The Way We Were

August 15, 1912: A Southeastern Alaska nugget in the shape of a business opportunity faithfully worked was picked up by W.H. Bailey and partner who cleaned up $1,400.00 this season baking for the trollers in the vicinity of Forester Island. While the gold nugget may be rare in this section, the business opportunity makes profitable “diggin's” for an enterprising being. Mr. Bailey as seen in another column came in on the Uncle Dan from the west, with $700.00 as his share of profits from the short season, took passage for Seattle last night.

August 13, 1937: Lee Considine, Wrangell big game guide, will leave here next Monday for Juneau where he will join the yacht Seyelyn II under charter to Irving Berlin, as hunting guide to the popular songwriter. The Seyelyn II, with Captain Casey Moran in command, arrived in Ketchikan the latter part of the week with Berlin, his wife, the former Ellen Mackay and two children, Mary Ellen and Linda Louise and 10-year old Sammy Goldwin Jr., the son of the motion picture producer. They visited recreation areas and salmon canneries in the Ketchikan district and will visit Anan Creek in Wrangell district en route to Juneau. Considine will be with Mr. Berlin for two weeks on a fishing and hunting cruise along the mainland and on Baranof and Chicagof and other islands.

August 10, 1962: Alaska for now formed its own Grand Assembly of Rainbow for Girls and will no longer be under the jurisdiction of Washington and Idaho. Tuesday Aug. 14 is the date for the first visitation of Miss Mary Halm, Grand Worthy Advisor of Alaska. Coming with Mary is Grand Assembly Reporter Joan Benson; Mrs. Wm. McClure, Grand Mother Advisor; Mrs. Frank Tillotson, Mother Advisor of Ketchikan Assembly; Mrs. Dean Asaph, Past Associate Mother advisor; Mrs. Al Robertson, Associate Mother Advisor and 10 girls from the Ketchikan Assembly.

August 13, 1987: A new boys varsity basketball coach has been hired for Wrangell Junior-Senior High School. School Board members at a meeting Monday approved hiring E. Ray Stokes to fill the junior high math, science and health teaching post vacated last week by Jim Baker. Baker left to take a teaching job at Labouchere Bay. Stokes also will work as boys basketball coach, replacing Bill Gablehouse who has resigned the coaching job but will remain as a teacher this year. Stokes comes to Wrangell from Butte High School at Arco, Idaho, where he also has served as head basketball coach. In an interview with the Sentinel late Monday, Stokes said his team was rated eight in an eight-team league for the past three years - but his players pulled off third-place finishes during the same period. He said he wanted to wait and observe the players before setting goals for coaching in Wrangell, but said he likes “a fast-paced” game. “I like a lot of pressure,” he said. “The biggest thing, though is getting along with your athletes.” According to his application, Stokes has been employed at the Arco school since 1984 and taught math, health and physical education. He also is qualified to teach science and driver's education, his application says.