Petersburg Pilot

06/11/2026

Dear Readers: We hope you’ve had a good week and that you enjoy the latest issue of the Petersburg Pilot, Alaska’s best weekly newspaper!

On the cover this week: GCI brought senior representatives to explain a cell tower project and hosted a public Q&A dinner last week. Find out the context, the controversy and the concerns – we’ve got the story;

Petersburg’s Dan Sullivan condemns the ‘chilling’ state investigation into his U.S. Senate candidacy;

and a non-resident hunter was cited after mistaking a brown bear for a black bear at Duncan Canal.

This week in Yesterday’s News: a surprise sighting on Zarembo Island, a Nebraska Senator stands up for Alaska’s government workers, a new park and improvements at Tent City.

Letters to the Editor: long time resident Elly Hegar is moving and wants her beloved Petersburg to know she will miss you all; Planning Commission member Sara Fine Walsh is disappointed in a recent vote on an ordinance; and Stephanie Pfunt writes about the first year of the Devil's Thumb Chamber Music Festival and what’s to come. Read them on page 4.

We published two commentaries this week: Petersburg’s Dan Sullivan shares his letter to Nancy Dahlston, Lieutenant Governor of Alaska in response to her letter of June 8 – a letter he received not from her office, but from a journalist, and that contains allegations with nothing to support them; and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins writes to tell share why he is running for Governor of Alaska and what his priorities are once in office. Find them on page 5.

After a 1.5-year, $12-million building renovation, U.S. Forest Service employees are returning to their offices in the Federal Building on the south end of downtown Petersburg! See some sneak peeks of the new interior and find out what they saved for the kids in Petersburg on page 6.

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday Petersburg’s Rainforest Festival is offering two informative outdoor community events and all the details can be found on page 7.

Commercial Fishing Bootcamp!?
Yes! Alaska Sea Grant is hosting a hand-on, 3-day, FREE course for anyone high school-aged and over interested in the commercial fishing industry and we’ve got the story on page 7.

Congratulations to local musician Sarah C. Hanson Hofstetter on the release of her sixth album, “All the Bones.” Story on page 9.

Wrangell‘s 71st annual fishing derby is underway! Story on page 10!
Wrangell friends and lovers: we sell the Wrangell Sentinel at the Pilot!

UFF DA! The Petersburg Vikings Baseball team were three outs away from claiming their first state championship when everything changed… read all about it on page 11.

In Alaska State news: Alaska lawmakers advanced a bill intended to spur construction of a long-desired pipeline carrying natural gas from the North Slope to markets; Inflation spiked to 4.2%, a three-year high in May. Both stories are on page 13.

This week in Artifact Archive: see an example of a couple of the hundreds of thousands of unused seed packets printed in the 1910s and discovered in a warehouse in New York in the 1960s. Photo and story on page 14.

Need a job? There are ELEVEN listings in the classifieds this week!

On our back page: enjoy the story “Over 100 years and 100 miles later, Petersburg’s first canoe completes its Journey to Celebration” – a feel good story full of historic firsts!
As always, we are grateful to our subscribers and advertisers – we could not do it without you!

Subscribers can use the link below to access this week's PDF Edition, or use the E-Editions button on the homepage for all of our current and archived PDFs. Click here to view this week's PDF. Thanks for subscribing!...

06/05/2026

The first issue in June is ready for you!
On the cover this week: Petersburg’s Dan J. Sullivan challenges Senator Dan Sullivan. Find out what motivated him to run and what issues he’s running on.

An ordinance that would have established the Borough’s first regulatory framework for wireless communication facilities failed its second reading on a 3-3 tie. Find out the details and hear from assembly members in this front page article.
The borough assembly rejected the sale of land near the firehall to Tidal Network. Find out more about the proposed cell tower site and assembly members’ thoughts on the matter.

Climb every mountain! Sing every song! A family-friendly SING-ALONG screening of the Sound of Music is coming to the Wright Auditorium this weekend! Get all the details on page 3.

Tracy Welch, who grew up fishing out of Petersburg, has been appointed as the second commissioner of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. Story on page 6.

Congratulations Graduates!! See photos of graduation on page 7.

