Tripp J Crouse, KTOO

In this update:

• Authorities search for overdue climbers in Juneau: George “Ryan” Johnson, 34, of Juneau and Marc-Andre Leclerc of British Columbia were expected to return no later than Wednesday evening to Juneau via the West Glacier Trail.
• Rep. Guttenberg taken to hospital for ‘unknown medical emergency’: Caucus spokesman Michael Mason says Fairbanks Rep. David Guttenberg is in contact with other caucus members via text. Mason says that Guttenberg reports feeling fine and that he is awaiting test results. Guttenberg was taken to the hospital from the state Capitol building at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
• Haines basketball tournament postponed amid travel woes: The annual Dick Hotch Memorial Basketball Tournament that was originally scheduled for this weekend in Haines has been postponed. Ferry cancellations and winter weather are standing in the way. The state ferry LeConte was taken out of service for repairs this week, canceling a Friday and Sunday sailing to Haines.

You can hear these stories and more at ktoo.sandbox.5mts.com/listen.

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In other news:

Juneau Assembly to decide fate of Aquatics Board as empowerment debate resurfaces

The advisory board for Juneau’s two municipal swimming pools wants its mandate extended for at least another year. Juneau’s outgoing parks and recreation director said the Aquatics Board has run its course.

The board was and remains a strong advocate for downtown swimming, board chairman Max Mertz said.

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Wrangell Cooperative designing five-year plan to curb outward migration

The local tribe in Wrangell received a $100,000 grant, in part, to curb outward migration.

The tribe will create a five-year plan to bolster industry and community services that could keep people from moving out of town.

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Ferry LeConte out of service through March 10

The state ferry LeConte has been out of service for repairs since the beginning of the week. The boat will be tied up in Juneau for a few more days. The LeConte has a bent push rod in one of its generators.

“The generator cannot operate without the push rod operating correctly,” Alaska Marine Highway spokeswoman Aurah Landau said.

Authorities are searching for two overdue hikers who didn’t return from climbing the Mendenhall Towers in the Juneau Icefield.

George “Ryan” Johnson, 34, of Juneau and Marc-Andre Leclerc of British Columbia were dropped off Sunday near the towers, according to Alaska State Troopers.

The release said the experienced climbers were expected to return no later than Wednesday evening to Juneau via the West Glacier Trail.

The release said that Alaska State Troopers were notified at 10:06 a.m. Wednesday that they had not returned. Neither men have a satellite phone or emergency beacon, the release said.

Troopers’ spokeswoman Megan Peters says authorities found some of their gear, including skis. She noted they had planned to ski out.

A chartered helicopter, Juneau Mountain Rescue personnel and the U.S. Coast Guard are assisting in the search.

The next of kin for both men have been notified of the situation.

One of the climbers posted this photo on Monday.

Rare live update here… that is Mt Fairweather in the distance.

A post shared by Marc-Andre Leclerc (@mdre92) on Mar 5, 2018 at 11:33am PST

In this newscast:

• George Schaaf tapped to lead Juneau parks department: Juneau’s next Parks and Recreation Director will be George Schaaf, according to a Wednesday release from the City and Borough of Juneau city manager’s office. Schaaf will replace Kirk Duncan who is retiring in May after more than decade with the city.
• Search continues for attorney to represent man accused in double homicide: A Juneau man accused in a double homicide doesn’t have an attorney to represent him yet, delaying a possible trial. The Office of Public Advocacy still is looking for a Southeast-based attorney who can take on the case involving Laron Carlton Graham, the office’s deputy director said in a hearing Tuesday.
• Requested psychological evaluation to delay Strawn sentencing: Sentencing for a Juneau man convicted of killing another man in a Valley trailer park over two years ago has been delayed. Christopher Strawn requested a psychological evaluation, which delayed his sentencing originally scheduled Feb. 20.

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In other news:

Lawmakers add funding for public defenders

The Alaska House Finance Committee has approved funding four additional lawyers to work in the Public Defender Agency. They approved the money at a meeting on Monday.
Alaska Public Defender Quinlan Steiner said that without more lawyers, his agency would turn down cases.

“There’s a principal of ethics that requires a lawyer not to accept a case if they can’t competently handle that case, and not having enough time would be that reason,” Steiner said. “So, we would attempt to refuse cases.”

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Prince of Wales residents testify about spotty, nonexistent cell and internet

Prince of Wales Island residents testified about limited internet, cell and landline service on the island during a public conference last week with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

Underscoring the problem, many of those testifying by phone from the big island were difficult to understand because of poor connections.

