The Way We Were

Nov. 9, 1922

At a public meeting at the city hall Thursday evening, the Alaska Game Protective Association of Wrangell was organized. Officers elected were: Chas.Benjamin, president; J.G. Grant, vice president; Dr. R.J. Diven, secretary-treasurer. John E. Worden served as secretary pro tem. At this meeting, the association endorsed the Alaska Game Bill, with two changes recommended, and passed a resolution asking that there be undertaken an extensive program of stocking lands with furbearers and game. This work had already been started by the U.S. Biological Survey in a small way and plans worked out for further work as funds permit. During an informal discussion about the waterfowl season, night shooting and other subjects were considered.

Nov. 7, 1947

Announcement was made this week by A.V. Friedman, of the Wrangell Telephone Co., that his company would soon issue new phone books. Mr. Friedman said that it was his idea to give Wrangell its first telephone book and city directory combined. With names and addresses of all the people of the town, it will facilitate handling of long-distance calls which the telephone company will be able to receive from the Outside in the near future. Sam Pickering, of the local U.S. Signal Corps office, is cooperating and helping Mr. Friedman in getting together the material for the new directory. All the people in town, whether they have a telephone or not, are asked to cooperate in being listed in the directory by leaving their name and address or box number at the Sentinel, the Signal Corps office or telephone office. It is desired that the directory show the name of the person, the street on which he lives, or in case the street or road has no name, then the post office box number. It is hoped people will cooperate by leaving this information at one of the above places as soon as possible so there will be no delay in Wrangell having its first telephone and city directory in history.

Nov. 9, 1972

Four projects in the Wrangell area have been delayed or halted by the Sierra Club’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service. The conservation group is seeking to halt any development in potential wilderness areas prior to determination as to whether or not that land should be retained in wilderness status. The Sierra Club obtained a temporary restarting order July 1 and the case comes to trial Dec. 11 in San Francisco. Gary McCoy, Wrangell District Ranger for the Forest Service, said the local projects affected by the suit include the Bransfield East timber sale, bridge and trail construction on Anan Creek, and a snag-falling project on the Stikine River. In addition, McCoy said, the Sierra Club’s suit has halted work on the issuance of a special-use permit for construction of a watchman’s cabin in the Three Way Pass area.

Nov. 6, 1997

At their regular meeting Monday evening, the Wrangell School Board made an adjustment to the weapons-free schools policy, allowing local administrators more leeway in dealing with students who inadvertently bring objects onto school grounds that might be classified as weapons. The new policy permits the superintendent, on a case-by-case basis, to accept the recommendation for action offered by the principal of the school, but still allows for the strongest measures to be taken against anyone who intentionally brings a weapon onto school grounds.