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State water director talks cruise ships at Chamber

Cruise ship wastewater discharge does not harm fish habitats in Alaskan waters, and that will not change under a new law passed earlier this year that relaxes restrictions on the industry, the director of the Alaska Division of Water said at Thursday’s Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Michelle Bonnet Hale made her pitch to a largely receptive audience that included many local businesspeople, saying that Alaska’s standards for cruise ship wastewater treatment are already as high as they can realistically be.

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Former Empire publisher returns in interim role

Jeff Wilson, former publisher of the Empire from 1975 to 1995, will now serve once more as interim publisher.

When he left the Empire in 1995, he went to Athens, Ga., where he was publisher of the Athens Banner Herald for 15 years. Although he’ll only be with the Empire for a few weeks as the search for a publisher continues, he’s happy to be back in Juneau.

“The weather is hard to take, but once you get used to that, the one thing I tell everyone is that I missed the people. It’s a very esoteric crowd. They’re very interesting people with stories to tell.”

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Celebrate Alaska Mining Day

In yesteryears they’ve been called underground savages and muckmen. Simply known as miners today, they’re to thank for the beautiful city and state that we live in — without them, Juneau wouldn’t be what it is today. Enter, Alaska Mining Day.

“It’s commemorative — a day where we can recognize the mining industry in Alaska,” said Deantha Crockett, executive director of the Alaska Miners Association. “It’s a way for us to reflect on what the mining industry has done and continues to do.”

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UAS vice chancellor, Sealaska board member convicted of drunken driving

A vice chancellor at University of Alaska Southeast and member of the Sealaska Board of Directors was convicted of drunken driving on Tuesday.

Joseph G. Nelson, 42, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and was sentenced to serve 33 days in jail with 30 days suspended, meaning three days to serve.

Juneau District Court Judge Keith Levy also placed Nelson on probation for 18 months, imposed a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended, revoked his license for 90 days and ordered him complete counseling at the Juneau Alcohol Safety Action Program.

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Mail carrier food drive to take place this Saturday, May 11

Mail carriers are hoping Juneau residents will put something else besides Mother’s Day cards in mailboxes on Saturday, May 11 — nonperishable food items.

That’s when the annual mail carrier food drive will be taking place to benefit two local food banks, the Southeast Alaska Food Bank and Helping Hands.

People can place nonperishable items in or by their mailbox or P.O. Box prior to the regular mail delivery time on Saturday. The city’s 20 mail carriers will collect the items as they deliver the mail, and then take the goods to the food banks.

Police & Fire for Thursday, May 9, 2013

This report contains information provided to the Empire from law enforcement agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone listed in this report is presumed innocent.

Criminal mischief

• At 12:14 a.m. Wednesday, the Juneau Police Department investigated a report of criminal mischief inside the Viking Bar in the 200 block of Front Street. Alcohol was involved.

Domestic dispute

National Bike to School Day

Schools and communities across the nation biked to school yesterday. The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) Safe Routes to School program invited schools to participate in this year’s National Bike to School Day.

Bike to School Day is part of the celebration of National Bike Month.

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Photo: Sandcastles in the sun

Chelsea Flint, left, and her brother, Keith, Lindsey Kato and her sister, Kaylie, 6, right, work on a sandcastle at Sandy Beach on Tuesday. The National Weather Service’s forecast was right — sunny weather on Wednesday with temperatures in the mid-60s. Look for partly sunny skies today with highs to 65 and lows to 35.

Local Lens

Capture moments that mean something to you and your neighbors. Then, send your LOCAL LENS photos to editor@juneauempire.com.

Make sure to include the name of the photographer, when and where it was taken and any other pertinent information.

Photos will run in the order they are received and as space allows.

Photos: Blessing of the Fleet

The annual Blessing of the Fleet and Dedication of Names was held May 4, starting at 10 a.m. at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial in downtown Juneau.

The names of Charlie Clements, John Winther Jr., Tom and Dorothy Osborne and Eric McDowell were placed on the memorial this year.

United States Coast Guard Capt. Phil Thorne spoke at the event.

Participating in the Blessing of the Fleet this year was the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry M/V Malaspina, which also had a day of festivities for the AMHS 50th anniversary.

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