The Irene Ingle Public Library is conducting a survey this month to help staff better understand what the community wants to see for library programs.

The short survey, which is available online and on paper at the library — asks age, what kind of programs most interest the person and what days they would prefer for programs.

The survey is at: https://tinyurl.com/ireneinglesurvey

It also asks what makes it hard for people to attend library programs, such as lack of child care, work or transportation.

The survey will run through Sunday, May 31.

The post Library Community Survey appeared first on KSTK.

The annual Wrangell fishing derby opens June 7 and will run through September 7.

Not only will the derby run three full months, but it will actually be three derbies in one.

As Larry Persily reports, there will be cash prizes for the largest king salmon, coho salmon and halibut caught over the three-month derby — $1,000 to each of the three winners.

Cash prizes also will be awarded in each of four designated weekends for the catch closest to a secret weight.

The “hidden weight” prizes will be $300 each for the winning king salmon, coho and halibut June 20 and 21 (Father’s Day weekend), July 5, August 8 and 9 (Bearfest weekend) and September 6 and 7 (Labor Day weekend), said Lora Lee Mason, the chamber’s executive director.

An addition to prizes this year is the chance to win two round-trip tickets to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies in North America. Everyone who buys a ticket to the derby will be entered in the airline travel raffle.

Derby tickets, at $35 each, will go on sale at several downtown businesses next week.

The post 2026 Wrangell Chamber Fishing Derby appeared first on KSTK.

The Interfaith Table of Wrangell will host a gathering of “Prayers for the Earth and All Creation” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at Shakes Island.

Founded in 2021, the focus of the interfaith group is to create a source of connection for the diverse religious expressions in Wrangell.

Its mission statement says “the Interfaith Table strives to be a safe space for people of all faiths, traditions and paths to come together to connect and converse, celebrate and care for one another, to share and to serve for the well-being of the community.”

In addition to occasional potlucks, speakers, vigils and musical events, a regular prayer gathering has been held in May.

The IFT requested permission to hold this year’s gathering on the sacred space of Shakes Island as a way to mark the models of stewardship that have been shared by Native caretakers and their wisdom.

Saturday’s event is open to all.

The post Interfaith Table Prayers for All Creation appeared first on KSTK.

Michael Ottesen, who was elected in 2023 to serve a three-year term on the borough assembly, resigned his seat last week. He had about six months left in his term.

He did not provide a reason for his resignation in his May 8 letter to the assembly, which took effect after the May 12 meeting.

The assembly has started the formal process to fill the remaining months of Ottesen’s term, which will expire in October.

Residents interested in filling the seat need to submit a letter of interest to the borough clerk’s office before 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 4.

The assembly will vote to select a new member at its June 9 meeting. Municipal code instructs the remaining members of the assembly to decide on a replacement by majority vote, to serve until the next election.

The next election is Oct. 6.

The post Ottesen Resigns Assembly Seat appeared first on KSTK.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game knows that invasive European green crabs are coming, and they would like to know where and when they arrive.

Larry Persily reports that the department is looking for a volunteer in Wrangell to serve as a frontline monitor for the invasive green crab, as state officials remain wary of the destructive species reaching local waters.

“Unfortunately, with no one being in place to look for the green crabs, we can’t know whether or not they’re in Wrangell,” Tammy Davis, the Juneau-based invasive species coordinator for the Department of Fish and Game, told the Sentinel.

“We just can’t know if the green crabs have arrived yet without having someone to monitor for it.”

The crabs, a particularly invasive species known for aggressively displacing native shellfish species and salmon fry and damaging important vegetation, were discovered last October at a bay north of Cooney Cove on Etolin Island, across Clarence Strait from the Blashke Islands.

The crabs were first found in Southeast Alaska in Metlakatla in the summer of 2022. Since then, they’ve been found increasingly farther north.

The volunteer position in Wrangell involves a minimal time commitment, requiring a volunteer monitor to set out five or six traps at low tide at least once a month, Davis said.

Anyone interested in helping or who sees what might be a green crab can call the department’s Invasive Species Hotline 1-877-468-2748.

The post ADFG Seeking Green Crab Trappers appeared first on KSTK.

The property tax mill levy will remain unchanged this year. That’s the rate that is multiplied against a property’s assessed value to determine the annual tax bill.

It’s the fifth year in a row without a change in the tax rate.

