Longtime Chilkat Lake resident Dave Ward died about 10 p.m. Monday at his Chilkat Lake home. His wife Toni and brother-in-law Roger Keller were at his bedside. The family had celebrated Ward’s 78th birthday Sunday. Ward suffered prostate cancer and had been bedridden for months. “He wanted to die at the lake. He definitely didn’t want to go to a home,” said Mike Ward, his son. Mike said that the northern lights put on a show over the lake after his dad’s passing. A service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, April 7 at the Elks Lodge. A full obituary will be published next week.
Theo Paul Carlton was born March 24 in Juneau to Heather and Steve Carlton. Theo weighed 11 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 22.5 inches. Theo joins big brother Arlo John. Heather’s mother, Kathy Enright, attended the birth with the family. Grandpa John G. Hagen, and uncle John S. and aunt Margaret Hagen, plan to visit soon.
Jacque and Ron Horn spent a week exploring the marine life on the Sea of Cortez in Loreto, Mexico. They planned their trip to view the massive blue whales that congregate in the winter months, but were equally impressed by the proliferation of wildlife throughout the area. They stayed with naturalist Michael Fishbach, cofounder of the Great Whale Conservancy, and his wife Heather, and spent their days viewing whales and birds from a small skiff. An unexpected highlight they witnessed was the massive feeding frenzy of common dolphins corralling baitfish. Hundreds of dolphins fed on the fish from below while birds, including shearwaters, pelicans and cormorants fed from the air. They also observed nesting frigate birds and baby pelicans.
Debra Schnabel spent a week in Tennessee where she refreshed her sixth grade history knowledge and toured some of the state’s top attractions. In Memphis, she played in the National Bridge Tournament with friend Greg Brask, visited the cotton exchange and went to BB King’s blues club on Beale Street. Debra found Nashville to be “vibrant and alive,” and delved into the area’s Civil War-era history with visits to several battlefields and the chance to stand on the same ground as Ulysses S. Grant. Debra also visited Hermitage, Andrew Jackson’s plantation home.
Many Haines families were seen on the slopes of Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski Area over the school’s spring break week. Snowboarders and skiers included Marty Fowler and his mom Christy Tengs Fowler, Dawson and Marirose Evenden with their dad Doug Evenden, Dave and Pam Long with their children Jackson and Selby, and Jon Hirsch and Rio Ross-Hirsch. Jane Petrosky came to Juneau from Hollidaysburg, Penn. to meet daughter Erika Merklin and see grandsons Cameron and Chisel. Julia Wald, who was visiting son Michael Wald and his family in Haines, watched her grandsons Nolan and Leo tackle their first ski runs.