Sorted by date Results 126 - 150 of 207
December 27, 1916 – The Firemen's masquerade ball last Saturday night was a big success, with a big and jolly crowd in attendance. There were so many good costumes and impersonations that the judges – John Allen, Captain Grindrod, and C. E. Clure – found it a difficult job decide on the prize-winners. Miss Florence Johnson and Luther Thorvilson were awarded the first prizes and Mrs. John Jensen and Chris Grunseth second prizes. The total receipts from sale of tickets was eighty dollars, and after paying all expenses incurred about fifty dolla...
The Wright Auditorium recently received a few upgrades as part of an ongoing effort to improve the facility so many community members use. Dave Berg, Compass Theater board member, said the improvements to the stage's rigging were taken to increase safety. The rigger, who traveled here from the Pacific Northwest to assist with replacing the rigging and inspect the theater, told Berg it was good to see Wright Auditorium gets so much use. "It was time to get the facility inspected by someone who...
The Salvation Army successfully distributed 90 food boxes for families in need during Thanksgiving last month. The number grew slightly from last year's total of 72 distributed turkey dinners. Last year for Christmas, the organization helped just under 80 families with food boxes. But the local Salvation Army already has 97 families signed up this year, according to Lieutenant Mysti Birks. "What it really comes down to is that everybody needs help at some point in their life," she says. "Just...
October 28, 1916 – A local business man suggests that, in anticipation of probable spells of cold, dry weather during the nearing winter season, with consequent increase of danger from fires, now would be a very proper time for some preparedness. While the present members of Petersburg’s volunteer fire department have proven their efficiency in the handling of firefighting apparatus, and have thereby on numerous occasions prevented serious property loss, a strengthening of the organization at this time through the acquisition of and dri... Full story
After nearly a year of planning, the volunteer committee headed by David Byrne has established a plan to distribute moose burger meat (from illegally shot moose) to non-profit agencies and food service providers in Petersburg. Under the proposed distribution protocol, Trooper Cody Litster will take the moose to Trading Union or Hammer and Wikan for butchering. The meat will be ground into burger, packaged and delivered to the Community Cold Storage for freezing, pending approval by the Borough. Distribution of the meat to various organizations...
Petersburg-based Hammer & Wikan hardware is unveiling a recent change and new partnership that will help increase its product selection and make its prices even more competitive. After years as a part of True Value cooperative, Hammer & Wikan recently became a member of Do it Best Corp., the most comprehensive hardware, lumber and building materials buying cooperative in the home improvement industry. Hammer & Wikan is the first Alaska-based member of Do it Best Corp., which serves more than 3,800 independently owned locations in the Unites...
The borough"s blue cart recycling program began at the beginning of the year and seems to be running smoothly, according to Public Works Director Karl Hagerman. "Overall the community has really accepted the new system," he says. "Customer satisfaction, I think, is pretty good and we"ve received very little negative feedback over the program." After the start of the program, Public Works distributed a handful of smaller 64-gallon blue carts to low volume households who requested them. The... Full story
The Petersburg Humane Association held a fun event last Friday centered around a family-friendly movie at the Northern Nights Theater. The movie was “The Secret Life of Pets,’’ a newly released animated film from Disney Pixar, and the event created quite a buzz and memorable moments for local youngsters. “We had an excellent turnout, almost a sold out theater,’’ says Laura Wong-Rose, who became an association board member in May and helped coordinate the event. “We had a face painter, and a Dalmatian and a rabbit floating around handing out s...
Petitioners desiring a vote on whether or not the borough should prohibit the cultivation and sale of recreational marijuana met their deadline last week and gathered enough signatures to put the question to a vote. Over 430 names have been verified after being turned into the borough last Friday, which is well over the required 104 signatures petitioners needed. The issue will appear on a fall ballot, but now comes the task of waiting to see whether it’s during the regular election or a special election. The petition missed the deadline for t... Full story
The 35th Annual Petersburg Chamber of Commerce King Salmon Derby gets underway this Friday, May 27 at 7 a.m. The derby continues through the Memorial Day Weekend and ends Monday at 5 p.m. Two tagged fish worth $10,000 and $5,000 will be available for anglers this year. Derby committee member Doug Welde reported the king salmon were tagged on Wednesday morning near the mouth of Wrangell Narrows. The $10,000 prize is sponsored by Alaska Marine Lines and the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. The $5,000 tagged fish is sponsored by Hammer and Wikan. N... Full story
The annual pedometer challenge took place over the Mayfest weekend, and Katie Yeckley, Tobacco Prevention & Control Grant coordinator for the Petersburg Indian Association (PIA) ran the event this year. "This is my first year doing this," she said. "The children were so excited to get a pedometer, but even if they didn't do the challenge they were so excited." The competition started last Thursday and ended Sunday night, and logs were accepted through Monday. PIA used grant money to put on the...
Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported the following during the March 21 Borough Assembly meeting: A Firefighter 1 Course started on February 13. One person is attending all of the classes and two people are hit and miss. Emergency Trauma Technician Course started on February 28. There are 9 participants (four current firefighters, three new EMS volunteers, and two will not volunteer). EMS Director Sandy Dixson taught two Basic Life Support for Health Care Provider courses (total 12 people), and we had three individuals go through the...
