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  • Little League Opening Day

    May 8, 2025

    On Saturday, May 3 the Mort Fryer ball fields were buzzing with excitement and activity for the little league opening day festivities. Around 190 players and coaches enthusiastically welcomed each other to the start of the season....

  • The Full PDF of this week's Petersburg Pilot

    May 8, 2025

    Subscribers log in for access to this week's PDF .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Subscribers, click here for the Full PDF of this week's Petersburg Pilot...

  • Borough approves expanded Airport Addition Subdivision development

    Orin Pierson, Pilot writer|May 8, 2025

    The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously approved Resolution #2025-08 on April 21, formalizing the expansion of the Airport Addition Subdivision that will double the project to 22 borough-owned lots to be developed in partnership with the Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority (THRHA). The amendment to the January 7 agreement adds 11 additional lots to the project, bringing the total development to 22 residential parcels. In exchange for financing and constructing the infrastructure...

  • One claim left in police chief's lawsuit: Kerr v. Borough of Petersburg

    Olivia Rose, KFSK Radio|May 8, 2025

    Petersburg's police chief is suing his employer, the Petersburg Borough, and a federal court in Juneau has dismissed two of the three claims. The remaining claim, which may go to trial this summer, concerns the police chief's First Amendment rights. How it started In the midst of the pandemic, Petersburg Police Chief Jim Kerr criticized a masking mandate during a borough assembly meeting on Nov. 17, 2021. Kerr began his virtual testimony by saying, "This is my personal statement, and not the...

  • Petersburg middle and high school showcase skills and camaraderie at Native Youth Olympics night

    Aiden Luhr, Pilot writer|May 8, 2025

    For the first time ever, Petersburg hosted a Native Youth Olympics showcase for 19 students (17 due to illness) between the middle and high schools. Thanks to community support/sponsors, Petersburg was able to have the showcase here on April 29 and 30th, allowing for the community to see what the student-athletes have been working on this season. For the last three years, the number of participants for NYO have exceeded 15. Since the start of the season in February, the team has been focusing...

  • Yesterday's News

    May 8, 2025

    May 8, 1925 – Ohmer plans to invade Lynn Canal and there is great rejoicing at Haines, the little village nestling in Mission Cove, and happiest of the whole crowd is Dr. L. Pryer, the druggist and president of the chamber of commerce. For three years, Dr. Pryer has been preaching shrimp, shrimp and nothing but shrimp, in Lynn Canal. So loud and persistent was he in his talk, that it was heard way down at Petersburg, 200 miles distant, by Mr. Earl N. Ohmer, president of Alaskan Glacier Seafood Company. He immediately and forthwith sent two f...

  • To the Editor

    May 8, 2025

    No one else more fit for the job To the Editor: We first just want to congratulate Coach Rick Brock on his retirement from teaching and extend a thank you to him for all the time he has spent in the classroom dedicated to his students. Aside from this, Coach Brock has dedicated an unmatchable amount of time to the boys high school basketball program, bringing back many successes and awards, including another state title and coach of the year award just this past year. He has shown up for the team year in and year out for way too long to now...

  • Guest Editorial

    Lary Persily, Wrangell Sentinel publisher|May 8, 2025

    The Legislature is in its 10th year of struggling to balance Alaskans’ wishes and wants for a large Permanent Fund dividend with the checkbook reality that is much less than the wants. It’s been an annual political and fiscal battle ever since Gov. Bill Walker in 2016 bravely cut that year’s PFD in half after legislators had approved an unaffordable dividend while the state budget was in a deep billion-dollar deficit, made worse by low oil prices. Mike Dunleavy, who was then a state senator, vowed to push legislation to undo the gover...

  • Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Day

    May 8, 2025

    On Monday, May 5, groups all across the Alaska participated in the annual march for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples. Around a dozen Petersburg residents marched to the courthouse, wearing red or with the red handprint painted across the mouth - the symbol that represents the voices that have been taken away from Indigenous women and girls - in solidarity with the movement to raise awareness and demand action to address the continuing epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous...

  • Police report

    May 8, 2025

    April 30 - An officer responded to a car hitting a stop sign on Skylark Way. Public Works was contacted. Extra patrols were conducted. An officer responded to a disturbance on S 2nd Street. An officer conducted a welfare check. An officer responded to a disturbance on S 3rd Street. An officer assisted EMS. May 1 - A distracted driver was reported on Haugen Drive, but couldn’t be located. A deer versus vehicle accident was reported. The deer was salvaged and given to charity. Extra patrols were conducted on Sing Lee Alley. Intoxicated i...

  • Petersburg Friends and Neighbors rally on May Day

    Olivia Rose, KFSK Radio|May 8, 2025

    May Day, also known as International Workers Day, recognizes the historic movement for labor rights around the globe. But this May 1, people in Petersburg joined thousands nationwide to stand not only in support of the working class, but also against what they say is responsible for terminating jobs, funding and uprooting the lives of their colleagues and neighbors: the Trump Administration. About 60 locals rallied in the pouring rain at Buschmann Park in downtown Petersburg. Among the...

  • Forest to Sea: Local chefs unite for Rainforest Festival fundraiser

    Orin Pierson, Pilot writer|May 8, 2025

    Six talented Petersburg chefs are coming together next Wednesday for a unique culinary event that aligns with the Little Norway Festival, celebrates local foods, and helps raise funds to revitalize the Rainforest Festival which aims to return to its former glory this fall. "Forest to Sea: A Local Culinary Journey," scheduled for May 14 at the Elks Lodge, will feature a six-course Norwegian-inspired meal showcasing locally harvested ingredients-from foraged foods to fresh seafood. The event...

