Aug. 25, 1969

The “pole of all our people in Alaska” was dedicated here last Saturday in a colorful ceremony attended by State officials, local people, a delegation from Kake and visitors.

The world’s tallest totem pole is the result of the efforts of the people of Kake, who are striving to restore some of their rich heritage of Indian art. Carved by the craftsmen of Alaska Indian Arts, Inc, under the direction of Carl Heinmiller, the 132-foot pole will now be sent to Osaka, Japan, for display at Expo ’70. From there, the huge pole will be returned to the Village of Kake, where it will become the focal point of a planned community center.

(The event) took place in the old parade ground at Totem Village in Port Chilkoot. The delegates from Kake were the honored guests as everyone present gathered around the pole (which was not raised on this occasion, incidentally) to hear a welcoming address by Commissioner of Economic Development, Frank Murkowski.

Aug. 25, 1994

Haines will lose about one-third of its southbound ferries this winter and many customers will see rate hikes under a plan revealed this week by ferry operations manager George Reifenstein.

The plan, touted as a means of increasing efficiency, was presented Tuesday to the Haines Chamber of Commerce. Members were already organizing to oppose the proposal through legislative means the following day. Under the new winter schedule, northbound ferries will continue to dock in Haines three times per week but the Wednesday ship will not return to pick up passengers or vehicles on its southbound sailing from Skagway to Juneau. Twice-monthly Friday ferries will also bypass Haines on some trips.

Aug. 30, 2007

Fall runs of coho and chum started trickling into Lynn Canal last week, but in numbers too thin to make much of a difference for fishermen.

A few more gillnetters moved into Chilkat Inlet to take advantage of an indefinite opening, but numbers of boats fishing the Panhandle dropped to 172 from 226 the week before as hatchery chum and sockeye runs at Deep Inlet and Snettisham failed to materialize. Twenty-seven local boats averaged 196 sockeye, four coho, 215 pinks and 56 chum during the first four days of the week.

Regulatory closures remained in place this week to conserve Chilkat Lake sockeye, returning in numbers less than one-quarter of recent averages. About 6,000 reds have passed Chilkat weir to date, compared to a 10-year average of 28,500.

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