On March 4, 1987, a small crew of eight Juneau residents, including three children, stood outside of the Dimond Court Building to advocate for longer jail terms for people convicted for crimes against children. The protesters wanted to highlight the case of Peter Paulo, who was convicted Friday of striking 20-month-old Richard Johnson, his ex-girlfriend’s son, which caused an injury killing him. Although the sentence was not yet determined, the most he could have received was five years.
In a 15-5 vote, the state Senate voted to give Gov. Steve Cowper access to the $426 million in the state reserve, which he planned to use to close the state deficit. A similar measure had also passed the House earlier in the week, but it was prevented from having immediate effect by one vote.
Former Juneau legislator Mike Miller voiced his opinion on the controversial proposed drilling of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Miller, while at a local Democrats meeting, said that drilling for oil was not worth endangering a non-recoverable trove of wildlife.
On March 5, 1987, Anchorage disabled rights activist and executive director of Barrier Free Alaska, Roberta Stein, taught Juneau elementary and middle school students about wheelchairs and multiple sclerosis. Her and her dog, Lazer, came into the classroom of Mendenhall River Community Elementary School in the hopes that her lesson would help break stereotypes about disabled people.
Starting on April 1, the cost of a room at Bartlett Hospital was to rise to $380 a day, $30 more than the set $350 rate. Critical care rooms also saw a $65 hike and nursery rooms $40. The last price increase at the hospital was nearly two years prior.
The Cowper Administration continued to struggle with the state’s money problems. Originally, Gov. Cowper planned to cut the costs of pioneer homes, but he found it much harder to cut his proposed amount as the state’s budget neared its deadline. The Yukon economy, on the other hand, started to rise back up after falling down hard the past couple of years.
“This Day in Juneau History” is compiled by Empire freelancer Tasha Elizarde, who sums up the day’s events — 30 years ago — by perusing Empire archives.
