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Missing Angoon Boater Found Dead on Oct. 28

By Sentinel Staff
Thursday, October 29

Stedman Staying Out Of Majority Coalition

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

4 days ago

From Sitka to Juneau, JKT's Remarkable Rise

By ANNA LAFFREY
Sentinel Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 4

Tree Down

4 days ago

Sitka Planners Reject Courthouse Proposal

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

Friday, November 6

Today's top stories

Superstition Is Theme for Radio Adventure Hour

Sitka Community Theater troupe members rehearse one of four radio plays Wednesday night at the Performing Arts Center. The short radio theater plays with live sound effects will be presented live 7 p.m. Friday. This year's theme is "Very Superstitious," in recognition of Friday the 13th.
"There are cats. There is a sprinkler sound." "We have organ sounds, creaky doors, and of course, a villain mask being pulled off." "It's metal, glass, and wet." Writers, directors and actors searched for words to describe the auditory...

By ANNA LAFFREY
Sentinel Staff Writer

Yesterday at 7:27 PM

Online Voting Doubles STA Election Turnout

Four candidates won seats on the Sitka Tribe of Alaska Tribal Council in an election that drew a record number of voters, with the introduction of online voting helping boost participation. Daas.óox Rachel Kay Moreno led the field with 204 votes,...

By ANNA LAFFREY
Sentinel Staff Writer

Yesterday at 7:27 PM
Incoming municipal administrator Gerrie Cotter is pictured this afternoon in the administrator's office at city hall.

Assembly Advances Childcare Tax Vote

With little debate, the Assembly voted Tuesday night in favor of having a special city election Feb. 2 on the question of increasing the summertime 6 percent sales tax to 6.5 percent, with the increase to subsidize childcare in Sitka. There were...

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

Yesterday at 7:25 PM

Staff Reorganization On Assembly Agenda

The Assembly on Tuesday will consider setting a special election on a ballot question that, if passed, would increase the seasonal sales tax by a half-percent to help stabilize child care in Sitka. The ordinance calling a special election for...

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

3 days ago
Sitka Tribe of Alaska Chair Yeidikook'áa, Dionne Brady-Howard, second from left, speaks during the government-to-government meeting between the tribe and the Sitka Assembly Monday night at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Pictured are, from left, Kevin Mosher, Brady-Howard, Scott Saline, Martha Moses, JJ Carlson and Gerrie Cotter.

City, STA Share Views at Dinner Discussion

The city and Sitka Tribe of Alaska elected officials shared information with each other, and asked for help on a few items, at the semi-annual dinner Monday at Centennial Hall. Topics included updates on work that overlaps between the two...

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

3 days ago
Amos Philemonoff, a traditional foods assistant for the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, holds a rack of moose ribs while processing two illegally-harvested moose in STA's commercial kitchen at 4608 HPR. Philemonoff, of St. Paul, is a graduate of Mt. Edgecumbe High School.

Sub-legal Moose Boon for STA Traditional Foods

Two Kuiu Isand moose are tucked away in Sitka freezers after state wildlife troopers carried them from Petersburg to Sitka last month for Sitka Tribe of Alaska's traditional foods program. Eight to ten Sitkans -- including Resource Protection...

By ANNA LAFFREY
Sentinel Staff Writer

3 days ago
Sports

SHS Wrestlers Top Braves at Dual Meet

Sitka High Wolves wrested a dual meet win from Mt. Edgecumbe High School on Tuesday at Sitka High, finishing on top as a team, 45-36 over the visiting Braves. Sitka sophomore Peyton Bergman won both her matches over Mt. Edgecumbe competitors. At...

By ANNA LAFFREY
Sentinel Staff Writer

Yesterday at 7:21 PM
Sitka sophomore Addie Marx (7) watches as her spike goes between Mt. Edgecumbe junior Kasia Barnes (6, from Koliganek) and senior Marliee Chris (16, from Big Lake) in the Alaska Airlines Region V 3A Championship game in Juneau's George Houston Gymnasium, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026.

Sitka Volleyball Readies For State Championship

Just after taking home the Region V title, Sitka High volleyball players jump back into action again this afternoon, playing the best teams in the state. “I’m just excited to play more,” said Wolves senior Bristol Clifton. The sixth-seed Wolves...

