BIG RIGS – Max Bennett, 2, checks out the steering on a steamroller during the 3 to 5 Preschool’s Big Rig fundraiser in front of Mt. Edgecumbe High School Saturday. Hundreds of kids and parents braved the wet weather to check out the assortment of machines, including road building trucks, a U.S. Coast Guard ANT boat, police cars and fire department rigs. Kids were able to ride as passengers on ATVs. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

Latest Housing Event Brings New Insights
15 Apr 2024 15:33

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    From high costs and low availability to challenges sur [ ... ]

Work Groups Look At Housing Proposals
15 Apr 2024 15:31

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    A number of participants at Thursday’s community me [ ... ]

Legislators Hear Plea for Rights of Homeless
15 Apr 2024 15:30

By CLAIRE STREMPLE Alaska Beacon     TJ Beers stood across the street from the Capitol in a nav [ ... ]

New Budget Plan Goes from Senate to House
15 Apr 2024 15:26

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    When it rains hard enough in the Prince of Wales Island town of C [ ... ]

Additional Land Added To Tongass Wilderness
15 Apr 2024 15:20

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
A designated wilderness area in Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Fo [ ... ]

AFN Leader Nominated For Denali Commission
15 Apr 2024 15:16

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
Julie Kitka, the longtime president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, [ ... ]

April 15, 2024, Police Blotter
15 Apr 2024 13:22

Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 12
At 5:18 p.m. a caller asked for a  [ ... ]

Task Force Winds Up With Limits Unsolved
12 Apr 2024 15:31

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Sitka Tourism Task Force reviewed a number of recomme [ ... ]

World Flyers Made Sitka Stop 100 Years Ago
12 Apr 2024 15:29

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Almost exactly a century ago, the engines of four modi [ ... ]

California Salmon Fishing Canceled for Second Year
12 Apr 2024 15:24

By RACHEL BECKER
Alaska Beacon
    In a devastating blow to California’s fishing industry, federa [ ... ]

Gov Claims Poll Backs His Education Policies
12 Apr 2024 15:22

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said a poll shows there is strong su [ ... ]

House Rejects Making State PFD Guaranteed
12 Apr 2024 15:20

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    The Alaska House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a long-a [ ... ]

Arctic Center at UAA Broadens Its Mission
12 Apr 2024 14:37

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
When the federal government established an Arctic Domain Awareness Cente [ ... ]

April 12, 2024, Police Blotter
12 Apr 2024 14:01

Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 11
At 2:14 a.m. a report was logged t [ ... ]

April 12, 2024, Community Happenings
12 Apr 2024 13:56

Card of Thanks
Dear Sitka, I would like to say thank you for the outpouring of love and support for t [ ... ]

Southeast Music Fest Opens with Festive Air
11 Apr 2024 15:49

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    High school musicians and directors from around South [ ... ]

Changes Made To Improve Recycling at Center
11 Apr 2024 14:11

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Recent changes in the collection of recyclable materia [ ... ]

Sitka Softballers Sweep All Rivals in Tourney
11 Apr 2024 14:10

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Opening the softball season strong at a tournament in  [ ... ]

House Adds, Subtracts In Amending Budget
11 Apr 2024 14:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    The Alaska House of Representatives has voted to provide state fu [ ... ]

SalmonState Criticizes AIDEA’s Loan Program
11 Apr 2024 14:05

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    An Alaska conservation group has released a new series of reports [ ... ]

Despite Quakes, Alaska Building Codes Shaky
11 Apr 2024 14:04

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
Sixty years after North America’s most powerful earthquake on record r [ ... ]

April 11, 2024, Police Blotter
11 Apr 2024 13:44

Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 10
A dog was reported running loose i [ ... ]

April 11, 2024, Community Happenings
11 Apr 2024 13:38

Big Rig Event
Set Saturday
For All Ages
All types of vehicles, food and activities are planned for the  [ ... ]

Home Health Receives Boost from Assembly
10 Apr 2024 15:08

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    After hearing testimony from a number of residents, t [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

Alaska Slope Worker Tests Positive for Virus

By BECKY BOHRER
The Associated Press

JUNEAU (AP) — A worker on Alaska’s North Slope tested positive for COVID-19, BP announced Tuesday. 

The state has reported 133 total cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, including 14 new cases announced Tuesday. Dr. Anne Zink, the state’s chief medical officer, said cases are reported according to where someone lives. 

Zink initially said the North Slope case was not reflected in Alaska’s numbers, adding it was her understanding the worker lives out of state. But state health Commissioner Adam Crum in a statement late Tuesday said the worker is an Alaska resident who previously traveled out of state. Clinton Bennett, a state health department spokesman, said the North Slope worker is counted in the 133 total cases.

BP confirmed a worker at Prudhoe Bay had tested positive, company spokeswoman Megan Baldino said by email. In a statement, she said the company is following procedures to minimize the risk of COVID-19 and eliminating nonessential activity on the North Slope. 

Crum, in his statement, said the person traveled to the North Slope last week and displayed symptoms within two days of arriving. “He was tested and put in quarantine,” as were close contacts, who were immediately notified, Crum said.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. 

Meanwhile, Anne Weske, director of the state division that determines eligibility for Alaska Permanent Fund dividends, said applications submitted before midnight on April 30 will be considered timely for the 2020 filing season. The additional time is linked to legislation recently passed by lawmakers, she confirmed by email.

The filing deadline had been Tuesday. But a bill passed by the Legislature, extending Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s public health disaster emergency declaration over the coronavirus to Nov. 15, included a provision extending the application period for this year’s dividend to April 30. 

The bill is a rewrite of a measure initially proposed by the governor’s office and awaits Dunleavy’s review.

 

Login Form

 

20 YEARS AGO

April 2004

Responding to the requests of athletes, coaches and parents, the Sitka School Board voted unanimously Monday against a proposal that would have changed Sitka High School’s classification from Class 4A, which includes Juneau and Ketchikan, to the 3A, which has schools with enrollment of 100 to 400 students.

50 YEARS AGO

April 1974

Memories of Sitka’s first radio station have been revived by a St. Louis, Mo., man who was one of the founders. Fred A. Wiethuchter recently wrote a letter to “Mayor Sitka, Alaska” asking about the town since he was here during World War II. He was an Army private at Fort Ray when he was attached to Armed Services Radio Station KRAY and WVCX ....

Calendar

Local Events

Instagram

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Instagram!

Facebook

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Facebook!