Local Briefs
Couple missing overnight is rescued
JUNEAU - A husband and wife who live on Shelter Island were stranded overnight in a cabin there but found safe this morning by the U.S. Coast Guard.
"The couple needed no medical assistance. They are remaining on Shelter Island where they reside," said Petty Officer Roger Wetherell, spokesman for the Coast Guard.
Beverly Blanchard, 40, and Ben Meritt, 48, left Amalga Harbor in their navy blue, 18-foot Lund skiff. They live on Shelter Island and were headed for a popular fishing spot on the island, Handtrollers Cove. They were reported overdue by friends around 10 p.m. Sunday, Wetherell said. At the time, winds were 20 knots and snow was heavy.
The Coast Guard started searching about 10:20 p.m., using a 47-foot motor life boat from Juneau and a helicopter from Sitka. "The helicopter had to return to Sitka because the visibility was such that they could not see anything," Wetherell said. "A little after midnight, the life boat had to stop because they couldn't see more than 20 yards. They pulled into Auke Bay for the night."
The life boat and the helicopter resumed the search at first light this morning, Wetherell said.
Blanchard and Meritt were located at 9:09 a.m. today in a cabin on Shelter Island.
Harborview changes before school board
JUNEAU - The Juneau School Board will address the reorganization of Harborview Elementary and a 10-year charter renewal for the Juneau Community Charter School at its regular meeting Tuesday evening.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the district office board room, 1208 Glacier Ave.
The board will consider a plan for reorganizing Harborview to accommodate programs that will be displaced from the Marie Drake building next year when high school renovations begin.
Last month, the board's facilities committee voted to recommend a plan that would move one part of a special education preschool program, as well as some district training and storage space, away from the Harborview/Marie Drake complex.
There will also be a first reading for renewal of the charter school's charter for 10 years. The original charter, granted in 1997, expires June 30.
Assembly reviews Planning appointments
JUNEAU - Juneau Assembly members plan to reseat three incumbents to the Juneau Planning Commission, but haven't decided who will fill a fourth open seat.
Human Resources Committee Chairman Don Etheridge said his committee has recommended the Assembly re-appoint Johan Dybdahl, Merrill Sanford and Marshal Kendziorek to the commission. Incumbent Roger Allington has decided not to seek another term, Etheridge said.
At a meeting last month, Assembly members didn't reach a consensus on the fourth appointment, so the committee will meet again, Etheridge said. Jim Scholz, Nancy Waterman, Clancy DeSmet, John Cooper and Richard Monkman have applied. The mayor and all Assembly members serve on the Human Resources Committee when Planning Commission appointments are under consideration.