Articles from the February 11, 2021 edition


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  • Mask mandate stays in place

    Brian Varela|Feb 11, 2021

    A motion to terminate the local face masking mandate failed at an assembly meeting on Monday after assembly members declined to second the motion. Assembly Taylor Norheim requested the action item be on Monday's agenda and made the motion to terminate Public Health Mandate #8. The motion failed to gain a second, which prevented a discussion and vote on terminating the mask mandate. The mask mandate was put in place by the Borough Assembly in November and will remain in place until the assembly...

  • PSB passes traditional school calendar

    Brian Varela|Feb 11, 2021

    The Petersburg School Board approved the academic calendar for the 2021-2022 school year at their meeting on Tuesday that takes a more traditional approach to the school year. Under the approved calendar, school begins on Aug. 31 for students and ends on June 2. Christmas break will be two weeks long, and spring break will continue to be one week long in the middle of March. The Petersburg School District also scheduled in-service days for teachers near other holidays, like Labor Day, to extend...

  • Positive COVID-19 case identified at OBI Seafoods

    Brian Varela|Feb 11, 2021

    A pre-hire employee for the 2021 tanner and golden king crab season at OBI Seafoods has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a joint press release from the Petersburg Borough and Petersburg Medical Center on Monday. The individual tested positive during the cannery's asymptomatic testing of all incoming employees, according to a press release from OBI Seafoods. The person is currently asymptomatic and is in isolation. Employees that may have come into contact with the infected individual...

  • Yesterday's News

    Feb 11, 2021

    February 11, 1921 No information available. February 8, 1946 Formed for the purpose of working to secure better facilities for the accommodation of small boats, power launches, outboard motor boats, row boats and boat houses, the “Petersburg Yacht Club” was organized last Wednesday evening. A group of boat owners and boat enthusiasts gathered at the Council chambers for the first meeting, and although attendance was small, it is expected that there will be considerable interest in the organization as its purposes become better known. Off...

  • Lady Vikings win first games of season

    Brian Varela|Feb 11, 2021

    The Lady Vikings racked up two wins against Metlakatla on Feb. 5 and 6 at home in their first games of the basketball season. Right out of the gate, Petersburg scored 22 points in the first quarter. They would go on to score in the double digits for each quarter in the game. By halftime, the Lady Vikings were up 35-22 against the Miss Chiefs. Petersburg continued outscoring Metlakatla through the fourth quarter and ended the game ahead, 61-41. "Friday we started out hotter than heck," said Head...

  • Vikings win, lose first seeding games

    Brian Varela|Feb 11, 2021

    The Petersburg High School boys basketball team split their wins against Metlakatla at home last weekend in the first two seeding games of the season. The games were held on Feb. 5 and 6. The Vikings had a strong showing on Friday, which saw them win the game with a 39 point lead, but the Chiefs were able to secure a narrow win on Saturday. Because of the shortened season, Petersburg will only get to play each team in their division twice in back to back games. The Vikings now have one win and...

  • Supporting our own

    Feb 11, 2021

    The Petersburg Elks Lodge raised nearly $47,000 for the Tagaban family in a series of fundraising events. After subtracting the cost of food and other supplies for the fundraisers, the Elks Lodge signed over a check totaling $42,360 to the Tagaban family. The check was presented to Marty Massin, a representative of the family, at the Elk's Lodge on Feb. 4. Other organizers were present as well. From left to right: Cena Worhatch, Michelyn Coil, Marty Massin and Jerod Cook....

  • Editorial: A milestone

    Ron Loesch Publisher|Feb 11, 2021

    Today (Feb. 11) will be a significant day for hundreds of Petersburg residents who head to the community gym for the second dose of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine. Yet others received their first dose of the vaccine last week. Petersburg is taking yet another step towards a more normal life which we expect could bring an end to mandates, masks and the endless arguments being made in opposition to the health mandates that have clearly enabled Petersburg to minimize infections that have largely been...

  • Assembly votes to reinstate P&R fees

    Brian Varela|Feb 11, 2021

    The Borough Assembly unanimously approved an ordinance in its first reading that reestablishes user fees at the Parks and Recreation Center and allows anyone under the age of 18 to use the facility for free. Ordinance #2021-03 groups all users into two categories and establishes three types of fees. Those under the age of 18 are free to use the facility without payment, according to the ordinance. Those over the age of 18 either pay $5 per visit, $300 for an annual pass or $48 for a punch pass...

  • Laundry room smoke causes PVFD response

    Brian Varela|Feb 11, 2021

    The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call on Feb. 9 about smoke emitting from a dryer in a home at a location on Scow Bay Loop Rd. A volunteer firefighter who was near the scene was the first to respond to the call and turned off the dryer, said Dave Berg. The smoke immediately began to dissipate. Responding officers with the PVFD called off other responding volunteer firefighters, as there wasn't a threat of fire in the home. The heat was contained within the dryer and didn't...

  • Police report

    Feb 11, 2021

    February 3— Authorities assisted the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities with moving a vehicle that was blocking a snow dump at a location on S. Nordic Dr. A fire was reported in a dryer at a location on Scow Bay Loop Rd. Authorities responded to a welfare check at a location on S. 3rd St. February 4— Suspicious activity was observed at a location on Cornelius Rd. A disturbance was reported at a location on S. 2nd St. Authorities did not find criminal activity. Authorities conducted a security check in the downtown are...

