- 1981

Douglas bridges, old and new, side by side, ca. 1981. Alaska State Library, Jim Ruotsala Photo Collection, P469-2-11-07.

The final span for the new Douglas bridge was completed in July, the bridge dedicated October 13, and the old Douglas bridge (built in 1935) was demolished. As a fund raiser (and fun raiser) the Douglas Lions Club created the “Douglas Passport” to provide holders “free entry” over the “Douglas International Bridge” to the “Democratic Republic of Douglas”. Lively community discussion ensued as to what the official name should be for the new span, with a vocal contingent opting to keep the name of the old bridge, the Douglas Bridge, while the state Department of Transportation suggested the provisional name Gastineau Channel Bridge, pending an official act by the next Legislature to affix a proper name.

Local urban Native corporation Goldbelt, Inc. announced plans to close off public access to its land holdings at Echo Cove, site of a public boat launch ramp and popular recreation area. It was hoping to develop a marina and resort area there. The Forest Service was trying to secure public access easements for the area, in addition to planning a public use plan for the whole area. The matter looked like it would be headed to court for a decision.

Juneau residents also looked anxiously ahead to the next year’s state election, when another capital move was up for vote to relocate the capital at Willow, a wide spot on the Parks Highway north of Wasilla. Juneau’s Alaska Committee members continued to spread the word to state residents of the cons of the issue’s costs and potential loss of state services for the rest of the state (not to mention the loss of Juneau’s main source of employment and business and two thirds of its residents).

A minor brouhaha erupted during an Assembly meeting January 7, which had adjourned a public meeting to hold an executive session to discuss upcoming candidates for a city Parks & Recreation position. Three persons were arrested for refusing to leave, citing the borough’s charter provisions as justification to remain. The three had previously locked horns with Mayor William “Bill” Overstreet and the Assembly last year in contention with the move to accept a new Yukon Time Zone designation from the federal government and had led a failed effort to recall the mayor and several assembly members. It was the first time that citizens had been arrested in conjunction with assembly meeting business, but the city later dropped charges. Fall elections saw the defeat of proposals for an additional tax on alcohol sales, one to change the fine structure of borough regulations, and a bond issue to build a new city shop, but approval of bonding for building a new parking garage downtown and a proposal to create a ski board to oversee operation of the city’s Eaglecrest Ski Area.

Auke Bay elementary school reopened January 7 after an expensive re-build to its foundations and building structures. Voters also approved four bond propositions in the fall to build a new Mendenhall Valley elementary school, and to provide for various improvements and additions to three other schools.

Sealaska Corporation announced the awarding of its first scholarships in March and its entry in May on Fortune magazine’s list of the largest 1,000 U.S. corporations. At position #951, it was the first Alaska Native corporation to be so recognized. In April it had disclosed a profit of $5.9 million with total revenues of $144 million, the largest profit by any ANCSA corporation to date.

Commercial gillnetters gave away the chum salmon they caught during one week’s opening in July to local residents in protest of the 5 cents/pound being paid to the fishermen by processors. Environmentalists greeted Secretary of the Interior James Watt’s August visit to Juneau with a raucous 21 chain saw salute on the capitol steps in protest to his perceived anti-environment stances. Watts was on an eight-day Alaska tour to promote and explain his environmental policies. While in the area he journeyed out to Glacier Bay, where he signed regulations to give more protection to humpback whales, which had recently declined in numbers in the bay . The TEV Princess Patricia, matriarch of the southeast Alaska tour vessels, made her last voyage, while the veteran steamship S.S. Prince George was pulled out of retirement by new owners to provide a classic cruise ship experience for the season.

A drunken, unemployed ex-logger killed his wife and one child and holed up in his trailer home during a dramatic 18-hour siege before taking his own life. Citizens were given an opportunity to help reduce crime when the non-profit Juneau Crime Line organization formed, which would provide a monetary reward for called-in tips leading to arrest or indictment of a criminal suspect. A large boulder, loosened by winter thawing, bounced down the mountainside January 5 and seriously damaged a newly-remodeled home on Basin Road. The popular Perseverance trail up Gold Creek basin was fenced off and closed due to several landslides along its steeper section. Repairs were estimated to take a year or longer, before the trail could be reopened.

show less