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By Brooke Reynolds When kids make unhealthy choices, like drinking underage, the reason they often give is boredom. “There was nothing else to do, I was bored.” For the past three years Alaska Island Community Services collected data to determine the most urgent community prevention needs in Wrangell. Overwhelmingly, the response from interviews as well as our research indicated that underage drinking is the area of greatest concern in our community. On Thursday February 23, 2012 Alaska Island Community Services staff met with middle and hig...
Hello again from the capital. This week we passed the mid-point for this year’s legislative session, so we’re on the downhill slide for the end of the session – with a lot of work yet to be done. Friday was another good day for my office. House Bill 216 passed the House unanimously. It will greatly improve understanding of the regulation process for the public as well as legislators. All departments will be required to write a brief descriptive summary, in easy to understand English, of every...
To the Editor: I have a comment on the article in the January 12, 2012 Wrangell sentinel regarding David Jack’s concerns over spending of capital reserves at Wrangell Medical Center in relation to the WMC Renovation project. He indicated “several assembly members have expressed concern over the spending of the hospital’s reserves.” Although I am no longer on the board of Wrangell Medical Center and therefore do not know what current expenditures are being paid from reserves, I must respond. Wrangell Medical Center had $3,000,000 in reserve...
The buzz in the hallways, here at the capital, is all about Education funding. We all recognize that if we’re going to keep America’s workforce strong, today’s students need to be getting the best education possible. There are those who believe that the state hasn’t raised education funding in several years. This is not so. In fact, in Fiscal Year 2009 the House of Representatives instituted forward funding education with a three year increase that just ended two years ago. In addition to incr...
Rare Earth Elements (REE’s), while receiving more worldwide attention in recent years, still remain a mystery to much of the public. REE’s are a group of 17 chemical elements that occur together in the periodic table of elements. What makes them valuable are their unique characteristics, such as chemical, catalytic, magnetic, optical, electrical, and metallurgical properties. These properties make them valuable in products such as smart phones, hybrid cars, windmills, military hardware, fiber op...
Hello again from the Capital. We’ve now completed the first thirty days of the session. There’s a lot to be done yet, and I’m concerned about whether we’ll get all the important legislation accomplished. These ninety-day sessions are a real stretch. The week began with a rush and ended with a new piece of legislation being introduced that will be of great interest to District 2. I have joined with a group of coastal legislators in introducing Coastal Management Program (ACMP) legisla...
To the Editor: Christmas has once again come and gone. We here at The Salvation Army would like to stop and thank those who gave so generously to help us make this one of the best seasons ever. Thank you to the businesses that allowed us to put in an Angel Tree and to all who donated gifts to help fulfill the needs of those trees represented. Thank you to our two grocery stores for letting us put up our kettles out front and to all those who stopped to put in a coin or two. As I told several individuals who came by, “it’s nice if you can con...
Hello again from Juneau. We’ve settled into a frenzied rhythm for the duration of the session. Three of my bills have been heard this week, but only one successfully passed out of committee. The other two are being held for more work. My ‘Sea Otter Management’ resolution, HJR 26 urges federal agencies to work with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Southeast Alaska Native leaders, and other interested parties to establish strategies and plans for the sustainable management of the growi...
Let Me Explain Recently, three representatives from the Wrangell Early Childhood Coalition returned from a conference in Anchorage sponsored by Best Beginnings, which is the state-wide umbrella organization. The Wrangell Early Childhood Coalition is a partnership of Best Beginnings. Nine other partnerships from different communities in Alaska also have been accepted under the umbrella of Best Beginnings with the goal of ensuring all Alaska children begin school ready to succeed. At the conference, the ten partnerships met to discuss both local...
Hello and welcome to week three of Peggy’s Corner of the House. This has been a busy week, with four of my bills being heard. Bills don’t always pass out of committee on the first hearing. Sometimes there are questions or details that need to be worked out. This week, three of my bills were held over in committee until next week. House Concurrent Resolution 20, which will designate February as American Heart Month in Alaska, did successfully pass the House of Representatives on Friday – una...
Wrangell Hospital Auxiliary is a group of dedicated volunteers in our community, with the goal of rendering services to Wrangell Medical Center and Long Term Care, and to promote the health and welfare of the community. One of our primary functions is to fundraise, which gives us the ability to provide monetary support and assist in purchasing equipment for the hospital and long-term care. Some of our donations over the past few years include: Bladder Scan (for residual urine, no need to catheterize patients), Long Term Care Bingo Prizes,...
To the Editor: To: Jeanne Lindley Thank you for writing to Governor Sean Parnell regarding your concerns about the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). AMHS is a vital part of the transportation infrastructure of Alaska. In regard to your frustrations over public notices, AMHS posts meeting announcements in local bulletins and on their website http://www.dotstate.ak.us/amhs/, well in advance of public meeting dates. Additionally, you also expressed concerns about management of AMHS and transportation challenges in Southeast Alaska. Governor...
Hello and welcome to Peggy’s Corner of the House. I’m excited to be back in Juneau representing District 2 in the State House. I’m sad, though, that this will be my last year representing Sitka, Petersburg, Pelican, Elfin Cove, Port Alexander, Kupreanof and Baranof Warm Springs because of redistricting. This is the second year of the 27th legislative session, and we’ll be working hard to gain approval of all the good legislation that was introduced last year. This is my second year serving...
