
4TH OF JULY ACTIVITES: Kids compete in the spike driving and nail pounding contest during Fourth of July celebrations on Thursday, July 4, 2019, at Tlingit Park. The Hammer Museum and Lutak Lumber sponsored the competition.
Hot, sunny weather drew crowds to Haines’ Independence Day festivities.
The day started with a hotly contested Mount Ripinsky Race. In the women’s category, Sarah Elliot broke her own women’s record, finishing in first with a time of 30:40 seconds. Alissa Henry finished second in 38:40.
In the men’s race, two 17-year-olds finished within 30 seconds of each other to win first and second place. Siyel George finished in first place with a time of 28:52, and Emmanuel Hansen finished in second place in 29:28.
Greg Schlachter’s duck won the Takshanuk Watershed Council’s annual rubber ducky race this year, taking home a grand prize of $200. Schlacter said he won the rubber ducky race once before, 30 years ago. Stephanie Scott won the consolation prize, a gift certificate for a free pizza at Alpenglow. The race raised $500 for the council, said executive director of the council, Meredith Pochardt.
Haines High School track and field star, Weseley Verhamme, made a new all-time record in the Hammer Museum’s spike driving contest, driving the spike in 3.62 seconds. The previous record was held by Verhamme’s father, with a time of 6.45 seconds. Second place went in the women’s competition went to Brielle, who drove in her spike in 14.84 seconds, followed by Victoria with 20.15 seconds. Both women registered for the competition with their first names only.
A six-person team of Tyler, Justin, and Kayley Swinton, Trey and Bryce Wortman, and Rebecca Wheeler won the Mud Volleyball tournament this year, sponsored by the Echo Ranch Bible Camp in Haines. “Mud volleyball all comes down to the serve, because it’s all wet, and you’re all muddy and gross,” Tyler Swinton said. “Bryce served pretty well for us. He was probably the reason we won.” After the tournament, the team celebrated by jumping into the ocean. “It was perfect,” Swinton said.
Winners of the July 4 Parade, judged by the “Great Scotts,” Heath Scott, Stephanie Scott, and Scott Rossman, are as follows. Winners are asked to come to the Chamber of Commerce office, in the Gateway Building Suite #14, or call 766-2202 to collect their prize money.
Winners:
1. Dance/Musical Number Haines Community Marching Band
2. Float: Haines Borough Police Dept
3. Individual: Brian Staurseth/Ford Model T
4. Junior: Piper Reeves
5. Dog: Brian Licate