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Youth Center offers into to rock climbing

The Zach Gordon Youth Center is hosting a free four-day introduction to rock climbing class this week. Classes, which start Wednesday, will cover everything from… Continue reading

THINKSTOCK

Eaglecrest hosts Christmas Eve party for children

Eaglecrest Ski Area is hosting a Christmas Eve party today beginning at 3 p.m. For an $8 registration fee, children can receive gifts (not included)… Continue reading

  • Dec 24, 2017
  • By Juneau Empire
Courtesy Photo  Lawrence Lee Oldaker, 1950s.

Taking on Southern resistance and the KKK, Juneau educator integrated one of the first schools in the US

Lawrence Lee Oldaker, who has lived in Juneau since the mid-1970s, radiates southern hospitality. He is warm and welcoming with bright blue eyes that seem… Continue reading

  • Dec 23, 2017
  • By Ray Friedlander
Courtesy Photo  Lawrence Lee Oldaker, 1950s.
Attorney Tom Wagner is retiring from his position as a contract public defender for City and Borough of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City’s public defender retiring after working more than 11,000 cases in 17 years

The numbers from the past 17 years of Tom Wagner’s life are staggering. Wagner, who is retiring from being a public defender for the city… Continue reading

Attorney Tom Wagner is retiring from his position as a contract public defender for City and Borough of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this March 25 photo, Chloe Abbott checks in with a homeless person camping in a business doorway on South Franklin Street. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Top 10 city stories for 2017

City takes action against downtown campers One of the most talked-about city actions of the year came early on. In a February Assembly meeting, Assembly… Continue reading

In this March 25 photo, Chloe Abbott checks in with a homeless person camping in a business doorway on South Franklin Street. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
A passenger jet lifts off from the Juneau International Airport. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Feds investigate laser pointing at plane approaching Juneau airport

Landing a plane in Juneau is a hard enough job, and the task got even more difficult for one plane Wednesday night. As an aircraft… Continue reading

A passenger jet lifts off from the Juneau International Airport. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Teresa Bleakley holds her 3-year-old cat Percy at her valley home on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Percy was found after being lost for nine months. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Cat returns home after being missing for 9 months

Percy Jackson Bleakley had never been away from home for more than three days until this March. It was then that Percy, a 2-year-old tabby… Continue reading

Teresa Bleakley holds her 3-year-old cat Percy at her valley home on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Percy was found after being lost for nine months. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Friday, Dec. 22, 2017

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

  • Dec 22, 2017
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Gigi Monroe prepares backstage for a Christmas-themed drag show in December 2015. (Juneau Empire File)

Drag show looks to heat up holiday weekend

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be on the naughty list at Christmastime, look no further than the Rendezvous stage this Saturday night.… Continue reading

Gigi Monroe prepares backstage for a Christmas-themed drag show in December 2015. (Juneau Empire File)
Liam Higgins, plays with his dog, Panzer, as an reward for finding a person during a SEADOGS K-9 search and rescue team practice in Lemon Creek on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Training with SEADOGS: How Juneau’s search and rescue dogs sharpen their skills

A German shepherd named Panzer, a golden retriever named Sage, a skinny, fast looking dog nicknamed the “brown bullet”: Just about any dog, so long… Continue reading

Liam Higgins, plays with his dog, Panzer, as an reward for finding a person during a SEADOGS K-9 search and rescue team practice in Lemon Creek on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Jack Marshall visits the senior lunch at the Douglas United Methodist Church on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

39 years a Claus: Jack Marshall has brought Christmas cheer for nearly four decades

When Jack Marshall first donned the white gloves to spread Christmas cheer, the year was 1978. The hot gift was the Atari 2600 video game… Continue reading

Jack Marshall visits the senior lunch at the Douglas United Methodist Church on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Two Juneau men indicted for 1995 murder

An unsolved homicide went cold for years until recently, as two Juneau men were arrested and indicted Wednesday for a 1995 murder, according to a… Continue reading

The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council is fundraising for a new Juneau Arts and Culture Center in the Willoughby District, seen here on Jan. 4, 2016.

‘Awareness of local history’: Seeking stories of the Willoughby District

In March 2018, five to six people will take the stage at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center to share their stories about the building… Continue reading

The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council is fundraising for a new Juneau Arts and Culture Center in the Willoughby District, seen here on Jan. 4, 2016.
Russell Peterson, left, meets and thanks Guy Holt on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, for returning a carved plaque Holt found 11 years ago at Sandy Beach. Peterson carved the plaque and left it at the gravesite of his dog, Taka. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lost grave marker for man’s dog makes it back to owner after more than a decade

Depending how you look at it, Russell Peterson’s Christmas gift was either 16 or 11 years in the works. In 2001, Peterson created it. Soon… Continue reading

Russell Peterson, left, meets and thanks Guy Holt on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, for returning a carved plaque Holt found 11 years ago at Sandy Beach. Peterson carved the plaque and left it at the gravesite of his dog, Taka. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Troopers arrest two on felony parole warrants

Alaska State Troopers arrested two Juneau residents on felony parole warrants on Tuesday, including one man who was involved in a burglary spree in 2014… Continue reading

Police calls for Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017

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

  • Dec 21, 2017
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime

Event takes Christmas spirit to the moon and back

Ever wonder how Christmas is celebrated on the moon? An event the day after Christmas might be able to lend some insight. Marie Drake Planetarium’s… Continue reading

The Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City set to begin negotiations for land sale to Alaskan Brewing

The City and Borough of Juneau and one of Juneau’s most recognizable businesses are about to enter negotiations on the purchase of land. On Monday,… Continue reading

The Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City looking to sell or lease Valley property to community-minded organization

A city-owned property is up for sale or lease next month, and city officials are hoping it can go to a good cause. At the… Continue reading

Personal use king crab season to finish early as warm weather, good catch add up

The Juneau area personal-use red and blue king crab fishery will close at 4 p.m. New Year’s Eve , according to a Thursday release from… Continue reading