  • Sather's novel: a love letter to Petersburg

    Lizzie Thompson, Pilot writer|May 8, 2025

    Former Petersburg resident Lynda Sather will present an author's talk and sign copies of her first novel, A Slap of Jellyfish: Fear, Fish and Finding Yourself in Alaska, at the Petersburg Public Library on Thursday, May 15, from 3 – 4 p.m. The novel, which Sather says she wrote as a thank you and a love letter to Petersburg, is set in 1973, just before the salmon season opens. After college graduation, Maddie Maguire only knows what she doesn't want to do: move back to Los Angeles, start a c...

  • April showers bring record rainfall in Petersburg

    Olivia Rose, KFSK Radio|May 8, 2025

    Last month was the second wettest April on record for Petersburg. "So if it seemed like April was a little bit more wet than usual, you aren't wrong. It was a lot more wet than usual," said Greg Spawn, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS) in Juneau. "Our April that we had in Petersburg was actually the second wettest April on record." Nearly double the amount of water fell from the sky than what's typical - that's 11.29 inches, compared to the normal 6.66 inches - and April 13...

  • PHS students make art and learn new techniques at Artfest

    Aiden Luhr, Pilot writer|May 8, 2025

    This past weekend, Petersburg's high school art program brought their talent and work to the annual Artfest, in Wrangell – a four-day series of workshops, creativity and fun. "I brought an acrylic painting of a whale tale with a bunch of flowers on it," said sophomore Rebecca Midkiff, who has been working on the whale tale since the beginning of the year. "I did an acrylic painting of Ketchikan – a board walk with houses," sophomore Ali Kittams added. Senior Becky Fisher brought one of her for...

  • Barbara Dunbar Somerville, 91

    May 8, 2025

    Barbara Jean Dunbar was born on January 19, 1934, in Utica, New York, to George and Mary Dunbar. Growing up in the majestic foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, Barb's early years were filled with cheerful family gatherings and time spent with friends exploring the many mountain lakes dotting the forests around Inlet and Old Forge, where the fall colors are like no place else on earth. In high school she waved her pom-poms cheerleading, marched in the Syracuse drum band and volunteered as a... Full story

  • Alaska Senate approves pared-down budget draft

    James Brooks, Alaska Beacon|May 8, 2025

    Members of the Alaska Senate issued warnings Wednesday as they approved a draft operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Senators’ draft, which includes an estimated $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend for eligible Alaskans and a small year-over-year increase for K-12 education, also cuts services. The proposal would cut proposed funding increases for early education programs, reduce funding for state prisons, eliminate the state’s office of citizenship assistance, mostly defund the state militia, reduce road maintenance, and deny salary inc... Full story

  • State House asks Congress to prevent major health insurance cost hike for Alaskans

    James Brooks, Alaska Beacon|May 8, 2025

    The Alaska House of Representatives has approved a formal letter asking Congress to extend a series of Affordable Care Act tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year. Unless the credits are extended, Alaskans insured through the federal health insurance marketplace — about 25,000 people — could see their rates rise by an average of 67%. The House passed House Joint Resolution 9 by a vote of 26-14 on Monday. It is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Health and Social Services Committee on Tuesday. If approved by the Senate, the... Full story

  • May 8, 2025

    Petersburg Pilot Legals...  PDF

  • May 8, 2025

    Petersburg Pilot Classifieds...  PDF

  • Holmgrains bought the Narrows Inn; major renovations are underway

    Orin Pierson|May 1, 2025

    Petersburg's Assembly unanimously approved a lease for Nordic Real Estate LLC to use a narrow strip of borough land adjacent to the Narrows Inn, clearing the way for further rehabilitation of the nearly 60-year-old apartment complex. Nordic Real Estate LLC, owned by Sarah and Randy Holmgrain, purchased the 27-unit building in January 2025 and has begun an ambitious renovation project that they hope will help improve Petersburg's housing stock. Originally built as the King Salmon Motel in the...

  • Killer whale close encounter

    May 1, 2025

    A small pod of orcas approached a local couple's skiff for a close encounter while passing near the Sukoi Islands on Saturday, April 26....

  • PHS Track and Field break two school records in fast start to 2025 season

    May 1, 2025

    The PHS track and field team sprinted through the competition at the Capital City Invitational, setting two school records. The boys 4x200 relay ran a blazing 1 minute and 39 seconds – placing first. "They had that as their goal. They knew what the school record was and kind of had an idea of what they needed to do," head coach Erin Hofacre said. The boys 4x200 consists of Noah Pawuk, Ben Kandoll, Nolan Lutomski and Brayden Tucker. "It was really celebratory and all of Petersburg was cheering u...

  • New director on the job at Clausen Museum

    Orin Pierson|May 1, 2025

    Sarah Pederson has taken the reins as the new director of the Clausen Museum, bringing with her a wealth of experience in community building and a passion for local history. Originally from Michigan, Pederson is no stranger to Southeast Alaska, having lived in the region for more than 20 years. She and her husband Cody moved to Petersburg about a month ago after he accepted a position as the new manager at the SSRAA Crystal Lake Hatchery, replacing the retiring Loren Thompson. "We've been living...

  • After governor's veto, Alaska Senate approves smaller education boost

    James Brooks, Alaska Beacon|May 1, 2025

    Alaska’s public schools might get more money, after all. Nine days after Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed a significant increase to the state’s K-12 public school funding formula, the Alaska Senate has approved a compromise education bill that includes a smaller increase. The bill includes some — but not all — of the policy changes that Dunleavy said were necessary to prevent another veto. House Bill 57, originally drafted to restrict public school students’ cellphone use, was amended by the Senate before being approved on a bipartisan, 19-1 vote... Full story

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