Andy Hedden won second place in Alaska Magazine’s annual photo contest in the “Alaska Life” category. Andy’s picture, entitled “Sophie’s First Camping Trip,” shows his daughter looking out toward the sunset from a tent on the Battery Point beach. You can see Andy’s photo in the November issue of Alaska Magazine, or vote as part of the Reader’s Choice contest at http://www.alaskamagazine.com.
Lt. Dave Kyle and his wife Mary are the new Haines Salvation Army Corps Officers. Dave and Mary arrived in Haines at the end of June following officer training at Salvation Army College in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Dave has worked as the Salvation Army store manager in Pendleton, Ore., and as the Wrangell Corps’ in-charge officer. Dave said, “I enjoy the outward look that Haines has. Haines is aware of the world and what’s going on, and there are a lot of nice people here. I think per capita Haines has more nice people than the majority of cities I’ve visited.” The couple’s daughter and son-in-law, Malia and Abe McIntyre, also moved to Haines this summer. Abe is a commercial fisherman. The McIntyres have two children, 2-year-old Andrea and 3-week-old Myla.
The Haines Emblem Club hosted its annual community service auction and dinner Saturday. The event was held at the American Legion Hall, and included a roast pork dinner prepared by Emblem members, including George Ann Smith, Libby Kurz, Kandus Strong and Paula Martin. Emblem President Jamie Knudsen said about 50 people attended the event, which raised just over $7,000. “Everything goes right back into the community,” said Knudsen, who was impressed with the generosity of guests this year. Joanne Waterman acted as auctioneer for 120 items, including the annual “bank bags” from First National Bank Alaska, which inspired a spirited bidding war. The dinner and auction is the Emblem Club’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Funds are used to support an array of community organizations, as well as a scholarship program.
The Discovery Channel wrapped up their filming at the Big Nugget Mine over the weekend. Mine operator Parker Schnabel has watched the first two episodes of the popular reality series at home with friends. The film crew joined him to watch last Friday’s episode.
The Richard Boyce Inflatable Suspenders Memorial Fund has been selected for National Fisherman magazine’s Life Saver of the Year award. The award highlights “dedication to commercial fishing safety.” The award will be presented Nov. 28 at the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle. Organizer Randa Szymanski said National Fisherman is collecting photographs of local fishermen wearing the inflatable suspenders or life vests for the awards presentation. Email photos to Randa at [email protected]. Word spread about the effort to raise funds for flotation devices following stories in the Chilkat Valley News and on KHNS. Pacific Fisherman ran a story in its September issue. National Fisherman will run a story in their December issue. A Haines fisherman will accept the award on behalf of the memorial fund. “It’s a tremendous honor for the whole town,” said Szymanski.
Friends of the Chapin family organized a Halloween fundraiser to offset medical expenses for Ray Chapin, former Haines school physical education teacher. Organizer Jansy Hansen said the event raised over $5,000. Ross Silkman and Jessica Edwards brought the bouncy house, jousting ring and bungee run from the Southeast Alaska State Fair. The Klehini Fire Department loaned their children’s games, including a pumpkin beanbag toss, frog leap and ring toss. Suzanne Newton acted as fortune teller, and Pam Moore offered balloon animals as Giggles the Clown. The eigth-grade class decorated the cafeteria, and Liana Shull with Lynn Canal Counseling Services organized the potato bar dinner. Lexie DeWitt organized a silent auction. Jansy said she was “just amazed at how many people came and how smoothly everything went. People just stepped forward to help. It was really nice.” Additional donations can be made through the “Chapin Family Fundraiser” account at First National Bank Alaska.
Thad and Martha Stewart, Ted, Kat and Winter Cheney, Sarah Cohen, Deana Stout, Darren Shields, Bryan Harmon and Alisa Beske gathered in the northern New Mexico town of Rinconada to peel 1,800 pounds of roasted green chilies along the banks of the Rio Grande. According to Martha, the friends camped together for several days while “peeling chili, boating, drinking beer, telling tall tales, enjoying the sunshine, brilliant cottonwoods, the aroma of pinyon and juniper campfires and the taste of dutch-oven enchiladas.”
Kyle Fossman led the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves in points and minutes played during the team’s opener exhibition game Monday against Troy University. UAA lost by 4 points to the Alabama school. Fossman, a junior, played 34 minutes and scored 15. He also made three assists, four defensive rebounds, one block and one steal. The team plays in the AT&T Classic starting Friday in Anchorage, with an opening-round matchup against Colorado Christian. Kyle is the son of Steve and Anne Marie Fossman of Haines.
Former KHNS news director Doug Fine has published a new book about the marijuana trade, “Too High to Fail.” According to a press release, Fine “spells out how the end to cannabis prohibition is a threat to many influential industries that benefit from the ongoing (War on Drugs): pharmaceuticals, banking, the private prison industry, and the prison guard lobby (not to mention the Drug Enforcement Agency).” His other books are “Not Really an Alaskan Mountain Man” and “Farewell, My Subaru.”