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, officials at the State Correctional Center at Lemon Creek say the jail is calm despite a claim by at least one inmate that tension is reaching a dangerous level with most inmates reportedly on a hunger strike. Inmates reportedly started the strike Thursday, but prison Superintendent Margaret Pugh said officials must wait to determine if it is successful and, if so, how widespread it becomes. “That’s kind of a complex issue, I’m not sure if they are on a hunger strike,” Pugh said. “I ate lunch in the cafeteria today and there were people eating when I was up there eating.” While she couldn’t make an estimate of how many there were, Pugh said about two-thirds of the prison population was served lunch this morning. “I know there are some that weren’t (eating), they’re not required to eat, you know.” But some inmates said they are committed to the strike. The inmates have presented a petition to the prison administration seeking more visiting time, a wider selection of materials at the prison commissary, improved meals, more activities and a revamping of the state Department of Corrections’ classification system of prisoners. The hunger strike is the latest in a series of incidents that have occurred at the prison in a little more than a year, including four inmates escaping in July who were then recaptured. There was also a major disturbance in a dormitory in September that resulted in damage to furniture, windows, and light and plumbing fixtures.
Original Story: “Hunger strike reported at jail,” by Christopher Jarvis. 11/16/1984.
This week in 1994, concern over public safety, property safety and resource damage to the area has prompted the U.S. Forest Service to propose banning off-road vehicles in most of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, including Dredge Lakes. Other proposed actions include closing Skater’s Cabin from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and putting the cabin on a reservation system. A draft management plan for the popular recreation area is available for public review and the Forest Service is asking for comments before Dec. 20. The plan would also ban firearm use in the area around the glacier. The draft is an update from the existing plan, which was written in 1975.
Today the Forest Service is implemented an updated management plan published last December. It includes a new welcome center and outdoor amphitheater, more parking, expanded trail access, and up to five new public-use cabins. It also states motorized boats will not be allowed on Mendenhall Lake and rejects a proposed visitor center near the current face of the glacier, which has receded considerably since the existing center was built.
Original Story: “Plan limits glacier-use area,” by Jeanine Pohl. 11/14/1994.
This week in 2004, Republican caucus leaders on Monday said they had reclaimed the House majority after a weekend of marathon phoning persuaded some lawmakers – who had defected to a bipartisan coalition – to return to the fold. Rep. John Harris of Valdez, who was named House speaker earlier this month by the caucus, said the caucus has shored up commitments from at least 26 members and could have 28 by the end of the day. Twenty-one representatives are needed to hold the majority in the 40-member House. “The House Republican leadership is intact,” Harris said. On Saturday, about a half-dozen lawmakers announced a realignment that included all 13 House Democrats and about a dozen members of the GOP majority. The coalition members said with their majority, they planned to rise above partisan politics and reinstate Rep. Pete Kott, R-Eagle River, as speaker to replace Harris.
Today the political pendulum has swung the other way, with a bipartisan majority coalition consisting mostly of Democrats announced following the Nov. 5 election. It replaces a Republican-led coalition that controlled the House during the past two years.
Original Story: “Statewide design contest announced,” by Matt Volz, The Associated Press. 11/16/2004.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
