Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 750
The seventh annual Project Connect Resource Fair was held in Petersburg on Jan. 30. Organized under the umbrella of nonprofit Humanity In Progress (HIP), the event provided access to free basic necessities and local resources for people in Petersburg who are experiencing housing insecurity - and was an opportunity to survey attendees about their present housing situation for a Point-In-Time count that records the status of homelessness and housing insecurity in Petersburg. When the doors to...
The Alaska Legislature’s big education funding bill will reach the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives by next week, a leading Republican lawmaker said Monday. “We’re going to get it out. It’s not going to sit anywhere,” said Rep. Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage and chair of the House Rules Committee. On Saturday, members of Johnson’s committee heard more than seven hours of public testimony, mostly in favor of a large increase in Alaska’s funding for public schools. The committee declined to fulfill that request before advancing Sen... Full story
Robyn Taylor spent the first six years of her career in the Alaska education system teaching in Petersburg, and the next 18 years elsewhere in the state as an administrator. Currently on year 24, Taylor is excited to return to the Petersburg School District as the next superintendent, in place of Erica Klut-Painter who will depart from the role at the end of this school year. "I'm just so appreciative of the opportunity," Taylor said. "Right timing, right place." Originally from Idaho, Taylor...
January 11, 1924 – The Petersburg Chamber of Commerce this week passed its first birthday as an active organization. Treasurer Ed Locken rendered his report for the year showing that $726.95 was collected and expended during the last year to carry on the work of the organization. Secretary M.S. Perkins reported in detail on the work which has been accomplished by the Club during the year. The Club since its inception has become one of the most active of the Alaskan organizations, holding regular meetings twice each month and considering p...
In January The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously voted to award the construction contract for the Blind Slough Hydroelectric refurbishment project to McG/Dawson Joint Venture for an amount not to exceed $5,744,000. The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously approved an ordinance in its first reading that would rezone a lot located at 10 N. 12th Street for commercial use. The rezoning was requested by the Petersburg Indian Association ahead of their prospective purchase of the lot, which h...
Student enrollment in Petersburg School District increased beyond initial expectations, providing a boost in revenues. Student enrollment in PSD increased by 39.1, bringing enrollment to a student count of 469.1. State funding for PSD increased by $1,162,300, arriving at a total of $7,198,073. The State of Alaska funds school districts based on the number of students enrolled, known as the Base Student Allocation (BSA). There is a state-mandated 20-day student count period in October that establishes a district’s enrollment number as something...
With only a few weeks of practice under their belts, Petersburg High School’s varsity boys basketball team started the season off with a series of games in Sitka last weekend. The PHS squad competed in a three-game round robin tournament against teams from Chugiak, Sitka, and Lumen Christi across the weekend, coming out of the tournament with one win and two losses. “The biggest thing was that I felt like they came out and played together and they played hard, which—at the beginning of the season—that’s what you’re looking for,” said assistan...
The Petersburg School District recently enhanced security measures at Stedman Elementary, Mitkof Middle School and Petersburg High School. As of Nov. 27, the front doors of PHS and MMS lock after classes begin at 8:05 a.m. Doorbells with cameras and an intercom system are installed on the front doors, alongside signage to clearly direct people who may try to access the building. Office staff can now see who is ringing the doorbell, which allows them to assess and approve people before allowing them to enter for better security. During the Nov....
During October's hospital board meeting, program facilitators presented a review of the PMC Youth Programs under the Petersburg Medical Center community wellness department - primarily highlighting Kinder Skog's past year as a PMC pilot program. The outdoor-based childcare program transitioned from operating under Petersburg Lutheran Church's Good Beginnings Preschool to PMC in August 2022 after the hospital board agreed earlier that year to establish a pilot childcare program in the Community W...
At the Fire Hall on Dec. 2, PMC's Community Wellness Specialist, Becky Turland, and Youth Program Coordinator, Katie Holmlund, will instruct a free Youth Mental Health First Aid training course where members of the Petersburg community can become certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. "It's a free training that has potential to save a life," Holmlund told the Pilot. This year, Turland and Holmlund completed a Youth Mental Health First Aid Facilitator Course - a three-day course offered... Full story
The borough’s human resources department provided a progress report about the municipality’s newly implemented safety measures during the Borough Assembly Meeting Nov. 6. In September, Alaska Public Entity Insurance (APEI) representatives presented a safety review of the Petersburg Borough during a regular assembly meeting. Assembly members and human resources staff left that meeting with actionable recommendations to address safety concerns within the borough. Part of that was the establishment of a formal Borough Safety Committee. Becky Reg...
Thank you To the Editor: Thank you to Hammer & Wikan for re-establishing the footpath from the grocery store to the post office. Right now, the path is better than it ever was. Good job!, Sam Bunge Change the ferry LeConte’s name To the Editor: Do you believe in equality? Do you believe in human rights? Please sign the petition in the link below asking the Alaska Marine Highway System to change the name of the ferry LeConte. Joseph Leconte was a slave owning Georgian who believed in racial superiority and never once stepped foot in the state of...
