newsminer.com

10 YEARS AGO

Jan. 2, 1999 — If Sasha Lawhon had held back a little, maybe not pushed so earnestly, her newborn daughter would claim rights as the first child born in Fairbanks in 1999.

As it is, Kelsey Lynn will have to settle for being the last baby born in town — and possibly Alaska — in 1998.

She emerged on the cusp of midnight Thursday — 11:59 to be exact — a little bundle of pink just in time to usher the old year out the door.

New Year’s baby honors instead went to Jacob Owen White, born

8 pounds, 4.1 ounces at 3:11 p.m. Friday, just down the hall from Kelsey Lynn in Fort Wainwright’s Bassett Army Community Hospital.

25 YEARS AGO

Jan. 2, 1984 — It was a quiet New Year’s weekend on area roads, but an armed robbery and a burglary added to the workload of Fairbanks police and Alaska State Troopers.

A total of 13 persons were arrested for driving while intoxicated by city policy and state troopers.

There were no reports of injury accidents on the roads.

Troopers arrested two people in Anchorage on Sunday morning in connection with an armed robbery at the Lonely Lady nightclub earlier Sunday.

City police are still searching for suspects in a break-in at Brown and Sons Auto Parts on College Road, which netted burglars about $8,500 in cash on New Year’s Eve.

50 YEARS AGO

Jan. 2, 1959 — Alaska’s new state government will begin operations tomorrow shortly after President Eisenhower signs a proclamation creating the 49th state.

When Alaska formally becomes a state tomorrow morning, bells, sirens, horns and whistles will proclaim the event in Fairbanks.

Civil defense alarms, fire department horns and sirens, factory whistles and the carillon at the First National Bank will sound.

Various business places and homes will exhibit American and Alaska flags. Signing of the president’s proclamation is due before

7 a.m. Fairbanks time.

The exact time has not been announced.

75 YEARS AGO

Jan. 2, 1934 — Alaska’s mineral production in 1933 is estimated at $11,457,000 in a preliminary survey made by the Department of the Interior.

The mineral production is divided as follows: gold, $10,758,000; silver $64,500; coal, $500,000; other minerals, $134,500.

The value of gold is based on the old price of $20.67 an ounce.

Figured at the government’s current quotation for newly mined gold the value of the 1933 gold output would be increased in value about $593,000.

The mineral output of the territory in 1932 was $11,638,000.