Alex McCarthy

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A new maintanance building to house the fleet of runway cleaning vehicles is under construction at the Juneau International Airport on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Airport nearly done with snow-equipment garage

As rain pounded down on the Juneau International Airport on Tuesday, Airport Superintendent Scott Rinkenberger drove past trucks and emergency vehicles left out in the… Continue reading

A new maintanance building to house the fleet of runway cleaning vehicles is under construction at the Juneau International Airport on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas City Museum, pictured April 2017.

Donation aims to bring more students to City Museum

Getting students closer to local history just became easier. The Juneau Community Foundation’s Empty Chair Project is making a donation to the Juneau-Douglas City Museum,… Continue reading

The Juneau-Douglas City Museum, pictured April 2017.
The photo on the left was taken in 1986, the one on the right in 2012. In these 26 years the Mendenhall Glacier retreated roughly a mile, and vertically thinned about 700 feet in some places. (Photo courtesy of Mark Kelley)

With new book, longtime Alaska photographer reflects on Mendenhall Glacier

Standing outside his studio, photographer Mark Kelley grinned broadly and pointed to a tree next to the parking lot. Two bald eagles perched at the… Continue reading

The photo on the left was taken in 1986, the one on the right in 2012. In these 26 years the Mendenhall Glacier retreated roughly a mile, and vertically thinned about 700 feet in some places. (Photo courtesy of Mark Kelley)
Bob Banghart, the Owner’s Rep for the New JACC, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. The New JACC could start construction next April, Banghart said. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

New JACC entering new fundraising phase

Organizers of the new Juneau Arts and Culture Center (JACC) are finished with the “quiet” fundraising period and are ready to make some noise. In… Continue reading

Bob Banghart, the Owner’s Rep for the New JACC, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. The New JACC could start construction next April, Banghart said. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Green Elephant Gardens gardener Scott Jones cares for a marijuana plant on Green Elephant’s first day of operation. Jones takes pride in the quality of the soil Green Elephant uses. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s third pot shop projects to be a ‘spectacle’

Standing in the large front room of Juneau’s newest marijuana dispensary, Jennifer Canfield reflected on her good fortune. Canfield, who co-owns Green Elephant Gardens with… Continue reading

Green Elephant Gardens gardener Scott Jones cares for a marijuana plant on Green Elephant’s first day of operation. Jones takes pride in the quality of the soil Green Elephant uses. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Generations-old photos lie on the table at the Gastineau Genealogical Society’s Family History Center. The photos were anonymously donated to the Friends of the Libraries. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Local genealogical society seeking owners of vintage photographs

It started with an unmarked box in a bag of books. Someone donated a bag full of old books to the Friends of the Library… Continue reading

Generations-old photos lie on the table at the Gastineau Genealogical Society’s Family History Center. The photos were anonymously donated to the Friends of the Libraries. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Brett Nelson, the State Conservation Engineer for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, presents to the City and Borough of Juneau Committee of the Whole on Monday. Nelson has been designing a plan to stop erosion on the banks of the Mendenhall River, which is threatening nearly 30 properties. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

City addressing Mendenhall River erosion with federal help

In 2013, the City and Borough of Juneau contacted the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to look into erosion along Mendenhall River. The river was… Continue reading

Brett Nelson, the State Conservation Engineer for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, presents to the City and Borough of Juneau Committee of the Whole on Monday. Nelson has been designing a plan to stop erosion on the banks of the Mendenhall River, which is threatening nearly 30 properties. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Jesse Kiehl (left) listens as Sara Boesser talks about her mother Mildred’s LGBTQ advocacy. Kiehl accepted the Mildred Boesser Equal Rights Award on Sunday, being selected for his efforts on Juneau’s equal rights ordinance. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Assembly member honored for LGBTQ efforts

The annual Pride Picnic has changed quite a bit in its 31 years of existence. Initially a fundraiser for those battling AIDS, the picnic is… Continue reading

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Jesse Kiehl (left) listens as Sara Boesser talks about her mother Mildred’s LGBTQ advocacy. Kiehl accepted the Mildred Boesser Equal Rights Award on Sunday, being selected for his efforts on Juneau’s equal rights ordinance. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

City Manager: Now not the time to revise mining ordinance

Monday night could be an important one for the future of Juneau’s mining ordinance. In April, five local businessmen proposed that the city make changes… Continue reading

The Committee of the Whole meets Monday, June 12 to discuss how to proceed with the proposed changes to the mining ordinance. The committee approved Mayor Ken Koelsch’s plan to appoint a three-person subcommittee to look into the effects of changing the ordinance. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

