On Sept. 23, 1986, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, announced his plan to visit Juneau as a part of his tour of continental U.S. in September of 1987. Though the tour was not yet set in stone, the planned visit excited Roman Catholics in Alaska. Juneau Mayor Ernie Polley stated that a lot of planning will be put into the visit and that the importance of the Pope’s visit transcends religion.
On the subject of the mayor, the Juneau Assembly decided in a meeting to hire a lobbyist to argue on behalf of Juneau in the Alaska Legislature, despite Mayor Polley’s statements that he would not consider a lobbyist during his campaign.
Marine mammal rescuers gave up trying to save glacier-trapped porpoises and seals after money ran out. The Whale Museum and the California Marine Mammal Center had raised $40,000 for the rescue near the Hubbard Glacier. Some porpoises were reported to survive through the spring.
