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After just barely falling short of his goal last year, Andrew Simmonds managed to complete a seven-mile swim across Frederick Sound on July 15. Simmonds-a physical therapist at the Petersburg Medical Center-started his crossing at Petersburg's Sandy Beach at 7:01 a.m. His first steps into the water marked the beginning of what would become a seven-hour long battle that pushed him to his limits. However, the challenge truly began for Simmonds when he arrived in Petersburg back in October 2021...
July 19 – An officer responded to a report of suspicious activity on Harbor Way. Petersburg Police Department (PPD) received a report of a fallen tree obstructing the southbound lane of Mitkof Highway. The responding officer helped move the tree and notified the Department of Transportation (DOT). An officer responded to a report of possible fraudulent activity on Birch Street and determined it was unfounded. An officer responded to a report of a dangerous driver at 12th Street and Haugen Drive, located the vehicle and did not observe any u...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly, acting as the board of adjustment, approved an application for a preliminary plat and vacation of certain rights-of-way at the future site of the new hospital on Monday, which had previously been denied by the Planning Commission. The Petersburg Medical Center appealed the decision after the Planning Commission voted against the application, claiming that the commission's decision was made in error, will have an adverse effect, and should be modified. The...
The Petersburg Medical Center Foundation is inviting all members of the community to bike or kayak as part of the annual Pedal/Paddle Battle this year on Saturday, July 29. The course will take participants from Scow Bay to Sandy Beach while contributions raised by the event will support continuing education for PMC staff and go toward scholarships for Petersburg High School seniors. "We were really successful last year, we had about 75 participants, and a lot of families participated. Anybody...
The St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church caught fire last Thursday, leaving much of the building in ruins and covering Petersburg in smoke. According to a statement from Fire Marshal Ryan Welde, the fire has been ruled accidental in nature and was a result of maintenance work. The fire originated at ground level on the exterior of the building facing Dolphin Street. It then traveled up the wall via rigid foam insulation located behind the vinyl siding and continued to spread into the eaves... Full story
A potential Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) wholesale rate increase has been deferred by at least a year due to record high power sales in Ketchikan, Petersburg, and Wrangell this spring, according to Vice Mayor Bob Lynn. “It’s a record, I mean it’s about 5% above any previous sales that we did this past winter, which is pretty significant,” Lynn said during his July 3 report to the Petersburg Borough Assembly about the latest SEAPA Board meeting The SEAPA Board last approved a wholesale rate increase in December 2022, raising the pri...
June 28 – Found property was turned in to the Petersburg Police Department (PPD) and subsequently returned to its owner. A dog reported as lost from Vesta Street was found by its owner. An officer provided lockout assistance on North Nordic Drive. Officers conducted a welfare check on Skylark Way. An officer conducted a welfare check on Haugen Drive due to a 911 hang up and found all okay. June 29 – PPD received a 911 hang up from North Nordic Drive and an officer conducted a check of the provided location but found nothing of concern. An off...
The St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church caught fire Thursday afternoon, leaving much of the building in ruins and covering Petersburg in smoke. There were no serious injuries reported and the fire did not spread to the surrounding buildings, however smoke from the blaze caused the Petersburg Medical Center and multiple businesses downtown to close. According to Fr. Jose Thomas, the parish priest at St. Catherine of Siena, a few people were attending a prayer service in the chapel when they... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved an ordinance in its first reading that would rezone 43 undeveloped lots located at the planned site of the new hospital during its meeting on Monday. The assembly voted 5-1 in favor with Assembly Member Donna Marsh opposed and Mayor Mark Jensen excused from the meeting. The 43 lots are currently zoned as single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial, and open space-recreational, but would have to be rezoned to public use ahead of the...
The Petersburg School Board approved the district's FY24 budget at its last meeting of the school year on Tuesday. The uncertainties surrounding education funding in Alaska as well as rising inflation and utility costs have made the budget's development a long and winding road, but advocacy efforts by school officials on both the local and state level have helped ensure stability in the district for another year. "Honestly this is a much better scenario than what I had...predicted, so I mean...
The Planning Commission voted against recommending that the Petersburg Borough Assembly approve the Petersburg Medical Center's application to rezone 43 undeveloped lots on the proposed site for the new hospital facility at its meeting on Tuesday. The 43 lots are owned by the borough and are located north of Haugen Drive and behind the Elizabeth Peratrovich Building. They are currently zoned as single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial, and open space-recreational, but the...
