June 18, 1925

The Fourth of July Committee met last night at City Hall to plan the morning’s events of the big celebration. If residents of Wrangell do not want to miss some interesting features, it behooves them to be up and going by 10 a.m. At that hour, the makings of a full-fledged parade will be ready to leave the school grounds for a march about town before going to Redman Hall, where an excellent program will be given. The parade plans include a band, fraternal organizations, floats, bicycles, clowns, a doll buggy unit and last, but not least, a pet parade.

June 16, 1950

Discussion of Wrangell’s water and sewer system took up the main portion of the city council’s time last night. With completion of the survey by the Erickson Engineering Co. of Ketchikan, preliminary plans as submitted by Aner Erickson last night were approved with a few minor changes. The city is preparing an application to the federal government for funds to finance the new water and sewer system on the same matching basis as the school. Although the Interior Department appropriation this year was trimmed considerably by Congress, it is hoped that the deplorable condition of Wrangell’s water works will be a factor in obtaining immediate approval of the projects.

June 18, 1975

Funds for a full-time social worker for Wrangell, and for purchase of equipment to set up a nonprofit FM radio station, have been included in the final state budget approved by the Legislature, according to Rep. Ernie Haugen, who represents Wrangell and Petersburg. Haugen said the budget includes about $60,000 to be allocated to the Department of Health and Social Services for the social worker position, which had been requested by the community. A total of $32,000 was approved by the Legislature for purchase of equipment for a radio station for Wrangell. The station has been in the planning stages here since last year and will be patterned after KTOO in Juneau.

June 15, 2000

The name Mud Bay may not win any awards in travel literature proclaiming the beauties of Alaska, but it will surely bring a smile to the face of Austin O’Brien for years to come. This is the place where, on Saturday, he hooked this year’s top salmon at 44.8 pounds in the 48th annual king salmon derby. O’Brien and his wife Diane were not early risers that day, getting to the fishing grounds around 12:30 p.m. They put their lines in the water and had just settled down to eat lunch when the big one hit. While the fish put up a fight, it wasn’t a prolonged one. The landing went smoothly and when they pulled the fish into the boat they thought, “This thing is a whale!” That first place salmon earns him $6,000, along with the weekly prize of $500.