Wrangell Sentinel

Former Sitka legislator Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins appears headed to victory as Alaska’s first Democratic governor in 24 years with a commanding lead in the vote count as of 2:19 a.m. this morning. He had a commanding 49.01% of the vote to second-place finisher Republican Bernadette Wilson’s 29.12% in Tuesday’s election, followed by Republican Dave Bronson at 14.14% and Republican Treg Taylor at 7.43%. It takes 50% plus one to win an election in Alaska, and JKT will have to wait on the tens of thousands of absentee and early votes still to count and seven rural precincts that had not reported as of early this morning. In the nationally significant race for U.S. Senate in Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola held a 626-vote lead as of early Wednesday morning, with 102,701 votes, 48.02%, over incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan’s 102,075, 47.73%. Read the full story online now at wrangellsentinel.com.

The monthlong hunting season for the Wrangell and Petersburg area closed Oct. 15 with another record number of moose taken in Game Management Units 3 and 1B. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in Petersburg recorded 162 moose taken, topping last year’s historic harvest by 15. Wrangell resident Michael Ottesen Jr. got his first moose while hunting up the Stikine River this year. “I started moose hunting about five years ago with my uncle up at his camp, and basically just been up there every season, trying and trying and trying,” Ottesen said. “And this year it finally happened.” The full story is in Wednesday's Sentinel, available at City Market, IGA, TK's, the Stikine Inn and Cooper's Corner, and online at wrangellsentinel.com.

It was a strong two days for Wrangell High School wrestlers at the Mountain City Classic last weekend in Anchorage, with the Wolves taking first among small schools and third overall at the tournament. Wrangell was a thin 3½ points behind the first-place team, said coach Jack Carney. “We’re well within range of our bid for another state title,” he said. The boys team won the state title last year. “We’ve got a lot of work to do as far as conditioning and technicals, but I’m excited for what the rest of the season brings." Read the full story in Wednesday's Sentinel, available at IGA, City Market, the Stikine Inn, TK's and Cooper's Corner, and online Wednesday at wrangellsentinel.com.

The borough assembly voted unanimously Oct. 27 to shelve the proposal of providing a three-month sales tax waiver for residents who heat their homes with diesel fuel. Borough Manager Mason Villarma said his recommendation to abandon the proposal was driven by conversations with assembly members and residents who highlighted concerns over discounting fuel oil heat over other energy sources. “A lot of folks had switched over to heat pumps or electrical boilers back in the day,” Villarma said in an interview on Oct. 28. “For the city to offer an incentive for those folks that are on diesel or heating oil was kind of counterintuitive and counterproductive to our overall goal of trying to get more folks to use electric heat.” Read the story in Wednesday's Sentinel. Call 907-874-2301 to order a subscription and never miss a week's news.

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Crews working on the roof replacement at Evergreen Elementary School are scheduled to continue operations through the winter under heavy-duty protective tents, with completion expected shortly after the first of the year. The activity at Evergreen represents the first phase of a comprehensive, multi-facility renovation project that will address roofing and siding needs across the three schools as well as the community swimming pool. The full story is in Wednesday's Sentinel, which will be online at wrangellsentinel.com and available at City Market, IGA, TK's, the Stikine and Cooper's Corner.

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The state ferry Columbia is holding in Ketchikan for repairs and will miss this week’s run through Southeast because of a mechanical problem with the port main engine, according to an announcement from the Alaska Marine Highway System. “An engine tech is scheduled to arrive in Ketchikan on Wednesday evening (Nov. 4), and repairs are scheduled to begin Thursday morning. We hope to resume northbound service Sunday, Nov. 8,” an Alaska Department of Transportation spokesman said Monday. That would put the ship back on schedule for its northbound stop in Wrangell on Sunday, Nov. 8. The story is online now at wrangellsentinel.com.

New equipment is on the way to be installed at the Kyle Angerman Playground next spring. At a special meeting on Oct. 19, the borough assembly approved just over $95,600 for the purchase of playground equipment and fencing to upgrade the play area at Angerman Park. The new playground will include a large structure with slides and monkey bars rated for ages 5 to 12 years old and a swing set with two regular swings — an infant swing and an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant swing. The story will be in Wednesday's Sentinel, available at City Market, IGA, the Stikine, TK's and Cooper's Corner, or online at wrangellsentinel.com

The Elks Club is expanding its food offerings this fall, making its dining room more available after a fire destroyed the Marine Bar and Hungry Beaver Restaurant. Dawn Angerman, exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge, said the fraternal nonprofit is working to expand its menu with items like fish and chips, a four-piece chicken meal with french fries, and mozzarella sticks. The club went to seven-day-a-week operations starting Oct. 18, an increase from its previous limited days of Friday burger nights and Saturday steak nights and occasional special-event nights. The club is also adding Sunday lunches, opening at noon so patrons can eat lunch, bowl and watch televised football games. The full story is in Wednesday's Sentinel, available at IGA, City Market, TK's, the Stikine and Cooper's Corner, or call 907-874-2301 to order a subscription and never miss a week's news.

The Wrangell High School wrestling team captured the Division II team title at the Southeast Showdown in Juneau on Friday and Saturday, behind three individual champions and a dominant weekend on the mat. The Wolves placed second in the boys overall standings of Division I and II schools, also coming in second in the girls overall standings of larger and smaller schools. As a squad, Wrangell compiled a 39-18 match record and recorded 28 pins across the two-day event held. Tournament coaches voted Wrangell’s Jackson Carney and Kourtney Barnes as the event’s outstanding wrestlers. The full story is online now at wrangellsentinel.com

An Alaska Airlines plane is expected to depart Wrangell on Wednesday after spending several days in town for replacement of a failed engine. The right-hand engine — the starboard side, for mariners — failed as northbound Flight 65 was just starting its takeoff roll last Friday. There were no injuries, and the plane returned to the terminal. A replacement engine was flown into Wrangell on Sunday, Tim Thompson, the airline’s director of public relations, reported in an email Monday morning. “The repairs are underway and expected to be completed by Wednesday.” The story is online now at wrangellsentinel.com