Clarise Larson

Dick and Candy Behrends, married couple and co-owners of Behrends Mechanical Inc., accept a surprise Citizens of the Year award. They were thanked by board members for their contribution to the Juneau community both charitably and through their volunteer work over many years. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Chamber gives Lifetime Achievement Award, names Citizens of the Year

This article has been updated to correctly identify John Blasco as CEO of Anchorage Distillery, not business project manager at Alaskan Brewing Co. More than… Continue reading

Dick and Candy Behrends, married couple and co-owners of Behrends Mechanical Inc., accept a surprise Citizens of the Year award. They were thanked by board members for their contribution to the Juneau community both charitably and through their volunteer work over many years. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A ballot is placed in a ballot drop box on Tuesday, Oct. 4. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Latest local election results show tight finish for two props

City Hall prop facing narrow defeat, disclosure repeal poised to pass.

A ballot is placed in a ballot drop box on Tuesday, Oct. 4. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire
Harmony Wentz, Faith Rogers’ daughter, holds out her phone to show a photo of the pair sharing a hammock. According to Juneau Police Department spokesperson Erann Kalwara, authorities are working to identify a suspect responsible for Rogers’ death.

Authorities work to identify suspect in Juneau woman’s death

JPD is working with the State Crime Lab and the Medical Examiner.

Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire
Harmony Wentz, Faith Rogers’ daughter, holds out her phone to show a photo of the pair sharing a hammock. According to Juneau Police Department spokesperson Erann Kalwara, authorities are working to identify a suspect responsible for Rogers’ death.
Jensen-Olson Arboretum is switching to its winter hours. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Jensen-Olson Arboretum is switching to its winter hours. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire
Two cones and concrete barriers sit near the fallen trees and debris left over after a landslide occurred early last week. Officials determined in the aftermath of the event that the landslide occurred predominantly due to a large tree that fell and in the process pulled down mud and other debris with it as it slid down the hillside.

City’s portion of landslide cleanup finished

Remaining debris is in the hands of property owners, according to city officials.

Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire
Two cones and concrete barriers sit near the fallen trees and debris left over after a landslide occurred early last week. Officials determined in the aftermath of the event that the landslide occurred predominantly due to a large tree that fell and in the process pulled down mud and other debris with it as it slid down the hillside.
Characters Rose (Xáalnook Erin Tripp) and Anthony (Kenny Ramos) smile and chat midway through the Wednesday night rehearsal performance of “Where the Summit Meets the Stars” at Perseverance Theatre. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Characters Rose (Xáalnook Erin Tripp) and Anthony (Kenny Ramos) smile and chat midway through the Wednesday night rehearsal performance of “Where the Summit Meets the Stars” at Perseverance Theatre. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn. According to data provided by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute in its latest update, the statewide preliminary harvest is estimated to be more than 153 million salmon — across all species — caught during the 14 weeks spanning mid-June to mid-September that the data was analyzed. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn. According to data provided by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute in its latest update, the statewide preliminary harvest is estimated to be more than 153 million salmon — across all species — caught during the 14 weeks spanning mid-June to mid-September that the data was analyzed. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
An array of I Voted stickers lie on a table at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Election Day votes were not among the ballots tallied in unofficial results released late Tuesday night. A photo shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall. A ballot proposition that would fund construction of a new City Hall saw a nearly 50-50 split of the vote in unofficial results shared Tuesday night. Cars drive past a sign encouraging voters to support Proposition 4, which would repeal a local ordinance requiring the disclosure of the sales price of real property. The proposition was heavily supported by local Realtors. Signs encouraging voters to support Proposition 2, which would OK $6.6 million in bond debt for recreation improvements, sit in a chair on the track at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park ahead of a football game. Upgrading the track is among the projects Prop 2 would fund. (Juneau Empire Photos)
An array of I Voted stickers lie on a table at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Election Day votes were not among the ballots tallied in unofficial results released late Tuesday night. A photo shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall. A ballot proposition that would fund construction of a new City Hall saw a nearly 50-50 split of the vote in unofficial results shared Tuesday night. Cars drive past a sign encouraging voters to support Proposition 4, which would repeal a local ordinance requiring the disclosure of the sales price of real property. The proposition was heavily supported by local Realtors. Signs encouraging voters to support Proposition 2, which would OK $6.6 million in bond debt for recreation improvements, sit in a chair on the track at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park ahead of a football game. Upgrading the track is among the projects Prop 2 would fund. (Juneau Empire Photos)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire 
Larry Silverly opens the door at the voter center located at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library to cast his vote on Tuesday afternoon.

Early results show tight races for 2 of 4 ballot props

Tuesday marked municipal election day here in the capital city

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire 
Larry Silverly opens the door at the voter center located at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library to cast his vote on Tuesday afternoon.
Courtesy / SEARHC 
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is offering a promotion this month to provide 3D mammograms with no out-of-pocket cost to patients who book an appointment at one of its multiple clinics across Southeast Alaska. A free swag bag is also given to patients when appointment is booked during October.