  • M/V Matanuska sailings cancelled through Feb. 23

    Feb 11, 2021

    Mechanical issues on the M/V Matanuska have cancelled the ferry's sailings between Feb. 10 and 23, according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities. DOT anticipates the M/V Matanuska to resume its scheduled southbound trip to Ketchikan on Feb. 24. Meanwhile, the M/V LeConte will be covering the traffic between Southeast Alaska ports that are affected by the cancellation, including Petersburg....

  • Assembly supports Papke's Landing Rd. lights

    Brian Varela|Feb 11, 2021

    The Borough Assembly supported a letter to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities that requests the state install street lights on Papke's Landing Rd. at all locations that serve as a bus stop. Assembly Member Jeff Meuci requested the agenda after residents on Papke's Landing Rd. sought his help in drafting a letter to the state. Meucci said he didn't help write the letter, which is signed by Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht, but showed his support for street lights on...

  • 2021 Southeast Alaska troll Chinook salmon harvest allocation

    Feb 11, 2021

    SITKA — The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announces that under Chinook salmon management provisions of the 2019–2028 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement (treaty), the annual all-gear allowable catch limit for Southeast Alaska/Yakutat (SEAK) is 201,100 treaty Chinook salmon (non-Alaska hatchery-produced Chinook salmon). This year’s all-gear catch limit includes a 2% reduction that will serve as a buffer to avoid exceeding the all-gear limit and payback provisions within the treaty. The resulting preseason troll treaty harvest allocation for 2...

  • "Eye-popping" seafood sales continue; One Alaska king salmon worth same as two barrels of oil

    Laine Welch|Feb 11, 2021

    Seafood sales “are on fire” in America’s supermarkets and one king salmon from Southeast Alaska is worth the same as two barrels of oil. ($116.16 for a troll caught Chinook salmon averaging 11 pounds at the docks vs. $115.48 for 2 barrels of oil at $57.74/barrel on Feb.3) As more Covid-conscious customers opted in 2020 for seafood’s proven health benefits, salmon powered sales at fresh seafood counters. Frozen and “on the shelf” seafoods also set sales records, and online ordering tripled to top $1 billion. Those are some takeaways from a Nati...

  • Artifact Archive: Fighter in Velvet Gloves

    Feb 11, 2021

    Elizabeth Peratrovich, the "Fighter in Velvet Gloves" who worked toward protecting the rights of Native Alaskans, was honored in 2020 on a U.S. coin. In 1945, she persuaded the Alaska legislature to finally pass an anti-discrimination bill after reminding senators of the intent of the Bill of Rights. Peratrovich, along with Amy Hallingstad and Gertrude Lyons, all of Petersburg, were strong advocates for Native community concerns including employment opportunities, job training, and advocating...

  • Obituary: Roy Morrow Smith

    Feb 11, 2021

    Roy Morrow Smith passed away unexpectedly Friday, January 15, due to complications following a heart attack. He was 71. Born in Juneau to Tarleton 'Tee' and Doris (Gregg) Smith on December 25, 1949, his family then moved to Petersburg in 1952. During his childhood, Roy grew into a talented athlete and avid outdoorsman, learning early to hunt and fish from his dad, who instilled in him the respect and care of nature's bounty. Roy's fishing career began when he landed his first job on Audi...

  • Obituary: Rick Whitethorn, 75

    Feb 11, 2021

    Rick Whitethorn, 75, died on January 7, 2021 in Independence, Oregon. He was born on October 26, 1945 in Petersburg, Alaska to Elmer Whitethorn and Margaret Roundtree Whitethorn. He had a happy life in Petersburg and was proud to be a member of the "Lumber Street Gang." He told wonderful stories and his eyes lit up remembering his friends and cousins, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife Pat; two canine "kids" Jack and Lucy; daughter Angie; step-daughter Allie;... Full story

  • Barge-ing through the mist

    Feb 11, 2021

    A barge cuts through the early morning fog on Wednesday as it makes its way south....

  • EOC apologizes for use of CodeRED system

    Brian Varela|Feb 11, 2021

    Petersburg Incident Commander Karl Hagerman apologized at the COVID-19 community update on Friday for the borough's use of the CodeRED system on Jan. 29 that encouraged residents to put their names on Petersburg Medical Center's waitlist to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. "There was some concern that the system shouldn't have been used for that," said Hagerman. "We're listening to that. A lot of that had to do with the text of the message. We wanted people to sit up and take notice, but I think...

  • Over $266,000 in drugs seized in Ketchikan

    Feb 11, 2021

    On February 5, Alaska State Troopers in Ketchikan, along with the Ketchikan Police Department, Ketchikan Airport Police, and Juneau DEA conducted a joint operation to disrupt the flow of illicit narcotics into Southeast Alaska. During the operation, 27-year-old Hydaburg resident Annette Dilts was contacted at the Ketchikan International Airport by law enforcement. During the contact and subsequent search of her person, Dilts was found to be internally body carrying 250 gross grams of suspected black tar heroin and approximately 206 suspected...

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