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Turbulent Times To the Editor: We live in turbulent times. Everywhere in the lower 48 it seems monuments and statues are being toppled. Even in Alaska I've heard talk of removing certain statues of historical figures, and many worry that vandalism or some form of statuary dismemberment may be perpetrated I hope our local constabulary is keeping close watch on our own local statue, that bronze likeness of Bojer Wikan that dominates the Memorial Park. In his lifetime he frequently expressed his...
Precautions being taken To the Editor: The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department is continuing to enforce its protection measures for its members and the public at the Fire Station. This is to maintain a safe working environment during the current health concern caused by Covid-19. The public and department members have been encouraged to minimize their visitation to the station to lessen the potential spread of this virus to department employees and volunteers. An infection of a member could... Full story
The borough assembly passed the borough's fiscal year 2021 operating budget in its third reading on Monday, which has $9,702,871 in both total revenues and total expenditures. The first draft of the budget showed expenditures for the general fund totaling $9,838,846, but was balanced out equally by $9,838,846 in revenues. The total amount of revenues and expenditures change throughout the three readings of the budget as a result of the seven amendments made to it. The most recent amendment was...
Petersburg Public Health Nurse Erin Michael warned the public that as people's lives change and adapt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they can begin to feel depressed and suicidal. At the COVID-19 community update on Wednesday, May 27, Micheal said the state reported an increase in emergency room visits related to suicide. She said it's not uncommon for people to feel anxious or depressed as they deal with the pandemic. Some specific causes of depression brought on by the pandemic can be a lack...
The borough assembly passed the borough's fiscal year 2021 operating budget in its second reading on Monday after making six amendments to it. The first draft of the budget shows expenditures for the general fund totaling $9,838,846, but it's balanced out equally by $9,838,846 in revenues. The first amendment to the budget removes an additional building maintenance position back into the Public Works Department, resulting in a savings to the borough of $117,445. The second amendment increased th...
The borough assembly approved a public health emergency directive at a special meeting on Tuesday that implements a temporary quarantine and isolation program for first responders, healthcare works and homeless individuals and families to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 in the community. Borough Incident Commander Karl Hagerman said just after the formation of the Emergency Operations Center, the team identified a need to create a plan on how the borough could help the homeless populatio...
This week with the Petersburg Borough announced Public Health Mandate #4; All community member are required to wear homemade masks, scarfs, buffs, bandanas, or handkerchiefs when inside buildings and even outside of any building in situations where social distancing requirements cannot be met. Masks have become even more important in our community then they were even last week. Liz Bacom's title with the Petersburg Medical Center is Infection Prevention and Quality Manager, with her work on the...
Utility Director Karl Hagerman and Public Works Director Chris Cotta submitted a letter to the borough assembly at their meeting last week recommending the borough postpone discussions on rate increases and bond issuances due to financial uncertainties in the community amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "We were attempting to answer a question that hadn't been asked yet and to put the community at ease that rates are still under consideration for projects that need to be completed, but that rate increa...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration has launched a new virtual school for Alaska students in partnership with a Florida program, garnering some criticism from educators adjusting their lessons to online teaching amid the coronavirus pandemic. The state of Alaska signed a $525,000 contract through February 2021 with the Florida Virtual School, which had enrolled about 80 Alaska students by Friday, Alaska’s Energy Desk reported. “The ‘fourth-quarter solution’ that is suggested through the purchase of this Flo...
The borough assembly awarded the Motor Pool Shop repair design bid to WJE, Associates, Inc. based out of Washington in an amount not to exceed $50,000 at their meeting on Monday. The cost of the design work will be covered by the borough's liability insurance provider. The design process will be the first steps in rebuilding the borough's Motor Pool Shop, which went up in flames in August. The fire displaced motor pool staff to an adjacent garage until the original building can be repaired....
As the governor’s Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Work Group gets underway, our directive is clear: chart a sustainable, long-term path that delivers the transportation services our coastal communities need with the reliability, safety and efficiency that all Alaskans deserve. As group chair, I am fortunate to share this endeavor with experienced and talented individuals representing a wide swathe of Alaskan perspectives. While I won’t speak for my teammates, I know that each is committed to delivering a work product that positions the system f...
