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As of April 7, the Petersburg Medical Center has sent out 62 test samples to be tested for COVID-19 at state and commercial laboratories, according to PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter at Wednesday's daily COVID-19 update. Fifty-one tests have returned negative, ten are still pending and one test has returned positive. The borough was first made aware of the confirmed case of COVID-19 in the community on Sunday. The borough was notified by the hospital and immediately sent out a press release and a code...
As of Wednesday afternoon, Petersburg Medical Center has submitted 39 COVID-19 testing samples to state and commercial laboratories, 26 of which have come back negative and the remaining 13 tests are still pending, according to PMC's Laurie Miller at Wednesday's daily COVID-19 community update. "We're relieved everyday that we don't have a positive test, but we know they are coming," said PMC Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Bryner. On Wednesday evening, the Alaska Department of Health and Social...
Activities at the Petersburg School District and other school districts across the state have been cancelled for the rest of the academic year as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. PSD Activities Director Jaime Cabral said the decision to cancel activities came from the state. On March 20, Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a health mandate that closed public and private schools through May 1 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Following the announcement, the Alaska School Activities Association...
Aiden Knudsen, left, and Mason Knudsen, along with their dog Duncan retrieve their food from the Petersburg School District on Tuesday. Deliveries were made via Stikine Services buses....
As of Wednesday afternoon, four of the 13 local test specimens that have been sent to state and commercial laboratories have returned negative for COVID-19, according to Petersburg Medical Center CEO Phil Hofstetter. The results of the remaining nine tests are still undetermined. "You would know a lot sooner if there were any positives," said Hofstetter, at a daily COVID-19 community update on Wednesday. Statewide, 59 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday evening, with 13...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved a declaration of disaster emergency at Monday's assembly meeting in response to the COVID-19 outbreak across the country and state. Additionally, the assembly approved an emergency ordinance that would allow the assembly to declare a quorum by calling into an assembly meeting instead of being present. By declaring a disaster emergency, the borough is putting itself in position to better receive state and federal emergency funding should the borough requir...
Members of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, as well as community leaders and local business representatives, got together last Thursday to discuss the COVID-19 virus and how entities throughout the community have been taking precautions against it. "There's a bunch of information going around," said Sandy Dixson, chairperson of the Local Emergency Planning Committee. "We just want to make sure we're all on the same page ... It's not if, it's when it gets to our community, and we do not...
The Petersburg School Board adopted a policy on Tuesday in its second and final reading that addresses the Petersburg School District's pandemic and epidemic emergency readiness. Board policy 6114.4 was recommended to the school board by the Association of Alaska School Boards. Since its first reading in February, School Board Vice President Sarah Holmgrain said parents have had some concerns over the extent that the district would be able to quarantine students; as a result, language within...
The Local Emergency Planning Committee is holding a meeting on Thursday, March 5 at 12 P.M. at the Petersburg Fire Station to discuss a possible response to a confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus in Petersburg. Petersburg Public Health Nurse Erin Michael said the meeting will focus on preparation for the COVID-19 virus, also known as the Coronavirus. The goal is to put a plan in place should the virus make its way to Petersburg. Community leaders, medical professionals and business owners are...
The shutdown of ferry service in Southeast Alaska has impacted many aspects of day-to-day life in communities across the region. In previous reporting by the Wrangell Sentinel and Petersburg Pilot, peoples' travel plans have been disrupted, businesses have been impacted, and cultural events like Celebration 2020 could potentially see decreased turnout. Another aspect of Southeast communities that is facing disruption from the lack of ferries are school districts. The schools of Wrangell and...
Police Chief Jim Kerr suggested at Tuesday's borough assembly meeting that the assembly discuss and adopt an ordinance that would put rules in place for parades or events that take place in roadways and impact the flow of traffic. On Sunday, several organizations in town hosted an Elizabeth Peratrovich Day celebration that began with a parade downtown. Kerr said that he spoke to a Petersburg Indian Association tribal leader and was supposed to be informed if the parade grew in size, so that...
Discussed by the Petersburg School Board at their meeting last week was a senate bill being put forth by Alaska legislators that would mandate school districts offer a preschool program and ensure students are reading proficiently by third grade. "We have heard that this is a fast moving bill," said School Board President Mara Lutomski. "Both sides, the House and the Senate, expect that it will probably most likely make it through and arrive at the governors' desk in some form. It doesn't mean...
With the M/V Matanuska going out of service last week, ferry service via the Alaska Marine Highway has completely shut down. According to a press release from the Alaska Department of Transportation, new issues have been found with the ferry's reduction gear system. The Matanuska, at the time of writing, is being towed to Ketchikan for repairs. "AMHS is aware of travel needs for upcoming school and community tournaments in March and is exploring options for alternative service in the event...
