Alex McCarthy

Juneau Drug manager Brenda Lamas peers into a basement storage room below the store on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. The room is said to be haunted and Lamas said she will not enter the room. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Spirits from shipwreck still spooking downtown business

As Juneau Drug Manager Brenda Lamas walks down the aisles of toilet paper, allergy medication and hair dryers, it’s clear why she doesn’t like to… Continue reading

Juneau Drug manager Brenda Lamas peers into a basement storage room below the store on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. The room is said to be haunted and Lamas said she will not enter the room. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Trevor Kirchhoff, a co-owner of Juneau Greens, talks about their new indoor hydroponic growing system to produce basil and other leafy greens for sale in local grocery outlets on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Growers use hydroponic system — usually reserved for marijuana — to grow vegetables

It’s a setup that’s usually associated with a different kind of green plant. Located in a boat condo toward Auke Bay, the doors to the… Continue reading

Trevor Kirchhoff, a co-owner of Juneau Greens, talks about their new indoor hydroponic growing system to produce basil and other leafy greens for sale in local grocery outlets on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A statue of Martin Luther. (Photo courtesy of Pixastock)

Churches celebrate 500-year anniversary of Reformation

For Lutheran churches, Halloween is about much more than costumes and candy. This year in particular carries a special significance. On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin… Continue reading

A statue of Martin Luther. (Photo courtesy of Pixastock)
A seaplane over Alaska. (Thinkstock)

State Troopers ‘reasonably certain’ found wreckage, human remains are from missing 2008 flight

In August 2008, a Cessna 182 airplane took off from Young Lake about 15 miles south of Juneau en route to the Juneau International Airport.… Continue reading

A seaplane over Alaska. (Thinkstock)
Bladesmith David Mirabile shows an axe he made from Damascus steel and a walrus oosik in his Juneau shop on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau bladesmith wins History Channel sword-making competition

Prior to competing on History Channel’s “Forged in Fire,” a show that pits expert bladesmiths against each other in a sword-making competition, David Mirabile had… Continue reading

Bladesmith David Mirabile shows an axe he made from Damascus steel and a walrus oosik in his Juneau shop on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Breffni Registered Agent Maureen Barrett-Smith, watches as used furniture is loaded into a van while making the Bergmann Hotel ready for an open house on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017.

Bergmann Hotel is up for sale

Starting Tuesday, the Bergmann Hotel will be for sale. Breffni Place Properties, which owns the Bergmann and other properties in town, is selling the Bergmann… Continue reading

Breffni Registered Agent Maureen Barrett-Smith, watches as used furniture is loaded into a van while making the Bergmann Hotel ready for an open house on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017.
A derelict vessel is submerged in Gastineau Channel near the Douglas Bridge on Oct. 23, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Boat sinks in Gastineau Channel

Midway through last week, a boat with no name sank into the waters of Gastineau Channel. As of Monday afternoon, the 28-foot vessel was still… Continue reading

A derelict vessel is submerged in Gastineau Channel near the Douglas Bridge on Oct. 23, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The former Public Safety Building on Whittier Street is the top choice for a warming center which could open Nov. 15 from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every night. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City inches closer to setting up winter warming center

The City and Borough of Juneau is aiming to get a winter warming center up and running, and the Assembly is also setting its sights… Continue reading

The former Public Safety Building on Whittier Street is the top choice for a warming center which could open Nov. 15 from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every night. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Don Cook, father of Brandon Cook, who was murdered in 2015, watches balloons they released with friends and family to honor his son in front of Safeway on Friday, Oct. 20, 2017. Cook and his wife, Amanda, flew up from Wewoka, Oklahoma, this week to witness the trial of Christopher Strawn, 34. On Wednesday, the jury took just three and a half hours to reach a decision guilty on charges of first-degree. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Two years after son’s death, his father runs in his footsteps

Don Cook was ready to run. It was 41 degrees and raining as the sky was quickly growing darker Friday evening, not exactly ideal conditions… Continue reading

