U.S. Coast Guard

A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau, Alaska, June 26, 2018. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard medevacs teen from wilderness therapy camp

The teenager suffered from chest pains during a hike.

A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau, Alaska, June 26, 2018. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)
A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk searches Gastineau Channel for a possible missing boater after the boat Sealion was found adrift near the Petro Marine docks on Nov. 29, 2019. (Yang-Hui Lee | Courtesy Photo)

Coast Guard resolves search for possible missing boater, but questions remain

How did the boat end up in the channel?

A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk searches Gastineau Channel for a possible missing boater after the boat Sealion was found adrift near the Petro Marine docks on Nov. 29, 2019. (Yang-Hui Lee | Courtesy Photo)
Lt. j.g. Jonathan Dillard hustles after the turnaround during a Coast Guard 5K Turkey Trot through Juneau’s harborfront on Nov. 22, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard braves foul weather for early Turkey Trot

Coast Guardsmen weren’t about to let rain stop them from winning a turkey.

Lt. j.g. Jonathan Dillard hustles after the turnaround during a Coast Guard 5K Turkey Trot through Juneau’s harborfront on Nov. 22, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Lt. Cmdr. Scott Shields, a Coast Guard officer stationed in Juneau, flips a small boat during a boating safety training class at the Augustus Brown Swimming Pool on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. The class will qualify the members to teach students around the state about the use and importance of life vests. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard prepares to teach boating safety across Alaska this winter

The class readies children for the unexpected.

Lt. Cmdr. Scott Shields, a Coast Guard officer stationed in Juneau, flips a small boat during a boating safety training class at the Augustus Brown Swimming Pool on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. The class will qualify the members to teach students around the state about the use and importance of life vests. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this file photo from June 26, 2018, a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau. (Courtesy photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios via U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard rescues capsized boater on Shelter Island

Wind gusts were up to 45 mph.

In this file photo from June 26, 2018, a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau. (Courtesy photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios via U.S. Coast Guard)
The USCGC Healy, the Coast Guard’s only medium icebreaker, lies moored to the pier in Juneau as it returns to Seattle at the end of deployment, Oct. 27, 2019. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)

One-of-a-kind Coast Guard icebreaker visits Juneau on way home

The Coast Guard’s only medium icebreaker swings through Juneau.

The USCGC Healy, the Coast Guard’s only medium icebreaker, lies moored to the pier in Juneau as it returns to Seattle at the end of deployment, Oct. 27, 2019. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)
Wayne Smallwood lines up with the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans honor guard to lead dance groups parade through downtown Juneau on Saturday, June 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

As the ice melts, military ambitions in Alaska heat up

Russian encroachment in Alaska airspace is also a growing issue.

Wayne Smallwood lines up with the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans honor guard to lead dance groups parade through downtown Juneau on Saturday, June 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter makes an approach on their return to Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, June 5, 2019. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Bradley Pigage.)

Petersburg man struggled to save companion in boating accident

One survivor held on to the other until he was rescued.

An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter makes an approach on their return to Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, June 5, 2019. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Bradley Pigage.)
A U.S. Coast Guard Station Juneau small-boat crew examines the mast of the sunken 94-foot tugboat Challenger, Sept. 12, 2015 in Gastineau Channel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

USCG experiencing emergency radio outages in Alaska

The Coast Guard’s emergency VHF channels are under repair.

A U.S. Coast Guard Station Juneau small-boat crew examines the mast of the sunken 94-foot tugboat Challenger, Sept. 12, 2015 in Gastineau Channel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Man perishes in Petersburg after skiff capsizes

Another man survived to be rescued.

A diagram of the whaleship Essex, homeported in Nantucket, Massachusetts, before she was sank by a whale in the Pacific. The diagram was drawn by Thomas Nickerson, a survivor of the wreck. (Courtesy photo | Nantucket Historical Association)

What Alaska can learn from the sinking of the Essex

The sea is merciless, but technology can be a lifesaver.

