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In Spades!!! Planned all year from last fourth to be there again for the umpteen time and then, all to the good, our extended family is planning to gather at home here in Ketchikan. I will truly miss the fourth in Wrangell.
Let me issue a warning to visitors on the fireworks. Please be patient. The town will wait till it is DARK. So that means near 11 PM. I have been frustrated in the past as visitors become bored or drop off to early bed and either miss which if you are in the Reliance Harbor visitor float, will not be possible as the fireworks go off over head.
A bit of history and interest. Each year the town has a number of young ladies who run for Forth Queen. The tickets are a buck a piece. These ticket sales fund the fireworks for the NEXT fourth and New Years. Last year the two candidates sold- Are you ready?? Are you sure? The population of Wrangell on a good day is 1800 souls. Okay- Last year the girls sold a total of $160,000.00 Yes, that is not a mistake. Of this amount the winning queen receives a scholarship of a given amount, There is a public drawing for cash of $5,000.00 first draw and then downward from there.
Do not pass up the home made root beer by the hospital nurses. Buck a bottle and darn good!
The downtown is converted to great food offerings, home made pies, Beer soaked Brauts with custom made sausage, Barbecues, Fish and Chips, it goes on and on.
Wonderful little town parade showing off the home town pride, the fire department with all the wanting to, kids riding on the rigs. Knowing that the fire department personnel involved all rode those same trucks when they were kids.
As a visitor watching all the college and out of town family mingling in the street crowd hugging and high fiving each other. Just a great moment to view.
Did I mention the 9 hole golf course? 'Muskeg Meadows' has carts, clubs and a challenging course.
However it is the fireworks that is spectatular. Once it starts, it go's on and on.
Oooooo I am going to miss this truly.
Al-Ketchikan