The Petersburg School Board voted in favor of adopting a board policy in its first reading on Tuesday that addresses pandemic and epidemic emergency readiness. The policy was recommended to the board by the Association of Alaska School Boards. School Board Vice President Sarah Holmgrain said the recommendation probably came about as a response to what is happening on the international level, but assured residents that there isn't an imminent threat to the community from a virus. "Like a lot of t...
During last Wednesday's Petersburg Live talent show, Wright Auditorium showed off its new lights, which are capable of showering performers on stage in a multitude of lights. "We can literally make the stage dance with color now," said Dave Berg, one of the volunteer light operators. In the past, if a performance required a certain color of light on stage, a filter would have to be placed over one of the lights; as a result, that light would have to be dedicated to that color for the entire...
Park and Recreation's aquatic center has reopened to the Petersburg School District, Viking Swim Club and the public this week, but repairs are still being made to the heating system. On Monday morning, the temperature in the lap pool was 81 degrees and the temperature in the leisure pool was 91.5 degrees, said Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht at an assembly meeting Monday. While the water temperature was warm enough to swim in, the air in the aquatic center is only 79 degrees. "Seventy-nine sou...
Two entrepreneurs from Anchorage have begun the process to build 15 low-income housing units on Excel St. using federal tax credits. Glenn Gellert and John McGrew expect to build the apartment building over three parcels on Excel St., which are owned by Lyle and Carol Bennett. The couple has been trying to sell the lots for the last three years. Lyle said the houses have been falling apart, and they have been looking to downsize. The three parcels contain the addresses 103, 105, 107 and 109 Exce...
Last week, the Pilot reported that Parks and Rec. and the Petersburg School District shared the cost of the boiler utilities and water usage in the aquatic center in a 70-30 split, with the district paying a majority of the bill. The Pilot obtained this information from Parks and Rec. Director Chandra Thornburg. This week Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht contacted the Pilot with the correct breakdown of the responsibilities that the borough and school district share. As a result of the misstatem...
Parks and Recreation has pinpointed the leak in the community pool to a light conduit after draining the pool down to about six feet of water, just below the light. Several inspections proved that the source of the leak was located somewhere in the pool, instead of in a pipe that feeds into the pool. It was determined that water wasn't escaping through a valve at the bottom of the tank, so Parks and Rec decided to lower the water level to a point just below the lights in the pool. As of...
Petersburg and Wrangell both saw an overall increase in population from 2010 through 2019, but while Petersburg's population rose between 2018 and 2019, Wrangell's population saw a drop in the same timeframe, according to data from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. There were 3,203 residents living in Petersburg in 2010 and in 2019, there were 3,226, according to the ADLWD. Those figures equal to a .08 percent growth for the decade and 1.12 percent growth in the last...
The Petersburg School Board approved an updated math curriculum for the district and the purchase of related materials totaling approximately $42,000 at the board's meeting on Tuesday. A whole new math curriculum is being adopted at Rae C. Stedman Elementary School that was constructed last year by second grade teachers Becky Martin and Mary Midkiff, according to Elementary Principal Heather Conn. The curriculum teaches math to students in a spiral manner. "We will see the same information...
The community lap pool is closed this week due to an above average amount of water being pumped into the pool to maintain regular water levels. Parks and Recreation Facilities Supervisor Stephanie Payne said the cause of the phenomenon is unknown at this time. A pool dye kit has been ordered that may help staff determine what has been causing the pool to need extra water to keep it at capacity. Payne said she first noticed the problem late last week. Parks and Recreation made the decision to...
January 16, 1920 John Bruce is now engaged in taking the fourteenth census of Petersburg and district, having been appointed to that duty by Charles W. Hawkesworth, of the Bureau of Education. All facts as to the number of residents occupations, businesses and everything pertaining to census statistics will be compiled under date of January 1st, 1920. The number of people listed for Petersburg by Mr. Bruce will determine the listed population of the town for the next ten years. January 12, 1945 With fine reports in on the Sixth War Loan drive,...
Top contributors to the Salvation Army Red Kettle drive in 2019: 1. Petersburg Rotary Club $6,152 2. State & Federal employees $3,337 3. Petersburg Vessel Owners $2,345 4. Sons of Norway $1,281 5. School District $1,225 6. P.V. Fire Department $1,110 Total donations to the Salvation Army this Christmas season totaled $21,230 with the additional contribution of $4,100 that came in just recently, according to Salvation Army Major Loni Upshaw....
January Following the shutdown of the U.S. government on Dec. 22, 2018, the U.S. Coast Guard stated it would continue offering essential services. The borough assembly approved $600,000 for a new baler. The USCG located debris from an overdue medivac aircraft that had three people onboard that was due to land in Kake several nights before. A decrease in air cargo coming into Petersburg affected the timely arrival of residents' packages after the retirement of Alaska Airlines' combi 737-400...
