Week of March 26, 2026
Week of March 26, 2026
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Begich visited Petersburg last week, holding a community meet and greet and sitting down afterward with the Pilot and the KFSK radio station. Begich, a former state senator from Anchorage, is running for governor on a platform centered on education funding, affordable energy, fiscal accountability, and a governing style he says is defined by dialogue rather than division. The meet and greet drew a roomful of Petersburg residents and discussion touched on...
Every day the Petersburg wastewater plant handles between 300,000 gallons to 1.8 million gallons during heavy rain, but there have been some changes in how they do that in an attempt to meet new EPA requirements. While the wastewater staff have been able to greatly improve the water quality discharged by the plant, it's going to take more equipment to fully meet the disinfection requirements. That's going to mean either chlorination and dechlorination equipment (as discharge of both bacteria...
In last week’s story “Petersburg High School poets recite on KTOO,” the English teacher for the students Freya Tucker and Mette Miller was incorrectly identified as Tim Shumway. Jill Lenhard is actually their teacher this year in AP Language & Composition where they did the initial assignment in class and received extra credit for performing in the school-wide competition. The Pilot apologizes for that... Full story
Petersburg’s elementary school will be getting new accessible playground equipment next school year as part of a $173,000 grant from the Hurst Wood Education Foundation, a nonprofit that supports special education projects in schools. The current playground at the Rae C. Stedman Elementary School has swings, slides, monkey bars, and a variety of climbing equipment. For students in wheelchairs or with limited mobility, playing on that equipment can be challenging. Special Education Director Cyndy Fry said having a playground that’s... Full story
Two drivers have been transported to the Petersburg Medical Center after a collision around 10 a.m. Tuesday on the Mitkof Highway near Petersburg's cemetery, about two miles south of town. "There was a car heading southbound, and as he was accelerating into the 40 mile an hour zone, he ran into a patch of ice and lost control of the vehicle," said Dave Berg, a spokesperson for the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department. "He crossed the center line and hit another vehicle." Berg said when the two... Full story
June 1 will be the golden anniversary of Alaska Airlines jet service to Wrangell and Petersburg, marking when the first scheduled Boeing 727 passenger flight touched down in the communities in 1976. Before the arrival of the 104-passenger jets, which provided daily same-plane service to and from Seattle, travelers had to take a plane with one-fifth the passenger capacity and catch a connecting flight in Ketchikan or Juneau. "It would be nice to get on a jet at Wrangell and relax all the way to...
The Alaska Senate approved a measure to boost state taxes on oil and gas production on Wednesday. Lawmakers tacked it on to what would have been a routine renewal of a state oil royalty agreement. Sen. Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage, sponsored the amendment to House Bill 194, saying it would close a corporate income tax loophole and potentially capture more than $100 million in new state revenues each year — at a time when Alaska is in dire need of revenue to pay for state services. “Can we afford this loophole while we close schools? Can we... Full story
The Alaska House of Representatives approved a resolution urging the Trump administration to waive a steep visa fee for international teachers. The vote comes amid a growing teacher shortage throughout the state. Lawmakers are calling for the Trump administration to waive the fee for teachers hired through the H-1B visa program, which allows employers to recruit highly-skilled workers from overseas. The federal government raised the fee from $5,000 to $100,000 for each new applicant to the H-1B visa program in September. The House passed the... Full story
A federal judge in Alaska has rejected a lawsuit that sought to reinstate a management plan that would allow heavier logging in the world’s largest temperate old-growth rainforest. The result leaves an Obama-era management plan in place, but it could be short-lived: The administration of President Donald Trump is already at work on a new plan that could allow more logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. In an order published Friday, Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the lawsuit filed by Viking Lumber, Alcan Timber and the Alaska Forest... Full story
Subscribers can use the link below to access this week's PDF Edition, or use the E-Editions button on the homepage for all of our current and archived PDFs. Click here to view this week's PDF. Thanks for... Full story
1926 – There are no issues in the archive until May 19, 1926. Thank you for your patience. March 16, 1951 – It’s nothing but the best for the Glen Reid family when something happens to one of their little folk. On Thursday morning Sandy Reid, small son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Reid, was trying to help his brother grind up some clams for the family lunch. But he tried too hard and poked his tiny finger too far into the chopper, taking it off at the first joint. The family frantically rushed him to the hospital where they learned that three...
