Sorted by date Results 4677 - 4701 of 5678
While one Main Street business closed its doors this month, two other businesses celebrated a small-business merger of sorts just down the road. Main Street shoppers said goodbye to Brenda Norheim's Wild Celery framing studio and gallery on Sept. 6. One week later and just down the road, shoppers celebrated the re-opening of Skate of Gear in Sea Monster Video's former storefront. In addition to the existing merchandise, Skate of Gear now offers new release films for rent as the owners Lisa...
The Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) will be $1,884 this year, more than double last year's amount. According to a press release issued by Gov. Sean Parnell, 510,721 Alaskan's will have the funds deposited directly into their bank accounts and another 88,186 will receive the funds via a paper check. Both will be distributed Oct. 2. In total $1.1 billion will be paid to Alaskans this year, reflecting a fund balance that has increased some 71 percent since 2009, the year of the Great Recession. That increase represents a recovery from the losses...
By the time the fog finally dissipated Tuesday afternoon, the 56th annual Southeast Conference (SEC) was already underway at Wrangell's Nolan Center. Poor visibility prevented the appearance of the conference's opening speaker, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell, but a number of other interesting presenters took up the slack. This year's speakers included industry figures, tribal leaders, government officials, resident experts, salespeople and civic organizers. Issue for issue they addressed shared regional concerns and possible solutions. At that...
In their first regular board meeting since the school year kicked off, Petersburg school board members on Tuesday discussed new state-required college assessment testing, changes to the advanced placement (AP) grading scale at the high school, and this year's increased student enrollment. New this year, all juniors at Petersburg High School will be required and funded by the state to take a college or career readiness assessment. The state endorses the ACT, SAT and WorkKeys assessment. Principal Rick Dormer said that the implementation of the...
The Petersburg Borough municipal election will be held Oct. 7. Voters will decide who should fill the positions of 37 board and commission slots, as well as weigh in on seven ballot measures. In the coming weeks, the Pilot will publish candidate profiles with information about candidates and their responses about why they're running. This week we profile school board candidates Sarah P. Holmgain, Megan Litster and Jay Lister who are running to fill the board's three open seats and hospital...
At their regular board meeting last week in Ketchikan, Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) approved rebates to member utilities, discussed the progress of the Swan Lake expansion project and approved the Whitman Lake True Up Agreement. “We did approve a rebate to the member utilities based on last year’s financial performance,” said Joe Nelson, Petersburg Municipal Power and Light (PMPL) superintendent. SEAPA Secretary and Treasurer Andy Donato said SEAPA saw record revenues last year, with 183 million kilowatt hours produced for its membe... Full story
The Petersburg Humane Association (PHA) is doing a big push to raise funds for its first stand-alone animal shelter. The organization was established 15 years ago in Petersburg to shelter stray cats and dogs and find permanent homes for them. They also provide scholarships to help offset the cost of spaying and neutering and work to educate the public on issues related to companion animals. To date the PHA and its volunteers have been sheltering homeless cats (and more rarely dogs) in makeshift... Full story
The Hammer and Wikan grocery store is undergoing a remodel that will open up the front of the store and add more organic produce and natural and Asian food products. General Manager Larry Martin said that the remodel is a continuation of work they did last year at the store. "This is basically an extension of last year when we came in and replaced all the refrigeration in the store," Martin said. "What we're doing now is finishing the center store (dry goods). We're also adding another 12-foot... Full story
A case of head lice was reported at the elementary school last week. “It is likely that this is an isolated incident,” Elementary School Principal Erica Kludt Painter said in a districtwide email. Kludt Painter asked parents to do their part to prevent the spread of lice by checking their children daily for the next few weeks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) head lice, “are found almost exclusively on the scalp, particularly around and behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the head.” The CDC adv...
Police will pursue three assault charges against a 16-year-old Petersburg juvenile following an investigation of a reported altercation between the juvenile and an 18-year-old Petersburg resident Tuesday evening. “The victim reported being struck several times with a handgun and further that the suspect fired 1-3 rounds in his direction during the altercation,” according to a press release issued by Police Chief Kelly Swihart. “The victim sustained injuries that were consistent with his statement. Witnesses also confirmed the victim’s account...
Rain Game Classic just kicked off. The Petersburg Chamber of Commerce 50/50 contest lets residents guess how much precipitation will fall this year. The past rainfall amounts have been 110.19 in 2013, 108.82 in 2012 and 125.52 in 2011. An average over the past six years has been 110.82. The way the contest works is participants buy as many tickets as they would like for $2 each and guess the amount of total rainfall. If there are multiple correct answers, the payout goes to the first ticket purchased. The winner, with the closest guess,...
In the August 14 issue of the Pilot it was erroneously stated that For the next 10 to 15 years, the newly formed Tongass National Forest Advisory Committee (TAC), under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, will advise the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS) timber sale management program in the transition from old-growth to new-growth timber management. In fact, the committee will advise the timber sale management program for the next two years and the transition itself will take 10-15 years....
Petersburg and Wrangell's representative of the Thomas Bay Power Commission (TBPC) met Tuesday morning via teleconference to discuss the commission's future role. The TPBC is the acting body for the Thomas Bay Power Authority (TBPA) that was responsible for the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Tyee Hydroelectric Plant, providing power to Wrangell and Petersburg. Last May the Petersburg Assembly voted not to fund its share of a portion of the TBPA's budget, called the non-net billable, after discussions about whether or not the agency...
