Michael and Suzanna Lessard talk Thursday, June 7, 2018, about having their home hit four times since 2005 by drivers who were either drunk or suffering from medical conditions. Their Brothers Avenue house sits near the intersection on Mendenhall Loop Road and Glacier Spur Road. Their daughter’s room was crashed into last May by a drunken driver. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Known Hazard’: Property hit three times by drivers in last 11 years

The shed behind the Lessard family home on Brothers Avenue looks like it’s prepared for the apocalypse. It’s fortified with extra studs, siding all the… Continue reading

  • Jun 17, 2018
  • By Kevin Gullufsen Juneau Empire
  • Local News
Michael and Suzanna Lessard talk Thursday, June 7, 2018, about having their home hit four times since 2005 by drivers who were either drunk or suffering from medical conditions. Their Brothers Avenue house sits near the intersection on Mendenhall Loop Road and Glacier Spur Road. Their daughter’s room was crashed into last May by a drunken driver. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
New Juneau Police Department officers (from left) Ron Shriver, Mattie Rielly and Joe Paden pose after their graduation from the Public Training Academy in Sitka on Friday, June 8, 2018. (Juneau Police Department | Courtesy Photo)

Meet the three police academy graduates joining JPD

Ever since she was a child, Mattie Rielly was interested in law enforcement. Growing up, she would watch the legal drama “Matlock,” which followed a… Continue reading

  • Jun 17, 2018
  • By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
  • Local News
New Juneau Police Department officers (from left) Ron Shriver, Mattie Rielly and Joe Paden pose after their graduation from the Public Training Academy in Sitka on Friday, June 8, 2018. (Juneau Police Department | Courtesy Photo)
Katie Sullivan is the head coach for the Special Olympics Juneau Basketball team. She has worked as a parole officer at Lemon Creek Correctional Center for 10 years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Parole officer gives back through Special Olympics

For eight hours every weekday at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center, she’s simply known as “PO Sully.” But on the weekends, to a group of… Continue reading

  • Jun 17, 2018
  • By Nolin Ainsworth Juneau Empire
Katie Sullivan is the head coach for the Special Olympics Juneau Basketball team. She has worked as a parole officer at Lemon Creek Correctional Center for 10 years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Police calls for Sunday, June 17, 2018

Police calls for Sunday, June 17, 2018

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement and public safety agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction… Continue reading

  • Jun 17, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Police calls for Sunday, June 17, 2018

Transgender woman awarded for equal rights advocacy

Jennifer Fletcher has spent five years advocating for equal rights in the Alaska state health care coverage plan. Fletcher is a transgender woman who filed… Continue reading

Michael and Suzanna Lessard talk Thursday, June 7, 2018, about having their home hit four times since 2005 by drivers who were either drunk or suffering from medical conditions. Their Brothers Avenue house sits near the intersection on Mendenhall Loop Road and Glacier Spur Road. Their daughter’s room was crashed into last May by a drunken driver. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Known Hazard’: Property hit three times by drivers in last 11 years

The shed behind the Lessard family home on Brothers Avenue looks like it’s prepared for the apocalypse. It’s fortified with extra studs, siding all the… Continue reading

Michael and Suzanna Lessard talk Thursday, June 7, 2018, about having their home hit four times since 2005 by drivers who were either drunk or suffering from medical conditions. Their Brothers Avenue house sits near the intersection on Mendenhall Loop Road and Glacier Spur Road. Their daughter’s room was crashed into last May by a drunken driver. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Meet the three police academy graduates joining JPD

Ever since she was a child, Mattie Rielly was interested in law enforcement. Growing up, she would watch the legal drama “Matlock,” which followed a… Continue reading

Katie Sullivan is the head coach for the Special Olympics Juneau Basketball team. She has worked as a parole officer at Lemon Creek Correctional Center for 10 years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Parole officer gives back through Special Olympics

For eight hours every weekday at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center, she’s simply known as “PO Sully.” But on the weekends, to a group of… Continue reading

Katie Sullivan is the head coach for the Special Olympics Juneau Basketball team. She has worked as a parole officer at Lemon Creek Correctional Center for 10 years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau

Juneau senator ends up in hospital after battling blaze in garage

One of Juneau’s most recognizable residents was taken to the hospital Friday night after attempting to put out a fire in his garage. Sen. Dennis… Continue reading

  • Jun 16, 2018
  • By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
  • Local News
Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau
East Post 34 player Charlie White pitches against Juneau Post 25 at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. Juneau won 12-2. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Legion baseball: Juneau dominates East

Philip Wall struck out nine batters in five innings and Juneau Post 25 shutout East Post 34 by a score of 11-0 on Saturday afternoon… Continue reading

  • Jun 16, 2018
  • Juneau Empire 
East Post 34 player Charlie White pitches against Juneau Post 25 at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. Juneau won 12-2. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Steve Morley leads Maisy Morley down Perseverance Trail during the Perseverance Trail Run/Ben Blackgoat Memorial on Saturday. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Runners cover Perseverance Trail in under 45 minutes

