Week of August 27, 2026
Week of August 27, 2026
Six candidates filed to run for three Borough Assembly seats before Tuesday's filing deadline. Incumbent Jeigh Stanton Gregor filed for reelection, while incumbent Rob Schwartz opted not to run again. Two of the three Assembly seats carry three-year terms, and four candidates are running for them: Stanton Gregor, Sarah Fine-Walsh, Donna Marsh and Tom Kowalske. The third seat is a one-year term and drew two candidates, appointed incumbent Scott Newman and Don Koenigs. Every other board on this...
As the sunsets creep earlier and earlier, hinting at shorter days to come, it’s only a matter of time until winter cold sets in. Alaskans know well that you don’t wait for the cold to arrive to figure out how you’re heating your home, and with rising fuel oil prices it may be time to consider a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly option. A pair of nonprofits, the Southeast Conference and Alaska Heat Smart, are encouraging Alaskans warming their homes with oil, propane or wood to take advantage of their heat-pump rebate...
The U.S. Forest Service filed a proposal to rescind the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule last Tuesday. The agency is seeking public comment on the rescission and draft of an environmental impact statement until Sept. 21. More information is available on the Forest Service Roadless Areas webpage. The 2001 Roadless Rule includes 45 million acres of the 193-million-acre National Forest System — about 9.3 million acres of which is the Tongass National Forest. The rule established broad prohibitions on road construction, road...
Petersburg Medical Center is testing a different way to pay for a trip to the doctor: a flat monthly fee, no copays, and as many primary care visits as a patient needs. The hospital has gone live with a direct primary care plan - a subscription model CEO Phil Hofstetter described to the borough assembly this month as a way to make routine care more affordable and to reach residents who are uninsured, underinsured or carrying high deductibles. "It's a subscription-based primary care model, and...
For the third year in a row, free breakfast and lunch will be available to all Petersburg School District students. Superintendent Robyn Taylor said free meals take financial burdens off families, and she sees educational and behavioral benefits that come with making sure students are fed. "It's not uncommon to see disruptive behavior or inattention, and when you're working with that student or that family, to really find out that they're struggling," she said, "A lot of the lack of ability to... Full story
On Alaska’s primary election day, NBC News — citing unidentified sources — reported that the U.S. Department of Justice has issued grand jury subpoenas as it investigates whether Petersburg candidate Dan J. Sullivan may have somehow violated federal law. If that’s true, subpoenas haven’t reached Sullivan, currently running third in this week’s election and the person that incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan has accused of running a sham campaign. Subpoenas also haven’t reached anyone in the campaign of Democratic candidate...
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The 2026 Swim and Dive season is now underway in Petersburg. With now graduates Logan Tow and Brooklyn Whitethorn gone, this year's team is poised to be a little younger. The team has been back in the pool for just a week and a half of practice, with the first day being Aug 5, but the team had to do dryland training in the gymnasium due to the pool area being in maintenance. "We're happy to be back in the pool, that's for sure," said head coach Andy Carlisle. Carlisle said those practices...
The PHS Cross Country team had their first meet of the season this past weekend in Sitka, culminating in a strong outing. The girls team didn't have their full roster as they were missing a couple of other runners. Despite this, all four girls that competed in the meet finished in the top 25. Junior runner Cadence Flint finished 2nd, Zia Hulebak finished 12th, freshman Arya Holmgrain finished 19th and Devyn Flint finished 25th. Flint set a new personal best with a time of 21:39.84. "For my...
The federal government last week finally, behind schedule and without any plausible reason for the delay, released money that will go toward running the Alaska Marine Highway System. The grant funds, originally authorized by the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill during the Biden administration, were expected last year, but the Trump administration dillied and dallied and delayed its decision until this year, just because. The Aug. 21 announcement came with all the hoopla expected in an election year, with Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, who is...
To the Editor: I walk my dogs a lot. I’m sure many have seen me walking my three huskies. I try to diversify our paths but I do often walk around the ball field, mostly in the early mornings. It’s quiet and lovely with the summer foliage. One morning, though, about a month ago, I was dismayed and incredibly disheartened to walk around the fields and find that a young, healthy tree had been pulled out of the ground, exposing all its roots. It was killed, though its leaves didn’t know it yet. I knew we hadn’t had weather significant...
Compared to federal spending, the average American is downright frugal. The federal debt is now at $40 trillion, doubled from 10 years ago. If you add up all the credit card debt, car and truck loans and home mortgages held by Americans, excluding commercial properties, you don’t even get to half of the $40 trillion the federal government owes lenders. It’s hard to think of Americans as thrifty when the average credit card debt is about $6,600 — but compared to the president and Congress, most anyone can look like a responsible spender....
August 12 – A warning was issued for unsecured garbage on Sandy Beach Rd. An officer assisted a citizen. A black bear on Excel St. was reported three days after it was seen. An officer responded to a report of suspicious activity onChief John Lott St. and determined it was unfounded. An officer responded to a report of children trying to flip over a skiff on hammer slough and found no children at the scene. An officer responded to a report of a rental car left in a no parking zone. The responsible party was contacted and the vehicle was...
Petersburg Pilot... Full story
Notices published in the Petersburg Pilot and all of Alaska's... Full story