LifelongPetersburg local Darcy Hedlund is one of 17 Alaska Airlines employees to receive their “Legend” Award. Find out how she earned this distinction on page 8. Congratulations Darcy!!

Congratulations also go out to the PHS Track & Field teams as they wound up their season with strong finishes at the 2026 ASAA State Championships. Story on page 9.

Friendly reminder: this weekend is the annual Free Hazardous Waste Collection. All the details you need to know are on page 9.

Senator Lisa Murkowski made a quick day visit to Petersburg and we’ve got the story on page 12.

Thanks to all our advertisers for posting the best deals and happenings going on in town. This week The Market announces their summer schedule and Common Grounds thanks Petersburg for a successful twenty years of keeping us caffeinated!

Thanks for supporting our small town paper – the best weekly in Alaska!

https://www.petersburgpilot.com/page/subscribers-can-click-here-to-view-the-full-pdf-of-this-weeks-edition/15396.html

Petersburg Pilot

05/21/2026

Welcome to the May 21, 2026 edition of The Petersburg Pilot, Alaska’s best weekly newspaper.

We extend a big WELCOME to our summer writing intern, Caleb Morrow. His first story is on the cover, “The Spigelmyres hang up their furs.”

Meet him on page 6 and when you see him around town say hi!

After over a year of mounting community pressure over the locations of wireless broadband towers, the Borough Assembly advanced a comprehensive wireless communications ordinance. Find out the details, how you can comment and the time of the public hearing in front page news.
The Assembly voted to bring the question of a sales tax cap increase back to the voters and we’ve got the story on the front page.
The highstakes quid-pro-quo ‘pipeline-for-pension’ deal falls apart as Alaska Legislature’s regular session nears its end. Our cover story has the details on the failure and how it may impact state worker pensions and the gas pipeline bill.

After 26 years of donning furs, wielding large swords and serving up shrimp to the hordes at Mayfest, Don and Julie Spigelmyre are retiring. Read all about it and the annual shrimp feed on the cover, continued on page 10.

In “Yesterday’s News” read about dredging the Narrows, an explosion, a dream-come-true and ‘Ole the troll.’

CONGRATULATIONS to Desi Burrell, Petersburg’s Volunteer of the Year. Story on page 3.

This week’s Guest Editorial by Larry Persily is titled, “West Coast and Alaska will pay a price for Trump’s war.” Find it on page 4.
The Petersburg Community Foundation awarded grants to nine local non-profits. Find out who received funds and how they’ll use them in an article on page 5.

Lots of fun Mayfest 2026 photos grace our center spread this week!

The award-winning SciFi film, “The Ladder” by Ketchikan-filmmaker Emilio Miquel Torres, is coming to Northern Lights theater this Saturday. It was shot in Southeast and is still touring festivals, so find out how you can see it before it goes national! The story on page 11 is by our new intern, Caleb Morrow.

Want to catch a king? One release site is permanently closed, but a popular fishing spot is open to all recreational anglers this summer. Find out when and where on page 12.

Need an MRI? PMC has been diligently working to provide the service and is very close to taking appointments for the new machine. Story on page 12.

The PHS Track Team had a fantastic time at the Capital City Invitational, setting 2 new school records and 37 new personal bests in a record-breaking meet. Aiden Luhr has all the stats on page 13.

Thank you to our subscribers and advertisers – we couldn’t do it without you! You can find out about the best deals in town and when and where things are happening this week in our pages.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!

Subscribers can use the link below to access this week's PDF Edition, or use the E-Editions button on the homepage for all of our current and archived PDFs. Click here to view this week's PDF. Thanks for subscribing!...

05/15/2026

BEWARE OF VIKINGS!! The Little Norway Festival Weekend is upon us!! See the full schedule on pages 18 & 19.

Get your bunad or sweater on and have a great time!