Two 31-year-olds ran the entire length of Perseverance Trail in under 45 minutes on Saturday. Allan Spangler, of Juneau, and Seth Rutt, of Phoenix, Arizona,… Continue reading

  • Jun 16, 2018
  • By Nolin Ainsworth Juneau Empire
Steve Morley leads Maisy Morley down Perseverance Trail during the Perseverance Trail Run/Ben Blackgoat Memorial on Saturday. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Paula Varney, right, has her picture taken by her husband, Brad, with an estimated 25-pound king salmon held by fishing guide Paul Turinsky, of Chum Fun!, at the Wayside Park on Channel Drive on Wednesday, June 13, 2018. The fish was released after the picture but king salmon can be kept starting today. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Kings for keeps: Fishermen can now keep kings, if they can find them

Today marks the earnest start of king salmon fishing.

  • Jun 16, 2018
  • By Kevin Gullufsen Juneau Empire
  • Local News
Paula Varney, right, has her picture taken by her husband, Brad, with an estimated 25-pound king salmon held by fishing guide Paul Turinsky, of Chum Fun!, at the Wayside Park on Channel Drive on Wednesday, June 13, 2018. The fish was released after the picture but king salmon can be kept starting today. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Shallow water rushes by as we cross the creek. (Photo by Gabe Donohoe)

Fish Creek wading

I have a memory of shallow water rushing over my feet.

Shallow water rushes by as we cross the creek. (Photo by Gabe Donohoe)
A bear on Admiralty Island sizes up the author last year. (Photo by Bjorn Dihle)

Reflections of a Predator

The bears in my head are much scarier.

A bear on Admiralty Island sizes up the author last year. (Photo by Bjorn Dihle)
Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau

Juneau senator ends up in hospital after battling blaze in garage

One of Juneau’s most recognizable residents was taken to the hospital Friday night after attempting to put out a fire in his garage. Sen. Dennis… Continue reading

Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau
Police and fire for Monday, June 18, 2018

Police and fire for Monday, June 18, 2018

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement and public safety agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction… Continue reading

  • Jun 16, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Police and fire for Monday, June 18, 2018
Seth Rutt (yellow singlet) leads a pack of runners on Basin Road during the start of the Perseverance Trail Run/Ben Blackgoat Memorial on Saturday. Rutt finished the 7-mile course in second place behind Allan Spangler (not pictured). (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Runners cover Perseverance Trail in under 45 minutes

Two 31-year-olds ran the entire length of Perseverance Trail in under 45 minutes on Saturday. Allan Spangler, of Juneau, and Seth Rutt, of Phoenix, Arizona,… Continue reading

Seth Rutt (yellow singlet) leads a pack of runners on Basin Road during the start of the Perseverance Trail Run/Ben Blackgoat Memorial on Saturday. Rutt finished the 7-mile course in second place behind Allan Spangler (not pictured). (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau residents tour the Norwegian Bliss after Plaque Presentations on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. The event included Mayor Ken Koelsch, Capt. Stephen R. White , of Coast Guard Sector Juneau, Mike Satre, of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, Liz Perry, of Travel Juneau, Drew Green, port manager for Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska, and Carl Uchytil, Juneau Port Director, Toni Mallott, wife of Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, and Emily Edenshaw and Jodie Gatti, of Tlingit & Haida Central Council. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Aboard the megaship, the 1,092-foot Norwegian Bliss

On a Tuesday docked in Juneau, the Norwegian Bliss dwarfs everything around it. Alaska’s new “megaship” looks less like a boat than a high-rise hotel… Continue reading

Juneau residents tour the Norwegian Bliss after Plaque Presentations on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. The event included Mayor Ken Koelsch, Capt. Stephen R. White , of Coast Guard Sector Juneau, Mike Satre, of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, Liz Perry, of Travel Juneau, Drew Green, port manager for Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska, and Carl Uchytil, Juneau Port Director, Toni Mallott, wife of Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, and Emily Edenshaw and Jodie Gatti, of Tlingit & Haida Central Council. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Photo by Jos Bakker

Are dandelions taking over the country?

Their cheery, bright yellow flower heads adorn the roadsides in late spring, before the compulsive mowing machines decapitate them. Foraging deer, bears, and human herbivores… Continue reading

Photo by Jos Bakker
Perseverance Theatre in Douglas was founded in 1979 by Molly Smith and is currently led by Executive Artistic Director Art Rotch. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Perseverance Theatre furloughs employees after debt piles up

Perseverance Theatre, Alaska’s largest professional theater, furloughed its employees after several years of financial problems that are now just coming to light. Management suddenly asked… Continue reading

  • Jun 15, 2018
  • By Kevin Gullufsen Juneau Empire
  • Local News
Perseverance Theatre in Douglas was founded in 1979 by Molly Smith and is currently led by Executive Artistic Director Art Rotch. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)