Alaska Timber and Truss is expanding its operation at Falls Creek with a 71-acre land purchase from the Mental Health Land Trust. Brett Martin, who owns the mill with partner Mike Duman, said the acquisition will provide crucial space for sorting logs and expanding milling operations as demand increases for locally sourced lumber across the state. "We really needed somehow to be able to expand our mill operation," Martin told the Pilot last week. "When we purchased the mill, the sort yard...
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After a six year hiatus, Petersburg's wearable art tradition returns this February as a fundraiser for KFSK community radio. The two-night event, scheduled for Feb. 6-7 at Sons of Norway Hall, aims to transform the venue into an immersive, glow-in-the-dark experience under the theme "Weird Core". "I want you to step out of Petersburg for a night," said Bennett McGrath, the event's organizer and a KFSK board member. "It's a night to transform, a night to not be yourself." McGrath's inspiration...
Wrangell borough assembly took a step toward attracting private investment in building and operating a shipyard at the 6-Mile mill property, which the borough purchased for $2.5 million more than three years ago. During its Dec. 16 meeting, the assembly voted to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Seattle-based JAG Marine Group. The agreement sets the stage for a long-term public-private partnership at the 6-Mile property, which Wrangell officials want to develop as a deepwater port. If JAG, which runs shipyards in Ketchikan and...
While the 23-year-old, 360-foot-long American Empress cruise ship is being stripped of its superstructure for conversion into a deck barge, the borough is looking at buying four diesel generators to use as a backup power source for industrial development plans at the former 6-Mile mill site. The dismantling and conversion work started last month at the Tideline Construction operation at 6-Mile, where the company runs a scrap metal recycling business and is taking apart the Empress for the ship’s owner, American Cruise Lines. The four...
Southeast Alaska’s golden king crab fishery is scheduled to open February 17 at 10 a.m., with registration opening January 20 and tags available December 22, Alaska Department of Fish & Game announced earlier this month at the King and Tanner Task Force meeting. The 2026 season will include several management changes based on last season’s performance, including closure of one area, an increase in another, and the division of the Northern management area into two separate zones. The adjustments come on the heels of a record-breaking 2025...
For two of the three Vikings that qualified for state (Tanner Caulum and Edgar Olsen), this was their first time competing in the ASAA State Championships this past weekend in Anchorage. Regardless of how the season ended, this was a good experience for the guys to get under their wrestling belts. "I tried to calm myself down. Breathing helped a lot. It was my first time and I just told myself nobody really expects anyone to do good except for Carney because he's defending that state...
The Petersburg High School Boys Basketball team tipped off the start of their season on the road against the Craig Panthers. Similar to 2024, the Vikings first games on the road were against the Craig Panthers. But unlike last year when Craig handily beat the Vikings in back-to-back games, this time the results were opposite. The Vikings won game one 63-22, with seven different players scoring five points or more – showing the kind of depth this year's squad has. The Vikings scored 37 points...
It’s the season of warm wishes, goodwill, families and friends. It’s a time for gifts, sharing old memories and making new memories with the new year. It’s a break in everyday life to remember the past and think about the future. Too bad Alaskans need to be thinking about how the state will come up with enough money next year to fully fund schools, highway projects, the ferry system, public services, repairs to aging facilities — and a politically acceptable Permanent Fund dividend that will help pay for residents’ holiday presents...
Ole Nels Nordgren was born on September 27, 1941, in Petersburg, Alaska, to Kurt and Clara Nordgren. In his early years, Ole spent time fishing alongside his father aboard the Lois W and the Ira-II, experiences that shaped his lifelong love for the water and the outdoors. Ole proudly served in the United States Air Force as an Airman First Class from 1961 to 1965 and was stationed in Amarillo, Texas. It was there that he met and fell in love with Kandi Campbell. They were married in 1964 and... Full story
December 17 - An officer assisted a citizen with an out-of-service-area concern. They were referred to the Alaska State Troopers (AST). An officer issued a warning for headlight requirements at South Harbor. December 18 - It was reported that a vehicle was parked in an unauthorized spot on S Nordic Drive. It was reported that a vehicle needed to be moved from Middle Harbor. Officers responded to a report of suspicious behavior on S Nordic Drive. It was unfounded. Brianna Compton, 30, was remanded for Violation of Conditions of Release. A...