Are Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon an endangered species!? The federal government has come to a conclusion and the details are in a story on the front page of this week’s edition.
An ordinance to raise the electric rate by 4% came before the assembly. Find out how they voted in a front page article.
We are already on day two of the festival – find out what’s happened and what's in store for the rest of the weekend in our Festival Overview.
In Yesterday’s News we offer a little history on how Syttende Mai came to be celebrated in Little Norway, remember the opening of Twin Creek Poultry Farm and that time the fire hall floor was sinking.
The Alaska Marine Highway is raising the passenger fee – details are on page 3.
Read former Governor Frank Murkowski’s commentary on page 5 entitled, “What! They don’t pay taxes?”
Jeanette Ness is stepping down after 36-years of leading Petersburg’s Séet Ká Kwáan Dancers. Read about her legacy, who’s taking the reins and how it is so much more than a dance group, on page 6.
YAY! Petersburg has a new dedicated craft shop – read all about it on page 7.
The Petersburg Vikings baseball team faced off with their strongest rival and Aiden Luhr covers the nail-biter on page 8.
Artifact Archive features canned salmon labels and the role they played in early 1900s marketing.
Tlingit and Haida are providing free Wi-Fi in Wrangell’s Shoemaker Harbor. Find out all about it on page 8.
A solar farm in Wrangell!? Looks like it – get the details on page 12.

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Let there be MUSIC!! The festival will be rocking and the bands are featured in an article on pages 14 & 15.
Hungry?? The Little Norway Festival is full of great dining options and we’ve got the details on page 16.
“Anchors Away!” is the title of this year’s Mummers’ Mayfest play. Get the details and be sure to attend – you don't want to miss the traditional Wrangell line!!
Come cheer on the six teams competing in the Annual Eric Corl Memorial Softball Tournament. Details on page 20 and 21.
Art is on display all over town and we’ve got your guide on page 22.
A mysterious trunk showed up at the Clausen Memorial Museum and became the seed for an exhibit exploring why Norwegians left Norway and how they got here. Story on page 23.
An internationally acclaimed pianist will wrap up the festivities with a performance on Sunday evening. Find out who and where on page 24.

It’s a big issue – 24 pages – and has all you need to know about the goings on over the weekend and important local news as well.

Thanks to all our advertisers and subscribers, visitors and loved ones traveling home, for supporting Alaska’s Best Weekly newspaper!

https://www.petersburgpilot.com/page/subscribers-can-click-here-to-view-the-full-pdf-of-this-weeks-edition/15396.html

Petersburg Pilot

05/14/2026

We've done something new… the entire special edition is dedicated to LNF! Get your copy and read all about our musicians, artists, food vendors, and check out the final LNF schedule! We wish everyone a safe and fun weekend! Skoal!!!

05/11/2026

LNF 2026 is almost here!!

05/10/2026

Each day from May 10 through May 16, a clue will be posted on the Club 49 Hub page. The first person to find the Golden Wings and return them to the Alaska Airlines Mayfest Booth on May 16 will be…

05/08/2026

The May 7, 2026 edition is ready for you!
The Aquatic Center will be closing for long-planned sewer repair work. Find out the details in our cover story.
The street sweeper, a sure sign of spring, is repaired and working hard to clean up before Mayfest. What happened? We’ve got the story!
CONGRATULATIONS to Petersburg runner Uriah Lucas who had an impressive run at the 2026 Boston Marathon! !
This Friday Tongass Federal Credit Union will host the biennial “Get Real Financial Reality Fair,” a high-stakes simulation game where PHS students get a chance to test their choices and see how well they can adult. Get all the details on page 3.
Larry Persily’s Guest Editorial is titled “Gas line should pipe up and pay its own way.” Read it on page 4.
Petersburg Medical Center (PMC) Youth Programs is gearing up for its biggest summer yet and we’ve got the details, including information on financial aid.
More learning and outdoor opportunities are being offering through a joint effort between Alaska Sea Grant and our library – find out all about it on page 9.
SEARHC opened their new $300 million dollar Mt. Edgecumbe hospital in Sitka and we’ve got the story on page 10.
PMC’s fall prevention program expands with a new, free Tai Chi class. Find out the details on page 11.
Photos of a recent noise parade to raise awareness about Missing Murdered Indigenous Peoples are on page 13. Alaska has the country’s highest rate of MMIP and our Native women experience violence at a rate nearly ten times higher than the national average.
The fishing vessel Symphony is 80-years old! Details on the celebration can be found on page 13.
Robot babies at PHS!? Yes, and we’ve got the story on page 14.
The Vikings baseball team trounced the Hutchinson Hawks in the season opener. Aiden Luhr reports all the stats on page 15.
Rats – the AMHS ferry Columbia is delayed, again. Find out why and when she’ll be running again on page 16.
A devastating house fire in Wrangell displaced the owner and two tenants. We have the story on page 16.
Get the ADF&G sport fishing regulations for King salmon in the hatchery areas near Petersburg and Wrangell on page 17.
Find out how vandals in British Columbia caused an internet blackout in Ketchikan. The story is on the back page.
The Alaska Judicial Council invites community members to share their experiences interacting with 21 Alaska Superior Court judges and one Supreme Court Justice – find out all about it and how you can add your voice on page 20.
As always, our advertisers have the details on all the best events and deals in Petersburg this week. Enjoy the spring greening and stay safe!
Thanks to all our readers and advertisers for supporting Alaska’s Best Weekly Newspaper!

