Beth Kerttula, left, and Sudie Hargis share a laugh during an award ceremony at District 17 headquarters in the Federal Building on Friday. Hargis as given the Commander's Award for Civilian Service for her work while assigned as the Tribal Liaison Speciallist for District 17 since 2012. Hargis is retiring from the Coast Guard after serving as an active duty officer from 1887 to 1994, and numerous other positions as a civilian. Former Rep. Kerttula was presented the Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award for outstanding service as Director of the National Ocean Council from May 2014 to June 2016.

Photos: Coast Guard awards

Beth Kerttula, left, and Sudie Hargis share a laugh during an award ceremony at District 17 headquarters in the Federal Building on Friday. Hargis as… Continue reading

Beth Kerttula, left, and Sudie Hargis share a laugh during an award ceremony at District 17 headquarters in the Federal Building on Friday. Hargis as given the Commander's Award for Civilian Service for her work while assigned as the Tribal Liaison Speciallist for District 17 since 2012. Hargis is retiring from the Coast Guard after serving as an active duty officer from 1887 to 1994, and numerous other positions as a civilian. Former Rep. Kerttula was presented the Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award for outstanding service as Director of the National Ocean Council from May 2014 to June 2016.
Kris Sell (left), a lieutenant with the the Juneau Police Department, accepts the Juneau Chamber of Commerce's citizen of the year award from Sharon Burns during the chamber's annual dinner Friday in Centennial Hall.

Sell named Chamber’s Citizen of the Year

The Juneau Chamber of Commerce named Kris Sell, a lieutenant with the Juneau Police Department, its Citizen of the Year at its annual dinner at… Continue reading

Kris Sell (left), a lieutenant with the the Juneau Police Department, accepts the Juneau Chamber of Commerce's citizen of the year award from Sharon Burns during the chamber's annual dinner Friday in Centennial Hall.

Accidental shootings kill, injure children

ANCHORAGE — A state trooper’s young son died after he inadvertently shot himself with a gun he found in the house. A boy in a… Continue reading

Powdery proof: Winter is coming

Some Juneau residents were greeted Saturday morning with powdery proof that winter is indeed coming.The downtown area experienced a light dusting of snow, which despite… Continue reading

Police reports for Sunday, Oct. 17, 2016

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone listed… Continue reading

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 17, 1986

This Day in Juneau History: Oct. 17, 1986

On Oct. 17, 1986, Alaska State Troopers began looking for a man who reportedly died from a cocaine overdose. They searched from downtown to Montana… Continue reading

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 17, 1986

Around Town

Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., SEARHC Juneau WIC Clinic, 3245 Hospital Drive, first floor. Free nutrition services for income-eligible women who… Continue reading

Alaska Libertarian party boots chair weeks before election

JUNEAU — The Alaska Libertarian party has a new chairman, weeks before the general election.Jon Watts takes over the role after the party’s board voted… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, OCT. 15-16 - In this Sept. 22, 2016 photo, provided by Katie Basil, Bethel Regional High School swim coach Erika Andrews teaches swimming fundamentals to swim team members in Bethel, Alaska. Andrews is the first swim coach and is trying to build a swimming culture in Bethel, two years after the city's first pool opened. (Katie Basil/KYUK via AP)

Building a swimming culture in Bethel

BETHEL — Bethel sits on a river, but many people here don’t know how to swim. People drown in the Kuskokwim every year, and for… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, OCT. 15-16 - In this Sept. 22, 2016 photo, provided by Katie Basil, Bethel Regional High School swim coach Erika Andrews teaches swimming fundamentals to swim team members in Bethel, Alaska. Andrews is the first swim coach and is trying to build a swimming culture in Bethel, two years after the city's first pool opened. (Katie Basil/KYUK via AP)
In this Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016 photo, Kathleen Leitgeb, program director for the Fairbanks Denakkanaaga Road Scholar Program, stands in the Denakkanaaga Office at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. Leitgeb, the program director for the Fairbanks Denakkanaaga Road Scholar program, was born and raised in Chelsea, New York, and graduated from high school in the mid-60s with a less-than-stellar grade point average. (Erin Corneliussen /Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP)

