This is a photo of a news story on a page of the Juneau Empire published on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 1995, from an archived book. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

This is a photo of a news story on a page of the Juneau Empire published on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 1995, from an archived book. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Sept. 2

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, Approval of what bond measures would be on the local Oct. 1 ballot was given by the Juneau City-Borough Assembly, with the $22 million in bonds including $2.7 million for the new Mendenhall Valley community recreation complex including sports fields, tennis courts, restrooms, a concession building and parking. Other bond proposals included $9 billion for an expansion of what was then known as Bartlett Memorial Hospital, $7.8 million for a new downtown library, $1.75 million to expand Marine Park and $795,000 for school building repairs.

Original Story: “Park among bond issues approved for ballot” by Leslie Murray. 08/30/1985.

This week in 1995, supporters of a local ballot initiative to cap property taxes at 12 mills sent a fundraising letter to about 2,500 Juneau homes. The letter by Gary Jenkins, chairman of Citizens for Reasonable Property Taxes, stated contributions would help stop excess city spending. The initiative would set a cap of 12 mills, plus what was needed to pay off bond debts for public works projects. The existing rate at the time was 11.62 mills, compared to today’s 10.16 mill rate.

Original Story: “Letter pushes tax cap” by Mark Sabbatini. 08/30/1995.

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

This week in 2005, the Douglas Bridge roundabout was declared fully operational by officials and local drivers, although near-fender-benders during one morning weekday rush hour suggested some people were struggling to grasp the newest traffic design in Juneau. “I haven’t seen any improvement in terms of driving defensively,” said Leimomi Matunding, a Douglas resident who said she was leaving her home at 6:30 a.m. to beat the traffic to get to her state job. “From the Breeze-In to the roundabout, it can take 20 minutes, especially in heavy traffic,” she said. The problem, she said, is “we still have a lot of drivers that are very cautious and they go really slow. They don’t know how to do it correctly. Now that school’s in session, it’s going to get worse.”

State Department of Transportation engineering manager Pete Bednarowicz, who was in charge of the design of the roundabout from the first sketches to the final advertising, said he was pleased with the responses he had received. “I haven’t seen any problems at all with it,” he said.

Original Story: “Roundabout moves traffic — and opinions” by Korry Keeker. 08/29/2005.

• 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