Parker Schnabel isn’t the only Haines miner mucking about on prime time television. Creighton Lapp, a 1996 Haines High School graduate, has been featured on “Goldfathers,” a National Geographic Channel reality show about real-life gold miners in Fairbanks. Aunt Kathi Lapp of Haines said Creighton started mining years ago with dad Clayton Lapp and granddad Ed Lapp and has run his own operation for three years. Creighton is featured on the show with Chuck Durant, a friend from Central. Filming started last summer, Kathi said, and Clayton was on one of the first shows, in a segment where the miners were checking out generators. “At least they know what they’re doing,” Kathi joked, referring to tne antics of Lower 48, greenhorn miners.
Haines School librarian Leigh Horner’s reading incentive program included a drawing for live chicks. Readers submitted entries for each book they read. But alas, none of Horner’s 18 eggs survived to hatch during the three-week incubation period. “We were all ready to have chicks in the library. We had a beautiful brooder Greg Podsiki had made.” There may have been a problem with the thermometer in the incubator, Horner said. “(We’re) going to recalibrate the thermometer and try again next year. It got a lot of kids reading.” The unhatched eggs were to be dissected by Mark Fontenot’s science class, Horner said. “It’s a win-win.”
Third-grader Claire Waldo found it unacceptable that grandmom Carol Waldo’s medical appointment in Juneau pre-empted the family’s annual Easter egg hunt. “Don’t you know that I need that money for my annual budget?” Claire asked Carol. Claire’s treasury was rescued with a make-up egg hunt with friends two weeks ago at Mosquito Lake.
Alexandra Dao True was born 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, April 28 at Grey Nun’s Community Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. She weighed 6 pounds, 16 ounces and measured 20 inches long. She’s the daughter of Micah True and Kim Dao, and looks a lot like her mom, Micah reports. Two ultrasounds said to expect a boy, so they were glad they’d chosen gender-neutral colors for their baby’s wardrobe and room, Micah said. Haines grandparents Tom and Shelley True are planning a summer trip to see their new granddaughter. Micah is an assistant professor of French literature and folklore at University of Alberta. Kim also works at the university, as a clinical assistant professor of physical therapy.
Anna Szymanski of Haines has been awarded the 1872 Fellowship in Biology, given each year to a Williams College senior for further study at an institution belonging to the American Association of Universities. Anna is the daughter of Jim and Randa Szymanski. Anna, who graduates from Williams in June, will put the $9,000 award toward a master’s degree in marine biology she’ll start pursuing in the fall at University of Alaska-Fairbanks. She’ll be in Haines this summer, working at Big Al’s fish stand, Randa said.
Harper Avery Franks was born May 2 at Juneau’s Bartlett Hospital. She weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 21 inches. Harper is the daughter of Jaime and Dennis Franks Jr. of Haines, and younger sister of Caleb, 10. Haines grandparents are Dave and Jana Berry and Dennis and Kathy Franks. Jana was on hand for the delivery and Jaime’s kid sister Heidi Berry Stewart of Pocatello, Idaho came to see the new arrival.
Former Haines High School musician Rich Cooper has been named to the Alaska High School Hall of Fame. Other former Alaska high school students receiving the honor this year include Vivica Genaux, an opera star from Fairbanks, and Steve MacSwain, a hockey player from Anchorage. Cooper was a high school trombone player who qualified for a national honor band that played at New York City’s Carnegie Hall. Rich is the son of Marge and Dave Conzatti.
Jonah Hutton Hawthorne was born April 30 to Matt Hawthorne and Emma Jane Brockman Hawthorne. Matt caught Jonah during the home birth in Bellingham, Wash., assisted by a midwife and Emma’s sister, Tara Faith Brockman Hicks. Jonah weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 21 inches. Grandparents are Jeff and Beth Hawthorne of Columbus, Ohio and Roger and Marcia Brockman of St. Louis, Mo. Matt said because Jonah entered the world in a birthing tub, he’s already a natural in the water and will be on a kayak and swimming with the whales in no time. He has dark hair and is already smiling and making cute yawns.
Larry Hura is recuperating from recent back surgery at his Oslund Drive home. Larry had two surgeries on his upper back at the Laser Spine Institute in Scottsdale, Ariz. two weeks ago. After a small incision was made, the laser removed bone impinging on Larry’s spine and bored a larger cavity there. He invites friends to stop by. “I feel pretty good.” Wife Teresa and daughter Lyndsey Hura helped on the Chilkat River cleanup Saturday. Stop by to see Teresa’s slides of the three months she spent in Italy last fall teaching English. They include shots of Rome, Cinque Terre, Sicily, Amalfi Coast, Venice and her home base, Conegliano.