Author: kfskadmin

One of three men accused of the 2005 murder of Michael Gerber in Petersburg was sentenced Friday for a much lesser offense.
42-year-old Tom Evenson was sentenced to serve five years in prison after a no contest plea to felony assault. It was part of an agreement Evenson made with the state rather than face a third murder trial. His first two trials had ended with hung juries. The victims mother, Ramona Gerber, saw the deal as far too lenient and unjust. She urged the court to reconsider during Fridays sentencing hearing. Evenson had agreed to the deal back in September, but on Friday he argued the sentence was too long.

The effort to build a new Library in Petersburg got a major boost last week. The local Masonic Lodge presented library officials with a 25-thousand dollar check. The donation will go towards the library building construction fund. Library supporters are hopeful it will prompt other donations to the project.

Petersburg Medical Center will see some major staff turnover and change this year in its doctors and nurses. The hospital has a new director of nursing, Jennifer Bryner, who will replace Sandy Tacket. Tacket is moving to Tucson after 14 years as director. Bryner has worked for the hospital since 1996. Meanwhile, after working in South Africa for a year, doctor John Bergren and his family return to town this month. At the same time, doctor MarK Tucillo was called-up to serve a second tour of duty as a lt. Col with the Alaska Air National Guard in Afghanistan. Tucillo returns to the hospital in March….but after his contract expires in may, Tucillo and his family will move to the anchorage area. As the new year begins, the hospital is looking to hire more permanent nurses as well as a new doctor to fill Tucillo’s position. Administrator John Bringhurst recently spoke with Matt Lichtenstein.

Plans for an improved telecommunications link to Petersburg will hinge on a city council decision later this month. In late January, councilors are expected to decide whether to approve a special-use permit and negotiate a long-term lease for GCI to put up an unstaffed building for the new fiber-optic cable connection. The company gave a presentation on the project and addressed some residents concerns late last month in Petersburg.

For Petersburg, the Alaska Marine Highway System’s plan for next year has some ups and downs in terms of local stops. It reduces the popular mainline service out of Bellingham but adds fast-ferry service out of Juneau in the summer. The changes could affect the Interisland Ferry Authority as well as state ferry passengers.