SEARHC offers mammograms with no out-of-pocket cost amid Breast Cancer Awareness Month

“The earlier we detect it, the better outcome the patient can have.”

Courtesy / SEARHC 
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is offering a promotion this month to provide 3D mammograms with no out-of-pocket cost to patients who book an appointment at one of its multiple clinics across Southeast Alaska. A free swag bag is also given to patients when appointment is booked during October.
Scuba Sue, a brown bear at Anan Wildlife Observatory, is one of the nine bears that are set to receive an award during Tongass National Forest’s first-ever Anan Bear Awards. (Courtesy / Tongass National Forest)

Octo-bear festivities: Tongass National Forest hosts its first-ever Anan Bear Awards

Southeast Alaska gets its own Fat Bear Week-esque event.

Scuba Sue, a brown bear at Anan Wildlife Observatory, is one of the nine bears that are set to receive an award during Tongass National Forest’s first-ever Anan Bear Awards. (Courtesy / Tongass National Forest)
Tlingit master carver Wayne Price stands next to his wife, Cherri, in front of the healing totem pole and screens he created. Hundreds of people gathered in raincoats and boots at the Twin Lakes Kaasei Totem Plaza to witness the two-hour ceremony. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘This is a healing time’: New totem pole honors survivors of gender-based violence

“It provides an opportunity for healing on multiple levels”

Tlingit master carver Wayne Price stands next to his wife, Cherri, in front of the healing totem pole and screens he created. Hundreds of people gathered in raincoats and boots at the Twin Lakes Kaasei Totem Plaza to witness the two-hour ceremony. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Deedie Sorensen smiles for a photo at her home. Sorensen is seeking a second term on the Juneau School District Board of Education. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Deedie Sorensen smiles for a photo at her home. Sorensen is seeking a second term on the Juneau School District Board of Education. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Emily Mackey smiles for a photo at his office in the Nugget Mall. Mackey is seeking a third term on the Juneau School District Board of Education. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Emily Mackey smiles for a photo at his office in the Nugget Mall. Mackey is seeking a third term on the Juneau School District Board of Education. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Faith Rogers’ loved ones, from left to right, James Rogers (father), Michelle Rogers (sister), Harmony Wentz (daughter), Maria Rogers (mother) and Mindy Voigt (friend) sit with Faith’s three dogs in their family home. Faith Rogers, 55, of Juneau was found dead along a popular trail on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Police are investigating the death as a homicide.

‘It’s shocking’: Family hopes for answers after suspicious death of loved one

“She wanted to make things beautiful, to help make people beautiful…”

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Faith Rogers’ loved ones, from left to right, James Rogers (father), Michelle Rogers (sister), Harmony Wentz (daughter), Maria Rogers (mother) and Mindy Voigt (friend) sit with Faith’s three dogs in their family home. Faith Rogers, 55, of Juneau was found dead along a popular trail on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Police are investigating the death as a homicide.
Laura Talpey, executive director of Juneau Montessori School speaks into the mic next to Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist, vice president of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2 Juneau, in front of a crowd gathered at Sayé ik: Gastineau Community School Wednesday evening. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Laura Talpey, executive director of Juneau Montessori School speaks into the mic next to Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist, vice president of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2 Juneau, in front of a crowd gathered at Sayé ik: Gastineau Community School Wednesday evening. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Assembly member Greg Smith smiles for a photo outside of the Juneau Empire office. Smith is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election along with four other candidates in the running for assembly and school board positions, which all remain uncontested. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Assembly member Greg Smith smiles for a photo outside of the Juneau Empire office. Smith is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election along with four other candidates in the running for assembly and school board positions, which all remain uncontested. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Assembly member Carole Triem smiles in front of a Juneau backdrop. Triem is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election, which comes to an end in less than a week on Oct. 4. (Courtesty / Carole Triem)
Assembly member Carole Triem smiles in front of a Juneau backdrop. Triem is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election, which comes to an end in less than a week on Oct. 4. (Courtesty / Carole Triem)
Assembly member Wade Bryson smiles while sitting in his office space located above the Juneau Bike Doctor off Old Dairy Road. Bryson is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election, which comes to an end in less than a week on Oct. 4. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Assembly member Wade Bryson smiles while sitting in his office space located above the Juneau Bike Doctor off Old Dairy Road. Bryson is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election, which comes to an end in less than a week on Oct. 4. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A plane flies in front of a downtown Juneau neighborhood in early May. City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee members Wednesday discussed the availability of housing in Juneau. So far, Assembly members said, a tax abatement meant to spur development downtown has not been successful. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Homing in on new housing

City seeks applicants for fund meant to incentivize development.

A plane flies in front of a downtown Juneau neighborhood in early May. City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee members Wednesday discussed the availability of housing in Juneau. So far, Assembly members said, a tax abatement meant to spur development downtown has not been successful. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)