LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Searchers Seek Man Missing on Verstovia
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A search was under way today for a 37-year-old man last seen at the top of Mt. Verstovia Monday afternoon, the Sitka Fire Department said.
Michael Hansen, who moved to town in July, was reported missing Tuesday morning after he failed to arrive at work at Sitka Counseling. His vehicle was found soon after at the Verstovia trailhead, with a map of the area and other outdoor equipment inside.
In an unrelated search, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew located two young men from Sitka and Hoonah who hadn’t checked in with friends and family since leaving Sitka Sunday morning to hike across Baranof Island.
The hikers were spotted at noon today in good condition between Camp Lake and Medvejie Hatchery, said Police Lt. Lance Ewers, who is captain of the Sitka Fire Department search and rescue squad. Ewers picked them up this afternoon on Green Lake Road, and gave them a ride back to town.
A massive air and ground search for Michael Hansen, the man missing on Verstovia, began on Tuesday. A Coast Guard helicopter took search and rescue volunteers and a search dog to the top of Verstovia Tuesday, and again today, to conduct a ground search for the missing man.
Hansen was described as a former Army Ranger, 6 feet tall and 180 pounds. He is originally from Wisconsin, but moved to Sitka from Anchorage in July, said Ewers.
Michael Hansen (Photo Provided)
“We’re going at this at 100 mph and all guns blazing, because of the weather system coming in,” he said.
Juneau search and rescue sent three search dogs to Sitka for today’s effort, Ewers said.
Hansen was last seen wearing grey shorts, a green short-sleeve shirt and tennis shoes.
The Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, Sitka fire and police departments, and the Alaska State Troopers are involved in the search, Ewers said. So far, six teams have been taken to the top of Verstovia, where Hansen was last seen around 3:30 p.m. Monday. Four more teams joined the search from the trailheads of Verstovia and Thimbleberry Lake, Ewers said.
The fire hall put out a missing persons notice on Tuesday, and heard back from people who had seen him the previous day at Picnic Rock, Arrowhead Peak and in the bowl, Ewers said.
“They described what he was wearing before we did,” Ewers said. “We received lots of good information on this, and we’re hopeful we’re going to find him.”
No new developments in the search were reported as of the Sentinel’s press time today.
Anyone with information is asked to call the fire hall at 747-3233 or 966-5770.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.