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Members of the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department visited the kindergarten at Stedman Elementary School to teach about fire safety and safe practices in case of fire. Above, Mike Turland in full bunker gear demonstrates what they might see if a firefighter were crawling into a burning house to perform a rescue.... Full story
Alaska State Senator Bert Stedman has been named chairman of The Energy Council, a legislative organization consisting of members from 11 states, five Canadian provinces, and the country of Venezuela. According to their website, the council’s mission is to provide a forum where leaders can exchange ideas and determine solutions related to energy issues that affect Alaska. “I’m honored to continue serving as part of The Energy Council’s leadership,” Stedman said. “The Energy Council conference...
Josef Quitslund crafted this bicycle rack for Rae C. Stedman Elementary School. There are two racks that stand at each end of the school made of aluminum and filled with sand to keep them in place....
Petersburg City Schools Superintendent Rob Thomason explained to the Petersburg School Board last year's test scores from the district's three schools at the first school board meeting of the year Tuesday, Aug. 21. The tests conducted last year for grades 3 – 10 in writing, reading, mathematics and science were above state averages in most categories, however some areas will need to be addressed in the future. Each school also exceeded or met statewide Average Yearly Progress level r...
KINDERGARTEN Mrs. Willis - Kristina Barkfelt, Addysen Bird, Miranda Carr, Adara Curtiss, Lukas Dormer, Adrian Ducat, Rebecca Fisher, Trent Kittams, Caleb Lutomski, Martha Midkiff, Angus Olsen, Thomas Olsen, Adam Perry, Joy Schwarte, Sidnee Stewart, Blake Stough, Joseph Tagaban, Cayden Turland, Stella Walton, Jensen Wilson. Mrs. Brock - Iris Case, James Clark, Aeowyn Davidson, McKinley Dawe, Kaden Duke, Ashley Eilenberger, Torey Fry, Donn Hayes, Ella Kandoll, Isaac Litster, Scottlyn Lyons, Gage Massin, Samara Olson, Oliver Petersen, Kostas...
Rep. Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell and Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka in May wrapped up the 27th legislative session, including a 30-day special session. They passed several pieces of legislation that benefit the Southeast region, and passed a capital budget that includes projects to benefit both Wrangell and Petersburg. “For the region itself, I thought we did very well,” Wilson said. “Basically the capital budget, we came out really good with the capital budget for the region. I made several trips...
ANCHORAGE (AP) —Alaska redistricting is going to lead to some interesting Legislative races. By Friday afternoon, several incumbents in both parties faced primary election challengers, The Anchorage Daily News reported Saturday. Multiple Republicans will battle in six of the 19 Senate contests. In two districts, Democrats will meet in the primary. In the House, all 40 posts are up for election this year. Nearly half involve two or more Republicans, with Democrats meeting in five primaries. Many new candidates are running for office, i...
Community members flocked on Saturday to the grand opening of the new fire hall. The recently completed volunteer fire department Station One was a $6.7 million Capital Fund project. The new facility replaces the older, smaller downtown location. “I was reflecting on the dreams we've had about having a facility that met the needs of the volunteer fire department here. I think it started in the 60s or something,” said Mayor Al Dwyer. “They even had a drawing, an artist rendering in 1978, when I s...
Let your inner-Norwegian out. The Little Norway Festival begins today. The annual event celebrates Syttende Mai, or May 17, the signing of Norway's Constitution in 1814. Petersburg has been formally celebrating the occasion since 1958. The celebration includes live music, food, traditional dance, art receptions, softball and the return of the Viking/Valkyrie jail. Activities run from Thursday to Sunday. “We are bringing back the classics,” said Little Norway Chair Holli Flint. “The Style Show,...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Redistricting Board on Monday made what its executive director called significant changes to southeast Alaska's political boundaries in an effort to win court approval for the plan. Taylor Bickford said the board adopted new districts that pair state Reps. Cathy Munoz, R-Juneau, and Bill Thomas, R-Haines, together. Reps. Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell, and Kyle Johansen, R-Ketchikan, who had previously been paired, would no longer be. Sens. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, and Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, would remain paired. T...
How Was Prom? To the Editor: “How was Prom?” This was the primary question asked of me in the days following the Prom (held Saturday night, May 5, 2012). The vast majority of Petersburg High School students and guests rose to the published expectations of the occasion and enjoyed an evening of fun and appropriate dance. Did some individuals need reminding? Yes. Were they respectful when reminded of the expectations? Absolutely. A big thank you and congratulations to our great PHS students for their help in making this a successful Prom. A spe...
Frustrated by the lack of public forum regarding proposed funding for the Kake-Petersburg Road, Petersburg and Kupreanof City residents spoke out against the project during Monday night's City Council meeting. Petersburg resident Mike Stainbrook submitted a letter to the council that contained a sample resolution asking Governor Sean Parnell for a line item veto of the road. “This funding requires a bold reaction. A request for veto,” he said. The 50-mile road was added to the state budget by Senator Bert Stedman as part of $870 million in tra...