The Viking Swim Club (VSC) annual dinner and auction takes place this Saturday, Oct. 28. Doors open at 6:00 pm upstairs at the Elks. The event is the youth swim program’s largest fundraiser, generating around 35% of the program’s budget through the evening’s raffle and auction. The effort helps pay the salaries of the coaches, supports swim meet travel costs, and helps keep membership dues affordable. VSC is not a school district activity. It’s a three season long activity for Petersburg kids. And this year’s auction is also honoring the 50th...
The unofficial results of the Petersburg 2023 Municipal Election are in. When the voting window closed at 8 o'clock Tuesday night, 1250 voters had cast their ballots. The preliminary results amounted to a strikingly close race for positions in the Borough Assembly and Public Safety Board - with a difference of five votes between assembly candidates and nine votes separating public safety board contenders. 24 absentee ballots remain uncounted, along with four questioned ballots. Borough Clerk...
Negative stereotype To the Editor: In the spirit of free enterprise, Sig and Ambre Burrell are trying to address the demand for affordable housing in our community by developing a manufactured home neighborhood on their privately-owned land. Some people argue that Petersburg should not give up this beautiful open space; they also complain about ugliness and lack of cleanliness in mobile home parks and of prevalent crime in these neighborhoods. One individual believes that people who live in trailer homes neglect their pets and are outsiders,...
Katie Holmlund I have my bachelor's degree in elementary education, and I love being immersed in active learning classrooms. In 2018, I co-founded Kinder Skog Nature Program to connect my passion for education and nature. I remain the administrator of Kinder Skog while also coordinating other youth programs. I also serve on the Borough appointed Early Childhood Task Force and SHARE Coalition. At the state level I am a contributing member to the Afterschool Network School Age Childcare Workgroup,...
Marietta Davis I originally moved to Alaska with my parents and have lived the majority of my life in SE Alaska since I was 17 years old. I worked for Southeast Island School District in various logging camps that my husband and I, with our children, lived. We received property in an Alaska state land lottery and lived in Whale Pass on Prince of Wales Island for five years. While there I became an EMT and served on the Homeowners' Association. We moved to Petersburg in the fall of 1993. I...
Ambre Burrell My name is Ambre Burrell, I have made Petersburg my home for the past 17 years. My family has enjoyed many activities over the years at the Parks & Rec facilities and it has been my honor to help past projects move forward and to serve on the board for the last year. I have chosen to run for the 3-year Parks and Rec advisory board seat after spending the past year serving on the board. I feel we have a great team working up at the facility and a board who is excited to support...
Candidates for the hotly contested seats on Petersburg Borough Assembly came together last Thursday for a live candidate forum where they responded to questions from news reporters with the Pilot and KFSK and questions from a live audience. After opening statements, the evening’s first question was the big one: Where do the candidates stand on the new hospital project? Jeigh Stanton Gregor and Jeff Meucci answered with clear, full support of the new hospital phased construction project. Candidates Rick Perkins and Rob Schwartz both emphasized t...
Do we really need a new hospital? To the Editor: When I first heard about the hospital project, like many of you, I had a lot of questions. Do we really need a new hospital? The clinic, which is the part I mainly visit, looks great. And, how in the world would we pay for an $85 million facility? Phil Hostetter and the hospital board informed me on both questions. First, they started with a study of the current hospital. The original hospital, where Long Term Care is located, dates to the 1950s and is failing rapidly due to poor plumbing and...
Mary Ellen Anderson Why have you chosen to run for Library Board at this time? I love being on the library board and serving my community. I'm very well suited as the former elementary school librarian at Stedman-a position I held for 19 years. I started early in the library world, numbering and checking out my dad's classic Dickens collection to neighborhood friends when I was about 10. Oddly enough, there were only a couple takers. I then worked for the library in high school, and as an adult...
Jerod Cook What is your age? I am 54 years old Why have you chosen to run for Hospital Board at this time? I have been on the hospital board for a number of years, and because we are in the middle of the process of getting a new facility built, I feel I need to help finish the project I was involved with starting. I feel it is important to make sure the future health care needs of the community are met and continue at the level they are, or better, going into the future. What experience do you... Full story
Rick Perkins What is your age? 69 Why have you chosen to run for Assembly at this time? I have been asked to bring people and ideas together without a divisive tone in this capacity. What experience do you have that prepares you for this role? In working for the Boeing Company, I was able to bridge the gap from engineering to assembly, by building the tooling to do so regardless of paperwork or personalities. I have built 7 of my own homes, I have worked on 3 different water plant projects, and... Full story
The 2023 summer reading programs at the Petersburg Public Library ended in July after six weeks of participants flipping pages, learning instruments, and math-ing their way through an escape room. Across three programs, 270 people of all ages took part in this story, with 65 completing their program cover to cover. Kari Peterson, Program Coordinator for the Petersburg Public Library, said "It went really well, this summer." Back in spring, the library had this year's prizes out on display....
September 7, 1923 – The Petersburg schools, with the exception of the first and second grades, opened for the winter term on Tuesday. The two lower grades are closed for a time on account of whooping cough, which has been going the rounds of the younger children this summer. To limit as much as possible the further dissemination of whooping cough, the School Board, in consultation with the Health Officer, has ordered Principal Earl Shaeffer to issue the following edict: – “The contagious disease known as whooping cough is a serious disea...