The numbers are in for Southeast Alaska’s 2025-26 commercial Dungeness crab season. Participants harvested 2.07 million pounds of crab during the summer and fall/winter fisheries combined. With the estimated overall price averaging $4.17 a pound, the full season amounts to a total value of $8.64 million. Joe Stratman is a regional shellfish biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, which manages the fishery. He said the full harvest came in lower than what the fishery has seen over the past five years or so. “I think you could... Full story
With spring (officially) underway, the Petersburg High School Track and Field team have hit the ground running with fierce and intense competition. Due to the extended winter Petersburg has seen, the team has mostly been focusing on conditioning and physically preparing themselves for the fast season. While the team has only been practicing for a little bit, head coach Casey Gates already has an idea of the potential strengths of this year's squad. "I think our strengths are going to be in...
Petersburg High School's baseball team will be looking to rebound after a winless campaign and missing the postseason. Unlike last season, this year's is more experienced. Head coach Jim Engell said the team boasts seven kids that are juniors and seniors. One of the big differences between this season and the previous one is the team boasts an eight man pitching rotation, which will be key for depth and postseason aspirations. "The year we took fourth at state, we were deeper pitching wise. The...
The Petersburg Rod and Gun Club has outlined a slate of range improvements and community events for 2026, with some construction already underway and several projects in the pipeline. Reid Brothers Construction is slated to replace the rifle range boardwalk with gravel extending to the 100-yard line and establish truck access to the rifle field. The project, funded through a state capital projects appropriation, is expected to take place this year, though the timeline will depend on Reid Brothers’ schedule, according to Rod and Gun Club...
Conflict in the Middle East is sending shockwaves through global energy markets. And yet again, Alaskans are wondering why, with a huge amount of North Slope natural gas, we are going to increase our dependence on some of the world’s most unstable regions. The answer, in part, is that we have failed to develop our own energy resources— including vast natural gas reserves that could supply our households, fuel our industries and military bases, and reliably deliver energy to trusted allies abroad. The good news, however, is that we are on...
Spending money can be a lot of fun, while saving money can be pretty boring. Sure, you get to watch your account grow — assuming you invest it wisely — thinking about spending it someday, though thinking about that someday is not nearly as much fun as spending today. But when you do a good job of saving, life is much better as you grow old and life will be much better for the future generations who may benefit from your savings. As Alaskans depend ever more heavily on the Permanent Fund as the largest single source of stable revenue to...
Karen Schramek was born in Portland Oregon April 9th, 1951 to Maxine and Roland Hayzlett. She grew up close to her older brother Steve, looking after her younger sisters and helping around the house. The family made many memories camping, visiting national parks, and on day trips to the Oregon Coast or Oregon mountain streams. Karen especially enjoyed fishing with her Dad. Karen joined Camp Fire Girls, eventually becoming a camp counselor near Mt. Hood for several summers. Her early... Full story
Annette Carol Samuelson was born on October 27, 1944, to Mildred (Israelson) and Gainhart Samuelson in Petersburg, Alaska, where she would live her entire life. The second of six children, Annette was a born mama's helper. She loved her family deeply and her desire to do whatever she could for them informed her entire life. Her father, a fisherman, was rarely home. Even at a young age Annette recognized how hard Mildred worked to keep food on the table and to fill her family's childhood with... Full story
March 18 – An officer responded to a parking complaint on S 2nd St. An officer conducted a welfare check on Sing Lee Alley. An officer responded to a two-car accident at Nordic Dr. and Surf St. There was a report of suspicious activity on Sing Lee Alley. An officer responded to a dog complaint on S Nordic Dr. Papers were served on S 3rd St. A driver on S Nordic Dr. was issued a warning for tail light requirements. An officer assisted with a civil issue on Skylark Way. March 19 – An officer assisted a citizen with a stuck wheelchair on N...
Petersburg Pilot... Full story
Notices published in the Petersburg Pilot and all of Alaska's... Full story