Don Cook, father of Brandon Cook, who was murdered in 2015, watches balloons they released with friends and family to honor his son in front of Safeway on Friday, Oct. 20, 2017. Cook and his wife, Amanda, flew up from Wewoka, Oklahoma, this week to witness the trial of Christopher Strawn, 34. On Wednesday, the jury took just three and a half hours to reach a decision guilty on charges of first-degree. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Christopher Strawn, right, confers with criminal defense attorney Nicholas Polasky during his trial in Juneau Superior Court on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. Strawn, 34, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the shooting death of Brandon Cook in October 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Chris Strawn murder trial goes to jury

Christopher Strawn’s case is now in the hands of 12 of his peers. Strawn, on trial for the Oct. 20, 2015 shooting death of Brandon… Continue reading

Christopher Strawn, right, confers with criminal defense attorney Nicholas Polasky during his trial in Juneau Superior Court on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. Strawn, 34, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the shooting death of Brandon Cook in October 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Leticia McRae picks up garbage near Sunny Point on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

One woman’s fight with Juneau’s trash

Basking in the sun on this bright October afternoon, a line of ducks cruises through the water of Gastineau Channel near where the Douglas Bridge… Continue reading

Leticia McRae picks up garbage near Sunny Point on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Christopher Strawn, right, confers with criminal defense attorney Nicholas Polasky during his trial in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 16, 2017. Strawn, 34, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the shooting death of Brandon Cook in October 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Jury convicts Strawn on all counts

Nearly two years to the day after the shooting death of Brandon Cook, Christopher Strawn was found guilty of his murder. The jury in Strawn’s… Continue reading

Christopher Strawn, right, confers with criminal defense attorney Nicholas Polasky during his trial in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 16, 2017. Strawn, 34, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the shooting death of Brandon Cook in October 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

School Board approves renaming Gastineau School to include Tlingit word ‘Sayéik’

Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting lasted more than four hours, including changes in the makeup of the board and votes on a few key issues.… Continue reading

Tim Shockley, a resident of the Kodzoff Acres Mobile Home Park, answers questions by Christopher Strawn during Strawn’s trial in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. Strawn, 34, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the shooting death of Brandon Cook in October 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Murder defendant Christopher Strawn takes stand as trial nears an end

Christopher Strawn, representing himself in his trial for the Oct. 20, 2015 murder of Brandon Cook, began making the case for his defense Tuesday morning.… Continue reading

Tim Shockley, a resident of the Kodzoff Acres Mobile Home Park, answers questions by Christopher Strawn during Strawn’s trial in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. Strawn, 34, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the shooting death of Brandon Cook in October 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Assembly not ready to expand senior tax exemption yet

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly isn’t making changes to the senior sales tax exemption quite yet. A proposed ordinance at Monday’s meeting would… Continue reading

Assembly offers support for bill that would roll back some SB 91 provisions

Last month, Gov. Bill Walker spoke in support of Senate Bill 54, which would increase the penalties for some minor crimes. On Monday night, the… Continue reading

Sections of picket fence are loaded onto a flatbed trailer as work begins on the demolition of Project Playground at Twin Lakes on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Pickets for new playground available for purchase, personalization

When the new playground is built at Twin Lakes, it will bear not only the ideas and suggestions of the people of Juneau, but it… Continue reading

Sections of picket fence are loaded onto a flatbed trailer as work begins on the demolition of Project Playground at Twin Lakes on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Seasonal parking now available at Marine Park Plaza

From now until April, parking downtown is going to be a little easier for some. Anyone with a Marine Parking Garage parking permit will be… Continue reading

Assembly meets for first time since election, talking sales tax, West Douglas road

Monday’s City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting will be the first one in a month, and will get right to business. The meeting will… Continue reading

Liam, Lawrence and Logan David are identical triplets born on April 23, 2017, to parents John David and Lory Rowe. They were photographed at their Mendenhall Valley home on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Who’s who? Identical triplets prove difficult to tell apart

Their right toenail. That’s how you tell them apart. Lawrence’s is painted blue. Liam’s is painted green. Logan’s isn’t painted. Other than that, telling the… Continue reading

Liam, Lawrence and Logan David are identical triplets born on April 23, 2017, to parents John David and Lory Rowe. They were photographed at their Mendenhall Valley home on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)