Recent heavy rains likely mean Juneau will have plenty of water to produce hydroelectric power this winter. “Our fuel is rain and snow, so even though we all like sunshine and nice weather, we need the rain,” says Alaska Electric Light and Power generation engineer Scott Willis. He watches water levels in the lakes that…
Recent News
Assembly puts bond issues on ballot
Juneau voters will be asked to approve two bond issues this fall to pay for school projects. The CBJ Assembly Monday night agreed to use bonds for a ground source heat system at Auke Bay Elementary School and new artificial turf at Adair Kennedy Park. The questions will be on the October 4th municipal election…
Update: Bartlett board delays management contract decision
No decision from Bartlett Regional Hospital’s Board of Directors on a new management contract. The board met yesterday (Monday) for more than eight hours – the last three in executive session – without reaching consensus. It’ll take the issue up for further discussion tonight (Tuesday) at its regular monthly meeting. The first five hours of…
25 rural post offices spared
The U.S. Postal Service says 25 rural Alaska post offices will remain open after all. Douglas is not on that list, according to Senator Mark Begich’s office. USPS Alaska District Manager Diane Horbuchuk says 25 post offices off the road system are in the clear. The agency last month targeted 3,700 post offices nationwide for…
Fast ferry Fairweather out until September
(JUNEAU, ALASKA) The fast ferry Fairweather will be out of service until early September. The ship has been tied up in Juneau since a small oil leak was discovered Thursday evening in one of its four water jets, which power the ship. Officials hoped to weld a temporary patch and return to service by Thursday.…
Crimson Bears trounce North Pole Patriots
The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears left another football team scoreless this weekend. In the first Railbelt Conference game of the season, the Crimson Bears varsity toppled the North Pole Patriots by a score of 57-0. The Juneau-Douglas junior varsity also beat the North Pole JV by 38-6. The games were played in North Pole and heard…
Flood advisory prompted by heavy rains
Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River are now at minor flood stage. The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for both areas. Mendenhall Lake was nearly at 9.7 feet last hour. The river was over 11.8 feet. Hydrometeorological technician Geri Swanson says they expect water levels to continue rising a bit. “Right now with…
Management companies make their pitches to BRH board
For the first time in 14 years, the board of directors for Juneau’s Bartlett Regional Hospital is using a competitive bid process to select a management company. The board tonight (Monday) will hear presentations from three firms that responded to a June request for proposals. Tennessee-based Quorum Health Resources has managed the city-owned hospital since…
Body found; no foul play suspected
The body of a Juneau woman was found in a ditch Friday morning near the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Mendenhall Loop Road. Juneau police have identified her as 48-year-old Marilyn Williams, born on February 26, 1963. A witness on his way to a bus stop saw the body and called police. Capital City Fire…
Humpback unbound
A humpback whale calf has been disentangled from fishing gear near Juneau. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration spokeswoman Julie Speegle says the calf and its mother were spotted Wednesday morning by a charter fishing boat near Halibut Cove on Shelter Island. The whales appeared to be heading up Lynn Canal at about 5 knots. Other…