Wrangell’s electricity runs on hydropower, but a decades-old cost savings incentive program is still in place. The borough created the electric heat rate program in 2002 to encourage customers to transition their homes from diesel to electric heat to save money on their bills. Many residents made the switch, thinking they would stay on it for the long haul.

But the Borough now wants to terminate the program July 1, 2027. This means no new customers will be able to sign up for the program, and those already on it would lose the benefit next summer. 

Customers on the program got a separate meter just for electric heat and hot water that locks in the lowest possible rate from the start instead of working down through the tiered system to get there. Those on the program pay $0.1075/kWh.

Additionally, the Borough also wants to move all residential electric customers to a flat rate, alongside its proposal to end the program. Both proposals went before the local Borough Assembly in the form of a one-time resolution to consider at a mid-April meeting.

Borough Manager Mason Villarma said most customers would save $10.65 a month or $127 each year with the flat rate, which slightly bumps up the cost for people on the electric heat rate program. The flat rate will charge customers $0.1265/kWh.

Initially the Borough would lose revenue from flat rate

He said the Borough would lose revenue from implementing the flat rate based on current consumption rate, but he’s hopeful that will change based on future industry.

“I think that a lot of these economic development measures that we’re bringing on – Alder Top lots we just sold, some new housing is going to be built – that we’re going to be able to cover the margin later on, just through organic growth,” Villarma said.

The Borough’s proposal said after five years, the electric heat rate incentive program would fade out for individual customers, and only extended it for the past two decades because the Borough did not consistently enforce it.

“The heat rate was not something that was to be phased out”

And Villarma said the incentive is less necessary for residents now since electric heat is cheaper than diesel.

But not all Wrangellites are happy with the change. Terri Henson remembers things a little bit differently when the Borough formed the program, saying the Borough mixed up two different incentives — the heat rate incentive, and the business incentive rate for new and expanding businesses. She said the Borough’s plan would phase out the business incentive rate in five years, not the heat rate program. 

Henson told the Wrangell Borough Assembly at an April 14 meeting that she worked for the Borough’s electrical department when the heat rate incentive was developed. 

She said, “The heat rate was not something that was to be phased out in the future, or at any point.” 

Henson said the program was supposed to encourage people to stop using fossil fuels. In order to do that, people had to buy and install separate components for their heating systems, like meters and wiring. 

She said, “It’s expensive to set up for that kind of stuff, and so to do away with that was not the intention.”

Henson said she took advantage of the incentive program and it’s a difference of about $100 a month.

“I want you guys to realize it’s not just $20 that you’re looking at,” she said. “Increasingly, you’re looking at a substantial amount over the year.”

The assembly decided to continue considering the proposed termination in May. 

But the assembly passed the flat rate resolution. For most residents, that means a lower electricity bill. But heavy users consuming over 2,000 kWh/month could see their monthly bill go up. The flat rate change takes effect July 1.

The post Borough assembly approves flat electric rate, tables heat incentive decision appeared first on KSTK.

Episode 92: From bird paintings to learning about eagles, Bird Fest has arrived in Wrangell. Park Ranger Claire Froelich and JR Meek with Travel Wrangell have been organizing this year’s festival for months. They talk with KSTK’s Colette Czarnecki and share the scoop on the events for the week.

Activities:

Birding Student Art Walk at the Nolan Center (up through April 26)

Bird Bingo with Parks and Rec (to April 24)

The Explorer Walking Tour with Jonas Crabtree (April 23)

Bird Fest Golf Tournament: April 25 & 26 at 9:30 am each day

Friday

Bird Banding with Gwen Baluss: 9 am – 11 am at City Park

Bird Banding at Evergreen Elementary School

Bird Fest Storytime: 10 am at Irene Ingle Public Library

Nolan Center Open House and Mingle: 5pm-6pm

Key Speaker Presentation: 6pm-7:30pm at Nolan Center

Saturday

Bird Walk with Bonnie Demerjian: 7am-9am at Muskeg Meadows Golf Course

Wrangell Community Market: 10am-1pm at Nolan Center

Critter Craft: Bird House Building: 11am-12pm outside of Nolan Center

Sunday

“Migration” movie at Nolan Center at 1pm

The post Talk on the Rock: National Forest Service’s Claire Froelich and Travel Wrangell’s JR Meek on this year’s Bird Fest appeared first on KSTK.