City officials divided on how to proceed on mining ordinance

An issue that has proven divisive in the Juneau community is proving to be the same way at City Hall. After City Manager Rorie Watt… Continue reading

The Committee of the Whole meets Monday, June 12 to discuss how to proceed with the proposed changes to the mining ordinance. The committee approved Mayor Ken Koelsch’s plan to appoint a three-person subcommittee to look into the effects of changing the ordinance. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Terry White (far right) poses with other members of Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma’s climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The mountain is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, meaning it’s the tallest that isn’t part of a mountain range. (Photo courtesy of John Waller, Uncage the Soul Productions)

Juneau man climbs mountain to raise money for cancer research

Soon after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma — a cancer that forms in plasma cells in the blood — in 2009, Juneau resident Terry… Continue reading

Terry White (far right) poses with other members of Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma’s climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The mountain is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, meaning it’s the tallest that isn’t part of a mountain range. (Photo courtesy of John Waller, Uncage the Soul Productions)
This May 16, 2016 file photo shows a smartphone displaying the Lyft app in Detroit. (Paul Sancya | The Associated Press File)

City writes letter to Governor asking to veto Uber bill

At the beginning of March, the City and Borough of Juneau penned a letter to Rep. Sam Kito, laying out its concerns about a proposed… Continue reading

This May 16, 2016 file photo shows a smartphone displaying the Lyft app in Detroit. (Paul Sancya | The Associated Press File)
James Gilchrest, a graduate of Thunder Mountain High School and former Capital City Fire & Rescue volunteer, was recently chosen for the Newman’s Own Foundation Fellowship Program. He’s interested in a career in emergency management, and will work with a veteran’s organization in Syracuse, New York. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain graduate earns fellowship in New York

When he saw his hometown’s response to a fire at the Twin Lakes Playground in April, James Gilchrest was proud. Gilchrest, a former volunteer with… Continue reading

James Gilchrest, a graduate of Thunder Mountain High School and former Capital City Fire & Rescue volunteer, was recently chosen for the Newman’s Own Foundation Fellowship Program. He’s interested in a career in emergency management, and will work with a veteran’s organization in Syracuse, New York. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Rosa Miller, the head of the Dipper house of the &

Restored totem pole back home at Auke Rec

When the Yax té (Big Dipper) totem pole at Auke Recreation Area was taken down in 2010, Rosa Miller spoke to the spirits in the… Continue reading

Rosa Miller, the head of the Dipper house of the &

Assembly approves 2018 city budget

After hours of meetings and weeks of research, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly unanimously approved next year’s budget at Monday night’s meeting. The… Continue reading

Michale Joern, left, Therese Jones and Steve Lewis talks about their new ownership of The Gym on Friday, June 2, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

New owners revamp Goals Gym, rename it ‘The Gym’

Steve Lewis didn’t want to lose the gym he’d worked out at since the early 1990s. Michale Joern thought he could improve both the membership… Continue reading

Michale Joern, left, Therese Jones and Steve Lewis talks about their new ownership of The Gym on Friday, June 2, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A skier rides the Hooter Chairlift at Eaglecrest. The ski area will be able to serve alcohol moving forward, though it’s unclear whether alcohol sales will start this coming season or next year.

Eaglecrest Ski Area now allowed to sell alcohol

Alcohol is coming to Eaglecrest. At Monday night’s City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting, the Assembly approved an ordinance allowing alcohol to be served… Continue reading

A skier rides the Hooter Chairlift at Eaglecrest. The ski area will be able to serve alcohol moving forward, though it’s unclear whether alcohol sales will start this coming season or next year.

Assembly to vote on budget, alcohol at Eaglecrest

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly will make multiple decisions on long-term topics tonight. Most pressing is the approval of the city’s budget for… Continue reading

Goldbelt Heritage and Peregrine Technical Solutions are hosting a weeklong Cyber Camp from June 5-9 at Juneau-Douglas High School. (stock image)

Cyber Camp hopes to introduce students to computer technology careers

The number of computer and information technology jobs on the market is growing rapidly, and some local students will soon be getting a leg up… Continue reading

Goldbelt Heritage and Peregrine Technical Solutions are hosting a weeklong Cyber Camp from June 5-9 at Juneau-Douglas High School. (stock image)
The cleanup process for the Twin Lakes Playground is set to begin this month. The playground was burned down in April, and the community has raised around $150,000 for the rebuild effort. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Twin Lakes Playground cleanup set to begin this month

The Twin Lakes Playground will be home to construction workers this summer. The cleanup of the playground, which was set ablaze April 24, will begin… Continue reading

The cleanup process for the Twin Lakes Playground is set to begin this month. The playground was burned down in April, and the community has raised around $150,000 for the rebuild effort. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)