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The Petersburg Medical Center reported 16 active cases of COVID-19 Wednesday after several cases were cleared by Public Health. Seven new cases were recorded Monday, two of which were diagnosed in Petersburg while five cases were identified among Petersburg residents visiting another Alaskan community. PMC says there is concern of significant community spread in Petersburg, especially from gatherings where people are not masking or social distancing. Both the PMC and school risk levels are...
Every kid should learn from their parents the modern way to avoid responsibility for misdeeds and missed homework. When you fail or do something stupid or dishonest or regretful, or just don’t like the way the world is spinning that day or how the spicy chili went down, deny you’re at fault and deny the heartburn is self-inflicted. Instead, blame the news media. No one ever believed the dog ate your homework anyway. If you disagree with the facts of science, economics, the law or elections, accuse reporters and editors of making it all up. And...
The October borough election brings clarity to both borough administrative staff and elected officials as they assess the needs for mandates and new policies during the ongoing pandemic including COVID testing, social distancing, masking and vaccination policies. The bold and brash campaign statement, “Nobody’s been listening,” in reference to elected officials was proven false by the electorate. Elected persons on the assembly, school board and hospital board clearly were listening to all sides of the COVID issue and wisely chose optio...
The Petersburg School Board reviewed the results of Performance Evaluation for Alaska's Schools (PEAKS) tests Tuesday during a report given by Testing Coordinator Bridget Wittstock. The PEAKS tests were not conducted in the spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they returned in the spring of 2021. According to Wittstock, the State of Alaska expanded the window for testing to allow for as many tests to be taken as possible, but only about 64% of the eligible population participated....
WRANGELL - Melissa Curttright has been a registered nurse for 16 years — the past two weeks in Wrangell. Like so many other hospital workers, the pandemic changed her plans. The 52-year-old RN from Oklahoma City said she saw 75% of her hospital’s intensive-care unit staff leave, and then she took to the road. She’s been traveling now for almost a year. Wrangell is her latest assignment through SnapNurse, an Atlanta-based nurse staffing agency, after Los Angeles. Alaska has contracted with an Atlanta company to send as many as 470 health care...
WRANGELL - Wrangell’s Tent City Days start Friday and run through Sunday, with 20 events scheduled for the fall festivities that come a day before Alaska Day on Monday, which celebrates the U.S. purchase of the territory from Russia in 1867. In keeping with the historical theme, there are some gold rush-named activities among the varied three-day schedule. And in keeping with COVID-19 safety, organizers advise on the event’s Facebook page: “Please mask up. Follow state/local health mandates. Don’t feel well? Stay home and call your medical...
Students and staff at Petersburg High School and Mitkof Middle School returned to the school Tuesday after moving online last week according to an update from the school district. The Petersburg School District Health Advisory Team met Friday to assess the level of community spread of COVID-19 and the impacts on positive cases within the school and close contacts. Though staffing levels were tight, the school believed in-person learning could continue at Stedman Elementary School and resume at...
The Petersburg Medical Center reported 31 active cases of COVID-19 amid community spread, impacting all sectors of the Petersburg Borough. According to a PMC press release from October 1, none of the then observed 38 cases were travel related. Three of the cases were between 0-9 years old, 10 were between 10-19 years old, five were between 20-29 years old, 10 were between 30-39 years old, five were between 40-49 years old, 11 were between 50-59 years old, and five were 60 or older. The Alaska...
Continue to be amazed To the Editor: A few weeks ago I again passed through Petersburg while traveling on my small boat, Puffin. This was my 29th year cruising in SE AK. I continue to be amazed at the friendly and helpful reception I receive from the citizens of Petersburg. Starting from the cheerful VHF radio greetings to your harbor by Glo Wollen and her outstanding staff, you can’t help but notice the contrast between them and the passive reception one receives in other SE harbors. Your questions are answered with a smile and you never f...
Petersburg Medical Center CEO Phil Hofstetter gave an update to the Borough Assembly during Monday's meeting on the current COVID-19 situation at the hospital. During the current outbreak beginning on September 20, the hospital had recorded 54 total positive cases with 35 cases considered active at the time of the meeting according to Hofstetter. As of Wednesday that number has dropped to 31 active cases. "Encouraging facilities to mask inside, distance, and vaccines, obviously are a way out of...
Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht issued an emergency proclamation Friday recommending actions to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Petersburg. The proclamation recommends masking and social distancing in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, it encourages organizations and businesses to reduce capacity and avoid large gatherings. It recommends people to get vaccinated, saying they are safe, effective, and free, and get tested if they plan on traveling, are exp...
Mayor Mark Jensen proclaimed October 2021 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month during Monday's meeting. He also declared October 21, 2021 as Wear Purple Thursday and encouraged members of the community to participate in activities organized by Working Against Violence for Everyone (WAVE) and other national organizations. According to the declaration, one in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes and anyone can become a victim of domestic violence. Do...