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

Yesterday at 7:21 PM
FOR THE RECORD - Sitka High's speedy 400 free relay hold up their medals after their win Saturday at the state swimming champions, where the Wolves boys team placed second overall and set a new school record at 3:10.93. They are, from left, Corin Colliver, Zach Martens, Ben Lihou and Tommy McCarthy.

For The Record

FOR THE RECORD - Sitka High's speedy 400 free relay hold up their medals after their win Saturday at the state swimming champions, where the Wolves boys team placed second overall and set a new school record at 3:10.93. They are, from left, Corin...
Yesterday at 7:21 PM
Women’s Pistol League award winners from left are Sadie Maher, second place in the Optical Sights Division; Elise Shepard, second, Open Sights Division; Jasmine Bak, first, Open Sights Division; Bella Schmidt, third, Open Sights Division; and Nova Schmidt, Most Improved Shooter. Not pictured are Laura Ramp, first, Optical Sights Division; and Jeren Schmidt, third, Optical Sights Division.

Women’s Pistol League Event Winners Told

Sitka Sportsman’s Association recently finished its 12th annual Women’s Pistol League event. Sixteen women competed in two divisions, Open Sights and Optical Sights. Winners were determined by averaging each shooter’s top 10 scores. In the...
By Sentinel Staff
Yesterday at 7:20 PM

Sports Calendar: 11/12/26

Today, Nov. 12 1:30 p.m. Sitka High girls take on Monroe in the first round of the 2026 ASAA 3A Volleyball State Championships @ the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage Friday, Nov. 13 Sitka High wrestlers compete @ Palmer Drama, Debate and...
Yesterday at 7:14 PM
Community News

Sitkans Step Out Saturday To Show They Can Dance

NOEMI NEJEDLA
Special to the Sentinel
Yesterday at 7:26 PM

Sitka Studio of Dance will showcase 17 performances in its fall show “Sitkans Can Dance” at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Sitka Performing Arts Center “We’re just really excited to have all the community come on stage to share with their friends and...

Death Notices
Yesterday at 7:25 PM
Fiber Friends Meet Nov. 14
Yesterday at 7:24 PM
Tlingit Culture Holds Solutions To Changing Climate
IRIS SEGAL
Special to the Sentinel
3 days ago
Police blotter

Police Blotter
November 12, 2026

Sitka Police Department logged the following calls Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday, November 10 A vehicle left parked near Sitka High was tagged as abandoned. An issue arose on Price Street over property lines. Those involved were advised of...

Yesterday at 7:24 PM
Obituaries
Dave Turcott Dies at 81; Memorial to Be Nov. 8
Long-time Sitka resident Dave Turcott passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of August 29, 2026, at the age of 81. Although he had been diagnosed with cancer and was in treatment, he was responding well and had a good prognosis....
Thursday, November 5
Dennis C. Bernhoft Dies; Service to be Wednesday
Dennis Charles Bernhoft, a longtime Sitka psychologist, passed away in Sitka on Oct. 20, 2026. A potluck service will be held Wednesday, Nov. 4, celebrating what would have been his 67th birthday. It will be noon to 2 p.m. at 700 Katlian St. Suite...
Monday, November 2
Aaron D. Wrenn Dies at 59; Was Former Sitka Resident
Aaron D. Wrenn, of Wasilla, Alaska, died on August 7, 2026 from a long battle with cancer, he was 59 years old. Aaron was born June 20, 1967 at Mt. Edgecumbe hospital, he was the 8th child of Wayne and Selina Wrenn. He attended Sitka High School...
Thursday, October 29
Screenshot
Wayne C. Bowers Dies; Business Owner was 69
Wayne Cameron Bowers, a construction company owner, fisherman, and a 24-year Sitka resident, died August 11 of a heart condition in Burien, Washington. He was 69. No services are scheduled at this time. Wayne was born June 22, 1957, in Chapel...
Friday, October 23
Alaska News

Commentary: Chugach moose population has sharply declined. Is a hunt to blame?