Road Scholar director found home in Alaska landscapes

FAIRBANKS — Kathleen Leitgeb never set out to be an anthropologist, archaeologist and educational tour guide living in Fairbanks, but what started as a lark… Continue reading

In this Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016 photo, Kathleen Leitgeb, program director for the Fairbanks Denakkanaaga Road Scholar Program, stands in the Denakkanaaga Office at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. Leitgeb, the program director for the Fairbanks Denakkanaaga Road Scholar program, was born and raised in Chelsea, New York, and graduated from high school in the mid-60s with a less-than-stellar grade point average. (Erin Corneliussen /Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP)
Eighth-graders Joselle Lopez, left, and Luna Ewing work on making their grilled-cheese sandwiches during a Life Skills class at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School on Thursday.

Underfunded Juneau middle school cooking class raising money

On a recent morning at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School, students clustered around their Life Skills teacher Jessie Kovach as she demonstrated how to make panini.… Continue reading

Eighth-graders Joselle Lopez, left, and Luna Ewing work on making their grilled-cheese sandwiches during a Life Skills class at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School on Thursday.
Rep. Sam Kito III, left, Rep. Cathy Muñoz and Justin Parish speak during an election forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Juneau at the University of Alaska Southeast on Thursday. Rep. Kito is running for House District 33 unopposed. Rep. Muñoz is being challenged by Parish for District 34.

Parish, Muñoz clash in statehouse debate

Justin Parish came out swinging in Thursday night’s Juneau Votes statehouse debate at the University of Alaska Southeast.At several points during the hour-and-a-half debate, the… Continue reading

Rep. Sam Kito III, left, Rep. Cathy Muñoz and Justin Parish speak during an election forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Juneau at the University of Alaska Southeast on Thursday. Rep. Kito is running for House District 33 unopposed. Rep. Muñoz is being challenged by Parish for District 34.

Around Town

Knights of Columbus Bishop Kenny Council brunch, 10 a.m.-noon, St. Paul’s Catholic Church. $10 for a family and $4 for an individual.Open trap shooting, 10… Continue reading

Police & Fire for Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016

Burglary• At 2:20 p.m. Monday, the Juneau Police Department received a report of a residential burglary in the 1000 block of D Street. Conditions violation•… Continue reading

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 16, 1986

This Day in Juneau History: Oct. 16, 1986

On Oct. 16, 1986, state road crews began cleaning up a mudslide that blocked Thane Road in the morning. The mudslide came shortly after another… Continue reading

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 16, 1986

Teaching panel proposes protections for transgender students

ANCHORAGE — An Alaska educational commission wants to add transgender students to a list of protected categories in its code of ethics.The Professional Teaching Practices… Continue reading

Woman pulls gun after getting a dozen doughnuts

ANCHORAGE — Someone wanted a baker’s dozen from a 24-hour doughnut shop in Anchorage, and used a gun for the extra treat.Anchorage television station KTUU… Continue reading

Panel: No indication of Russian aggression in Arctic

ANCHORAGE — While Russia has built up its military on its side of the Arctic, there is no evidence of Russian aggression in the region,… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker talks to a crowded Ted Ferry Civic Center on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, during a Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Ketchikan residents ask Walker about AMHS, taxes and pensions

KETCHIKAN — Ketchikan residents, getting their first meeting with Gov. Bill Walker since February, asked the governor about issues ranging from the Alaska Marine Highway… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker talks to a crowded Ted Ferry Civic Center on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, during a Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

75 years ago: Six killed in Japonski blast near Sitka

SITKA — Thursday was the 75th anniversary of an explosion that killed six men at a military construction site on Japonski Island.The death toll from… Continue reading