Huxley Evans Dunbar was born to Brittany and Luck Dunbar at Bartlett Hospital in Juneau at 6:50 p.m. June 24. He weighed 7 pounds and was 20 inches long. He joins big brother Archie Dunbar, who made the trip to Juneau to meet his baby brother.
Friends of the Jacobson family hiked to God’s Camp, a popular resting point overlooking Rainbow Glacier, where Chris Naughton surprised Anna Jacobson with a marriage proposal. Afterwards, a crew including Carver Culbeck, Zinnia Collins, Marirose Evenden, David Simmons, Libby Jacobson and Ketch Jacobson continued to the top of snow line at over 4,000-foot elevation, below the peak of Witches Tit. Glen Jacobson, Allison Jacobson, Leslie Evenden and Courtney Culbeck remained at God’s Camp until they were visited by a bear, and then descended. “None of us knew the proposal was coming,” Anna Jacobson said. “Overlooking the Rainbow Glacier waterfall was really special. It just kind of made an already special day even more exciting.”
Larry Persily will be reporting and editing for the Chilkat Valley News through July 17, while Kyle Clayton fishes in Bristol Bay. “I will be reporting, editing and trying to take pictures,” Persily said. “For the first time in my life I held a digital camera today.” Persily, who now resides in Anchorage, lived and worked a variety of jobs in Southeast Alaska from 1976 to 2005. “Someone once described me as peripatetic, and I had to look it up before I got angry.”
The Haines Farmer’s Market has had five markets this summer, treating attendees to fresh-baked goods, live music, locally grown veggies, locally made cloth masks, and more. Masks are strongly encouraged, and a hand sanitizer station is set up at the entrance. “There has been good vendor turnout and morale,” director Vija Pelekis said. “The Haines Farmer’s Market is happy to be keeping this commerce avenue open to local growers and makers.”
Micco Godinez is visiting daughter Ceri Godinez, who has kept her father busy with local hikes including Seven-Mile Saddle and up Flower Mountain. “I have to keep reminding her I’m 68 years old,” he said. Originally from Havana, Cuba, Micco Godinez now lives on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, where he owns and operates a kayak tour company. This is his third visit to Haines. The first time was in 1980, on a five-month kayak trip from Seattle to Skagway. The second time to Haines was surrounding a trip to summit Denali. “If I ever summit Denali again I’d do it as a sled dog,” he said. “I’m a tropic boy.”
When the main water line burst last Wednesday evening, June 24, at the house of Heather and Asanti Sanborne, water flooded their house with no easy way to stop it. Dennis Durr and Scott Bradford responded, and quickly resolved the situation. “It was instant relief to have them on the scene,” Heather Sanborne said. “Thank you for coming out of retirement for us Scott! You both are awesome.”
Steve Williams, who lived in Haines for approximately 25 years starting in the early ‘80s, called in to join Tom Morphet for the KHNS Fund Drive. Williams, a former Chilkat Valley News and KHNS reporter, now lives in Wisconsin and works as a certification specialist to certify organic farms. “He helped start the winter games,” Morphet said. “He is a fascinating guy.”
Friends and neighbors were sad to learn of the death of Alan Traut, 73, on June 27. He passed away at his home, of apparent heart failure, his sister said. The retired Air Force intelligence officer was a history buff and longtime museum volunteer. He was also an avid hiker who helped maintain and measure area trails. His three siblings plan a celebration of life when the pandemic makes it easier to travel from their homes in the Lower 48. An obituary is pending.