Joe Ordonez toured the Chilkat Valley with KOMO News from Seattle earlier this month. The group took a float trip through the eagle preserve on the warm, sunny morning, after lunch they ventured out to Chilkoot Lake for some bear viewing and ended the day with an in-depth interview with Dave Pahl at the Hammer Museum. The segment will air in January on the KOMO TV show “Seattle Refined,” a travel show featuring Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
Officer Chris Brown with the Haines Borough Police Department recently completed a Drug Recognition Expert training program. “These officers are trained to identify people whose driving is impaired by drugs in addition to alcohol. There are approximately 35 officers in the entire state of Alaska,” said police chief Heath Scott. “It was two weeks in Anchorage and then a week in Arizona, we are proud of him for finishing top in his class,” said Chris’s wife Kit Brown.
Nicole Holm along with husband Tim Holm and parents Shane and Janice Horton traveled to South Africa recently for a hunting safari. They all got trophy animals and saw many types of animals including kudu, giraffe, impala, and cape buffalo. “The lion park where we got to pet baby lions and an adult leopard was my favorite part, along with watching the lions get fed. We are already planning our next trip back,” said Nicole.
Scott and Candi Bradford drove their daughter Brittney to Lewiston, Idaho where she’s attending Lewis-Clark State College to study radiology. “The 3-day drive was absolutely beautiful. After the first day of moving her into her dorm she already had a really fun group of friends. Britney has been enjoying doing new things like going to the rodeo and even spent a day white water rafting. Saying goodbye was so hard but seeing her so ready for her next step was pretty awesome too. Thank goodness for FaceTime,” said Candi.
Samantha Clay competed in Alaska’s Got Talent at the Alaska State Fair where she received fourth place overall, after placing first in the local Southeast’s Got Talent competition in July. Samantha’s daughter McKinley was able to go along with the support and donations that they received from community members. “Although I was battling an upper respiratory infection I had a great time and was in the tie-breaker for third! McKinley was able to attend all performances and even got to come on stage with me and the Denali Cooks for a song. I cannot say thank you enough to everyone for their support and guidance through this great journey and hope to be doing more local performances for all of you,” said Samantha.
The Haines Dolphins pre-season kick-off party was held last Friday at the Haines School. Returning coaches Jackie St. Clair and Jim Green are excited for the upcoming season, as well as new coach Sarah Elliott. Practices began earlier this week.
Amy Fennel joined the American Bald Eagle Foundation staff earlier this month as a consultant for their raptor training program. Amy is a senior trainer at Natural Encounters Inc. in Florida and her expertise will transfer to the program to make it more exciting and valuable for guests. Amy was also matched as a professional mentor for raptor staff member Sidney Campbell. She had a great stay in Haines, enjoyed local restaurants, bears at Chilkoot and a visit to the Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center.
There will be a celebration of life for beloved Klukwan elder and cultural mentor Kaaxkwei, Evelyn Hotch beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday Sept. 14 at the Klukwan ANS Hall. A luncheon follows the graveside service. Her family suggests honoring Evelyn by wearing ANS blue, yellow for the yellow roses she loved, or gear from her favorite team, the Lakers. Evelyn passed away peacefully this week at her home in the village following a long illness. There will be an obituary next week.