The Way We Were

April 5, 1923

A letter from U.S. Attorney General Harry Daugherty reports that the Department of Justice has taken up with the commandant of the Coast Guard Service the matter of protecting Alaska fox farmers against poachers. Assurances have been given that the patrol boats will aid in the work. Orders have been issued to the Coast Guard vessels to work in conjunction with Department of Justice officials in this endeavor. Special efforts are to be made to run down poachers. Mayor George D. Beaumont also received a telegram from the attorney general, instructing him, as U.S. marshal, to appoint special deputies from among the executive officers of the Coast Guard fleet to assist in protection of fox ranches.

April 2, 1948

At the Wrangell city council meeting last night, councilman Lee Ellis said Wrangell’s water situation is still critical. He reported that last Monday, when the town was out of water, water from the upper storage dam was allowed to run into the lower dam, and that dam now has water to within five or six feet of the spillway, but if people do not conserve water, and if this dry, cold weather continues, the town is liable again to be out of water. Councilman McCormack, who also put in much time trying to restore water supply to the town last Monday, said it might be possible that the water would have to be shut off over the whole town during certain hours. He, and others, cautioned residents against allowing faucets to run during this critical time.

April 6, 1973

Work has begun on the new American Legion Merlin Elmer Palmer Post No. 6. The new structure will replace an older building the legion has occupied since 1940. The new Legion Hall will be located on Zimovia Highway, across from the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Fill already has been placed in the area. The single-story frame building, which will be partially prefabricated, will provide 3,744 square feet of floor space. In addition to a meeting room, there will be a kitchen and restrooms. Construction of the building will be done largely by volunteer labor, said Ned Zenger, an officer of the Legion.

April 2, 1998

The U.S. Forest Service plans to trim its Alaska workforce by more than 110 positions over the next few years as part of a restructuring effort, according to a transition team report. About 90 full-time jobs would be cut from the agency’s offices in Southeast, including 29 in Ketchikan, 44 in Sitka and 17 from Juneau by late 2000. Employees will not be laid off, as cuts will come from routine transfers, attrition and retirement. Petersburg will add eight jobs, while Wrangell will gain four. The agency says the cuts will be eased because 41 employees already have accepted a buyout plan that gives them cash up front if they retire by Jan. 2.