20 Years ago:

Police are investigating an incident of “forking” last weekend in Fort Seward.

Someone stuck about 750 plastic forks in borough assemblyman Norm Smith’s lawn Saturday night, where he found them the next morning.  

“The tines were stuck into the ground like they were growing,” he said. 

It wasn’t the first time Smith opened his door to be greeted by a forest of forks. Last May, he found more than 300 forks stuck in his lawn. 

Smith called police, who responded to the scene and took pictures, he said. Though the prank caused no damage, sticking forks in someone’s lawn still constitutes a crime, police chief Greg Goodman said this week.

Police have no suspects, but the scale of the prank means it was probably more than one person, Goodman said. 

Smith also did some sleuthing to find the source of the forks, since the purchase or theft of so many forks might not have gone unnoticed. He checked local stores and restaurants, but couldn’t find forks identical to the ones he found in his lawn.

Smith still has all the forks, which were retrieved from the lawn by his wife and daughter.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do with all these forks. Maybe I’ll put them to use at some point in my life.”

40 Years ago:

If a hobbit knocks on your door this week, fear not.

The Haines Children’s Musical Theatre Troupe is seeking sponsors for its August 18 and 24 productions of a musical adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.” 

Thirty-five children fill the 42 roles required in the two-act play. 

Many of the youngsters have appeared in the last two troupe productions. 

Directors Claudie Eberly and Sarah Steil are seeking community help with costumes, sets and properties.

59 Years ago:

Strong opinions pro and con were voiced Wednesday night when Highway Department officials held a hearing on the proposed Chilkat River bridge. 

Eight possible routes using six possible crossings were shown on maps.

Costs are figured from the point where the route would join the existing state highway to a point at Pyramid Harbor.

According to the officials, crossings would include 34-foot roadbed, gravel surfaced, bridges that would not obstruct navigation by boats of the type presently used on the river, and causeways. 

The hearing was recorded, and anyone wishing to listen to the tape should go to the Chilkat Valley News.