Borough asks for windstorm damage reports
The borough is asking anyone who suffered property damage to their home, business or boat in Tuesday's windstorm to submit a damage report and photos by 3 p.m. Tuesday to City Hall. The borough is taking inventory of the losses in the community to... Full story
Wrangell suffers first COVID death as it sets monthly record for cases
Wrangell marked two milestones in the fight against COVID-19 in November: The first death attributed to the highly infectious disease in the community, and a record number of new infections. The borough on Monday reported the death. To protect the...
Legacy of Wrangell artist lives on through friends, family
If something interested Ira Merrill, he would throw his all into it. He would order books to absorb and learn, just to master a subject before moving onto the next thing. As it was in all things that...
Unexpected wind gusts knock out power in town
An unexpected, strong weather system sent high winds tearing through Wrangell, snapping three Southeast Alaska Power Agency poles which blocked the highway at City Park and knocked out power to most of Wrangell for much of Tuesday afternoon into the...
Dove Tree Ceremony remembers lost loved ones
The 19th annual Dove Tree Ceremony is a way to remember loved ones during the holiday season. Participants wrote the names of their loved ones on paper doves, one name per dove, and placed the names...
Tree lighting, Santa and more to highlight Midnight Madness
A tree will light up. Santa will greet children. Hot food and drinks and gathering community members will warm the body and soul. Although it’s dubbed Midnight Madness, Friday’s event will feature something for everyone, in addition to special...
Christmas home, business decorating contest underway
Wrangell’s yearly Christmas home and business decorating contest is on. The chamber of commerce with Wrangell Real Estate is offering $1,300 in prize money. The same cash prizes will be awarded for both categories. First place nets $300, second...
Senior Center seeks food donations, with focus on subsistence
The Wrangell Senior Center is in need of food donations, especially subsistence foods. In particular, the center is seeking turkeys and hams, plus fish, deer meat, moose meat and liver. Moose or deer is preferred, but cow liver is fine too, because...
Senior Center receives loaner 4-wheel-drive bus in time for winter
The Wrangell Senior Center is receiving a loaner bus from Juneau, equipped to handle transporting passengers in winter weather. The loaner bus arrived early Thanksgiving morning on the Kennicott ferry, part of the Catholic Community Service fleet....
Quilt shop offers something for every skill level
Lisa Torgramsen has been crafting fabrics since she learned how to make her own clothes at the age of 12. At the age of 24 she added quilting to her repertoire, and she continued to build her skill...
Former Wrangell physician convicted of 2004-2005 rape in Louisiana
A doctor who served as chief of staff at the Wrangell hospital eight years ago awaits possible life imprisonment for raping an underage female relative in Louisiana more than 16 years ago. Greg Salard faces a possible sentence without parole or proba...
Longtime residents share love for one another and their heritage
Tom Gillen Sr. and Glenda Gillen met at a teen dance one weekend in Ketchikan. It was either the end of 1957, or the beginning of 1958, he said. He remembered when they married - that was 1959. Their...
Wasilla Republican runs for governor; wants 'real change'
JUNEAU (AP) — A conservative Republican freshman state legislator announced plans Monday to run for governor, joining a field that includes Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, former independent Gov. Bill Walker and former Anchorage Democratic state...
Cooks conjure up creations with Thanksgiving leftovers
While Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas looms on the horizon, the ghost of Thanksgiving lurks in the fridge. But there's nothing to fear. Wrangell is populated with creative types who are happy...
Suspect pleads not guilty to threatening U.S. senators
ANCHORAGE (AP) — A man charged with threatening the lives of Alaska’s two U.S. senators has pleaded not guilty, and the judge decided that he will remain in custody. Jason Weiner, an attorney for Jay Allen Johnson, entered the plea on his...
State ends extended jobless benefits as unemployment rate falls
The state says it will stop paying extended unemployment benefits because the jobless rate has declined, ending a third program of enhanced or extended financial aid for Alaskans jobless during the pandemic. The Alaska Department of Labor and...
Correction
In the Nov. 24 Sentinel, Megan Powell’s last day as secretary of Wrangell High School was incorrectly reported. Her final day at the school will be Dec. 17....
State forecasts lower pink harvest next year, though better than 2020
The 2022 pink salmon harvest in Southeast is forecast at about half the 10-year average but better than 2020, the brood year for next summer’s returns. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and federal fisheries officials have forecast next...
Work on popular sledding hill delayed
With a few pre-winter snows, a sledding hill popular with children has already seen some use. However, the Wrangell parks and recreation department’s plan to make improvements to the hill behind the covered play area at the elementary school has...
Southeast again debates Tongass roadless rule
After 20 years, Southeast communities, the state and federal government are still debating whether road building should be banned in most of the Tongass National Forest. The Department of Agriculture is accepting public comments through Jan. 24 on a...
Judge blocks federal vaccination order for health care workers
A federal judge on Monday blocked President Joe Biden’s administration from enforcing a coronavirus vaccine mandate on thousands of health care workers in 10 states, including Alaska, that had brought the first legal challenge against the...
Seats start to fill on new ferry advisory board
A new state advisory board intended to provide more public input over operations and investment decisions for the Alaska Marine Highway System is starting to gather up its members, with five of the nine positions filled. None of the board members...
Assembly cancels mask ordinance meeting, though community set new COVID record
The borough assembly last Thursday canceled a special meeting called to consider a face mask ordinance, citing a decline in active COVID-19 cases in the community. The decision to cancel the meeting came a day after Wrangell set a record for new...
Wrangell to conduct survey work on former Institute property
The borough is looking to move forward with its plan to develop residential lots on the site of the former Bureau of Indian Affairs Wrangell Institute boarding school, while also fulfilling the Department of the Interior’s mandate that former...
