Week of May 15, 2025
Week of May 15, 2025
May 17 is Norway's Constitution Day, and in "Alaska's Little Norway," it's a big deal. Every year around this time, Petersburg holds a week-long festival to celebrate its Norwegian heritage. Hundreds of people flock to the Southeast island town for the experience. Festival celebrations date back to the late 1950s. Some traditions have grown and morphed over the decades, with new ones entering the mix as well. But the Norwegian Dancers have always been a fixture. Brandi Thynes is a volunteer on...
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At the Petersburg Borough Assembly meeting on May 5, the results of recently completed five-year utility rate study were presented, and borough residents can expect utility rate increases in the coming fiscal year as officials adjust for rising operating expenses and debt service for capital projects across water, wastewater, and electric departments. The suggestions based on the rate study include: Water: 3% annual increases from FY2026 through FY2030 Wastewater: 25% increase for FY2026, then...
President Donald Trump’s budget proposal would cut funding by more than half for the Essential Air Service program, which has ensured daily jet service to Wrangell, Petersburg, Yakutat and Cordova for almost 50 years. The program covers 65 small communities in Alaska — which includes 11 in Southeast — and 112 communities in the Lower 48, Hawaii and Puerto Rico as of late last year. Congress created the Essential Air Service subsidy in 1978 to ensure a minimum level of service for...
Outside the brand-new facility on South Nordic Drive, the scent of grilling burgers and hotdogs lingers in the air as community members stream through the 16-foot bay doors of High Tide Auto. Close to two hundred people dropped by to congratulate Wes and Angie Davis and have a look inside their brand-new NAPA auto service center, according to Kimberly Simbahon who was dropping visitors' names into a blue bucket for the door prize drawings. "It's been a little stressful," Angie admitted,...
A Mayfest favorite is back! The Mitkof Mummers will present a villain, a hero and a heroine for the audience to admonish with boos, admire with harrahs or adore with ahs when they take to the Wright Auditorium stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for a fun-filled production of the melodrama "The Treasure of Huckleberry Ridge... or Hey Jude." Longtime director Irene Jo Littleton is working alongside current director Tiffany Glass with a star-studded Petersburg cast, a 10-person chorus...
Rare entertainment opportunity alert - on Tuesday, May 20, Petersburg Arts Council is bringing a full-time professional ventriloquist to Petersburg for a performance in Wright Auditorium. Michael Harrison, of Vancouver B.C., who appeared on NBC's "America's Got Talent" and has performed over 3,500 shows in more than 40 countries, will be en route to Alaska soon to share his twist on the classic art form of ventriloquism. "The show that I do is sort of multi-disciplinary ... with a combination...
After losing more than $500,000 in federal funding, the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska has put on hold this year’s community food distribution of herring roe and salmon. The Southeast tribal nonprofit’s Traditional Foods Security Department had planned to use the money to continue the program, which over the past three years has distributed more than 52,000 pounds of herring roe on kelp, 120,000 pounds of salmon and 31,000 pounds of black cod to the...
The public hearing for the Petersburg Borough's FY26 budget is coming up on Monday, May 19. The borough presented a balanced budget draft on May 5 that projects $13.54 million in general fund revenues and $13.51 million in expenditures - a small surplus of $24,168 compared to the last year's $42,271 shortfall. Revenue from property taxes is expected to grow by more than $570,0000 reaching a total of $4.76 million. Property taxes now account for more than one-third of general fund revenue. Other...
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House panel in charge of overhauling Medicaid by cutting hundreds of billions in federal spending wrapped up debate on its bill Wednesday, following a 25-hour session. The Energy and Commerce Committee voted 30-24 along party lines to sign off on the legislation, sending it to the Budget panel, which is expected to bundle it together with the other 10 measures Friday to create Republicans’ “big, beautiful bill.” The full House is set to vote on that package next...
This past weekend, the Mitkof middle school and Petersburg high school had an opportunity to come together for an intersquad track and field meet. Historically, Petersburg's track program has lagged behind when it comes to track facility and equipment. From a gravel oval space for running to a rigid, old boardwalk connecting with a rough sandpit for long jumpers, the conditions have not been ideal. But some improvements have been made in recent years. "We brought in some new rock two years ago...
In their first home games of the season, the Petersburg high school baseball team struggled to contain the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears high powered offense. In game one, the Vikings were defeated 16-1. "The weather played a huge role. We had to juggle our lineup a little bit because of a couple of different issues, we were not at full strength on Thursday," head coach Jim Engell said. Errors were an issue for the Vikings against the Crimson Bears. "We made four errors on Friday and one on...
Empowerment Through Education To the Editor: This past weekend, 11 determined women gathered with certified handgun instructors Cheryl and Dave from Citizens Firearms of Haines for a powerful and inspiring experience in firearm safety and self-defense. The training began Friday evening with an engaging classroom session focused on the fundamentals of handgun safety. Early Saturday morning, despite pouring rain and overcast skies, the group reunited at the Petersburg Rod and Gun Club for a full...
The president’s budget proposal for the federal fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 is full of bold moves, big changes and controversy. That was expected. But one proposed spending cut stands out as closer to home than others. The budget office proposes to reduce federal funding for the nationwide Essential Air Service program by 52%. Among 177 small communities in the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the program covers daily air service to Wrangell, Petersburg, Yakutat and Cordova. What is particularly aggravating is the budget office’s explanation...
May 15, 1925 – With its shrimp, clam and crab plants, Petersburg is the center of the shell fish industry in Alaska. Last Saturday an additional payroll was added by the Star Shell Fish Company starting to put up crab meat in the old Ness Shrimp plant on the Union trading dock. The cannery is divided into three rooms – the dooking department, the cleaning room and the picking room. The plant has been made comfortable and modern sanitary methods are used. The incorporators for the new industry are Ben Grondahl, Chris Christensen, Hans Wick...
Saturday's rainy weather didn't deter the annual Kupreanof Day tradition, where the Saturday before the Little Norway Festival Kupreanof residents welcome visitors to come enjoy the scenary of their beautiful little community, with free rides provided across the Narrows throughout the...
May 7 - An officer assisted EMS. Carrie Peterson, 68, and Jeremy Hicks, 25, were both cited for failing to stop for a school bus. Officers responded to a parking complaint in Middle Harbor. An attempted identity theft was reported to an officer. Suspicious behavior was reported on Mitkof Highway. May 8 - A high water alarm was reported on Skylark Way. Wastewater (WW) was notified and responded. An officer responded to a parking complaint on N 3rd St. The owners of the vehicles were notified and responded. David Estes, 34, arrested for...
Petersburg Pilot... Full story
Petersburg Pilot... Full story
