The Way We Were

May 15, 1924

The opening of navigation on the Stikine River this week was marked by heavy shipments of mining equipment and supplies, and a passenger list which included a number of well-known mining men. The increasing interest shown in the Dease Lake region and other sections beyond Telegraph Creek in British Columbia is an unmistakable forecast of considerable mining activity in the Cassiar the coming season. The Hazel B No. 3 and Hazel B No. 4 -- the first two boats to go up the Stikine this season -– left here Monday afternoon with a capacity cargo and full passenger lists. One boat was pushing a scow on which were 11 head of horses for the Hudson’s Bay Co.

May 20, 1949

Wrangell voters went heavily in favor of a municipal sales tax, approving it in a 216-24 tally on Monday. It was the first town in the territory to levy the tax under the new territorial law which allows towns of Alaska to levy a municipal sales tax not to exceed 2% for schools, sewer systems and limited municipal improvements. The new law, by the way, was introduced in the past territorial legislature by Wrangell’s representative in the House, Mrs. Doris M. Barnes. The tax will become effective on June 1. Out of 340 registered voters in Wrangell, 240 cast ballots in last Monday’s special election. A few towns in Alaska, such as Craig and Sitka, already have a sales tax, but their tax was imposed by popular consent, not under territorial law.

May 17, 1974

Soaring costs caught up with Wrangell with a whoosh as the city council on Tuesday: Approved a boost of one percentage point, from 4% to 5%, in the city sales tax rate; OK’d a 44.5% increase in electrical rates; and reviewed a record fiscal budget with a general fund approaching $1 million and based on a 20-mill property tax rate, up from the 18 mills that has held steady since 1969. The sales tax boost is expected to raise an additional $60,000 a year for the city treasury, City Manager Herb McNabb said. The increase in mileage will bring in another $22,000.

May 13, 1999

City employees who are sick, tired or just want to take a vacation now have three options to consider just how and how long they may do so in the future. After lengthy discussion at the city council meeting Tuesday evening, the council deferred approval of the second reading of the ordinance concerning personal vacations and sick leave. Although the council had recently made some changes to the sick leave and annual leave ordinances, Mayor Bill Privett and other council members said they felt that they were not sure that they had received enough information concerning the ordinances prior to their decision. Three new options were presented in the council packet Tuesday, including lists of the advantages and disadvantages to the city and to its employees. After discussing these options, the council decided to wait until their next meeting to vote on the second reading so the members and the city employees would have more time to study the different proposals.