Ben Hohenstatt

Delia (Vivian Melde) is illuminated by a flashlight's beam following a frightening encounter with a ghost during a rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre's "The Brothers Paranormal." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Delia (Vivian Melde) is illuminated by a flashlight's beam following a frightening encounter with a ghost during a rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre's "The Brothers Paranormal." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Nick Jans
This photo provided by Nick Jans shows the wolf known as Romeo, famous for his friendly interactions with locals and their pets. Romeo inspired a series of events this month that culminates in “Wolf Songs,” which will premiere two original works inspired by the wolf. Jans who wrote the book “A Wolf Called Romeo” is credited with the text for a musical piece of the same title.

Songs in the key of wildlife

‘Wolf Songs’ features original works about Juneau’s famous Romeo.

Courtesy Photo / Nick Jans
This photo provided by Nick Jans shows the wolf known as Romeo, famous for his friendly interactions with locals and their pets. Romeo inspired a series of events this month that culminates in “Wolf Songs,” which will premiere two original works inspired by the wolf. Jans who wrote the book “A Wolf Called Romeo” is credited with the text for a musical piece of the same title.
Max (Mike Rao), Felix (Eddie Jones) and Visarut (Phai Giron) consult a book containing information that attempts to rationalize an apparent uptick in sightings of “Asian-looking” ghosts. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Max (Mike Rao), Felix (Eddie Jones) and Visarut (Phai Giron) consult a book containing information that attempts to rationalize an apparent uptick in sightings of “Asian-looking” ghosts. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Felix (Eddie Jones ), Vivian Melde (Della), Max (Mike Rao) and  Visarut  (Phai Giron) sit on high alert for signs of the supernatural during a rehearsal of "Brothers Paranormal" at Perseverance Theatre. The play, which opens Friday tells the story of two Thai American brothers hired by a Black couple to investigate a ghost. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Representation takes center stage

Thai American and Black communities are at the forefront of theater’s new play.

Felix (Eddie Jones ), Vivian Melde (Della), Max (Mike Rao) and  Visarut  (Phai Giron) sit on high alert for signs of the supernatural during a rehearsal of "Brothers Paranormal" at Perseverance Theatre. The play, which opens Friday tells the story of two Thai American brothers hired by a Black couple to investigate a ghost. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Police arrested a 20-year-old for a variety of charges stemming from a string of incidents where he shot passersby and other vehicles from a car with a BB gun. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Local man arrested on sex abuse charges

Report was made on Wednesday, a Thursday arrest followed.

Police arrested a 20-year-old for a variety of charges stemming from a string of incidents where he shot passersby and other vehicles from a car with a BB gun. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
JDHS' Mila Hargrave pivots toward the hoop for a tough inside shot while tightly defended by TMHS' Sydney Strong. In the background JDHS' Kiyara Miller and TMHS' Kerra Baxter look on. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS' Mila Hargrave pivots toward the hoop for a tough inside shot while tightly defended by TMHS' Sydney Strong. In the background JDHS' Kiyara Miller and TMHS' Kerra Baxter look on. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Alwen Carrillo coils up to launch a shot in a 63-50 win at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday night. Carillo led the Crimson Bears in scoring 21 points and made some slick passes to set his teammates up for easy buckets. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Two late surges, two different outcomes

Boys and girls basketball games each feature wild finishes.

Alwen Carrillo coils up to launch a shot in a 63-50 win at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday night. Carillo led the Crimson Bears in scoring 21 points and made some slick passes to set his teammates up for easy buckets. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS' Orion Dybdahl contests a shot from TMHS' Thomas Baxter late in Saturday night's game. Thunder Mountain High School wound up winning 56-55 in overtime.  (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS' Orion Dybdahl contests a shot from TMHS' Thomas Baxter late in Saturday night's game. Thunder Mountain High School wound up winning 56-55 in overtime.  (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Maddie Phaneuf, a Team USA biathlete, coaches up Juneau Nordic Ski Team members during a recent stop in the capital city. Phaneuf said it was only her second time in Alaska. Despite heavy rain, local athletes were able to learn from the Olympic-caliber athlete. (Courtesy Photo / Mike Justa)

Hello, good biathlon: Olympian serves as guest coach for Juneau youths

‘If you live in Alaska, you should be skiing”

Maddie Phaneuf, a Team USA biathlete, coaches up Juneau Nordic Ski Team members during a recent stop in the capital city. Phaneuf said it was only her second time in Alaska. Despite heavy rain, local athletes were able to learn from the Olympic-caliber athlete. (Courtesy Photo / Mike Justa)
This National Weather Service map shows hazards around Southeast Alaska. An atmospheric river in the area has produced record-setting rain and flood watches throughout the region. (Screenshot)
This National Weather Service map shows hazards around Southeast Alaska. An atmospheric river in the area has produced record-setting rain and flood watches throughout the region. (Screenshot)
Alwen Carrillo, one of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boy’s basketball team captains, dribbles during practice on Dec. 15, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau boys basketball hitting the road

