October 11, 1969
Willard “Moose” Sele became the Mayor of Haines for the next year after 61 people wrote in his name for the job for which no one had filed prior to the deadline.
Incumbent councilman Henry Hartmann was re-elected for a three-year term, and Charles Jones was chosen to serve the other three-year term.
In the race for the two-year term, Ray Rose defeated incumbent Kermith Culp.
Here are the totals:
For the Mayor: Sele 61, George Schnabel 1, David Black 2, Leonard King 2, Harry Ellingen 2, I. B. Howser 1.
Two year council term (one elected): Rose 52, Culp 34.
Three year council term (two elected): Hartmann 73, Jones 66, Culp 1, Blank 1.
In Port Chilkoot, totals for councilmen were as follows:
William A. Fitch 34, John C. Streu 32, T. D. Gregg 25, Doug Sage 4, Wes Ewing 1, Frank Phillips 1, and George Lewis 1.
October 13, 1994
Flags are being flown at half-mast statewide to honor former legislator C.E. Swackhammer and Alaska State Trooper Sgt. Robert Bittick who perished Tuesday when their plane crashed about 50 miles north of Haines.
The men, both experienced pilots, were transporting a state-owned Grumman Goose from Anchorage to Juneau at the time of the wreck, during conditions that neared whiteout over Chilkat Pass. Swackhammer, 51, was deputy commissioner of the state Department of Public Safety. Bittick, 55, was a 12-year trooper who served as post commander of the Juneau detachment.
The accident was reported to Canadian Customs officials about 6:15 p.m. by Haines resident David Light, who spotted the amphibious craft’s tail section about 30 yards from the highway near Seltat Creek. Light took down the plane’s identification numbers, allowing officials to trace the flight.
Heavy snow, thick fog and sleet were reported in the pass at the time, with conditions changing quickly, said RCMP Constable Pat Egan. About six inches of snow accumulated overnight at the 2,000-foot level where the crash occurred, and dense fog cloaked the area through Wednesday afternoon.
October 8, 2009
Work that’s smoothed and broadened the Battery Point trail is attracting traffic to the forest path where hikers used to hopscotch over roots and puddles.
Beth MacCready, who works with Hospice of Haines, said the improvements are great. “I’m empathetic to people who can’t walk on trails because of balance issues… In Europe they have these old, wide paths and you see people with canes on them.”
MacCready used to run the Mount Riley trail, but said now that she’s older, she appreciates having a smooth trail like the one at Battery Point is becoming. “I wouldn’t want all trails to look like that, but it’s nice to have one like it as an option.”