This is a photo of a feature story on a page of the Juneau Empire published on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 1995, from an archived book. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

This is a photo of a feature story on a page of the Juneau Empire published on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 1995, from an archived book. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Aug. 26

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Empire Archives is a series printed every Saturday featuring a short compilation of headline stories in the Juneau Empire from archived editions in 1985, 1995 and 2005.

This week in 1985, more than 4,600 students returned to school in Juneau, along with 19 new teachers and two principals. That enrollment number, now 38 years ago, is starkly higher than the district’s anticipated enrollment in 2023. According to new Superintendent Frank Hauser, the district is projecting this year’s enrollment to be 4,240 students, which is actually a slight increase from the 4,221 students enrolled in 2022.

Original Story: “School set for opening day” by Leslie Murray. 08/26/1985.

This week in 1995, a poll conducted by a local firm revealed most voters in Juneau had little to no idea who their Assembly members were ahead of the upcoming 1995 municipal election, despite sharing criticism of the Assembly’s actions. According to the poll, almost half of Juneau residents were unable to name any Assembly members other than the mayor. Out of the 402 respondents, only one could name all eight sitting Assembly members.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Original Story: “Poll shows voters don’t know local office holders” by Lori Thomson and Mark Sabbatini. 08/23/1995.

This week in 2005, a feature story explored the “hidden” yet increasingly more common dangers of jökulhlaups — glacier outburst from valleys and lakes — that were occurring throughout Southeast Alaska.

“They are kind of hard to predict,” said Ed Neal, a Juneau hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey at the time.

At the time in 2005, Juneau’s annual Suicide Basin outbursts had yet to begin — the flooding didn’t start until 2011. This year, two Juneau homes were completely destroyed, one partially destroyed and 15 other residences were condemned as uninhabitable following record flooding in early August.

Original Story: “Ready to Burst? Southeast and South Central Alaska leads the world in glacial floods” by Elizabeth Bluemink. 08/21/2005.

• Questions or suggestions for the Empire Archives series? Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of March 16

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan. Sullivan (R-Alaska) walks through a hallway of protesters with his wife, Julie Fate Sullivan, before his annual address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Sullivan generates warmth and heat with energy filled speech to Alaska Legislature

Senator takes barrage of friendly and confrontational questions from lawmakers about Trump’s agenda.

Research biologists pause among the wetlands of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain, with the Brooks Range in the background. The Trump administration is taking steps to offer the entire coastal plain for oil and gas leasing, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Thursday. (Lisa Hupp/USFWS)
Interior secretary announces plans to advance new Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil leasing

Follow-ups to Trump executive orders will mean leasing across ANWR, wider NPR development.

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Storis icebreaker expected to make ceremonial visit to Juneau this summer, officials say

Coast Guard icebreaker set to be homeported locally will still need further upgrades for deployment.

The Columbia state ferry docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on March 4. (Laurie Craig / For the Juneau Empire)
Alaska Marine Highway’s long-range plan met with skepticism and concerns

Residents decry loss of service, Murkowski says “once-in-a-generation” funding opportunity in peril.

Salmon dries on a traditional rack on the beach in the Seward Peninsula village of Teller on Sept. 2, 2021. Salmon is a dietary staple for Indigenous residents of Western Alaska, and poor runs have created hardship. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Bill would change the makeup of the Alaska Board of Fisheries

Would require commercial, sport and subsistence members, along with one representing scientists.

Sara Kveum speaks to the crowd rallying in front of the Alaska State Capitol, alongside Nikki Bass, both members of the Key Coalition of Alaska advocating for disability rights on March 19, 2025 (Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
‘We are done waiting!’ Advocates and supporters of Alaskans with disabilities rally at the Capitol

Participants focus on Medicaid, eliminating waitlists for support services, infant learning programs.

John Boyle, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (center left), sits with staff in the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives as lawmakers debate the creation of a separate Alaska Department of Agriculture on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Speaking is Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Legislature halts Dunleavy effort to create agriculture department

Legislators cancel executive order but say a bill to create the department is possible later this year.

Most Read