Former resident Diana Richmond Hansen spent two weeks in Haines visiting dad Gregg Richmond, and seeing friends. She was joined by her husband, Shawn Hansen, their children Cooper, Halle and Jaice, and Shawn’s parents, Steve and Marian Hansen for the last week of the trip. They spent their time fishing for halibut and salmon, watching bears on the Chilkoot River, and exploring the fair, where five-year-old Cooper especially loved the Ferris wheel. They also spent a day in Skagway, saw moose during a river trip, and pulled up fresh Dungeness crab. Diana lived in Haines from 1993 to 2001 and owned Tangles and More hair salon. Diana and her family live in Boise, Idaho.
Amy Branner spent three days in Haines at the tail end of a two-week Alaska trip. Amy spent six months in Haines in 2000 while she did research on her doctoral dissertation. During that time she read every Chilkat Valley News published. This year’s visit included a visit to the Sheldon Museum to view the Native art exhibit in the Hakkinen Gallery, and plenty of time walking through town. Amy described the library, which is new since her last trip to Haines, as “stunning,” and was particularly impressed with the recent totem installation. Amy also caught up with artists Sue Folletti and Fred Shields. Amy currently lives in Oakland, Calif. where she works for Coaching Corps, a nonprofit organization that provides volunteer coaches to low-income sports programs through the state.
Jerry and Diana Pyle’s grandchildren, Rose Geck, 9, and Braden Foster, 14, visited from Houston, Texas for three weeks. Jerry’s sister, Donna Pyle, accompanied them. They traveled to Denali National Park, the University of Alaska museum, and the musk ox farm in Fairbanks. In Haines they hiked, visited a gold mine, ate fresh crab for the first time, went to the wildlife park, and had fun at the fair. They also caught Dolly Varden with Jim Shook and his grandson, Taylor.
Thomas and Sandra Huber and children Marc and Lynn of Zurich, Switzerland, visited Haines during the fair. Sandra is the daughter of Karin and the late Bernd Ingold of Switzerland who had a summer residence on Oslund Drive for many years. Sandra also spent some summers in Haines. She wrote her master’s thesis on the Krause brothers, German ethnographers who documented Tlingit life here in the 1880s. They spent a day at the fair, saw moose in Chilkat State Park and spied bears on the Chilkoot River. Marc also caught four Dolly Varden at Chilkoot. They visited with Haines friends Barbara Richardson, Doris Ward and Joan Snyder. Joan will be visiting Karin, Sandra’s mother, in Switzerland this month.
Alison Jacobson’s brother and his family were in Haines for five days. Michael and Judy Jamison, and their children Lauren, Landon and Lexia, traveled from Perry, Kansas, where they operate a cattle ranch. They spent a day rafting the whitewater of the Tatshenshini River, went sea kayaking to Battery Point, had a beach barbecue at Carr’s Cove, and went zip lining in Skagway. They also toured Lynn Canal and Juneau on the Jacobson’s family tour boat, and spent time at the fair.
Becky Nash was working at Haines Assisted Living Sunday when she received a mystery text from a friend wishing her “congratulations!” As she was writing back to ask “what for?” Becky’s son Song Nash called from the fair to inform her she’d won the Southeast Alaska State Fair’s 50/50 raffle, worth $6,700. Soon after, daughter Corrie Nash called her with the same news. “I feel really blessed,” said Becky. Becky’s 10-year-old grandson Carl Gillham suggested the money could buy many mosquito nets for African children at risk of contracting malaria. Becky also plans to renew her donation to the Haines Dolphins Swim Team in memory of her son, Olen Nash.
The public is invited to an open house Tuesday, Aug. 7 to celebrate the Hammer Museum’s 10th birthday. Museum founder David Pahl said it’s a chance to say goodbye to intern Julie Postma and hello to new intern Eric Robertson. There will be pound cake “and more,” Pahl said.