A diagram of the whaleship Essex, homeported in Nantucket, Massachusetts, before she was sank by a whale in the Pacific. The diagram was drawn by Thomas Nickerson, a survivor of the wreck. (Courtesy photo | Nantucket Historical Association)
Machinery Technician 2nd Class Anthony Delorenzo, Coast Guardsman stationed at Coast Guard Station Juneau, displays his tattoos Oct. 4, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Art on hand: Coast Guard to allow limited hand, finger tattoos with new policy

The Coast Guard is adapting to modern attitudes toward body art.

Machinery Technician 2nd Class Anthony Delorenzo, Coast Guardsman stationed at Coast Guard Station Juneau, displays his tattoos Oct. 4, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Airman Dominik Vancini, front, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Mariaah Romo-Cosgrove chock and chain an MH-65D, attached to Alaska Patrol Division of Air Station Kodiak, on the flight deck of San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) during Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jenna Dobson)

Coast Guard training with Marines and Navy in Alaska exercise

This is the largest-ever exercise of its kind.

Airman Dominik Vancini, front, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Mariaah Romo-Cosgrove chock and chain an MH-65D, attached to Alaska Patrol Division of Air Station Kodiak, on the flight deck of San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) during Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jenna Dobson)
A Capital City Fire/Rescue crew transports a cruise ship passenger off the Radiances of the Seas downtown on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Ship to shore: Juneau paramedics maintain care at sea

CCFR paramedics help out with at-sea medevacs.

A Capital City Fire/Rescue crew transports a cruise ship passenger off the Radiances of the Seas downtown on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Ruby Princess is escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard into Juneau downtown harbor on Monday, April 30, 2018. The ship was the first of the season.

Coast Guard medevacs man from cruise ship near Douglas

The man was evacuated from a cruise ship.

The Ruby Princess is escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard into Juneau downtown harbor on Monday, April 30, 2018. The ship was the first of the season.
The Ruby Princess is escorted by a U.S. Coast Guard 45 foot Response Boat-Medium into Juneau downtown harbor on Monday, April 30, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Moving target: How do you medevac embarked patients?

From ship to shore, the Coast Guard gets it done.

The Ruby Princess is escorted by a U.S. Coast Guard 45 foot Response Boat-Medium into Juneau downtown harbor on Monday, April 30, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S.C.G Dive Team, U.S. Army Dive Team and the Canadian Coast Guard participate in the annual Buoy Tender Olympics at Station Juneau on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Canadian Coast Guardsmen triumph in Buoy Tender Olympics

The inter-vessel competition was fierce.

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S.C.G Dive Team, U.S. Army Dive Team and the Canadian Coast Guard participate in the annual Buoy Tender Olympics at Station Juneau on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
DV1 Shawn Price, of the U.S. Army Dive Team fronts his team during the annual Buoy Tender Olympics at Station Juneau on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Vying for Glory: These Olympic-style games make Coast Guard training fun

They’re going for gold.

DV1 Shawn Price, of the U.S. Army Dive Team fronts his team during the annual Buoy Tender Olympics at Station Juneau on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sgt. Cesar Rodriquez, left, and Sgt. Kenneth Byrd, of the U.S. Army’s 74th Engineer Dive Detachment check their gauges one last time before submerging on a project at the Don D. Statter Boat Harbor in Auke Bay on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. Members of the U.S. Army’s 74th Engineer Dive Detachment and U.S. Coast Guard Regional Dive Locker West worked together to inspect and replace the bolts holding the harbor’s breakwater together. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Army-Coast Guard team-up is going down

Dive teams stage joint exercise in Alaska.

Sgt. Cesar Rodriquez, left, and Sgt. Kenneth Byrd, of the U.S. Army’s 74th Engineer Dive Detachment check their gauges one last time before submerging on a project at the Don D. Statter Boat Harbor in Auke Bay on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. Members of the U.S. Army’s 74th Engineer Dive Detachment and U.S. Coast Guard Regional Dive Locker West worked together to inspect and replace the bolts holding the harbor’s breakwater together. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Two men flown to safety from Lemon Creek glacier

Two men flown to safety from Lemon Creek glacier

Three agencies combined to find them.

Two men flown to safety from Lemon Creek glacier