The proposed Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) schedule for the summer 2015 season is now available for public review and comments. The schedule can be viewed online at www.dot.state.ak.us/ amhs/share/schedule/considerations.pdf. Comments on the proposed scheduled are due by Sept. 23 and may be submitted via email dot.amhs.comments@alaska.gov and by fax at 907-586-8365. Those interested may also participate in a teleconference where AMHS will hear comments and consider adjustments. The teleconference is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. and...
Mark Weaver, 59, was indicted by a Grand Jury in U.S. District Court on two counts of Possession of Unregistered Destructive Devices in conjunction with an explosion at the Petersburg rock quarry July 13. He was arrested Aug. 27 in Tacoma, Wash. According to court documents, “Weaver did knowingly possess a destructive device which was not registered to him.” The document also states that Weaver possessed seven hand grenades, which were also unregistered. The prosecutor Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Bottini said, “The first device (in count... Full story
Seventeen runners, including two teams of two, and four walkers participated in Petersburg's first ever Rainforest Run half marathon on Labor Day. The sounding of a conch shell marked the start of the race as runners took off along the 13.1-mile course that wound through the eastern end of the island and ended at Sandy Beach Park. Runners followed tiled mile markers custom-made by Emil Tucker and Carin Christensen and received encouragement, along with water, from volunteers and supporters at ai... Full story
Lee's Clothing has had a main street presence for decades. In fact, owner Roxy Lee and her daughters and store managers Cynthia Lee Mathisen and Heidi Lee are celebrating 45 years of business this month. In the early days Lee's was a working man's store. Roxy outfitted loggers and fishermen and the high-school-aged boys in town. Lee's has since grown into a main street staple outfitting for fashion and function. The story of the store and the Lee's family who run it parallels the story of the... Full story
The Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) hospital board meeting last week covered many topics, several of which revolved around financials as the center received their annual audit and a financial report indicating a break-even year for the fiscal year ending June 30. One new cost also came to the fore as Maintenance Director Mike Boggs reported the fuel oil boiler—one of two boilers used to heat the facility— has a leak and needs to be retubed. However, due to the cost to repair and maintain the old boiler, an estimated $37,900, and fuel costs to...
In the last edition of the Petersburg Pilot in a story about the Drive Down dock, it was stated that there was $1.9 million in surplus state grants funds left that the Harbor Advisory board requested to be used for 120 feet of bulkhead on the Drive Down dock. That figure was actually approximately $1.4 million with a recent utility change order. It was also stated that the facility is being funded through three legislative grants totaling more than $18 million. In fact the grants awarded in 2009, 2010 and 2013 totaled about $10.8 million. The...
Southeast Alaska's high school volleyball teams took to the court last weekend for the season opener at Ketchikan's Region V Jamboree. This year Petersburg has an especially large squad: 31 girls, including 11 freshmen. This has led to the creation of a second junior varsity team for some of the younger girls just getting into the mix. Talented and young is a good way to describe the PHS teams. “We've got no seniors on varsity, but we've got a lot of returners with varsity experience from last year and a couple of freshmen that surprised us a...
Representatives of Southeast Alaskan tribal groups will be meeting in Juneau next week to discuss regional concerns at the annual Southeast Environmental Conference in the city’s Vocational Training and Resource Center. Beginning Monday, the five-day event is being hosted by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, in partnership with the Chilkat Indian Village, Craig Tribal Association, Douglas Indian Association, Organized Village of Kasaan, Petersburg Indian Association and Sitka Tribe of Alaska. The purpose o...
Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) board members unanimously approved a resolution supporting the establishment of a Level IV trauma center. Members of the Trauma Committee at PMC will now pursue the designation given by the Alaska Division of Public Health in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ASCOT). Trauma designations range from Level I, which has the greatest number of requirements, to Level IV, which has the least. Level IV centers are typically granted to rural facilities that evaluate and assess...
The 7th annual Rainforest Festival kicks off next week. There are many highlights this year including a portable planetarium for viewing a projection of the night sky indoors and the first ever Rain Forest Run half marathon. The Rain Forest Run half marathon, a 13.1 mile run or walk, will be the first event of the festival. The run will be held on Labor Day, Sept.1, on a course beginning at central Mitkof Island and ending at Sandy Beach Park. "The event was organized by local runners eager for... Full story
The Drive Down dock project is on schedule and workers are driving piling and assembling steel components this month. The three-phase project is well into the second phase now, which includes building a pile-supported open grate approach dock, a heavy duty vehicle transfer bridge and a drive down float at the facility located near Community Cold Storage just south of the South Harbor. Those in town may have heard the sounds of the pile driving work in recent weeks, but work on the facility's... Full story
There are new salmon eggs in the incubators of Crystal Lake hatchery, although the facility is undergoing reconstruction. The hatchery, which is located at the 17.5 mile marker of Mitkof Highway, suffered a devastating fire in March with the loss of 1.2 - 1.3 million eggs, valued at around $1 million. Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association manages the hatchery, and on Tuesday returned eggs to the incubator here. The eggs came in from the Whitman Lake facility also run by SSRA. “Construction is ongoing, we're happy with that,” sai...