The commercial chum salmon troll fishery at Burnett Inlet 25 miles near Wrangell will open earlier than usual this year.  It’s opening on June 27 – usually the fishery starts in early July.

Grant Hagerman is the Region I commercial troll management biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 

He said the fishery is opening up early for trollers to give them more opportunities. That’s as long as there’s no conflict between the trollers and fishermen who are doing the cost recovery brood stock operations at Burnett. That’s where designated fishermen generate revenue for the nonprofit that runs the hatchery the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association. 

“I’m pretty sure this is the first time that they’ve said, ‘We’re gonna let trollers in there to start the season,'” Hagerman said. “I know they’ve not been in there fishing in June before, so even just a couple days in June is earlier than they’ve been in there before.”

Harvest waters are north of 56°04.65′ N latitude. Fish tickets should have “statistical area 106-25” recorded on them for harvesting.

The fishery will close by emergency order. 

SSRAA forecasts roughly 426,000 hatchery-produced summer chum this year and 11,600 fall chum salmon.

Summer chum roughly doubled from 2021 with 246,779, but fall chum decreased by half at 20,403 in that same time period. 

The post Trollers get early shot at Burnett Inlet chum this season appeared first on KSTK.

Fred Angerman Jr. of Wrangell led the Wrangell Wolves boys basketball team to a Southeast championship title in 1975.

“My dad was a much better person than he was a basketball player,” Cody Angerman said of his father, who unexpectedly passed away last year.

The Alaska School Activities Association will induct Angerman Jr. into the state’s 2026 High School Hall of Fame for his lifetime achievement in basketball and the Southeast community.

“The whole induction thing is kind of like a side quest,” Cody said. “He would find it, I think, a little bit foolish, in a way, that this is even happening.”

Cody said his father was humble and never talked about his accolades from his basketball days in high school. But Angerman served as an official for three decades for Region V basketball. Additionally, he coached youth basketball and devoted more than 40 years to the Elks Hoop Shoot – a free throw shooting competition for kids.

“My dad’s way of being with all that is like if you’re great at something, people are just going to talk about it,” he said. “You don’t need to talk about it yourself.”

And Angerman’s modesty is likely one reason he wasn’t inducted into the Hall of Fame sooner. 

The nomination process

It wasn’t until the family’s friend, Jason Clark, heard a story about someone he knew who was inducted. That got him thinking more about Angerman and the impact he had on his life, so Clark nominated him. 

“I was just a messenger,” he said. “He’s the one that put in the body of work.”

One thing Clark did was ask people who knew Angerman to submit letters of recognition supporting his induction. Some of these people were ex coaches, ex referees, ex players and coaches from other communities. He only needed about 10, but at least 30 people were more than willing to write one – letters Clark said he never even read himself.  

“That was for the Angermans,” he said. “That was for Cody, Brad, Aaron and Sumi to read.”

Angerman’s youngest son, Brad, who lives in Las Vegas, says it was humbling to read the letters.

“These guys who I looked up to, talking about my dad as their hero,” he said. “It was emotional, and I think it was also just heartwarming.”

He said his father’s friends were the ones who talked Angerman up about how great of a player he was while Angerman just sat there, with a smirk on his face.

“It wasn’t just about what he did, it was how he did it,” Brad said. “The way he played basketball was simply for the love of the sport, he treated his teammates, his coaches, even his opponents, with respect.”

That spirit carried into everyday life too. 

Angerman left a big basketball-shaped hole in Wrangell

Angerman’s oldest son, Aaron, said his father also played a significant role working his way up as the director of the high school facilities for 32 years. 

He said, “He was the guy that kept the gym open and made sure that he’d be out(side) in between games with his reffing shirt on and snow boots, shoveling snow so that people can come to the game and not slip and fall.” 

He said his father left a big basketball-shaped hole in all of their lives and Wrangell is a better place because he was in it.

