The Way We Were

Jan. 4, 1923

A record crowd witnessed the opening game of the basketball tournament Thursday afternoon between Wrangell and Ketchikan and got their money’s worth of thrills without a doubt. Kayhi played a fast game from the beginning and drew first blood, the lead alternating with regularity, the score being 7-5 at the end of the first half in favor of the visitors. In the second, Wrangell tightened up and local fans cheered them lustily as they kept Ketchikan from making more than two baskets while they were getting four points on fouls and took three baskets. Final score: 15-11 for Wrangell. In a hard-fought game Thursday night, Metlakatla defeated Douglas. The Ketchikan-Metlakatla game Friday afternoon was the least exciting of the series, the victory being overwhelmingly for Metlakatla. The Rink was packed for the last game of the tournament Friday night when Douglas and Wrangell met on the local floor for the first time since the eventful game of a year ago. Wrangell’s close defense made it difficult for Douglas to get near the basket, and the homeboys piled up the score until it stood at 25-10 in the end.

Jan. 9, 1948

The Bible study group of the Presbyterian Church, which sponsored the drive in Wrangell for the Christmas Ship which is due to sail from Seattle tomorrow to take food and clothing to Europe, collected $120 which it is forwarding to the Seattle headquarters. The Rev. G.C. Crowell, through courtesy of the Coliseum Theater, made an appeal between pictures at the theater, and children of the seventh grade at school distributed leaflets and all members of the Bible study group took part in the collection of funds. The Rev. and Mrs. Crowell today expressed appreciation to all who took part in the drive, either by working or by donating.

Jan. 5, 1973

A provision for the storage of tanner crab pots was one of 135 proposed changes to Alaska’s commercial fishing regulations for 1973 adopted by the Board of Fish and Game meeting recently in Kodiak. The board approved a general provision for tanner crab pot storage at 15 fathoms or less with all doors secured open and bait and bait containers removed, according to a report from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Regulation changes that apply specifically to Southeast Alaska are: The weekly fishing period for purse seine gear was changed to open on Sunday. The normal weekly fishing period will be from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. Wednesday. Set gillnets were deleted as legal gear in Southeast Alaska. The Districts 9 through 15 sablefish season was established at Sept. 1 through Nov. 15, with a catch quota of one million pounds.

Jan. 8, 1998

The local Alaska Department of Fish and Game office, closed last year due to budgetary reasons as well as the retirement of Randy Timothy and Anita Ryll, will again be opening its doors in February, with Gordan “Gordie” Woods assuming the position. Woods will come to Wrangell after serving 23 years in a similar position for the Fish and Game office in Yakutat. According to William Bermann, area management biologist for commercial fisheries in the Wrangell and Petersburg area, Woods’ permanent seasonal position will be funded in part by three state divisions, including Commercial Fisheries, Sport Fisheries and the Game Division.