The State of Alaska activated its crisis standards of care document Saturday for 20 health care facilities across the state according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. The list of facilities includes Petersburg Medical Center and Wrangell Medical Center as well as facilities in Anchorage, Juneau, and other cities. A lack of resources within some hospitals, limited health care staffing, and the increase in COVID-19 cases in the state caused the state’s Crisis Care Committee to request the document be a...
The Petersburg Medical Center reported 19 active cases of COVID-19 Monday after several cases were cleared by Public Health. Seven new cases have been recorded, two of which were diagnosed in Petersburg while five cases were identified among Petersburg residents while in another Alaskan community. PMC says there is concern of significant community spread in Petersburg, especially from gatherings where people are not masking or social distancing. The Alaska Department of Health and Social... Full story
Infection Prevention and Quality Manager Liz Bacom gave a presentation during Thursday's Petersburg Medical Center Hospital Board meeting on the status of the COVID-19 outbreak in the community. At the time of the board meeting there were 19 cases of COVID-19. That number has climbed to 32 as of Wednesday. Bacom's report included details on how the virus has spread, age demographics of positive cases, testing information, and contact tracing. Of the then 19 cases, one was travel related and...
The Petersburg Medical Center Foundation's cancer fundraising committee Beat the Odds hosted its 21st annual 5K run/walk Saturday. One hundred racers came out to participate and 14 Petersburg High School cross country runners competed virtually because they were traveling to a meet the day of the event. Participants gathered on the basketball court outside of Stedman Elementary School and enjoyed breakfast treats before the race. Pia Reilly, one of the event's organizers, said the event is held...
The Petersburg Medical Center reported Wednesday that community spread of COVID-19 is occurring and there are now 32 active cases. Eight cases were reported from September 28-29. None of the 29 resident and three non-resident cases are travel related. The ages of the cases ranges from 3 years to 62 years with the majority of cases being under the age of 40. Four of the cases are students and three are workers at a local business. PMC also listed reasons why members of the community should be concerned including the rapid increase of cases over...
Silent majority must stand up To the Editor: We of the silent majority must stand up and make our voices heard. The only way Covid-19 or its variants will ever be behind us is if the vast majority of us are vaccinated. People say “I probably won’t get very sick.” That may be true for you and your family but you might kill your neighbor. Christians are commanded to love their neighbor as themselves. This isn’t just a suggestion, it is a commandment. You may be worried that the shot will make you sick. I had my first shot in January and my third...
It was the same day that Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced the state would help hospitals cope with record numbers of COVID-19 patients by assisting with decisions to ration care, and the same day that the state’s chief medical officer, Dr. Anne Zink, said Alaska is “at the worst place in the pandemic that we’ve had this entire time.” It was the same day that the governor announced Alaska would spend $87 million to bring in out-of-state medical workers to help relieve pressure on overwhelmed hospital staff. And it was the same day Alaska set a r...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly candidates took part in a virtual forum Monday night hosted by KFSK and the Petersburg Pilot. The candidates were asked about a range of topics including the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction of a new hospital, and projects the candidates want to see completed. Paul Anderson, Lars Christensen, Thomas Fine-Walsh, Bob Lynn, Marc Martinsen, Brandi Thynes and Dana Thynes each gave an opening statement after which, each candidate began answering quest...
Heather Conn Age: 43 What experience do you have? When you look at board experience I have sat on three boards and one council. The experience I have had has been with the Petersburg Little League from 2002-2005, Early Childhood Education Board 2005 to 2009, The Viking Swim Club 2013-2016, and the Petersburg Indian Association Council 2017 to present. I have also been an involved community member with my presence during our local assembly and school board. Why do you seek public office? I...
Carey Case Age: 47 What experience do you have? I have served as board member and president of two local non-profits - Petersburg Children's Center, and WAVE. As board president I helped establish goals and policies, hired executive directors, approved annual budgets, and ensured compliance with internal policies and State and Federal laws and regulations. Why do you seek public office? I believe in public service and that investing in our kids and educators is a key component to building a stro...
The Petersburg Medical Center Board unanimously approved a motion Thursday to have PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter extend an invitation to Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium leadership to give a presentation at a future meeting. The aim of the motion was to hear what SEARHC’s vision for the future of health care in Petersburg is and their ideas regarding a new facility. “We need to get ahead of this and have that discussion with them, get that communication out there so that the public can hear some of that presentation and try to work thr...
Lost fishing gear - be it nets, lines or pots - continues "ghost fishing" forever, causing a slow death to countless marine creatures and financial losses to fishermen. Now new "smart buoys" can track and monitor all types of deployed gear and report its location directly to a cell phone or website. Blue Ocean Gear of California created and builds the buoys that also can track ocean temperatures, depth, movement, even how much has been caught. The small, three pound buoys are just seven inches...
The Alaska Marine Lines barge which departed Seattle on Friday, September 24, has been delayed and all scheduled ports north of Ketchikan will be about 24 hours behind schedule. Members of the tugboat crew towing this barge had positive COVID-19 test results. That crew has been isolated and the tug temporarily taken out of service for cleaning according to the company. A new crew and tug are being brought in to continue Voyage S1392, and the transition time to do so is resulting in the 24-hour delay. Over the past 18 months, Alaska Marine...
