The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 16, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 16, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Aug. 17

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Empire Archives is a series printed every Saturday featuring a short compilation of headline stories in the Juneau Empire from archived editions in 1984, 1994 and 2004.

This week in 1984, a schoolwide attendance policy, a half-hour lunch period and a longer school day are some of the proposed policies that the new principal of Juneau-Douglas High School will bring before the Juneau Board of Education tonight. The 7 p.m. special meeting at Harborview Elementary School will be the first unveiling of the new high school plan before the school board. Principal Chris Bogden said he will be seeking board endorsement of the plan and the procedure to reach the plan. Bogden will be in charge of an estimated 1,200 to 1,400 students, as some 460 ninth-grade students move into the high school under the new middle school program. In addition to more students, there has also been a 40% increase in staff and a vice-principal position added.

Today Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé has more than 1,100 students attending as the school year starts, following a consolidation that put all students in grades 9-12 back into a single high school.

Original Story: “High school policy faces board,” by Betsy Longenbaugh. 8/15/1984.

This week in 1994, voters will be asked in October to increase the city’s 4% sales tax to five cents on the dollar. But whether the hike is offset by exempting food and other essentials such as heating fuel and electricity from sales tax remains undecided. The city-borough assembly narrowly approved the sales tax ballot measure Monday, upping the amount from the original proposal of 4.75% to a 5% tax — but deferred action on a companion ordinance granting the new exemptions. Members said they chose an even 5% tax because they believe it will be easier for merchants and consumers. The tax increase would go toward municipal operating expenses, capital projects and the city savings account.

Today the city’s sales tax remains 5% as voters have opted every five years to renew a temporary 1% sales tax, most recently in 2023 to keep it in effect until 2028. The assembly has in recent years discussed sales tax exemptions on some foods, and other proposals such as a seasonal sales tax, but not adopted them as ordinances or placed the questions on the ballot.

Original Story: “Proposed sales tax hike headed to October ballot,” by Tim Huber. 8/16/1994.

This week in 2004, Juneau began Monday to clean up the mess after fire consumed one of the city’s oldest buildings. The building that housed the Subway sandwich shop, Dragon Inn restaurant and other businesses had stood at Front and Seward streets since 1896. City officials couldn’t say immediately how many businesses had space in the building or how many workers there lost jobs. Martin Beckner, Capital City Fire and Rescue operations division chief, said Monday he was still trying to figure out how many millions of dollars in damage the fire did. The department reported Sunday that the fire call came in at 2:50 p.m., about 15 minutes after it apparently began when workers were pouring hot tar on the roof above the Dragon Inn restaurant. Beckner said Monday he had no further information on the fire’s cause. Debbie Purves, from the city Community Development Department, visited the site Monday and said she didn’t see any obvious evidence of building code violations. City Manager Rod Swope said demolition of the burned-out remains was planned to begin today, and he expected it would take two or three days to clear the site.

Today the site has been resurrected as Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Walter Soboleff Building.

Original Story: “Cleanup begins after devastating fire,” by Tony Carroll and I-Chun Che. 8/17/2004.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Aaron Surma, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Council, gives a solo testimony to the Juneau Board of Education on Feb. 6, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
On top of a flat-funded BSA, Juneau Board of Education considers loss of local funding and grants

Principals and mental health advocate give feedback as the Juneau School District plans FY26 budget.

Cars arrive at Juneau International Airport on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau’s airport asking long-ago manager Dave Palmer to return temporarily amidst leadership changes

Palmer would return in April as longtime manager retires; Assembly removes two airport board members.

Pittman’s Pub, which has a bar tent located next to the Hooter chairlift and Fish Creek Lodge, will not open this season, its co-owners told Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors Thursday. Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Pittman’s Pub owners say they won’t open at Eaglecrest this year due to cost, space difficulties

Couple says they would like to take over ski area’s restaurant, continue as a year-round operation.

The Alaska Senate unanimously approves a bill Friday rejecting a recommendation to adjust lawmakers’ salaries for inflation. (Official Alaska State Legislature livestream)
Alaska Senate unanimously rejects automatic salary hikes for top state officials

Commission recommendation for adjustments matching inflation takes effect unless lawmakers say no.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, Feb. 3, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A sexual assault kit. (Photo from Alaska Department of Public Safety)
Gov. Dunleavy proposes bill to streamline Alaska sexual assault kit tracking system

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has introduced legislation to set a statewide tracking system… Continue reading

Most Read