Evan Alexander Knight was born to Kendra and Alex Knight in Juneau Oct. 15. He weighed 7 lbs., 4 ozs. and measured 19.5 inches long. Kendra’s mom, Frankie Jones, and sister Gracie Jones attended the birth. Alex’s parents, David and Carol Knight, flew down from Haines. Kendra’s grandmother, Kathy Pardee-Jones was there, as well as Kendra’s uncle Matt Jones. Kendra’s great-aunt Evelyn Hazelton visited as well as aunt Zdravca Jones and cousin Andres Jones. Other visitors included Megan Nye, Luck and Amy Dunbar and Kim Phillips. Frankie said, “I feel like I’m floating on air. I can’t believe how gorgeous he is!” The family traveled home by ferry Sunday where they were met by Kendra’s father Mark Jones. They gathered at the home of Kendra’s grandparents, Vic and Linda Palmer, for soup and more visiting. New uncle Aaron Jones met Evan for the first time as did Jessie and Brad Badger, Kendra’s aunt and uncle, and cousins Austin and Jordan. New aunts Margarette and Abby Jones met Evan after returning from school trips.
Eight members of the Haines Student Council traveled to Bethel for the fall meeting of the Alaska Association of Student Governments (AASG). Representing Haines were Royal Henderson, student council president; Devin Braaten, student council vice-president; Margarette Jones, housing officer; Brandon Haxton, junior class secretary/treasurer; Patrick Henderson, sophomore class president; Jess Giddings, sophomore class secretary; Chris Turner, freshman class president and Zeke Frank, freshman class vice-president. The students were accompanied by student council advisor Renee Martin and National Honor Society advisor Mark Fontenot. AASG convenes student councils from throughout Alaska to consider resolutions affecting students and for leadership and skill training. Haines representatives were instrumental in defeating a contentious resolution to give the larger, 4A schools more voting power within the assembly. Haines students lobbied other small-school representatives to build a coalition and spoke publicly to gain support. A training in parliamentary procedure helped them strategize against the resolution. They secured the necessary votes to oppose bringing the resolution to the floor, which effectively killed the effort. A later attempt to revive the resolution after several smaller schools had returned home was rebuffed in part thanks to Patrick Henderson, who spoke in the name of fair discussion. Royal Henderson was particularly impressed at the body’s effective use of parliamentary procedure. “It keeps meetings orderly and things can get done. That is missing from a lot of student governments.” Plans are already under way to lead a school assembly on the use of parliamentary procedure. At the spring meeting, Royal hopes to run for the executive committee as Region 5 representative.
Alaska economic architect and arts supporter George Rogers died Oct. 3 at his home in Juneau, at age 93. George was a consultant to the Alaska Constitutional Convention in the 1950s and also served as the convention’s secretary. George and wife Jean visited Haines often, and George helped bring performances to Haines as part of Actfest. A public celebration of his life is planned for May 1 at Centennial Hall in Juneau.
Robert Venables has been reappointed as the northern Southeast Alaska representative to the Marine Transportation Advisory Board by Governor Sean Parnell. Among the MTAB accomplishments Robert is proud of is their commitment to a three-year ferry schedule to facilitate advance planning for the public and tourism industry. The board also continues to work with the state on the planning for the new generation of “Alaska Class” ferries designed to replace the aging fleet.
Chilkat Valley News reporter Krista Kielsmeier arrived in Haines two weeks ago and is busy getting to know her new town. Parents Jerry and Linda Kielsmeier accompanied Krista from Iowa and helped settle her in. They plan a return visit this summer and hope for fewer rain showers. Linda is a pastel artist who looks forward to capturing local beauty.
Seibukan Jujutsu of Haines hosted a sold-out, Japanese dinner fundraiser Saturday at the Elks Lodge. Volunteers served up sushi, tempura, marinated greens, miso soup and fruit sorbets prepared by Yuko Hays and others. Shihan Chorus Bishop has led Seibukan Jujutsu of Haines since April 2009. Chorus currently teaches 17 junior students and seven adults in Haines. The fundraiser, which included a live auction, raised more than $3,500. The group will use the funds to buy new gym mats to cover the entire floor of the Chilkat Center dance studio. Student Carver Culbeck was promoted to yellow belt Friday, in a ceremony attended by family and friends. Student Kai Hays also recently was promoted to orange belt.
The Haines Emblem Club hosted the fall meeting of the Alaska Emblem Clubs last weekend. More than 50 Emblem representatives from 10 clubs in Alaska were represented at the meeting, which began Friday morning. Workshops included a DARE presentation from Carolyn Bishop of Homer, with information on the drug-awareness program geared toward 5th grade students. They also learned more about the support Emblem Clubs give to Alaska’s Special Olympics activities. State President Michelle Stigen and state meeting chair Kathy Warner organized an outing on the Takshanuk Mountain Trail and participants gathered Saturday night for a country-rock-themed dinner with band Krowd Kontrol from Skagway. Mayor Jan Hill spoke to the attendees and Greg Podsiki directed Venture Scouts to serve the country BBQ prepared by Jim Studley and volunteers. Michelle made a presentation on this year’s special project to benefit Pink Ribbon Days, promoting breast cancer awareness and raising money for research and treatment. Haines quilters Kathy Warner, Jenny Lyn Smith, Janice Horton and Becky Nash have made a black and pink quilt to be raffled in April at the club’s next state meeting in Homer. Tickets are available at the Elks or through Emblem members around town. Michelle and state marshall Kandus Strong left Tuesday for a five-town road trip to visit Emblem Clubs in Fairbanks, Seward, Kenai, Homer and Anchorage. They will be back in time to prepare for the Emblem Community Service Dinner Nov. 6.
Newspaperman Tom Morphet returned to his childhood home of Media, Pa. last week to celebrate the 80th birthday party of his dad, Norm Morphet, in nearby Springfield. A grade-school classmate of Tom’s entertained as a Johnny Cash impersonator. Tom’s brother John Morphet, a chef, prepared the meal, including stuffed shrimp and crab cakes. Tom relished breakfasts of scrapple and real apple cider during his trip and brought back genuine Philadelphia soft pretzels for the office.