Outside Magazine this week published an in-depth article about brown bear encounters in Haines, including last winter’s attack on backcountry skier Bart Pieciul. “It’s Not Fun to Wake a Sleeping Bear” was written by Haines-based biologist and writer Caroline Van Hemert. You can find a link to it on Van Hemert’s Facebook page.
Clouds opened Saturday for the wedding of Deborah Asper and Clarence Peele at Chilkat Inlet Retreat. Retired Judge Linn Asper, the bride’s father, officiated. Deborah’s daughters Caia and Rita served as flower girls, and her son, Alex Fields, escorted his mom down the bridal aisle. Deborah wore a full-length gown with a modest train. Guests included family and friends from Haines, Juneau, Hydaburg and Ketchikan. The wedding party and guests dined on salmon, shrimp, beef kabobs and chicken, and a vanilla almond cake by Costa Brava of Haines. They enjoyed music by a band led by Tom Heywood. Guests included Deborah’s mom Mary Asper of Haines, brothers Leif Asper of Iowa City, Iowa and Gabe Asper of Ketchikan and their families. Clarence grew up in Hydaburg. The couple lives in Ketchikan, where Clarence works for the Ketchikan Indian Community.
Five friends of Jane Pascoe from the Lower 48 arrived in Haines Saturday for a four-day visit. Sisters Julie and Cathy Asato of Los Angeles and Paso Robles, Calif., respectively, were joined by Keith Mueller and Jamie Look of Chevy Chase, Md., and Rodney Canning of Dublin, Ireland. They paddled canoes on Chilkoot Lake, hiked on area trails, and enjoyed several meals of fresh and smoked sockeye salmon. Before arriving in Haines, the group visited Jane at her job at Pack Creek Bear Observatory on Admiralty Island. In Juneau, they saw black bears, breaching whales, seals, sea lions and Dall’s porpoises. Adventures included kayaking at Auke Bay and taking a boat excursion to Tracy Arm. Rodney, Jane and Julie worked together at the Armed Forces Recreation Center in Chiemsee, Germany in the 1980s.
The bicycle belonging to Asher Jimenez of Haines, age 9, went missing during fair week. It’s a newer mountain bike, Haro brand, turquoise in color with bright yellow lettering. Besides the fair, Asher’s stops are the skate park, Tlingit Park, and Haines Quick Shop. Call Asher’s mom Sierra, at 907-419 -5529 if you see it.
Jordan Piper was in town on a visit to see parents Tammy and Robert and brother Cory. Jordan works as an environmental chemist for North Coast Laboratories in Arcata, Calif. The trip was her first one home in five years. Highlights included seeing black bears at the fairgrounds and Mud Bay, she said. Cahaela Class, a friend who grew up in Arcata, made the trip with Jordan. She was surprised to find her neighborhood music group, Diggin Dirt, performing at the state fair here.
Michelle LaBrosse left a case of her “Stay Healthy Steam” health tonic at the post office for residents to try out. The solution includes olive leaf, bay leaf and oregano essential oils and food-grade iodine. A few drops in pot of boiling water with a dash of baking soda produces a steam that reduces congestion and cleans the respiratory tract, LaBrosse said. Erika Merklin said she tried it and found it “wonderful.”
Haines High 2014 graduate Serena Badgley has completed her doctorate in occupational therapy at Pacific University in Hillsboro, Ore. Her thesis and project is on Best Practices for Delirium in the Acute Care Setting and will be presented this week. Parents Al and Crystal Badgley are there to celebrate the achievement. They plan to swing by Spokane, Wash. on their return to visit son Hunter and granddaughter Cedar.
An artwork by longtime resident Yvonne Edie Granger-Ordonez is featured on the cover of the summer 2021 edition of Alaska Women Speak magazine. The magazine includes “She Dreams of Bears,” a poem Edie wrote.
Two Haines women recently became nonagenarians. Darlene Bollick and Mary Price celebrated 90th birthdays.
Suzanne Chapelle, mom of bank manager Wendell Harren, came to Haines from Wasilla for her first southeast state fair. Besides the fair, she also enjoyed outings on the water and beach barbecues. Suzanne has made previous trips to Haines during Independence Day celebrations.
Former Haines resident Frances Leach, executive director of United Fishermen of Alaska, asked friends Tuesday to celebrate Wild Alaska Salmon Day by signing a resolution asking Canada to stop dumping mine pollutants in the Taku, Stikine, and Unuk rivers of Southeast Alaska. In Haines, Frannie served as executive director of the Southeast Alaska State Fair.

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