One team is bound for Anchorage, the other for Utqiagvik

Alwen Carrillo, one of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boy’s basketball team captains, dribbles during practice on Dec. 15, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows a glacier bear walking along rocky terrain. There are four known populations of black bears in Southeast Alaska that include the lighter-colored bears, said Tania Lewis, a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. (Courtesy Photo / Tom Hausler)
This photo shows a glacier bear walking along rocky terrain. There are four known populations of black bears in Southeast Alaska that include the lighter-colored bears, said Tania Lewis, a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. (Courtesy Photo / Tom Hausler)
In this satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite, and released by the agency, shows an undersea volcano eruption at the Pacific nation of Tonga Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. An undersea volcano erupted in spectacular fashion near the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday, sending large waves crashing across the shore and people rushing to higher ground. (Japan Meteorology Agency)

Update: Tsunami advisory canceled for Southeast Alaska

It applies to Southeast from the BC border to Cape Fairweather.

In this satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite, and released by the agency, shows an undersea volcano eruption at the Pacific nation of Tonga Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. An undersea volcano erupted in spectacular fashion near the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday, sending large waves crashing across the shore and people rushing to higher ground. (Japan Meteorology Agency)
This image available under the Creative Commons license shows the outline of the state of Alaska filled with the pattern of the state flag. The state on Thursday reported a modest population growth between April 2020 and July 2021. It’s the first time since 2016 the state has reported a population increase. (

State reports small population growth

Net migration still negative, but not as negative.

This image available under the Creative Commons license shows the outline of the state of Alaska filled with the pattern of the state flag. The state on Thursday reported a modest population growth between April 2020 and July 2021. It’s the first time since 2016 the state has reported a population increase. (
Faalo Nauer holds Greyson Tafia Nauer on Monday. Greyson, who was born on Sunday, was the first baby of 2022 born in Bartlett Regional Hospital. (Courtesy Photo / Kanani Montalto, Bartlett Regional Hospital)

Hospital welcomes 1st baby of 2022

First born on the second.

Faalo Nauer holds Greyson Tafia Nauer on Monday. Greyson, who was born on Sunday, was the first baby of 2022 born in Bartlett Regional Hospital. (Courtesy Photo / Kanani Montalto, Bartlett Regional Hospital)
Participants move quickly but gingerly into the water at the 2022 Polar Dip held Saturday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Participants move quickly but gingerly into the water at the 2022 Polar Dip held Saturday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A tree branch bears the weight of accumulated snow. Much of Southeast Alaska saw a foot or more of snow between Friday night and Saturday morning. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

‘A lot of people have gotten a lot of snow’

Juneau puts a new foot (of snow) forward in the new year.

A tree branch bears the weight of accumulated snow. Much of Southeast Alaska saw a foot or more of snow between Friday night and Saturday morning. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This combination image shows photos from stories that defined 2021. Top left, Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s glasses ahead of the first day of school. Top middle, doses of COVID-19 vaccination await arms during a vaccine clinic. Top right, a cruise ship looms large over downtown Juneau. Middle left, a sign marks the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area as part of the Tongass National Forest. Middle, the bygone calendar year is written in the sand. Middle right, Alan Salsman receives the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from VA nurse Michael Addo at Coast Guard Station Juneau. Bottom left, School board member Emil Mackey casts a ballot in Juneau’s municipal election. Bottom middle, the Alaska State Capitol stands behind a statue of William H. Seward. Bottom left, Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks during a sitdown in the Empire offices. (Juneau Empire Photos, Engin Akyurt / Unsplash)
This combination image shows photos from stories that defined 2021. Top left, Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s glasses ahead of the first day of school. Top middle, doses of COVID-19 vaccination await arms during a vaccine clinic. Top right, a cruise ship looms large over downtown Juneau. Middle left, a sign marks the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area as part of the Tongass National Forest. Middle, the bygone calendar year is written in the sand. Middle right, Alan Salsman receives the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from VA nurse Michael Addo at Coast Guard Station Juneau. Bottom left, School board member Emil Mackey casts a ballot in Juneau’s municipal election. Bottom middle, the Alaska State Capitol stands behind a statue of William H. Seward. Bottom left, Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks during a sitdown in the Empire offices. (Juneau Empire Photos, Engin Akyurt / Unsplash)
Teaser

City reports ‘significant’ increase in new COVID cases

Increase likely driven by omicron variant; no new hospitalizations shared.

Teaser
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File 
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. The Capitol will be the site of a committee hearing next month that will focus on the recent firing of Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File 
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. The Capitol will be the site of a committee hearing next month that will focus on the recent firing of Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell.