July 23, 1925

Mining reports coming out from the Cassiar up the Stikine River are more favorable now than they have been for the past few weeks. Miners who have recently arrived in Wrangell from the Cassiar say that work on the Discovery Claim has started in earnest and Grady is reported to be taking out good pay. Claims ranging from No. 2 above Discovery to the mouth of Gold Pan Creek, it is rumored, are also showing excellent prospects, dirt yielding better than former to the pan being taken by R. D. Brunn, an old timber who has done extensive work since the season started. There is more than a little excitement in Telegraph Creek over the several ounces of coarse gold from the Clearwater exhibited by Clarence Wrigglesworth, his partner Oglevie and several others.

July 21, 1950

The minimum guaranteed price for trolled cohos this year will be 22 cents per pound, according to Paul Binkley, secretary-treasurer of Wrangell Local 55, United Trollers of Alaska. Binkley returned yesterday from a meeting of trollers and fish buyers. There was no minimum price guarantee last year, but Binkley said it averaged out at 19 cents per pound. Two-cent increases were obtained on white kings, from 20 to 22 cents, and on small reds from 21 to 23 cents. All prices are dockside delivery. Trollers from all over Southeast Alaska were represented at the meeting, Binkley said. Fish buyers represented were Polar, New England, Engstrom, Wallace George and Rupert Fisheries.

July 16, 1975

Wrangell voters will go to the polls next Tuesday to vote in a special city election on a swimming pool bond issue and the question of compensation for councilmen and the mayor. The council proposes to sell up to $400,000 in general obligation bonds to raise funds to complete a community swimming pool which will cost an estimated $600,000. Other funds for the pool will come from a $200,000 donation made by Wrangell Lumber Co. Polls at the public library, the courthouse and St. Philip’s Episcopal Church will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

July 20, 2000

“Fast Ferry” may seem like an oxymoron to those who have often traveled Alaska’s stately paced vessels or had to wait for days to make a 60-mile connection. Soon, however, daily travel between Sitka and Juneau will be a reality. The same may be true for Ketchikan and Wrangell should the first planned fast ferry be a success. Wednesday, Gov. Tony Knowles signed a request for proposals for the first of a new generation of ferries for Southeast Alaska geared especially to serve the needs of residents. The fast ferry concept is “the centerpiece of the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan,” according to Knowles, and will reduce the travel time between Sitka, a bottleneck in past ferry scheduling, and Juneau, from nine to five hours. The cost for the initial vessel is expected to be about $32 million, with the federal government picking up 90% of that cost and the state 10%. The plan is for one ferry with the option of two more in the future if communities like them, if funding permits and if the first ferry proves suitable.