As Larry Persily reports, the assembly voted unanimously on May 12 to set the levy at 9.75 mills, which is $975 per $100,000 in assessed value.

 Property tax revenues, projected at almost $2.43 million for the fiscal year that starts July 1, are the second-largest income for the borough’s general fund. Sales tax revenues, at close to $3.8 million this year, take the top spot.

The assessed value of privately owned residential and commercial land and buildings in Wrangell totals $260 million, about the same as last year. 

Property taxes are due at City Hall by Oct. 15. Unpaid property taxes will accrue interest and penalties.

The post Wrangell Property Tax Unchanged in FY27 appeared first on KSTK.

Wrangell’s borough assembly unanimously approved changes to the town’s sales tax and business license laws.

The new language updates definitions and penalties for local sales tax, including a 5% penalty for unpaid taxes after one month past the reporting quarter. It also establishes a registry of local businesses through license applications, which are free.

One change met with some pushback. The borough initially proposed sales tax exemptions for churches and nonprofits for “occasional” business lasting less than three days per year. So, sales from most nonprofit auctions, bazaars, and bake sales would be exempt. But nonprofits’ sales that last more than three days in a year would not be exempt.

At the assembly meeting on May 12, resident Joan Sargent spoke against the proposed change.

“Those definitions really, really, really tighten things for essential nonprofits in our community who run on. . .a thin margin. Three days is just not enough for these people, such as KSTK, Salvation Army to make enough money to function,” she said.

Sargent helps run Wrangell’s St. Francis Animal Rescue. She said the shelter doesn’t get discounts on veterinary services, and they pay $400-$800 to treat each new animal.

After the public hearing, Borough Manager Mason Villarma suggested amending the proposed language to exempt all nonprofit fundraisers from the sales tax.

Assembly members didn’t speak about the proposed sales tax changes, but voted to support the amendment and the overall ordinance.

In a related change, the assembly unanimously approved an update to the business license law, requiring all local businesses to maintain a local license.

Villarma said the borough needs an updated registry of local businesses for accountability.

“We’ve had problems in the past of applying sales tax equitably,” he said. “And making sure that one business is remitting and another’s not is a key function of the borough.”

The business license requirement will take effect on July 1, and licenses will be valid for two years. Local businesses can get more information through the borough’s finance office.

The post Wrangell updates local sales tax and business license laws appeared first on KSTK.

Though the state Legislature is not scheduled to adjourn until sometime Wednesday, House and Senate negotiators have settled on a budget that will send $1,200 to every eligible Alaskan this fall — a $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend plus a $200 energy relief payment.

As Larry Persily with the Wrangell Sentinel reports, the $200 add-on is intended to share the wealth of increased state oil tax and royalty revenues. The state treasury is benefiting from higher oil prices due to global supply constraints caused by the U.S.-Iran war.

Last year’s dividend was $1,000, with no energy relief add-on.

The budget deal, which was expected to win final approval in the House and Senate before adjournment, also includes a one-time boost in education funding that includes state aid to help school districts cover their higher heating fuel bills and extra money for school operating expenses.

The one-year increase in state funding for schools, along with every other item in the legislative budget plan, is subject to reduction or a full veto by Gov. Mike Dunleavy before the state’s new fiscal year starts on July 1.

The post PFD Plus appeared first on KSTK.

Alaska gubernatorial candidate Matt Heilala visited Wrangell on Thursday, May 14, and stopped by KSTK for a conversation about why he’s running for governor. Here is his conversation with KSTK General Manager, Cindy Sweat.

The post Talk on the Rock: Matt Heilala and Why He’s Running For Governor appeared first on KSTK.

The Nolan Center will invite craftspeople, hobbyists and other sellers to set up tables in front of the civic center on two days this summer when large cruise ships are in port.

As the Wrangell Sentinel’s Larry Persily reports, the outdoor market days are still being determined but will be announced soon.

The outdoor market will be in addition to the Nolan Center’s usual monthly indoor market.

“These markets are designed to help local vendors capitalize on high-volume cruise ship days,” the Nolan Center announced.

“We’re not sure what the attendance will be. This is a brand-new thing,” Nolan Center Director Jeanie Arnold said.

“If these go well … we’ll probably take a look” at maybe a third day later in the summer, she said. “This is a bit of a tester program.”

The plan is that the table spaces for the outdoor markets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, at $10 per day.

The outdoor market likely will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The post Outdoor Market on Large Ship Days appeared first on KSTK.