In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago.
May 5, 1915: Like a thunder bolt from a clear sky came the news of the new ruling made by Judge Jennings last Friday at Juneau, as it was generally conceded that the system used last year, of having every citizen signify their opinion of the liquor traffic by saying for or against, would be used again this year. So when the new ruling was made calling for a secret ballot election, it came as a big surprise. Much significance is placed on the new ruling and it is thought by some that it means the death of the liquor traffic in many of the towns in Southeastern Alaska. What the outcome of the election will be in Wrangell is unknown, but the outcome means much to the town. In the minds of many, the ruling is unfair to the saloon men, as they are now subject to a heavy license and this election only means another expense. Also another unfair view expressed is the fact that the saloon men must cast a vote equal to two-thirds of the census of the town, and if a citizen is sick or otherwise unable to go to the polls, even if he be the owner of a saloon, Judge Jennings says his vote is counted as a dry vote.
May 3, 1940: One of the most colorful affairs in Wrangell's history appears in prospect for Saturday night, May 18 at the ANB Hall when the Finance Committee of the Wrangell Potlatch puts on its costume Potlatch dance. Reports are that young and old are getting their Potlatch blouses ready, and if there is standing room in the ANB Hall it will be a wonder. Of the 1,142 census-counted residents of Wrangell, indications are that at least a thousand of them will be there, or at least they will be there trying to get in. Chairman Frank S. Barnes and his committee made up of Leo McCormack, Walter Waters, Leonard Campbell and James Nolan are arranging prizes appropriate of the occasion for the best costumes and advise these masters of the dance, better wear your blouse. Not even the roaring, carefree early days of old Wrangell afforded a more colorful spectacle than that promised for the evening of May 18 in this year of 1940 at the ANB Hall.
April 30, 1965: The North Arm Prospector, skippered by Douglas Dewer, arrived in Wrangell this week enroute to the big Kennco copper camp at Stud River 60 miles up the Stikine. The Prospector, a brand new $100,000 tunneled 42 foot steel and aluminum tug built special for the Stikine River, brought two barges with her, both loaded with material designed for the camp. One barge, a special shallow draft steel fuel carrier was also special for North Arm Transportation of Vancouver to ply Stikine and Stud Rivers. The barge will pack 90,000 gallons of fuel and is diesel electric. It can carry bulldozers, shovels and heavy equipment. Stikine Transportation Co. of Wrangell, headed by Edwin Calbreath, will be transferring cargo from the other deeper draft barge for the run up the river with his equipment.
May 3, 1990: School board members began the painstaking -and painful-process of financial cuts this week in the wake of a City Council decision to refuse a $340,000 funding hike requested by the school system. Administrators studied the district's contract with the Wrangell Teachers Association and consulted with legal advisers to ensure the budget-cutting actions taken by the board adhere to legal and contract requirements. “It's going to be based on what we can and can't do within our contracts and legally,” School Board President Bill Messmer said Monday as the cutback process began. The City Council voted unanimously April 26 to reject the School Board's more than $1 million funding request for the fiscal year beginning July 1. That left the School Board with the same level of funding as this year-$680,284-and the need to drastically reduce spending plans for next year. A majority of the council members acknowledged they made the funding decisions based on available money rather than educational need. Passage of a 2-cent hike in the sales tax on May 22 could mean a brighter financial outlook for the city, they said. Councilman Bob Grant said he wanted to study the city's proposed budget, which was formally presented to the council April 24. Perhaps cuts can be made, perhaps some property tax increase ordered to come up with additional money for the school system, he said.
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