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It is better to give than receive, is an old adage, and an especially poignant one this time of year. One that Marlena Erickson took to heart as the organizer of Petersburg's First Annual "Adopt a Grandparent" drive. Erickson was inspired by a friend of hers in California who had done the same thing for senior citizens in her area. The people of Petersburg make a strong effort to make others feel loved and included, said Erickson, but this time of winter can be a really hard time for the...
On Monday, the borough assembly approved to postpone discussing and voting on the 2020 fiscal year capital projects list and budget policies until the Dec. 17 assembly meeting. Mayor Mark Jensen cited a busy agenda and a desire to have a separate meeting to discuss and vote on the budget. “There is no real urgent deadline for this,” said Jensen. “It would be nice to get it done before the end of December.” The submitted capital project document listed a combined total of over 50 capital project needs in the Harbor Department, Parks and Recreat...
Petersburg Medical Center approved $11,660 to Rock-N-Road Construction, Inc. at a board meeting last week to demolish an abandoned house on hospital property to free up more room for parking. "We're asking to clear the lot, to remove that house," said PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter. "It's an abandoned building. It's a liability. It's an eye sore. I feel likes it's in the best interest of PMC to clear that lot. Also, we can have parking lot space if we clear that, which is a big need as the winter...
At a board meeting last week, the Petersburg Medical Center board of directors approved $20,000 to work with DOWL, a project management firm, on the facility project. DOWL will be looking at space requirements and the possible location for a new or remodeled PMC facility. They will also build off existing work and progress that has been made towards the project to avoid repeating work that has already been done. “They can have a product to us in about six weeks to really kind of determine those kinds of aspects,” said PMC CEO Phil Hof...
November 20 — Elias Lucas, 69, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence. An aggressive dog was reported in a truck on Dolphin St, but the vehicle was gone upon the officer’s arrival. November 21 — On 4th St. at Haugen Dr., a report of possible trespassing was made, but the individual was gone before the responding officer arrived. A vehicle was parked on private property on Mitkof Highway without permission. At Scow Bay Fire Station, a vehicle was parked without permission. A child was walking alone on S. 3rd St. When offic...
Long time Petersburg resident Tom Lewis was this year's tree lighter for the community Christmas tree. Growing up in Foster, Oregon, Lewis took on a variety of jobs from working on a hay baler to falling timber. Almost on a whim, Lewis and some of the men that he felled timber with made the decision on a Monday in 1942 to join the navy. After he was discharged from the Navy he began working in Oregon again. "Then I got curious about Alaska," said Lewis. He came to Alaska in the early 1950s and...
Felt truly blessed To the Editor: I recently stopped in Petersburg to visit my son after attending the wedding of my granddaughter in Anchorage. However, due to a medical emergency, my visit was extended for a short while longer than was planned. What started out as a medical emergency ended with a tremendous feeling of gratitude and thankfulness. I want to express my appreciation to all of the kind hearted and warm people that I had the good fortune of meeting while I was there. I am so impressed with the staff at the Petersburg Medical...
The Petersburg Medical Center board of directors passed its strategic plan for the 2019-2023 fiscal years at a board meeting on Tuesday after the document failed to pass at last month's meeting due to clarity issues. The strategic plan had been updated since the previous meeting to reflect the concerns with more clarity, but issues were still found with the current version. "It needs some work," said board member Jim Roberts to PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter. "You made changes, but there's places where...
On Thursday, the Petersburg Medical Center held the first in a series of “community cafes” to inform residents on trends affecting the hospital with residents giving feedback on what they expect from PMC. At the beginning of the forum, PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter made it clear that the day’s meeting was to receive feedback from the community and not talk about the idea of a new facility or remodel of the current one, which is something Hofstetter has been working towards since his arrival over the summer. “It’s very easy to go down rabbit ho...
The Petersburg School Board approved the acceptance of grant awards for the 2019 fiscal year totaling $513,613. The grants make up about six percent of the district’s funding, with the other 94 percent, or $8,432,563, coming from the general fund. Three of the largest grants received by the district came from Title VI-B at $141,677, ESSA Title I-A at $121,119 and ESSA Title I-C at $118,402. The three grants make up about 75 percent of the district’s grants. “There’s a whole team of us that put these grants together,” said finance director...
The Petersburg Borough’s in-kind portion of a feasibility study to determine if the United States Army Corps of Engineers will dredge South Harbor and allow smoother egress increased by $50,000, and was approved by the assembly on Monday. “The money stays with us,” said harbormaster Glow Wollen at the assembly meeting on Monday. “We only use it if we spend it for this project. The borough’s in-kind contributions have increased to $100,000, from $50,000, which the borough has paid $32,349.11 of to date, according to a letter from Amber C....
Jimmie "Jim" Wayne Thompson, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2018 at the Wrangell Medical Center. His health had declined over the last several years after suffering from several small strokes, and one substantial one in 2011 while he was visiting his mother in Texas. After spending several weeks in rehab, he was able to return back to his home in Wrangell where unfortunately his health continued to decline. He was born to Leon and Lorene Thompson, November 17, 1937 in Montague County, Texas.... Full story
At a hospital board meeting on Oct. 24, board members motioned to approve Petersburg Medical Center’s strategic plan for the fiscal years 2019 through 2023. “I’d like to get the document approved, so we can operationalize some of the priorities,” said PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter at the board meeting. The motion was later withdrawn after issues with the strategic plan’s clarity were brought up. One issue was that the strategic plan seemed to make the hospital separate from the borough. PMC CFO Doran Hammett said that the hospital is a component...
