Local Briefs
School time capsule before School Board
JUNEAU - The Juneau School Board will hear testimony tonight from members of the Juneau Masons about the fate of a Masonic "box of deposits," or time capsule, placed under cornerstone of Juneau-Douglas High School at the time of the school's construction in 1956. The box was uncovered during the recent renovation.
Though the School Board was going to open the box at tonight's meeting, the Masons, among them past president John Sandor, have urged the board to wait four years. Then, the box will be 50.
"Because of the historical significance and public importance of the Juneau-Douglas High School to our community, we presume the opening and disposition of the contents of the 'box of deposits' will be carefully planned with appropriate public involvement, including all generations related to our present and future high school," wrote Sandor in a letter sent to officials.
Sandor said many Masons around the country observe the custom of placing a box of deposits, which bear "testimony to the energy, industry and culture" of the time the box was buried, under a cornerstone in the northwestern end of a public building. The tradition of cornerstone laying began in Europe before the colonization of the United States, he said.
Police find weapon at shooting scene
JUNEAU - Police have found the weapon that may have been used to shoot a man Saturday morning in Auke Bay.
Frank Brian Rowcroft, 28, was shot Saturday outside of his grandmother's home. He remained in stable condition today at Bartlett Regional Hospital, said Sheryl Washburn, a hospital spokeswoman.
Rowcroft was indicted in May on first-degree theft charges stemming from an alleged March heist at the Juneau Super Kmart where nearly $100,000 was stolen.
Sgt. John Boltjes said today that when police arrived at the scene, Rowcroft was bound in duct tape and a handkerchief, which may have been stuffed in his mouth to keep him quiet, was nearby on the lawn.
Boltjes said after combing the scene for evidence, police found a .22 caliber shotgun near where Rowcroft was found. Though a small caliber bullet was pulled from Rowcroft's body, Boltjes said police cannot confirm it came from the rifle. Police will send the bullet and the rifle to Anchorage for testing at the state crime lab.
In-person absentee voting underway
JUNEAU - In-person absentee voting for the Oct. 1 city election started Monday at City Hall and the Mendenhall Center and will run through Sept. 28.
At City Hall, absentee voting will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Sept. 27 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 28. Voting will be in rooms 203 and 204 upstairs near the city manager's office. An elevator is near the entrance across from Marine Park.
At the Mendenhall Center, absentee voting will be from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays through Sept. 20 and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 21. From Sept. 23 to 27, the hours will be from 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Sept. 28, absentee voting will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.