June 7 – Petersburg Police Department (PPD) received a report of graffiti on South 3rd Street. An officer spoke with a citizen regarding domestic violence. Officers assisted with a residential inspection on Mitkof Highway. Property lost on Howkan Street was reported to the PPD. PPD received a report of a possibly abandoned vehicle in the Middle Harbor parking lot. PPD received a parking complaint on Haugen Drive. The owner later moved the vehicle. A protective order was served. An officer responded to a report of a reckless all terrain vehicle... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously passed an ordinance that will raise the amount that sewer utility rates will increase by in FY24 during its June 5 meeting. In May 2022, the assembly voted to increase sewer utility rates by 3% annually from FY23-FY26, but this new ordinance will double the planned rate increase in FY24, raising rates for one year by 6%. According to an annual rate review of the utility, the 6% raise is needed to keep up with increased costs and expenses to the...
Beulah Eleanor Luhr passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at her home in Petersburg surrounded by her children. Beulah was born in Chester, Montana on October 12, 1934, to Robert T. Reid and Vena (Ward) Reid. Her family moved to Petersburg, Alaska in 1939 and she resided there for the last 84 years. Beulah grew up in Scow Bay, graduated from Petersburg High School and married the love of her life, Donald Luhr, on May 31, 1952. In high school Beulah worked for the telephone company, back in the... Full story
May 31 – An officer conducted an extra patrol watch on Chief John Lott Street. An officer investigated suspicious activity on Mitkof Highway and found all okay. Petersburg Police Department (PPD) notified Power and Light (P&L) of a city wide power outage. A fire alarm activated on North 1st Street due to the power outage – all was okay. An officer assisted an individual on Lake Street. An individual completed a sex offender registry. An officer conducted a welfare check on an individual on Lake Street and found all okay. An officer spoke wit... Full story
The Petersburg Medical Center is planning to hold free youth mental health first aid classes, teaching adult community members how to look for warning signs and help young people experiencing mental health problems. The classes are being made possible through a $10,000 grant awarded by the Petersburg Community Foundation. The grant will be used to get two hospital staff members-Katie Holmlund and Becky Turland-certified as youth mental health first aid facilitators so they can put on free...
The Petersburg Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Alaska Community Foundation, presented eight grants last Saturday supporting community nonprofits. Hosted by Sue Paulsen, the event brought together volunteers, community members, and representatives from local organizations to award over $28,000 in grants. Before the grants were announced, Jeanette Ness was named as this year's recipient of the foundation's Volunteer of the Year award. Glo Wollen, who presented the award, said, "When...
May 17 – Officers conducted extra foot patrols downtown. An officer responded to a report of suspicious activity at Libby Strait and determined it was non-criminal. Petersburg Police Department (PPD) received a report of a truck on Howkan driving with an unflagged load, creating a potential safety hazard. Officers responded to a report of a towed vehicle dropping parts in the roadway on Haugen Drive. An officer responded to a report of an aggressive dog on Hungerford Hill Road but was not able to locate it. Officers responded to a report of an...
May 10 – A driver at 7th Street and Haugen Drive was issued a warning for failure to stop at a stop sign. An officer conducting foot patrols downtown located an unsecured door and notified the responsible party. An officer conducted a welfare check on an unoccupied, running vehicle on South Nordic Drive. Petersburg Police Department (PPD) received a report of an attempted phone scam claiming the complainant had not paid for products. PPD received a report of trespassing on South 3rd Street. PPD received a report of theft and forwarded it to t...
A press release this week announced that Petersburg Medical Center Youth Programs will offer expanded summer programming to better meet the community's needs by providing additional options for childcare. Kinder Skog, the popular outdoor forest school, will expand to include a "Forest Kindy" program designed specifically for five and six year olds. Following a recommendation from the State of Alaska Childcare Program, Kinder Skog will transition from a licensed childcare program to a recreationa...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved an extensive resolution during its last meeting that will move the Petersburg Medical Center new facility project one step closer to shovel-ready status. The resolution, passed in a 6-1 vote with Assembly Member Donna Marsh against, approved the North Haugen site as the location of the future hospital and authorized the PMC board to proceed with a preconstruction services contract with Dawson Construction. The new facility project was made the borough's...
Jim Roberts was appointed to the Petersburg Medical Center Board by Mayor Mark Jensen with the approval of the assembly during Monday's Petersburg Borough Assembly meeting. Roberts previously served on the hospital board from 2018 to 2021 but lost his bid for reelection. "The hospital is a vital part of our community and it needs to grow to provide the services required by our community," Roberts wrote. He also worked for 41 years at the Central Intelligence Agency as a computer scientist and a...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted on Monday to hold a work session to discuss the borough's FY24 draft budget and reschedule its first meeting in May. The work session will give the assembly and the public their first opportunity to review next year's borough budget ahead of its first reading. The work session will be held on Monday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in the assembly chambers. The assembly also voted to move its meeting scheduled for May 1 to Tuesday, May 2 at noon. The rescheduling was...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance that would amend the charter to open participation on local boards to borough employees in its final reading. The amendment, which will have to be approved by voters later this year, would let borough staff run for boards except for those that directly administer their employment. That would mean a Petersburg Medical Center employee could run for the assembly or the school board but not the hospital board. A Petersburg...