Angerman’s impact was about connection and care for the community

Angerman’s family said the induction has brought them closer together amid their grief. 

His wife, Sumi Angerman, said in a text message, “For me, this recognition of Fred being inducted is both an honor and a reminder of who he was.”

And she’s grateful for Jason Clark submitting Angerman’s nomination. She said it shows that his impact on his community was more than basketball — it was about connection and care that will not be forgotten.

The Alaska High School Hall of Fame induction will be held at the Special Olympics Alaska building in Anchorage on April 26 at 2 p.m.

The post Wrangell’s Fred Angerman Inducted into Alaska High School Hall of Fame Posthumously appeared first on KSTK.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Location: Borough Assembly Chambers
5:30 PM

PRESENTATION (5:30 – 7:00 PM)
a. Presentation – by “Structure”

Part one

Part two

Borough assembly meeting

Part one

Part two

1. CALL TO ORDER
   a. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Assembly Member DeBord
   b. ROLL CALL
2. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
   a. PROCLAMATION: Municipal Clerk’s Week
3. PERSONS TO BE HEARD
4. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA
5. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
6. CONSENT AGENDA
   MOTION ONLY: Move to Approve the Consent Agenda, as submitted.
   a. Minutes from the March 24, 2026 Regular Assembly Meeting
   b. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2035 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, AMENDING THE FY 2026 BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 BY ACCEPTING A NATIVE AMERICAN LIBRARY SERVICES BASIC GRANT (2025), IN
   PARTNERSHIP WITH WRANGELL COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, FOR THE IRENE INGLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
   c. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2036 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, AMENDING THE FY 2026 BUDGET BY ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 FROM THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION LIBRARIES
   TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES: ACCESSIBLE SMALL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES FOR THE IRENE INGLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
   d. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2037 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, AMENDING THE FY 2026 BUDGET BY ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000 FROM THE ALASKA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 2026
   CAMP INITIATIVE, FOR THE IRENE INGLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
   e. Final Plat approval of a Subdivision of Lot 6 and Lot 7 of USS 3534; Lot 10 and Lot PSS of USS 2589; and USS 3000 according to Plat No. 29-20, creating Parcels A and B of the CBW Deep Water Port Subdivision, zoned Waterfront Development, owned by the City
   and Borough of Wrangell and requested in partnership with Tideline Construction
7. f. Final Plat approval of a subdivision of Lot 5A, Block 61 (APN 02-028-204) of the Industrial Park Subdivision, according to Plat No. 2001-7, creating Lots 5A-1 and 5A-2 of the Woodbury Subdivision, zoned Industrial, owned and requested by Brett Woodbury
8. BOROUGH MANAGER’S REPORT
   a. Borough Manager’s Report
   b. Nolan Center Director’s Report
   c. Library Director’s Report
   d. FY26 Quarter 3 Report and Receivables
   e. FY2025 Audit Plan for Review
9. BOROUGH CLERK’S REPORT
   a. Borough Clerk’s Report
10. MAYOR AND ASSEMBLY BUSINESS
11. MAYOR AND ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTS – None.
12. PUBLIC HEARING
    a. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2032 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, APPROVING THE FY 2027 SALES TAX-FREE DAYS
    b. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2033 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, APPROVING THE AMENDED BOROUGH-WIDE FEE AND RATES SCHEDULE AS PER WMC 5.14.025
    c. ORDINANCE No. 1099 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, REPEALING CHAPTER 6.08 – PEDDLERS AND ITINERANT MERCHANTS, IN THE WRANGELL MUNICIPAL CODE
13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
    a. RESOLUTION NO. 04-26-2042 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF PUBLIC LAND and TIDELANDS, FOR PARCEL “A” OF THE CBW DEEPWATER PORT SUBDIVISION CONTAINING 9.11 ACRES MORE OR LESS WITHIN THE WRANGELL RECORDING DISTRICT TO TIDELINE CONSTRUCTION, LLC
14. NEW BUSINESS
    a. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Borough of Wrangell and Structure, Inc.
    b. ORDINANCE No. 1101 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, AMENDING SEVERAL SECTIONS IN CHAPTER 5.08 – SALES TAX, IN THE WRANGELL MUNICIPAL CODE
15. c. ORDINANCE No. 1100 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, ADDING CHAPTER 6.09 – LOCAL BUSINESS LICENSE, IN THE WRANGELL MUNICIPAL CODE
16. d. Approval of a Contract Award to IP Mechanical Contractors, LLC for the Stikine Middle School Boiler Replacement Project
17. e. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2041 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA AMENDING THE FY 2026 BUDGET BY TRANSFERING $25,000 FROM THE MILL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT FUND TO THE DEEP-WATER PORT SITE PLANNING PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES
18. f. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2034 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, APPROVING A 2% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA) INCREASE TO THE NON-UNION EMPLOYEE WAGE AND GRADE TABLE
19. g. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2038 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, APPROVING AN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN WRANGELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL
20. h. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2039 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, AMENDING THE FY2026 BUDGET IN THE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION FUND BY ACCEPTING THE REVENUE FROM THE SALE OF THE ALDER TOP SUBDIVISION LOT 8, BLOCK 1 OF THE ALDER TOP SUBDIVISION IN THE AMOUNT OF $87,100
21. i. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2040 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, TO ADD SUBSECTION 5.7.12 PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
22. j. Approval of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) between the City and Borough of Wrangell and Milk Run Music Festival Corp for the organization and operation of the 2026 Milk Run Music Festival.
23. k. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2043 OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MARITIME ADMINISTRATION’S FY 2026 SMALL SHIPYARD GRANT PROGRAM, AND COMMITTING
24. MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE PORTS AND HARBOR ENTERPRISE FUND UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE
25. l. RESOLUTION No. 04-26-2044 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ALASKA, AMENDING THE TEMPORARY CRUISE SHIP FACILITY SECURITY OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
26. ATTORNEY’S FILE – Available for Assembly review in the Borough Clerk’s office
27. EXECUTIVE SESSION – None.
28. ADJOURNMENT