To the Editor: Just to let you know, a few years ago while in Seattle, James and I saw a news story about a restaurant doing a “Pay What You Can” night. Due to the economy this restaurant offered “chef’s choice” one night a week and pay what you can. It gave people or families on a tight budget the chance to dine out. We loved the idea, but made it our own, by making it a fundraiser. We chose Heifer International as our charity of choice and the past three years have raised $1,500. We purchased three arks plus extras to help provide many with...
Letter to the Editor and to the community of Wrangell This is a letter of farewell as I end my career as a doctor in the community of Wrangell. I have resigned from Wrangell Medical Center and Alaska Island Community Services effective January 1, 2012. There are many reasons, but they are not the purpose of this letter. No organization or persons should be interpreting this letter to favor their side in any of the ongoing conflicts regarding healthcare in this community. My purpose is to express my thanks and appreciation to the community. As a...
To the Editor: We the people, for the people and by the people? Really: Aren’t “We” the people of this great land? Then tell us who appoints the administrators in the offices of AMHS? They are certainly not men of knowledge regarding the AMHS ships. They seem more like “Let’s try these ships” or you “pat my back and I’ll pat yours” and “if these don’t work, we’ll tie these up and just order some more. Who is this man that knows that these Alaska Class ferries are definitely going to work where others have failed? And who is he that he can say w...
To the Editor: I went to see our Senator and Representative in Ketchikan last week to ask that they “investigate” the offices of the MHS and perhaps find out who is undermining our Alaska ferry system. You know, our highway here in Southeastern Alaska. Both of the men were out, probably campaigning for re-election, but their secretaries were more than gracious and assured me that both men were aware of the problems in AMHS administration and promised to give them my letters. They then suggested that I go to KTKN radio station and tell them abo...
To the Editor: Did you know that our disadvantaged people are being discriminated against right here in our own hometown? They have actually been asked not to come into certain eating establishments as it upsets their patrons. There people are people who have been in accidents, in which they may have lost an eye, a leg or had a head injury, a stroke or they may suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s. Many of these things could cause a person to laugh loudly at something only he or she may be thinking about or they might just start to cry s...
Are you 60 years or older? Do you live in Wrangell, Alaska? Do you miss lunch every day or wish you had eaten lunch every day? If you answered yes to all of these questions or just the first two of these questions I have something that might interest you. On Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday lunch is available to you at the Wrangell Senior Center. All that is requested from you is a phone call before 10:00 a.m. on the days you want eat lunch. Your call or visit each day by 10:00 a.m. ensures we have cooked enough to feed you and everyone...
To the Editor: This is in regards to the letter from John Taylor published in the Nov. 3, Wrangell Sentinel. While John Taylor is the President of the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce, he does not speak for the Board as stated in his letter. While the board supports the new Wrangell Medical Center, the Board has not discussed or voted on the method of construction of the new Wrangell Medical Center. Mr. Taylor owns a construction company in town and is merely trying to promote business for his own interests. We feel his letter does not represent...
Re: Alaska Marine Highway, and the future of our ferry system (DOT, yearly “Scoping Plan” report, Wrangell Sentinel Oct. 27, 2011.) I didn’t know that DOT had a yearly “scoping plan.” I have lived in Alaska since 1963, when our ferries first started. I was here, when they enlarged our fleet so as to get our ferry service to our Indian villages, and our logging camps, so that all of us who lived in outlying towns would have access to our ferry system. I worked for the ferry system for many years, and I watched as DOT did less and less maintenan...
To the Editor: The Wrangell Chamber of Commerce’s (WCOC) main mission is to support economic development for our members. The WCOC board of directors fully supports the new Wrangell Medical Center (WMC), but only if it is a stick built project. The benefits to the WCOC members will be substantially more with traditional on site construction, than if the project is built with modular construction. We ask that the City & Borough of Wrangell (CBW) and WMC work to do what is needed to make the project be built on site, not down south and barged t...
Leadership takes many forms but a goal believed in by most is the key component for a successful outcome. In our recent past we can look to the Marine Travelift and haul out facility as an excellent example of leadership, which has generated economic activity for our community and stimulated other cities in SE to imitate our success. The formation of the newest Borough in the state is another very recent example of leadership coming from Wrangell and being copied by others. Some will argue the need of individual projects, or the specific...
By Noel Selle-Rea The Wrangell Medical Center board and staff have chosen an approach of keeping communication between the City and Borough of Wrangell (CBW) and Wrangell Medical Center (WMC) direct and out of the media. After the article in last week’s paper I felt it important that we provide some facts about the project. As many of you know, WMC staff, WMC board and myself have all personally poured our heart and soul into this building project for the past several years. It is my hope and belief that we will get past the politics that a p...
There are a couple of the comments Christians hear during October. 1. Halloween is a pagan holiday that involves evil and witchcraft….totally ignore, set up a prayer army to guard against all the evil of that night. 2. Halloween is nothing but a time on the calendar that gives us an excuse to eat way too much candy and dress in costume, play games…So it is completely fine to engage in all secular activities, not a big deal There are many things about celebrating Halloween with which Christians take issue with including rumors of satanic rit...
