In the Sentinel 75, 50 and 25 years ago.
May 2, 1941: With Mrs. Ted Sterling, wife of Capt. Sterling, breaking the traditional bottle of champagne over her bow as she slid gracefully down the ways, the new Hazel B No. 1 of the Barrington Transportation Company was launched yesterday afternoon at the Anderson Shipyard. The fifth riverboat Capt. S.C. Barrington has built in his many years in the north from the Yukon to the Stikine, the new No. 1 brings the Barrington fleet to three vessels and a new barge just completed, for traffic on the river this summer, given new impetus by the contract for hauling supplies for Watson Lake Airport. The new boat will be ready for service shortly. Meanwhile, the Hazel B No. 3 started the season’s operations by going up the river last Saturday, the second time in history the river boats have been able to take to the Stikine in April. The No. 2 sails Monday.
May 2, 1966: Marvin Hartshorn, telephone firm manager, has been elected chairman of the Fourth of July celebration committee. Theme for this year’s Chamber of Commerce sponsored event is “The Sound of Music.” A dance will kick off the program on June 3, a month before the coronation ball. Activities on the Fourth of July include a scrapfish derby, fireworks and a parade. Mrs. Carol Ferguson has been elected treasurer of the committee planning the event. Mrs. Alberta Randall is secretary. Art Clark will handle the scrapfish derby and Ole Buness the fireworks. Brax Cleman is the chairman of the queen contest committee.
May 2, 1991: Should the city raise property taxes from 9 to 11 mills next year? The answer was a resounding “no,” when the proposed 1991-92 budget was presented to the City Council April 23. “This is not what we promised the people, 11 mills,” Councilman Tom Sims said. He was referring to April 1990, when the council asked voters to approve a 2-cent hike in the city sales tax—basically promising to hold the line on property taxes if the sales-tax hike were approved. Councilwoman Fern Neimeyer, meanwhile, said she did not believe the additional property tax increase is needed. For example, she said, the bed tax on hotel-motel rooms in Wrangell was approved to provide money for community promotion. However, the city continues to provide general fund money for promotion in addition to bed tax money, she said. “I think promotion is really important, but money in people’s pockets is important, too,” she said. Mayor Don House said his position against a property tax increase had not changed since last year when he asked voters to approve the sales tax hike instead.
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