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Episode 91: The U.S. Forest Service is in the process of revising the Tongass National Forest Plan. Wrangell District Ranger Tory Houser talked with KSTK’s Colette Czarnecki about the ins and outs of what revising the plan means and how important community input is. Houser said the fully revised plan should be complete in 2027. The federal agency will hold a community workshop April 21 at the Nolan Center from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The post Talk on the Rock: Wrangell District Ranger Tory Houser on the Tongass National Forest Plan Revision appeared first on KSTK.

Wrangell’s City and Borough assembly expects to approve the transfer of 9.12-acres to Tideline Construction, LLC. on Tuesday night. 

The parcel is on public lands and tidelands at the deep water port site six miles out of town at the Old Mill property. Tideline Construction plans to expand its fabrication and recycling operations already on the site, where they will continue processing scrap metal.

The property is adjacent to other projects in the area that will include a shipyard and the location of the new freight barge ramp. 

Wrangell administration says in a summary statement that this project builds on facilitating industrial development and economic growth on the property.

Fee and rates change

Additionally, at Tuesday night’s meeting, a public hearing will take place regarding the borough-wide fee and rates schedule in the Wrangell Municipal Code. Changes in rates are for electricity, Ports and Harbors, sanitation and the Nolan Center. In terms of residential electric rates, they would transition from a declining block structure to a flat rate. 

The agenda states that the majority of residents would experience a decrease in rates. Those who consume the average amount of residential power – 900 kilowatt hours per month – could save approximately $10 monthly. Administration says if the assembly approves this, Wrangell would have the lowest residential electric rates in Southeast Alaska.

Additionally, the assembly will vote on implementing a 2.5% inflationary adjustment to moorage and port rates. This would include potable water service provided to cruise ships, outside dockage and port development fees. 

The assembly will also vote on increasing lightering fees of cruise ships from $5 to $7 and passenger wharfage rates from $7 to $9 in the 2027-28 season.

The Wrangell Borough Assembly will hold its regular meeting on April 14 at 7 p.m. in the Borough Assembly Chambers at Wrangell City Hall. 

