Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau

Gov. Bill Walker and first lady Donna Walker welcomed the people of Juneau into their home Tuesday for the 2015 governor’s holiday open house. It’s an annual tradition that’s been going on for over a hundred years.

At a press conference at the mansion, the governor estimated that he would shake over 3,000 hands. Walker said he was excited about Alaska’s future, although he knows the state is in a period of “challenging fiscal times.”

“But we’ve never defined ourselves by how much money we’ve had. We’re a state made of Alaskans made up of all walks of life. Doing what we need to do to get the job done,” he said.

First Lady Donna Walker said they were trying to do more with less this year and the cookie budget, like the state budget was down. Still, 25,000 cookies were baked for guests to enjoy. The party even included a first—the option of gluten-free cookies.

Karla Hart was waiting in line wearing a sticker that says ‘get extra tough on B.C. mines.’ She said a group of people were planning on wearing the stickers to show their opposition. Hart said she thinks Walker has been a great supporter, but there were a lot of issues competing for his attention.

“So to  my mind, it’s an opportunity to reinforce what he’s already started doing and say this is really important and we need you to keep doing it even while you’re dealing with budget issues,” she said.

The governor is rolling out the 2017 fiscal plan for the state on Wednesday.

Update | 6:32 p.m.

Police charged a 19-year-old Juneau man with murder Thursday, alleging he stabbed two men, killing one and injuring the other. The victims were father and son. Police say the men were fighting over piece of property.

The capital city’s police department says the alleged murder took place at Cedar Park, a housing development in West Juneau on Douglas Island.

Kevin Scott Nauska fatally stabbed 37-year-old Jordon J. Sharclane in the early morning, police say. Nauska has been charged with murder and attempted murder in the first degree, as well as assault.

Police were still at the apartments collecting evidence around 9:30 a.m.

Police Chief Bryce Johnson says there was no indication drugs were involved, but his department is investigating alcohol as a factor.

Police say the stabbing occurred after a fight over a piece of property but they wouldn’t identify what it was.

“There was one fatality and then a second person was also injured and taken to the hospital,” Johnson said. “The other person involved is in police custody and we are talking to them.”

That second person is the victim’s son: Michael Sharclane. The 19-year-old was taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital with serious injuries. A hospital spokesperson said, as of this afternoon, Sharclane’s condition was stable.

Not far from the crime scene, a group of people clustered together under a shelter, waiting for the bus. Ursula Stewart lives at Cedar Park and says she’s frightened by this recent death.

“I’m from a really bad neighborhood in California and I’ve never seen something like that,” Stewart said.

She said she watched responders wash the blood off the street where the victim’s body was found.

“I was glad that it washed off before my kids had to go on the bus because I was really worried about my kids seeing that kind of stuff. I mean, this is Juneau?” she said.

This is the fourth violent death to happen in Juneau in the past three months. To put that in perspective, no murders were reported in 2014 according to the State of Alaska’s Uniform Crime Report filed with the FBI. And police still have no suspects in custody after a double-homicide in November.

Chief Johnson said some investigators have been working on the cases nonstop.

“If you get a chance to find a family member, JPD detective, give them a hug, because they’re sacrificing their family member to make sure we’re all staying safe,” Johnson said.

Kevin Scott Nauska is being held at Lemon Creek Correctional Center without bail.

Update | 12:48 p.m.

Juneau police released a statement identifying Kevin Scott Nauska as the suspect in the fatal stabbing. Nauska has been charged with murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree, assault in the first degree, two counts of assault in the third degree and tampering with physical evidence. He has been transported to Lemon Creek Correctional and is being held without bail.

The victims of the stabbing have been identified as 37-year-old Jordon J. Sharclane. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The surviving victim, 19-year-old Michael Sharclane, was transported to Bartlett Regional Hospital with serious injuries. The investigation is ongoing.
-Elizabeth Jenkins

Update | 11:29 a.m.

Juneau police say a murder occurred on Douglas Island early Wednesday morning at Cedar Park. Juneau Police Chief Bryce Johnson said the victim, a 37-year-old male, died from stab wounds after a fight broke out. Johnson said there wasn’t any indication that drugs were involved. But police are investigating if alcohol may have been a factor.

The fight was over a piece of property.

“Officers at Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to that report. There was one fatality and then a second person was also injured and taken to the hospital,” Johnson said. “The other person involved is in police custody and we are talking to them.”

The other victim, a 19-year-old male, was taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital. A member of the public Facebook group Juneau Community Concern identified that person as Michael Sharclane. Bartlett spokesperson, Jim Strader, confirmed there is a male with that name at the hospital. Strader said that Michael Sharclane is in stable condition.

Chief Johnson said the crime appears to be an isolated incident.

Ursula Stewart, who lives at Cedar Park, said she was scared. Stewart said she saw emergency responders put the victim inside the body bag.

“It was horrendous. I’m from, like, a really bad neighborhood in California and I’ve never seen something like that,” Stewart said.

The Police are not looking for any other suspects but are asking witnesses to come forward with any information. You can contact JPD at 586-0600.
-Elizabeth Jenkins

Update | 10:08 a.m.

The deceased victim was a 37-year-old male and the victim in the hospital was a 19-year-old male. The police report that the fight resulted from a dispute over property.
-David Purdy

The alleged murder was reported in the 3400 block of Foster Ave

Original story

Juneau Police Department reports that one man is dead and another in the hospital after a fight in the 3400 block of Foster Avenue on Douglas Island.

Juneau Police and Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to 911 call at 3:49 a.m. reporting a stabbing in the area. The police have a suspect in custody and are not seeking any additional suspects at this time.

Witnesses or anyone with additional information are encouraged to call Juneau Police at (907) 586-0600.
-David Purdy

This is a breaking story – check back for updates. 

Editor’s note: the caption for the Facebook group screenshot has been updated with the correct name of the 19-year-old victim

A late night fire at a church near Engineer’s Cutoff caused more than $100,000 in damage. Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief Ed Quinto said the cause of the fire at Emmanuel Baptist Church is unknown and seems suspicious.

The fire reached into the attic, and major damage occurred in the new portion of the church.

“We were finally able to get to all the fire in the attic and we took down the majority of the ceiling sheet rock, so there’s a lot of damage there and a lot of the roof tresses got charred,” he said.

Quinto said it took about an hour to extinguish the flames. The Juneau Police Department and the fire marshal’s office are investigating. Evidence was collected at the scene last night.

Around 8 p.m. Tuesday the Juneau Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting a robbery at the Travelodge Hotel.

According to a news release from JPD, a man walked into the hotel toward a clerk with his arm and hand extended under his sleeve, as if he had a handgun. The suspect then punched a man who attempted to intervene and threatened a female witness.

He physically assaulted a clerk behind the hotel counter before fleeing on foot with cash from the till.

Officers searched the area but were unable to find the suspect. He is described as being about 6 feet tall, 250 pounds and wearing all black. The suspect was wearing a ski mask at the time of the robbery.

If you have any information, please contact the Juneau Police Department at 586-0600. An investigation is ongoing.

This weekend, crowds showed up in the pouring rain to do their holiday shopping at Juneau’s Public Market, but it wasn’t the only place in town to buy local goods. This year’s second annual Native Artist Market was also happening at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Vendors from Petersburg to Metlakatla sold otter skin apparel, devil’s club salve, and accessories woven from yellow cedar.

Listen to an audio postcard of that event: