Articles from the September 5, 2013 edition


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  • Thirty-two charges filed against burglary suspects

    Kyle Clayton|Sep 5, 2013

    A laundry list of charges were filed against Brandon Estes, 20, and Joshua Franklin, 26, during their arraignment August 29. The men are being accused of breaking into multiple Petersburg businesses last week along with the theft of cash and items at those locations. Franklin received eleven felony and four misdemeanor charges including burglary, theft and criminal mischief. Estes racked up 13 felony and four misdemeanor charges of the same nature. Police received reports of break-ins and... Full story

  • Alaska sees record commercial salmon catch Southeast a major producer for pinks, coho & chums

    Sep 5, 2013

    ANCHORAGE AP) — The commercial salmon catch in Alaska reached a record 260 million for the 2013 season as of last week, up from 221 million in 2005, officials said. During the last week of August, commercial fishermen netted about 24 million salmon, according to a state Fish and Game Department estimate. Much of this year's catch came from Southeast Alaska, with 98.4 million salmon, most of them pinks, the Alaska Journal of Commerce reported. Statewide, the harvest of 209.5 million pinks nearly doubled the state's forecast of 117.8 million. I... Full story

  • First day back

    Sep 5, 2013

  • Borough considers municipal building remodel

    Kyle Clayton|Sep 5, 2013

    The Petersburg Borough Assembly is combining the police station and jail facility project with its municipal building rehab project after voting to allow MRV Architects to come up with a document listing the next steps and costs associated with a remodel. Those items are on the borough’s capital projects list that prioritizes projects community wide in hopes the state legislature provides funding for them. The police and jail facility have been at the top of that list for two years. The Municipal Building Rehabilitation was ranked 17 on the l... Full story

  • Yesterday's News

    Sep 5, 2013

    August 30, 1913 – Charly Smith, genial owner of the only “Mansion” in Petersburg returned from a trip to Sitka which he reluctantly left after a too short visit and where he joined a lodge. Mr. Smith says that the most courteous class of people in Alaska is found at Sitka. During his visit in the “old town”, every courtesy imaginable was shown him by everybody, and from our former “little Preacher” to the most humble fisherman, a glad hand of welcome was extended. “Now, do you wonder that I was sorry to leave Sitka?” asked Mr. Smith. He rep...

  • Two new teachers join the ranks

    Kyle Clayton|Sep 5, 2013

    Rae C. Stedman Elementary is welcoming two of its previous students back as staff as the new school year kicks off. Kerri Curtiss will be teaching reading to third through fifth grade students as well as teaching a high school physical education class. Curtiss grew up in Petersburg before graduating from Central Washington University in 2005. She taught second graders in Washington for two years and decided to move back to Petersburg to be closer to family. “It’s pretty cool to walk around and...

  • Letters to the Editor

    Sep 5, 2013

    Senior exemption encouraged pioneers to stay To the Editor: I'd like to clarify my comments on the senior sales tax exemption that were in the Pilot last week. When I said they were earned by just getting older, we were discussing my generation, the baby boomers. Boomers are coming in to get their tax exempt cards almost daily as they turn 65. This exemption was part of a package of benefits enacted to encourage our retired pioneers to remain living in Alaska. Those pioneers who are left are now in their 80s and 90s. They are our parents and...

  • Police reports

    Sep 5, 2013

    August 28 A caller reported concern for road condition and heavy traffic use at Frederick Point Road. An officer was notified of a stop sign covered by trees at Pearl F and Unimak. A caller reported damage to a state vehicle at 1700 Haugen Dr. A caller reported a suspicious individual on Lumber Street. Officers were notified of an intoxicated individual lying in the street at Nordic Drive and Lumber Street. August 29 An officer responded to loud music near Scow Bay Loop. A caller requested an officer due to a fight at a bunkhouse on Chief John...

  • Two advisory boards to dissolve after first round of assembly review

    Kyle Clayton|Sep 5, 2013

    The borough assembly is planning to let the utility and motor pool advisory boards dissolve after no member made a motion to keep either one at its September 3 meeting. This after several assembly members questioned the efficiency and viability of advisory boards and committees in August. The borough sent out an evaluation form to be filled out by advisory boards department wide as it considers whether or not to keep them. Questions on the form includes how many times it has met in the past year, what issues had been addressed and why and what...

  • Thomas Bay Power Authority no longer needed?

    Kyle Clayton|Sep 5, 2013

    The Petersburg Borough Assembly will likely travel to Wrangell September 10 to discuss with its assembly the viability of Thomas Bay Power Authority. According to a memo sent out by Wrangell Interim Borough Manager Jeff Jabusch, the two municipalities created TBPA to jointly maintain and operate the Tyee Hyrdoelctric power plant. Southeast Alaska Power Agency, SEAPA, owns the facility and pays for its operations and maintenance. But there’s an additional expense associated with TBPA budget that the two boroughs traditionally split. It’s cal...

  • Cleaning up the streets

    Sep 5, 2013

  • Cunningham sentenced after standoff with police

    Kyle Clayton|Sep 5, 2013

    Jace Cunningham, 30, who was found guilty in May of multiple counts of assault after he fired shots in Petersburg and aimed a rifle at a PPD officer, was sentenced to more than six years in jail and five years of probation Tuesday afternoon. Superior Court Judge William Carey presided over the three hour long sentencing hearing in Ketchikan where Cunningham has been held since his trial. The State asked that Cunningham be sentenced to the maximum possible punishment for the most serious offense, which in this case was 10 years due to the 3rd...

  • Mountain top view

    Sep 5, 2013

  • PSD superintendent recognized statewide

    Kyle Clayton|Sep 5, 2013

    Petersburg School District Superintendent Dr. Rob Thomason was awarded a Superintendent of the Year Award last week. Bruce Johnson, Executive Director for the Association of Alaskan Superintendents, presented the award to Thomason PSD staff during a welcome back school board meeting. “It is my great honor to announce that your superintendent, Dr. Rob Thomason, is Alaska’s 2014 Superintendent of the year,” Johnson said to an applauding crowd. Johnson said a selection committee sought nomin...

  • Cross country season kicks off in Ketchikan

    Sep 5, 2013

    The long distance runners of Petersburg High School’s girls and boys cross country teams travelled to Ketchikan on August 31for their season opening meet. The Petersburg teams are comprised of around 20 runners who have been practicing hard since the fifth of August. “They came in prepared to run and ready to work hard,” said Vikings head coach Jo Ann Day. In this first meet of the year not everyone on the teams competed, as some had not yet attended the required number of practices. According to Day, those who did compete had great runs....

  • Fish Factor ASMI compiles report of Alaska seafood industry

    Laine Welch|Sep 5, 2013

    Want to know the average fish prices at the docks over a decade … or where most Alaska fishermen and fishing fleets call home? Or how Alaska’s seafood industry stacks up against other state industries? What is likely the most comprehensive, user friendly report ever done on Alaska’s seafood industry by region was just released by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. Titled “Economic Value of the Alaska Seafood Industry,” the report was compiled by the Juneau-based McDowell Group, and it includes all of the direct and indirect economic...

  • Obituary: Frank Thomps Neidiffer, 79

    Sep 5, 2013

    Frank Thomps Neidiffer, 79, died on July 20, 2013 in Petersburg, Alaska. Neidiffer was born on his parents' ranch on May 15, 1934 in the family home to Walter and Lillian Neidiffer in Holtville, Calif. He had eight siblings, one brother and seven sisters. His father provided for this large family as a sheep herder. It was here that Frank learned to raise sheep and other livestock. Due to this type of work, he developed a love for animals and especially for the dogs he trained for herding and... Full story