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You can hear these stories and more at ktoo.sandbox.5mts.com/listen.

A front coming from the west is bringing snow today (Wednesday).

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Juneau, northern Admiralty Island and Gustavus. The advisory is in effect until early Thursday morning.

Meteorologist Nichole Ferrin said that 5 to 10 inches is in the forecast for the Juneau area. Accumulation is expected to increase later today and tonight.

“There’s potential that it could persist into early Thursday morning but with lower snowfall rates,” Ferrin said. “Maybe tomororow morning when you wake up you might be needing to do one more shovel before heading to work.”

The front will move out Thursday, and scattered snow should decrease. But Ferrin said there’s another front coming in that could bring another round of rain and snow.

Hoonah is expected to see snow today as well, but likely less than the 4-inch advisory level.

In this newscast:

• Juneau Assembly sinks anti-NIMBY ordinance: An ordinance that would allow the Juneau Planning Commission to approve controversial facilities if the city manager deems them in the public interest failed by a 6-3 vote.
• Aleutians East Borough to join legal battle over land exchange: The Aleutians East Borough plans to join the legal battle over a land exchange that would allow construction of a controversial road between King Cove and Cold Bay.
• Ferry LeConte down for repairs: A mechanical problem is keeping the ferry LeConte tied up through at least March 7. Alaska Marine Highway spokeswoman Aurah Landau said it suffered a bent push rod and it’s an internal component on a generator.

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Making room at the top: Four Juneau city department heads to retire by summer

Engineering Director Roger Healy will be the first to depart. He first joined city engineering in 1992 but also worked for the State Department of Transportation in intervening years. The 60-year-old retires at the end of April.

Also leaving:

• Parks and Recreation Director Kirk Duncan. His last day with the City and Borough of Juneau is May 11.
• Rob Steedle has led the Community Development Department since 2016 after a four-year stint as deputy city manager. He plans to retire as soon as his replacement is hired later this year.
• City Clerk Laurie Sica has also announced she’ll retire this year.

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House leadership unlikely to take up close votes with 2 members out

The Alaska House likely won’t be considering any bills that would require a close vote this week. That’s because the House majority coalition will be two members short.

Anchorage Democratic Rep. Ivy Spohnholz experienced a pulmonary embolism last week. She wrote that she plans to return to Juneau next Monday. On Friday, Bethel Democratic Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky is scheduled to be sworn in.

Without the two members, the House majority caucus will have only 20 voting members in the 40-seat body.

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You can hear these stories and more at ktoo.sandbox.5mts.com/listen.

In this newscast:

• Abandoned rifle found near Juneau school on same day as Florida shooting: Juneau police are investigating the case of a semi-automatic rifle found in the snow near Juneau-Douglas High School on Feb. 14, the same day as the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. But they don’t believe the abandoned firearm was intended to harm anyone.
• Alaska State Troopers: 2 found dead at campground near Talkeetna: Troopers released few details of the deaths in an online report posted Friday, saying that the cause and manner of death is under investigation. Troopers say they were notified Tuesday that the bodies of the male and female were found at the Byers Lake campground.
• Mushers, fans gather for world’s most famous sled dog race: Sixty-seven teams are signed up to vie for a total purse of $500,000. Organizers say the winner’s share of the prize money will be determined later in the race.

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In other news:

After fatal police shooting in Fairbanks of young Juneau man, family raises questions

The family of an armed man shot dead by law enforcement on Christmas Eve in Fairbanks is questioning how officers handled the incident.

Cody Eyre, 20, originally from Juneau, was shot by Alaska State Troopers and Fairbanks Police near the intersection of the Steese Highway and the Johansen Expressway, after they responded to a call about a distraught man with a gun walking along the road.

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Era Helicopters sells off Alaska tour operations

One of the world’s largest helicopter firms recently sold its Alaska tour operations to Ketchikan-based firms.

Era Helicopters had operated flight tours from Juneau and Denali National Park. The Juneau operation will be taken over by NorthStar Trekking. The Denali flightseeing business will go to TEMSCO Helicopters.

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Citizen scientists help biologists discover unique bat behavior

White nose syndrome is a fungal disease that is killing off bats on the U.S. East Coast. While it hasn’t hit Alaska yet, it is one of the main reasons bat research has revved up in the past decade.

With that newfound interest, new discoveries are being made in Alaska. Last summer, the state recorded the first documentation of swarming behavior outside of a cave or mine.

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You can hear these stories and more at ktoo.sandbox.5mts.com/listen.