The results of an audit conducted on the Petersburg Medical Center were presented at a board meeting last week showing that a high standard of internal control of financial reporting and compliance to laws and regulations were being kept. “That’s really a testament to everyone in the hospital,” said PMC CFO Doran Hammett at a hospital board meeting on Oct. 24. “There’s nobody in the hospital that doesn't affect the finance in some way. Either you’re in the revenue generating department or you’re in the department that spends money. There...
The Petersburg Medical Center has invested just under $1.5 million in three United States Treasury Bills with a yield rate of over 2 percent after board approval was given at last month’s hospital board meeting. The treasury bills will each mature throughout 2019 and reach $500,000 each. Those with a later mature date cost the hospital less, said PMC CFO Doran Hammett at the hospital board meeting on Oct. 24. All of the hospitals investments have a combined total annual interest of $51,853.21, which Hammett said could cover most of the cost o...
The borough assembly met with the Petersburg Medical Center board of directors to discuss the feasibility of a new facility or a remodel to the current facility last week. “I think it would be great if we could all agree that we need something new, different than what we have now,” said PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter. At the meeting the PMC board and staff spoke to assembly members about some of the challenges the current hospital is facing. The number one issue was being able to avoid an event that would cause the hospital to shut down. A shut dow...
There were about 170 participants in the Beat the Odds race on Saturday morning, which raised over $20,000 to support local cancer patients. "A Race Against Cancer isn't just a race, but a race to Beat the Odds," said Michele Parker, chairperson for the volunteer committee that hosted the event. Since the event began 19 years ago, $223,000 has been raised, which has gone towards support groups and services for local cancer patients. During the preregistration for the event, all 225...
The 19th annual Beat the Odds event offers residents the chance to walk or run in a 2.5 race against cancer this Saturday. "Our mission is to bring awareness and education and support to those affected by cancer," said Michele Parker, chairperson for a volunteer committee that is hosting the event with help from the Petersburg Medical Center Foundation. The proceeds of the event will go towards support groups and services for cancer patients, said Parker, who is a cancer survivor. The race will...
The borough assembly passed resolution #2018-12, which supports the Alaska salmon hatchery program and urges the Alaska Board of Fisheries to further its understanding of the importance of the program to all Alaskans. “As we know, salmon is the life blood of this community,” said Vice Mayor Jeigh Stanton Gregor at an assembly meeting on Monday. “Making our stance clear in support of this salmon hatchery program seems like a straight no-brainer to me.” A motion was made to amend the resolution to acknowledge the Northern Southeast Regiona...
The Petersburg Medical Center is currently vaccinating the public, six months and older, for influenza. "This is typically when we start vaccinating as soon as we get the vaccine, which can be in September, October and then we try to vaccinate people sooner rather than later," said Joy Janssen Clinic manager Jenna Olsen. Residents are encouraged to schedule an appointment to be vaccinated. PMC also has a supply of the high dose for people 65 years of age or older, said Olsen. A flu shot clinic...
The Petersburg Medical Center board of directors passed a motion on Sept. 19 to invest up to $1.5 million at the CFO and CEO’s discretion in bonds and treasuries. The decision came at the suggestion of hospital CFO Doran Hammett. He said that PMC’s operating cash in an account at First Bank was increasing at a rate of .5 percent in interest per month, but the bank was only crediting the hospital a sufficient amount to offset bank charges. “Over the last 13 months, we earned almost $11,000 in excess of our bank charges, and that’s money that we...
The Petersburg Medical Center board of directors passed a motion for hospital CEO Phil Hofstetter to form a working document with DOWL, a professional project management firm, for the management of the facility project. The vote brought cheers from those present at the PMC board meeting on Sept. 19. “I love it, action,” said Hofstetter. In a letter submitted to the board of directors, Kendall E. Gee, senior project manager with DOWL, proposed an initial projectbudget of $20,000. Hofstetter said that the company would not invoice the hos...
Bill Tremblay General Information Name: Bill Tremblay Age: 64 Experience: My past experience includes 9 years on the Petersburg City Council (1999-2007), and 2 1/2 years on the City Council for Craig, Alaska (1985-1988). In addition to my 36 year work experience with the Forest Service, I have been a part of several groups or organizations that provide a benefit to the Petersburg community. At this time I am the President of the Board of Directors for KFSK Public Radio, a board member for the...
On Thursday, a cruise ship docked in Petersburg that sent several passengers to the ER. The first patient was tested positive for influenza. Petersburg Medical Center was waiting until the end of September or Oct. 1 to start immunizing staff members. "On Thursday, we decided to do it that afternoon," said director of nursing Jennifer Bryner at a Petersburg Medical Center board meeting on Wednesday. About 75 staff members were vaccinated on Thursday, and there are only a few left who needed to...
