The Way We Were

Jan. 31, 1924

Arrangements have been made whereby the Wilson & Sylvester Mill Co. sawmill is to become a lumber manufacturing plant on a large scale. The present mill will resume operations next week, and at the same time work will begin on the installation of new and modern machinery in addition to that already in operation. Within a year the Wrangell mill will have a capacity of 100,000 board feet daily. New people have become financially interested in the mill, and as an indication that big things are not only planned but will be carried out, it may be said that the mill has contracted with the U.S. Forest Service for a 20-year supply of timber for a mill cutting not less than 100,000 board feet daily.

Jan. 28, 1949

The Alaska Net Income Tax Act is now law and is retroactive to Jan. 1, 1949. Every employer making payments of wages or salaries shall deduct and withhold from the employee’s paycheck a tax in the amount of 10 percent of the federal income tax deducted and withheld from salaries and wages. Every employer making a deduction and withholding shall furnish to the employee a record as of the amount of tax withheld from such employee on forms to be prescribed, prepared and furnished by the Tax Commission.

Jan. 30, 1974

A hefty increase in electric rates triggered by the fuel crisis may be in store for Wrangellites this summer. City Manager Herb McNabb has told the city council that a boost of 100 percent in the price of fuel oil to run the city’s generating plants is expected in July — that is when the city’s contract with Mobil Oil expires. The soon-to-expire contract calls for the sale of diesel oil to the city at a rate of 13 ½ cents per gallon, McNabb said. “We expect the new price to be someplace between 25 ½ and 27 cents,” the city manager told the Sentinel. “I don’t see how an electric rate raise can be avoided.” McNabb said fuel costs represent about one-third of the costs of generating electricity for Wrangell citizens.

Jan. 28, 1999

Dig through your closets and find your ice skates. The weather is cold and the skating rink is ready to go. The parks and recreation department has purchased a temporary, portable ice rink liner which is now in use at the Lions Field. Lights have been installed to permit evening use of the rink. The Fire Department began filling the skating rink last Wednesday, and by that evening skaters were already practicing their leaps, or at least getting better at standing up. Parks and Recreation Director Brenda Gablehouse says that the Fire Department will continue to add layers from a quarter to a half-inch thick several times a day until an optimum thickness is reached. Once winter is over, the rink will be packed up. Next winter, it will be set up at the soon-to-be-completed covered playground near the elementary school.