The Way We Were

April 3, 1924

Joe Mahoney and Dick Nuckols killed a huge gray wolf at Smuggler’s Cove recently just as the animal was about to attack Mahoney. They had been at the Helm Bay Mining Company’s property and while on their way to town were forced to stop at Smuggler’s Cove on account of a storm. While out on the beach after a mess of clams, Nuckols saw a gray wolf sneaking up back of Mahoney with murder in his eye. Having his gun by his side, Nuckols immediately grabbed it and fired, hitting the wolf in the foreleg. This attracted the attention of Mahoney, who seized his gun and brought the wolf to the ground. The animal was a very large one and evidently at the point of starvation.

April 1, 1949

Wrangell’s territorial legislators James Nolan and Doris Barnes helped make the enviable record of achievement set in the 19th territorial Legislature. Nolan headed the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which was instrumental in balancing the territorial budget and putting through a basic tax program. Mrs. Barnes was a member of that committee and also chair of the Committee on Territorial Institutions. Through their joint efforts, the $11,000 in Wrangell school bonds were canceled. Nolan authored the measure which frees municipal power plants from paying the territorial motor fuel tax. Mrs. Barnes sponsored the bill which permits cities to levy a sales tax up to two percent after a vote of the people and at the same time fixes the limit of property tax in municipalities at two percent.

April 3, 1974

Routine maintenance work on the Mill Creek, Pats Creek, Kunk’s Creek, Anan Creek, Aaron Creek, Wrangell Reservoir and Rainbow Falls trails will be done this summer by the U.S. Forest Service, according to Division Supervisor Knox Marshal. The work is scheduled to start sometime in May and will be done by local men as much as possible. Work on the Pats Creek trail will include the sweeping out of a trail from the end of the road to the creek in addition to the trail from the beach to the lake. It is planned to do a small amount of repair work in the Wrangell Park, such as building a new bridge across the creek and fixing the broken tables and damaged shelters.

April 1, 1999

Wrangell’s students are now riding the “world’s most modern conventional school buses,” says the owner of those vehicles. Etolin Bus Co. has just purchased two new Blue Bird school buses with such recent safety and comfort features that only one other district in the state has a similar vehicle. Company owner Greg McCormack notes that many of the new features enable drivers to concentrate more efficiently on driving and safety. A sloping hood makes these new buses immediately identifiable. It allows the driver a better view of students walking in front of the bus. Attached to the front bumper is a gate that swings out as the stop arm comes out and forces students to stop and wait for oncoming traffic.