Empire Archives is a series printed every Saturday featuring a short compilation of headline stories in the Juneau Empire from archived editions in 1985, 1995 and 2005.
This week in 1985, Juneau residents learned what ballot propositions were going to be on the City and Borough of Juneau’s 1985 municipal ballot. In total, $22 million (approximately $62.4 million today) in bond debt made up from five different propositions was asked to be considered by voters.
The propositions asked voters whether or not to approve $7.8 million (approximately $22.1 million today) in bond debt to go toward a new library, $2.7 million ($7.6 million today) to develop Mendenhall Valley Park, $1.75 million ($4.9 million today) to extend Marine Park, $795,000 ($2.2 million today) to make safety and code improvement in some schools, and $9 million ($25.5 million today) to expand Bartlett Memorial Hospital, now known as Bartlett Regional Hospital.
Original Story: “22 million in bonds on ballot” by Betsy Longenbaugh. 09/17/1985.
This week in 1995, roads and campsites were under water in parts of the Mendenhall Valley along with one home suffering water damage after more than two inches of rain poured down within 24 hours. The storm prompted the National Weather Service Juneau to issue a flood warning.
Similarly this week in 2023, a flood watch was put in effect by NWS on Thursday morning and NWS was watching for flooding of rivers, creeks or streams that may occur from the rainfall, along with any impacts that may occur from the gusty conditions.
Original Story: “Flood warning continues” by Cathy Brown. 09/11/1995.
This week in 2005, Juneau voters learned they will be asked whether or not to approve $5.9 million (approximately $16.7 million today) in bond debt to fund upgrades and renovations to Glacier Valley Elementary School, now Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ Glacier Valley Elementary School.
“It’s a good investment. Glacier Valley Elementary has served us for 40 years and with this renovation it would serve us another 30 years,” said then Juneau School District Superintendent Peggy Cowan.
Original Story: “Voters asked to bonds: $5.9 million would go toward upgrading Glacier Valley School” by Eric Morrison. 09/14/2005.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651) 528-1807.
