It was an award-winning couple of months for Wrangell and its public employees.
It started at the end of September, at the annual gathering of the Southeast Conference, a 68-year-old organization that promotes economic development across the region. The conference honored Wrangell as its Community of the Year.
Wrangell was selected “due to the exemplary efforts to partner and execute” its opportunities for economic development, the conference statement said.
The award made note of Wrangell’s ongoing efforts to turn the former sawmill property at 6-Mile Zimovia Highway into a deepwater industrial port, including possibly a privately operated shipyard to go after federal government contracts.
On Oct. 21, Andrew Scambler was honored as Water Treatment Operator of the Year by the Alaska Rural Water Association at its annual conference in Anchorage.
Scambler is the lead operator at Wrangell’s water treatment plant. He was honored for his technical expertise, leadership and dedication.
“He played a key role in moving the borough’s water treatment from the old and slow sand filtration system to the new dissolved air flotation facility (in 2025), a complex transition that required major technical and operational changes and close coordination,” Borough Manager Mason Villarma said.
On Oct. 22, the Wrangell Port and Harbors Department was presented with the Alaska Clean Harbors Silver Tier Award at the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators conference in Valdez.
“That’s for operating clean harbors and taking on best practices, whether it be sewage pump-out stations or how you deal with derelict vessels or having places for oil collection along the harbor system,” Villarma told the borough assembly.
“This recognition reflects the work our harbor staff does throughout the year to maintain our facilities and provide a clean, safe working waterfront,” said Harbormaster Steve Miller.