Shame on you To the Editor: I don't understand why environmentalists get so excited about the timber sales the Forest Service is kind enough to make available for logging companies. Why protest? Everybody knows trees are a “renewable resource.” Ketchikan, Wrangell, Sitka, and Petersburg were all built on fishing, and logging mills – both lumber and pulp and some mining. Those towns didn't have to depend on tourism and chartering. If you look back in the 60's, 70's and early 80's these towns were booming, our economy was thriving. We had a lot o...
July Paine & Partners, LLC of San Francisco entered into agreements with two different groups to sell Icicle Seafoods. The Petersburg Public Library expanded its collection by 1.7 million titles after it joined a consortium of libraries across the state called the Joint Library Catalogue. U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Peter Vermeer took command of the USCGG Anacapa, replacing Lt. Kathryn Cry. The Alaska Department of Transportation cancelled the scheduled summer sailings of the M/V LeConte that would hav... Full story
December 17 A caller requested extra patrols on Lumber Street. Icy road conditions were reported at the top of Lumber Street. A caller reported theft of personal property on Skylark Way. A caller reported identity theft. A caller reported stolen checks being issued out of state. Police received a report of a vehicle on South Nordic blocking a sidewalk. A caller reported a vehicle/pedestrian traffic collision at Hammer and Wikan grocery store. A caller reported a lost bag. A caller reported a vehicle accident. December 18 A caller reported a...
Marijuana dispensaries can't set up shop in downtown Peterburg based on Alaska's Alcohol Beverage Control Board's (ABC's) recent adopted marijuana license restrictions. According to the adopted regulations, the ABC Board won't issue a marijuana establishment license "if the licensed premises will be located within 500 feet of a school grounds, a recreation youth center, a building in which religious services are regularly conducted, or a correctional facility." Those restrictions eliminate... Full story
First step the hardest To the Editor: Some say the first step is the hardest, but we’ve found community-wide support makes the first step a bit easier. Recently, the Petersburg Children’s Center took its first step toward a long awaited building expansion project. Through the generosity of Reid Brothers, Hammer & Wikan and local donors, the piling is in and we’re getting ready to start framing up the building shell. While we are officially underway, we are continuing to seek donations to fund completion of the project, including an unant...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously approved a resolution on Monday to establish budget policies with the intention of providing sound management of borough funds. The adoption of the document means setting guidelines to assist with annual budget preparation and current administration requirements. Document guidelines include policies regarding how to handle the general fund balance, capital projects and employee travel, among others. The only amendment to the resolution was brought forth by assembly member Nancy Strand concerning the...
With the holidays upon Petersburg and Black Friday in the rearview mirror, retailers are looking for ways to help keep shoppers local and combat online shopping. Heidi Lee of Lee’s Clothing says the holiday season really gets jumpstarted with the lighting of downtown. Lee says the store has spearheaded the Christmas tree lighting and parade for years because it helps encourage residents to get in the holiday spirit and start visiting downtown stores, in addition to making downtown look good and festive. Lee’s Clothing makes a concerted eff... Full story
Hammer and Wikan is attempting to purchase land from the Petersburg Borough in order to expand the square footage of their grocery store. The expansion process would double the size of the back room of the store, and move the receiving dock from the front parking lot of the store to the rear of the building. “It would make it a lot easier to get around, it would give us more room,” says Larry Martin, CEO of Hammer and Wikan. “We would be able to put a lot of Costco products in there.” Martin says the Hammer and Wikan board of directors began t... Full story
Over a dozen volunteers showed up two weekends ago to help Petersburg Parks and Recreation and Petersburg's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints finish a trail improvement project in the Borough. This was the second weekend volunteers from the church and individuals from the Borough worked alongside each other on the William Musson Memorial Pathway, and community support was noticeable. Volunteers formed a "wheel barrow brigade" in order to finish the portion of the trail ending just...
Public Works Director Karl Hagerman reported the following information to the Petersburg Borough Assembly in lieu of Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht’s absence: The underground cable connecting the Blind Slough hydro plant to our distribution system failed, and that portion from the plant to the hatchery had to be replaced. Harbor staff continues to remind people to give them a call so they can keep an eye on your boat when owners leave town. It is also important for folks to check their skiffs during our very wet weather. The Public Works c...
Hammer and Wikan grocery store will have a new manager as of Oct. 15, with Kathy Holtzinger stepping down and set to retire. In March of 1979, Holtzinger moved to Petersburg and a month later she started her journey with the company as a meat wrapper. After growing up in a grocery store, this career path seemed natural to take. Holtzinger worked her way up to the manager position, about 20 years ago she figures, and she's been a fixture of the grocery store and Hammer and Wikan family ever since...
Hammer and Wikan is in the process of replacing Larry Martin as general manager after 17 years of service. The transition began in mid-July and will continue through May, allowing Martin to attend trade shows and share his years of experience with new general manager, John Mason. "John's going to do a great job for us," Martin says. "I am really looking forward to it. He is fitting in extremely well." Martin says thoughts about leaving the company started to develop a couple years ago, but he...