Once upon a time—and really not so long ago—a mountain valley just east of Anchorage was the best place in Alaska, and likely the world, for people to watch and photograph large numbers of moose. Better even than Denali National Park, famous for its moose population. Dozens of cows and big-antlered bulls would gather in […]
By Bill Sherwonit
Yesterday at 8:00 PM

In Alaska’s legislative elections, a handful of races remain undecided nail-biters

In the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, candidates in two different Alaska House of Representatives elections are separated by five votes, according to preliminary, partial ranked choice runoff data published by the Alaska Division of Elections on Wednesday night. The winners of those two races are not expected to change the balance of power in the Alaska House, […]
By James Brooks
Yesterday at 5:27 PM

Weeks before Alaska gets a new governor, its economic development arm goes on a spending spree

A $25 million investment in a nuclear energy startup. Another $36 million for a controversial mining road. And up to $75 million for a new state-owned company promoting broadband. Those are among the multi-million-dollar decisions that GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s appointees and state officials have made as part of a spending blitz by Alaska’s economic development […]
By Max Graham, Anchorage Press
Yesterday at 3:05 PM
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Sitka Yesterday
November 12, 2026

20 YEARS AGO

November 2006 

The Greater Sitka Arts Council will host a reception for and a reading by newly installed state writer laureate John Straley at Kettleson Memorial Library. Straley, a Sitka writer and poet, will present both new and previously published works.

50 YEARS AGO

November 1976

The Sitka City and Borough Assembly affirmed Tuesday night a contract to provide municipally-generated electrical power to the Coast Guard Air Station on Japonski Island. The contract calls for power delivered at the prevailing rate for other volume users.

Yesterday at 7:24 PM
From the Associated Press
National news
Megan Moroney performs during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at the Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will soon celebrate its 100th edition: Which stars are in the lineup?

The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade promises a spectacular celebration with Megan Moroney, Teddy Swims, Queen Latifah, Keke Palmer, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots and JoJo among the performers. The …
By MARK KENNEDY
2 hours ago
A bird flies low over the water as cargo ships lie at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, early Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)

Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it destroyed a US radar in Bahrain, and other Mideast news

Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it destroyed a U.S. early warning radar in Bahrain, marking the first such claim in months. The Guard also reported that a tanker struck a mine in the Strait of …
By The Associated Press
3 hours ago
U.S. Rep.-elect Bob Brooks, front left, U.S. Rep.-elect Paige Cognetti, back left, both of Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator-elect Josh Turek, front right, of Iowa and U.S. Rep.-elect Jamie Ager of North Carolina respond to questions from a moderator during a Democratic conference Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Latest: Now Democrats have to figure out 'What's Next'

Democrats are gathering in Denver for a What’s Next conference hosted by a new group called Majority Democrats following their historic blue wave of election wins. President Donald Trump wants his …
By The Associated Press
3 hours ago
FILE - A Microsoft logo and sign outside the Microsoft Visitor Center are seen at the company's headquarters Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Redmond, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

Microsoft outage hits companies and governments worldwide as it struggles to restore services

Microsoft is dealing with a major outage affecting services like Outlook and Teams. The issue has impacted users, companies, and some government operations globally. On Friday, Microsoft said it was …
By CHAN HO-HIM
3 hours ago
International
Pope Leo XIV catches a stuffed lion as he arrives to lead a prayer vigil at the National Stadium in Lima, on the seventh day of his twelve-day apostolic journey to South America, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Peru's Chiclayo welcomes its former shepherd home, and revels in pope's love

Church organizers say as many as a million people could turn out for Pope Leo XIV’s first big Mass in Peru, being held Friday morning on a massive field outside Chiclayo, his former diocese. …
By LUIS ANDRES HENAO and NICOLE WINFIELD
2 hours ago
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands next to French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin as they pose for a family photo of all participants during the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Dublin, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Europe pushes for seat at Ukraine peace talks​‌ but lacks unified voice

European nations are looking for an envoy to represent them in talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war. They are concerned that a U.S.-backed process could leave them sidelined. Leaders from the …
By JILL LAWLESS and SAM McNEIL
2 hours ago
Election posters hang on a street lamp post in Alexandra township, on the outskirt of Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South African parties in high-stakes coalition talks after ANC's worst election results

South African political parties have begun crucial coalition talks following local elections where the African National Congress lost significant support. The ANC remains the largest party but saw …
By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME
2 hours ago
The major outage is affecting services like Outlook and Teams and has impacted users, companies, and some government operations globally. Over 130,000 users reported issues on Thursday. While reports have since decreased, many users globally are still reporting problems.  (Produced by Luke Garratt)

The Microsoft outage means no incessant email chimes or message pings, but still we stayed online

It was the sound of e-silence. No Microsoft Outlook email chimes, no Teams message pings, no new notifications and, very possibly, no work getting done. Microsoft 365 teetered on the edge of becoming …
By STEFANIE DAZIO
2 hours ago