PIA changes To the Editor: Out of respect to the many relationships that the Petersburg Indian Association (PIA) provides to the Petersburg School District, City of Petersburg, Roads Programs, and businesses in the community, the PIA Board of Directors would like to reassure the community of the strength and stability of our organization. PIA has undergone many organizational changes within the last year with the addition of new board members and changes in leadership. Change is always a challenge however be reassured that PIA is moving...
A dozen proposed capital budget projects were promised funding at the close of the 27th Alaska Legislature, but only one is wrapped in controversy. Petersburg projects on the fiscal year 2013 Capital Budget include a commercial dock drive down for $5.6 million, the North Harbor rebuild for $3.5 million, crane dock upgrade for $800,000, dry (unheated) storage building replacement for $400,000, new police station planning and design development for $350,000, hospital roof replacement for $275,000, Sons of Norway Hall upgrades for $250,000, Sandy...
Hello once more from Alaska’s capitol. Well, the 90 day session Legislature came to an end shortly after midnight on Sunday. It was a mad dash the last few days, with dozens of bills being passed in both bodies after weeks of deliberation in committees. There was also a rush of creative bill drafting during the last half day that helped both bodies pass some important legislation. One of the great things about working on the budgets this year is that for every dollar spent in the Capital B...
Fundraising drive a success To the Editor: Rae C. Stedman Elementary recognizes the combined efforts of many toward the success of our fundraising drive entitled, “Reading with a Meaning.” From local businesses to community members, from parents to students, we linked efforts and stood as one to give the gift of a lifetime to the children of Wondo Genet, Ethiopia--an education. Our brightly decorated little yellow donation boxes were accepted and displayed at local businesses. Many businesses then showed their support with a generous don...
City official’s pleas for better communication and fewer reduced and dismissed cases from the District Attorneys may see some improvements in the near future. Although the City Manager and Police Chief fear it will not be enough. In a town hall meeting on Feb. 21, the City Council, Police Chief Jim Agner, and community members asked Deputy Attorney General Richard Svobodny why about 40 percent of cases filed with the District Attorney's office are dismissed and a significant number are plea-bargained or reduced. Agner expressed frustration a...
Petersburg City Manager Steve Giesbrecht said that letters are being sent out to local business operators who advertise on Facebook's “It's My Business” page, without a business license filed with the City and without filing sales tax returns. “It's just kind of a reminder letter to let people know that if you are going to run a business you need to have a business license, that doesn't cost you anything. But you do need to file your sales tax,” he told the City Council on Monday. “We've had some people do that, and some people pretty up...
Over the years the Sons of Norway Hall has served a multitude of functions in the Petersburg community. As the hall celebrates its 100th anniversary, several improvement projects are planned for the future. According to Sons of Norway member Sally Dwyer, a grant for $300,000 has been submitted to Sen. Bert Stedman for the 2012 legislative budget. The latest grant would allow for improvements to the upstairs including a covered stair chair lift for better accessibility, replacing doors,...
Carlee Wells thinks school lunch is not all fun and games, but instead is another opportunity for learning. For Wells, Petersburg School District Food Services Director, lunchtime is when students can learn where food comes from and how it's best prepared. In order to ensure she's teaching engaging lessons, Wells is applying for the state's Farm to School Grant, for a second year to help with lunch and lessons at Rae C. Stedman Elementary School. Last year's grant of $500 from the state fund,...
Last weekend Petersburg hosted their annual spring wrestling tournament with six visiting teams and over 150 wrestlers. Visiting teams included Craig, Wrangell, Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Douglas, and Kake. There were over 750 matches, and these young grapplers gained some valuable wrestling experience. Two Wrangell referees, Harry Churchill and Jeffry Davidson, worked for two long days and refused to be paid. They said it was their way of “giving back” to our Southeast wrestling family. The...
Alaska’s current petroleum tax system, Alaska’s Clear and Equitable Share (or ACES, for short), was an ill-conceived policy pushed through by then Governor Sarah Palin in 2007. When ACES was voted on in the Senate, I was one of only five Senators who voted against it. My reason was simple: I felt then and I still feel that ACES is anything but “equitable” and that under ACES the government take at high oil prices is excessive. Those who voted for ACES did so with the best of intentions and I don’t hold that vote against them. Instead,...
At the regular Petersburg School Board meeting Feb. 21, Superintendent of Schools, Robert Thomason reported that Justice, the drug dog visited the schools and stirred a lot of interest from the students, but didn't find any drugs on the premises. It was an unannounced visit. “It was a regular school day, and that's how we want it, to make sure the school is safe,” Thomason said. The board heard from high school representatives that revealed Diane Murph's poster design was chosen by the governor for the state's Choose Respect campaign. Ala...
A handful of cases of head lice have been reported at Rae C. Stedman Elementary School. The outbreak is limited to five students and has been contained, said Principal Erica Kludt-Painter. School officials were notified earlier this month by parents of a preschooler, who has a sibling at Stedman. Both the pre-schooler and the Stedman student had lice, Kludt-Painter said, adding that four more children were also found to have lice. “All of the cases so far are from the same group of kids that spend time together,” Kludt-Painter said. Head lic...
