The Way We Were

March 1, 1923

The annual convention of the Grand Pioneers of Alaska will be held at Nenana the latter part of this month. At the meeting of the Wrangell Pioneers Igloo Monday night, a resolution was adopted calling upon the Grand Igloo to ask the territorial legislature to enact a law granting an old-age pension of $25 a month to Alaska pioneers, whether men or women, which could be accepted in lieu of going to the Pioneers Home. The Nome Igloo is asking that such a pension be granted, and that the Pioneers receive the same regardless of whether they continue to remain residents of Alaska. The Wrangell Igloo favors a pension law that would apply to only Pioneers who continue to reside in Alaska.

March 5, 1948

On motion by Councilman Andy Barlow, seconded by Councilman P. C. McCormack, the city council voted to apply to the territorial highway engineer’s office for funds to build a road to the proposed new dam site above town. This was done on recommendations of architects who said the road would be necessary before construction could start on a new dam. Estimated cost of the road is $20,000.

March 9, 1973

The deer that took 14.8 days of a hunter’s time to bag in 1971 cost one third again as much time to get last year, according to a hunter survey conducted recently in Wrangell by Dave Zimmerman, game biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Survey findings showed that it took 20.4 days of hunter time to get a deer last year. Sixty hunters, out of a total of 558 persons holding hunting licenses in the Wrangell area, were interviewed by Zimmerman in making the survey. Results of the Wrangell survey indicated that 53% of those persons holding hunting licenses actually hunted deer during the 1972 season and 22% were successful in taking at least one deer. Most of the hunters contacted in the survey were asked if they had any feelings concerning wolves. While 57% of those interviewed said they would favor some level of wolf control, 10% said they wanted the wolves left alone and 33% voiced no opinion.

March 5, 1998

At the city council meeting last night, hospital board chairman Doug Schwartz stated that the hospital is bringing approximately $4 million into the Wrangell economy. But due to a large write-off of revenue to charity and bad debts, and pending increases in employee benefit costs, the hospital is now facing a serious financial situation. Schwartz said the intention of coming before the council was to tell them it was time for the city to help the hospital. “We don’t have any buffer left. This is an issue that is immediate.” Hospital Administrator Brian Gilbert’s report stated that total charges for patients are staying above $300,000 per month, while contractual write-offs for fiscal year 1997 totaled $153,000 for charity care and $155,000 for bad debts. The hospital also wrote down $835,000 in Medicare and Medicaid discounts. Total revenue for the year came in at $3.6 million.