On Aug. 8, 1986, a cruise ship ran aground near Prince of Wales Island. Despite leakage, no one was reported injured and the boat was not expected to sink.
In Sitka, 300 members of the United Paperworkers International Union Local 962 striked against their largest private employer, Alaska Pulp Co. Though some workers sided with the union, others remained with the company, causing a substantial rift in the small Southeast Alaska town. One person involved has his leg broken after being hit by a truck during the strike; in another incident, local police officers claimed that they had received threats regarding incoming barges of chemicals and supplies coming toward Sitka Sound. The strike also threatened to leave a strong impact on Sitka’s economy if it continued past the tourist season.
“This Day in Juneau History” is compiled by Empire freelancer Tasha Elizarde, who sums up the day’s events — 30 years ago — by perusing Empire archives.
