March 30, 1970
Chilkat Snow Burners held the first ever Alcan 200 at the end of February. There were 18 entrants: 12 from Haines, one from Juneau, one from Destruction Bay and four from Whitehorse.
The race was conducted as a two-day event with a “lap” run on each day. The first day’s lap went from 42 Mile Haines Highway to Cortino’s Lodge. The second day’s lap had been slated to take place between Haines Junction and Whitehorse.
Organizers were forced to make a last-minute change due to a lack of snow in the area. Instead, the second lap involved three runs around Dezadeash Lake and an out-and-back run to Mush Lake.
There were no injuries. The event’s success prompted plans for a second Alcan in 1971.
March 23, 1995
The draft ferry schedule for October 1995 through April 1996 will be the subject of a public hearing Monday in Haines.
Unlike last year, when a lack of local input prompted state planners to cut some Friday ferries and northbound sailings, the City of Haines is taking an active role in soliciting comment. The city-sponsored public hearing will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the municipal council chambers.
The proposed ferry schedule released Friday maintains Sunday, Monday and Wednesday dockings for Haines. However, weekly Friday dockings during most of the season are added and a plan initiated this winter to bypass Haines on some dockings has been eliminated.
In the proposed schedule, Haines will receive biweekly Friday sailings during October, February and two weeks of March. From Nov. 1 through Jan. 31 and again from March 16 through April 30, Haines will receive weekly Friday dockings.
“This is encouraging,” said Haines tourism director Tyson Verse. “I’m very pleased with what they’ve laid out. The task now is to support the ferry system, with the legislature, to make sure they’ve got appropriate funding.”
March 18, 2010
The Haines Fire Department recently approved purchase of medevac coverage for all 44 of its volunteer first responders and their families, at a cost of about $4,000.
Last fall, some Skagway residents broached the idea of having the municipality buy the same coverage for the entire town.
Sales of the coverage-at $100 per household-have increased in recent years, as health clinics send more patients via air ambulances to regional hubs like Juneau, Anchorage and Seattle.
The flights don’t come cheap. Residents without medical coverage pay between $6,000 and $25,000, depending on the medevac company and level of patient care. The cost of ground transport from the airport to the hospital is additional.
Skagway’s discussion was triggered by an incident last year when an uninsured resident was stuck with a nearly $30,000 bill for air and ground ambulances to Juneau.