The Way We Were

Feb. 23, 1922

The Firemen’s Annual Benefit Ball on the evening of Washington’s Birthday was well attended and a huge success socially. Apparatus from the fire hall was used most effectively in the decorative scheme. Carl Carlson acted as floor manager. The net proceeds amounted to $49.15. This increases the accident fund to $435. The Parent-Teacher Association served lunch upstairs during the dance. The proceeds from the lunch, which amounted to about $25, will be used by the PTA to help defray the school’s expenses of participating in the interscholastic meet in Juneau.

Feb. 21, 1947

The University of Alaska Mining Extension Course, which was scheduled to start this week, will begin next Monday at the high school. Leo H. Saarela, instructor, has been teaching the course in Ketchikan and arrived here Wednesday evening on the mailboat Dart. Mr. Saarela said he wanted it understood that the course is open to all persons without regard to previous training or academic qualifications. Anyone interested in the mineral industry should find the course informative, as this year’s lectures will be illustrated with prepared films. There is no fee and a charge will be collected only for the books and material used. The latter half of the course will include mineral testing, and anyone having mineral or rock samples is invited to bring them to the class where they can work on them under the instructor’s supervision.

Feb. 25, 1972

Nearly 30 cases of mumps have struck Wrangell residents in the past month, according to local health officials. Public Health Nurse Gail Pollock provided the Sentinel with a description of the disease, which can strike adults as well as children. Dr. Harriet Schirmer recommended that sufferers from mumps can ease their discomfort by getting plenty of rest and taking aspirin. Girls, she said, should rest two days after swelling has gone down to prevent complications, and boys and men should rest for at least 10 days after swelling subsides. The mumps vaccine is not available through the health center. Persons interested in the vaccine should talk to their private physician and the complications such as orchitis and oophoritis should be discussed.

Feb. 27, 1997

The idea of a travel lift, which has been kicked around for several years, has emerged again recently for serious discussion. This time, port commissioners and boat owners alike are determined to either act on the idea soon or put it to rest forever. It is, as the saying goes, time to fish or cut bait. At a port commission workshop Feb. 19, an informal group led by Mark Robinson began discussing a possible co-op to run the facility if the city pays the initial cost of the lift, anywhere from $160 to $400. The idea also is likely to come up at a March 6 port commission workshop with the planning and zoning board over use of the old sawmill property downtown, which the city purchased last December. If the travel lift plan goes ahead, it almost certainly would involve city financial participation, although the co-op would manage the facility.