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.

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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. 

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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.

The City and Borough of Wrangell and the City of Ketchikan have adopted a joint resolution to establish a Maritime Prosperity Zone. They’re looking to build upon their strengths – from shipbuilding to port infrastructure to maritime logistics. Each community has deepwater access, has developed expanded maritime industrial infrastructure and uses low-cost renewable hydroelectric power.

Wrangell’s borough manager Mason Villarma said they’re responding to an executive order issued by President Trump in 2025 to “restore America’s maritime dominance.” 

“We realized that there’s strength in a partnership with Ketchikan to get the home ports, to get the maintenance facilities together,” Villarma said. “So we’ve deemed ourselves collectively as the Southeast Alaska Maritime Industrial Corridor, and so we’re seeking designation for our two communities. There’s only 100 communities in the United States that will get this declaration.”

According to Trump’s Maritime Action Plan, those hundred selected communities will have that designation for 10 years. 

According to the President’s executive order, maritime workforce and shipbuilding capacity has “been weakened by decades of Government neglect, leading to a decline in a once strong industrial base.” It goes on to say that “the United States constructs less than one percent of commercial ships globally” while China produces “approximately half.”

The executive order’s goal is to allow the selected communities to apply for federal funding and improve workforce development. 

Villarma said federal subsidies and technical support will help the communities that participate in the program. He said the new maritime prosperity zone would help expand domestic capacity and national security. 

“As our national security fleet continues to grow at the Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, there’s opportunities for Alaska to create jobs and do that work here,” Villarma said. “So most of that work, you know, 60% of it, goes to Washington, California, and now they can’t even get into yards. So it’s a really great opportunity.”

JAG Marine Group, for example, has a large-scale shipbuilding and repair yard in Ketchikan and wants to expand in Wrangell. Villarma said the federal designation would help this effort.

Ketchikan City Councilmember Jack Finnegan said if the maritime zone is selected, it could help catalyze private investment in the region’s maritime industry. He said it could also help grow Ketchikan’s population. 

“Anytime we have the opportunity to strengthen an industry that’s so critical to our community, I think it just bolsters the workforce,” Finnegan said. “It feasibly draws more workers here. It draws more families here.”

And that’s important to both Ketchikan and Wrangell. The latest economic data show that young people leaving Southeast is impacting the workforce. 

A resolution to support the Maritime Prosperity Zone will go before the Ketchikan Borough Assembly on Monday. Borough Mayor Austin Otos expects the assembly to approve it. 

The post Ketchikan, Wrangell join forces to revitalize Southeast’s maritime industry. appeared first on KSTK.

Fishermen in Southeast Alaska will be able to harvest about 70,000 more king salmon this season than last year. The state Department of Fish and Game announced the harvest goal for all gear groups on March 31.

“It’s not, you know, a great catch limit, but it’s a decent catch limit,” said fish biologist Dani Evenson, with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. “Even though it’s sort of an average catch limit, it came as welcome news, because last year was the lowest ever.” 

How many king salmon Southeast Alaskans can catch each year is determined by the Pacific Salmon Commission. The group oversees a treaty between the U.S. and Canada that ensures both countries can harvest the fish.

Alaska’s take this year is 207,400 king salmon, also called Chinook. That amount is in line with recent years. . .except last year. Last year’s regional harvest goals plummeted because of lower salmon forecasts in other regions.

Chinook are highly migratory, traveling thousands of miles in their years-long journey to return to their spawning grounds.

“Some originating as far away as the Oregon coast, the Columbia River, the Washington coast and British Columbia,” said Evenson. “They all swim up into our waters, into the Gulf of Alaska to take advantage of the nutrient-rich waters to feed and grow.”

Evenson coordinates the salmon treaty for Fish and Game. She said that because of the king salmon’s migrations, there are many stakeholders.

“Southeast Alaska Chinook is one of the most complex, if not the most complex, fishery management structures in the state of Alaska,” Evenson said. “These fisheries are managed in accordance with a large suite of international, national and domestic policies and regulations.”

Most of Southeast’s king salmon harvest — 146,000 fish – goes to salmon trollers who fish with hook and line. The sport sector is the next largest with about 43,600. The net fisheries – seining, gillnetting and set nets – don’t target king salmon and have smaller harvest goals for bycatch.

The Pacific Salmon Treaty is renegotiated every 10 years. The state is already working on the details of its agreement for 2028.

The post Southeast back to an average harvest goal for king salmon after last year’s low appeared first on KSTK.

Wrangell’s borough assembly unanimously agreed on March 24 to add a section to the municipal code that would allow for permanent vehicle registration. This follows Ketchikan’s ordinance that went into effect at the beginning of this year.

In general, qualified noncommercial motor vehicles have to be at least eight years old and noncommercial trailers can be any age.

Police Chief Gene Meek said the change would provide cost predictability for residents and reduce administrative burden on vehicle owners and borough staff.

“The benefits are you have that vehicle that’s eight years old, or you can register it. It’s there. You don’t have to worry about it anymore,” he said. “(You) don’t have to worry about every year, two years coming back in on your birthday.”

The eight-year limit comes from Alaska Statute 28.10.155 and does not include vehicles that are electric, plug-in hybrid or powered by alternative fuel. These types of vehicles are not eligible for permanent registration.

Eligible owners will pay a one-time registration fee that’s valid throughout ownership. The registration would automatically expire upon transfer of vehicles – meaning the next person who gets the vehicle is responsible for registering it again. 

Permanent registration goes into effect for Wrangell residents Jan. 1, 2027.

Other municipalities that have opted-in include Sitka, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Mat-Su, Hoonah, Yakutat and others.

The post Vehicle registration in Wrangell will be less taxing for some appeared first on KSTK.