WRANGELL - Trident Seafoods, one of the two main seafood processors in Wrangell, has decided not to operate during the upcoming salmon season. Stefanie Moreland, vice president of government relations, seafood sustainability, and corporate social responsibility with the Trident Seafoods Corporation, explained that this decision was made earlier this year. Predictions of a low abundance of salmon in Southeast Alaskan waters led them to the decision to not operate the Wrangell plant this season....
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...
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — A landslide in a city near the southern tip of the Alaska Panhandle demolished the back side of a grocery store. No one was injured early Thursday when the landslide took out the back wall of Tatsuda's IGA in Ketchikan, the Ketchikan Daily News reported. The building suffered severe enough damage to be condemned. Rock, dirt and trees knocked over shelves and pushed ceiling beams out of place. The impact ruptured the sprinkler system, affecting the entire structure, including an attached liquor store, city public w...
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,...
The borough assembly approved the purchase of two light duty 4x4 trucks in the amount of $85,432 at its Monday meeting. One of the vehicles replaces a truck that was totaled in a fire at the public works shop in August. A 2003 Chevy flatbed used by the Motor Pool Dept. will be replaced by a 2020 Chevy 3500 Crew Cab with a 9-foot flatbed. It is used to transport workers to job sites and seats four people. It can carry needed equipment and tools. The vehicle is still in service but requires...
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...
December 4 —Extra patrols were requested on Mitkof Highway. December 5 —Authorities responded to a report of trespassing and property damage. An individual was issued a warning for operating an ATV on a roadway. Authorities responded to a report of a drunk driver on S. Nordic Dr. A disturbance was reported near the Public Works Department lot on 2nd St. December 6 —Kory Versteeg, 36, was arrested on charges of violating conditions of release. Antony Dawe, 38, was arrested on charges of violating a protection order. A brush fire was repor...
Kenneth Edward Hagerman, 77, passed away with his children by his side on November 7, 2019, after a long and difficult battle with dementia and Parkinson's. Ken was born to Edward and Lillian Hagerman on June 17, 1942 in Petersburg, Alaska. In his childhood years, he enjoyed spending time hunting, fishing and scouting with his family. In high school he was on the varsity basketball team, played alto saxophone in the school band and graduated from Petersburg High in 1960. After high school he... Full story
The borough is in the process of renewing an agreement with the state to receive $6,200 annually for the maintenance of the Ernie Haugen public use area, according to Public Works Director Chris Cotta at an assembly meeting on Monday. At an assembly meeting last month, the borough assembly approved letters to Sen. Bert Stedman and Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins asking them to inquire into cooperative agreements between the borough and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources for the management...
A public works crew worked from 7 P.M. on Nov. 20 to 2 A.M. the following morning to fix a leak in an 8-inch water main on 12th St. that was spurting out 250,000 gallons of water a day. The leak was first identified when an electronic leak detector was used to determine if there were leaks in any of the pipes throughout the city. The leak detector showed a major leak in the 8-inch water main on 12th St. at Haugen Dr., so Public Works Director Chris Cotta decided to dig into the ground to...
WRANGELL - Mayor Steve Prysunka travelled to Washington D.C. last week to speak before the Senate Committee on Energy and National Resources. He was invited to speak on behalf of the National Association of Counties, an organization that works to advocate county priorities in federal policymaking. Prysunka spoke last Thursday, Nov. 21, on the importance of the Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funds. "We're somewhat unique because we're actually the third...
After officials from the United States Forest Service presented their six alternatives to the Roadless Rule at a public meeting last week and stated the agency preferred a full exemption of the rule in the Tongass National Forest, community members in the audience overwhelmingly spoke out against the exemption. Alternative six, the preferred alternative, would exempt all 9.2 million acres of the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Rule that set out to protect and preserve inventoried...
Installation of the borough's new baler has been completed, and it should be baling garbage sometime this week, according to Public Works Director Chris Cotta. Demolition of the old baler began at the end of September and through the first week of October then the site was prepared for the new baler. Installation of the baler began on Oct. 7 and has been completed, except for some welding that needs to be done, according to Cotta. The new baler will operate much like the old one, but Cotta said...
The borough assembly held a discussion at their meeting on Monday on the idea of the borough partnering with the Petersburg Indian Association to take over the maintenance of Greens Camp from the state. Public Works Director Chris Cotta said that the state has paid the borough in the past for the maintenance of Greens Camp, along with Banana Point Boat Dock and Wilson Creek. For the 2019 calendar year, the state cut their funding from $6,200 to $3,000, but the borough still has yet to receive...