04/23/2026

Who is ALASKA’S BEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER? WE ARE!!! See the story on page 4 in the April 23rd edition. Hearty congratulations go to our colleagues at KFSK, also winners at the annual Press Club Awards in Anchorage!
In this week’s issue:
The Borough Assembly approved a lease agreement with American Cruise Lines, moving forward the possibility of a long anticipated small cruise ship dock. We’ve got the details.
Congratulations! After 40 years of outstanding service at the Petersburg Public Library, Chris Weiss is retiring… during National Library Week! Friends of the Library honored Weiss along with local historian Don Nelson at a recent celebration. Find a photo and details are on our cover and the back page
Also on the cover: A photo of the Keet Yaakw, the first Alaska Native-designed canoe to be launched out of Petersburg! Find out about the team who created this 40-foot, the meaningful ceremony at Sandy Beach and where it is headed next. See more photos on page 9.
Tonight Petersburg is invited to weigh in on the Tongass Forest Plan revision from 5 – 7 p.m. in Borough Assembly Chambers. Find out about this opportunity to provide input and why it’s important.
Winter weary Petersburgers have been thrilled by the sound of Sandhill Cranes migrating north. Orin captured a nice photo and it’s on page 3.
In a letter to the editor a local trash picker-upper urges folks to keep Petersburg beautiful and proposes ideas of how we could improve this persistent issue.
Petersburg’s new Utility Director Steve Harbour took to the podium at the last Assembly meeting to present a 45-minute slide show (available on the city website) on the city’s power grid, hoping to answer questions and dispel misinformation. Find out what he wants you to know on page 5.
It was only a drill! First responders conducted an active threat drill at Stedman Elementary Wednesday after school. Find out the three scenarios they ran and how it went on pages 6 and 7.
The Borough is selling two parcels for rental property development. Find out who, what, where and why on page 9.
The 2026 PHS Track & Field schedule is on Page 10 – thanks to all the local businesses for their sponsorship! Go Vikings!!
Remember Jens Hammer? The former champion PHS wrestler co-founded a girls team in Banks, Oregon, and we’ve got the story of their outstanding first season!
PHS students Cedar Helms, Conor Oppenheim and Maddie Driesbach traveled to Anchorage to compete in the Senior Native Youth Olympics. Find out all about their adventure on page 11.
The 27th Beat the Odds race against cancer is in the books and we’ve got the story on page 12 along with a cute photo of Michelle and Rick Brock.
Petersburg music teacher and conductor Chelsea Corrao took 40 students to the Region V Music Fest in Ketchikan where they won accolades you’ll want to read about on page 12.
Mitkof Dance Troupe’s spring recital brought the circus to town! Two sold out shows featured 125 dancers from pre-K to graduating seniors. This thriving program is facing a housing challenge – find out how you can support their goal of buying the former St. Andrews building.
Thanks to our subscribers and advertisers! We could not be ALASKA’S BEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER without you!!
We also print and sell the Wrangell Sentinel for all of you with Wrangell connections! Stop by and pick a copy up!

Subscribers can use the link below to access this week's PDF Edition, or use the E-Editions button on the homepage for all of our current and archived PDFs. Click here to view this week's PDF. Thanks for subscribing!...

04/22/2026

2026 Petersburg Visitor Guide just arrived!!!
Ebook available… 👇

https://online.fliphtml5.com/zzzil/vstr/