May 21, 1925

Col. Jas. G. Steese of the War Department held a public hearing in the town hall Monday afternoon on the matter of the survey for the extension of the Wrangell breakwater, harbor lines and other related matters authorized by the last river and harbor congressional appropriations bill. The hearing was well attended. The matter of extending the Wrangell breakwater was taken up first. It was the general consensus of opinion that the present breakwater is inadequate to give the needed protection. The matter of dredging the harbor was discussed at some length. All who spoke urged the dredging.

May 19, 1950

Marking the official opening of the Fourth of July Queen contest sponsored by the chamber of commerce, a public dance will be held tomorrow night at the ANB Hall. Willard’s orchestra will provide the music. Basis for voting in the queen contest will be the purchase of tickets from the queen candidates. When you buy a ticket, you will be helping the seller accumulate votes for herself. The chamber’s Fourth of July committee expressed its thanks to the American Legion for relinquishing the ANB Hall for the night of July 3. The Legion traditionally holds this night for its annual dance, but has instead moved its dance to July 1, so that Queen of the Fourth may be crowned at the Cornation Ball on July 3.

May 21, 1975

Alaska Wood Products, of Wrangell, is the apparent high bidder on the East Bradfield timber sale. Pete Mondich, timber manager of the Stikine Area of the Tongass National Forest, said AWP’s bid of $1,465,804 for approximately 57.8 million board feet of timber was the highest. Bids were opened on May 13. Bidding against Alaska Wood Products was Ketchikan Pulp Co., Transcontinental Log and Export Co. of Seattle, and Alaska Forest Products of Haines. AWP officials indicated that camp preparation and road building is planned for the remainder of this season and logging is scheduled to get underway next year. No announcement was made on who will operate the Bradfield logging show.

May 18, 2000

In a special election to be held this August, the citizens of Wrangell will be asked whether or not they wish to authorize a general obligation bond to assist in the financing of the new harbor. This is an important question, since a bond is an obligation on virtually all of Wrangell’s citizens. The inner harbor of the proposed new harbor will cost approximately $8.5 million. The Army Corp of Engineers is responsible for managing the project, and will require proof upfront from the city that it can finance the project. The money for the breakwater -- the first step to building the new harbor -- is already in place, with 80% funded by the federal government and 20% funded locally. Bid packets are due out in March 2001; bids due by April 2001; notice to proceed with construction of the breakwater awarded by June 2001. A public hearing will be held prior to the May 23 regular city council meeting.