March 18, 1926
A new municipal float to meet the needs of the fishermen is under construction at Wrangell, financed by the city. It will be 500 feet long and 10 feet wide, in addition to the approach which is 100 feet in length and the same width as the float and will be able to accommodate shallow-draft boats. It will offer safe winter quarters for approximately 300 fishing crafts. The new float is located at the most protected point behind the new breakwater. It will offer the only really satisfactory wintering place for small craft in Southeast.

March 16, 1951
The city water will be turned on again tomorrow, according to city maintenance man Frank Zepp, but it is primarily for fire prevention and does not indicate a large amount of water in the dam since the shutoff last Tuesday morning. The water committee, acting Mayor Harry Coulter and Zepp are asking the full cooperation of everyone in this serious situation, and the observance of the following rules: Do not run water to clear the pipes of mud. The city will continue to haul clean drinking water as needed; do not run the water to keep from freezing up. If you freeze up or shut off your water to keep from freezing, city trucks will deliver water to you.

March 17, 1976
Wrangell’s only movie theater, the 49th Star, will close its doors for good this month, a victim of high costs and diminishing business. Theater owners Dick and Jeannette Ballard said the 49th Star will go dark on March 28, following the showing of the Alaska adventure film, “Challenge to Be Free.” The building, on Front and Lynch streets, will be converted to commercial spaces downstairs and apartments on a second floor. “We feel terrible about it.” said Ballard. “If there was any way that we could keep it going, we would.”

March 22, 2001
Halibut fishermen headed out last week for the first opening of the year. Local boats and those from Craig and Petersburg have been unloading their catches at Wrangell Fisheries and Sea Level Seafoods over the weekend. The processors sent the first catch of the year south on Monday’s ferry. Now the wait is on to see how eager consumers are for fresh halibut before boats head out for more. The price stands at $2.50 a pound for fishermen, says Sea Level’s Leland Phillips, lower than last year’s by about 60 cents.