On July 18, 1986, meetings were called by Juneau officials to decide the fate of Juneau’s budget. After $3.4 million was taken away from the City and Borough of Juneau, many losses, including the delay of the Bartlett Memorial Hospital’s expansion, were announced by municipal manager Kevin Richie. Other losses include $350,000 in revenue sharing, $1.65 million in school funding, $90,000 in school transportation and $640,000 in school debt retirement. Just like Gov. Sheffield, Juneau wanted to use layoffs only as a last resort, so wage cuts were widely considered in replacement.
On the political field, a gubernatorial candidate and two candidates for the Alaska House dropped out of the race.
After a 2½ month investigation conducted by the local Metro Drug Unit into the heroin trade in Juneau, authorities arrested the man accused of being the major supplier of heroin in Juneau. The investigation included undercover officers who bought cocaine and later, heroin, allegedly sent from the offender. Along with this, Metro Drug Unit officers also arrested someone who bought heroin from the offender.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service selected 30 baby eagles to be moved to New York and St. Louis, in an annual attempt to help spread the number of eagles in the Lower 48.
“This Day in Juneau History” is compiled by Empire intern Tasha Elizarde, who sums up the day’s events — 30 years ago — by perusing Empire archives. To learn more about the project, click here.
