On Dec. 12, 1986, more news on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries took Alaska by storm. For years, the state had been suffering from a sinking oil revenue because of the organization’s manipulation of world oil prices. OPEC met to talk about new oil prices, hoping to raise each barrel to $18. At the time, North Slope oil had been sold at $12-15 per barrel, much more than the $9 per barrel price early in the Sheffield Administration, but much less than the $26 per barrel price in 1985. However, even if the price changed — a feat already rendered difficult for the middle eastern countries — it was still predicted that Alaska’s financial problems would go unalleviated.
Like the financial state of Alaska, whether or not gifts sent from Juneau residents would be received by Christmas was also unclear. The fog that had swept over the city slowed the travel of packages. The U.S. Postal Service had noticed that the amount of parcels being sent that holiday season had dropped by about 30 percent, much less than in previous years.
In good news, the Juneau Harbors Board chose to build a fisheries terminal at Norway point and to lower launch ramp fees. The fisheries terminal was expected to cost $1.6 million to build, and fees were to be cut from $50 to $25.
“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.