There will be a presentation beforehand at 5:30 pm from an Alaska-based business called Structure. They’re working with the borough to advance and modernize Wrangell’s utility systems, like the power infrastructure, water and wastewater.

You can listen to the live broadcast of the Wrangell Borough Assembly meeting on KSTK-FM 101.7, or stream online at KSTK.org or on the city’s website.

The post Wrangell assembly preview: Tideland Construction land, fee and rates adjustment appeared first on KSTK.

Kim Szczatko woke up in the middle of the night and rushed to her gift shop, Cooper’s Corner, in downtown Wrangell Wednesday night. About an inch of water and mud had flooded the space from back to front.

“It came from the utility room in the bathroom, because the water was coming up and rushing over the top,” she said. “So it came from there, flooded the entire storeroom area, and then came out into the storefront and then out the front door.”

A water main in Cow Alley — right behind her shop on Front Street — had broken around midnight. Public Works Director Tom Wetor said it’s one of the deteriorating asbestos water mains that make up 9% of the borough’s water system.

“It was a three to four foot section that had blown out of it,” he said. “That’s why things were flowing the way that they were there.”

Wetor said his team shut off the water immediately after being notified and returned at daylight to make repairs. By afternoon, the crew had replaced the broken asbestos section with ductile iron pipe.

Not one, not two, but three water issues

But the water main wasn’t the only issue Public Works faced that day. 

A service connection also broke just south of the Public Safety Building on Zimovia Highway. Additionally, a resident reported what appeared to be a third incident — a settled storm drain in a downtown parking lot near City Hall. Public Works dug it up and fixed it the following day.

“When it rains, it pours, to have three reports of a water main break or something like that, basically all on the same day,” Wetor said. “We were running around yesterday, just doing our best to keep up.”

Back at Cooper’s Corner, Szczatko was still assessing the damage. She’s waiting to see whether the water and mud harmed any of her wooden furniture before deciding whether to file an insurance claim.

“If you claim the insurance, then your insurance goes up,” she said. “So if it’s not a significant number, you don’t want to do that.”

She said incidents like this come with the territory of old infrastructure, but puts it in perspective compared to natural disasters, like hurricanes.

“I’m optimistic and resilient,” Szczatko said.

Public Works Director Tom Wetor said some residents have reported brown water coming from their taps. He advises running the water until it clears, and contacting Public Works if the problem persists.

The post Aging asbestos pipe bursts in downtown Wrangell, sends mud in downtown gift shop appeared first on KSTK.

Wrangell police charged a Wrangell teacher and high school wrestling coach with assault in the fourth degree, which is a misdemeanor, on March 25, for allegedly injuring someone at a bar.

Police said the incident occurred at Rayme’s Bar on March 15. They said Carney approached the alleged victim, who was talking with Carney’s wife, and pushed him, causing him to hit the wall several feet back and fall down on the floor. The victim later received medical care for a sprained wrist.

Police said a surveillance camera filmed the incident. They also interviewed witnesses. 

Carney, a U.S. history teacher at Wrangell High School and Middle School, also serves as head wrestling coach. Additionally, he recieved the Division II High School Wrestling Coach of the Year in December.

He pled not guilty during his arraignment on April 7 in the Sitka Courthouse. 

Judge Pamela Stahla-Kernin prohibited Carney from returning to the bar and from discussing the matter with the witnesses. She also ordered him to not have any contact with the alleged victim.

His attorney, Dunnington Babb, wrote to KSTK through an email that “Mr. Carney is to be presumed innocent and has requested a jury trial.”  

KSTK reached out to Carney and he didn’t want to comment about the case. 

A trial is scheduled for the week of July 13. 

The post Wrangell instructor charged with assault appeared first on KSTK.

Episode 90: Wrangell’s Police Chief Gene Meek chats with KSTK’s news director Colette Czarnecki on all kinds of fraud, the police department’s staff and the current public safety issues they’re focusing on. Meek says with fraud, it’s always important to take a step back and not act on impulse.

The post Talk on the Rock: Wrangell Police Chief on fraud and law enforcement in a small town appeared first on KSTK.