Jake Bell and Macky Cassidy welcomed Rune Lou Bell on Nov. 14 at 2:11 p.m. on a sunny autumn day in Homer, overlooking Kachemak Bay. Rune weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. He was caught by his midwife grandmother Mary Lou Kelsey and his dad. The family is doing well and enjoying their time together.

Haines residents Michael Ganey, Brian Elliott and Harry Rietze traveled to Seattle last week to watch the Seahawks take on the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field. Former residents Karl Heinz and his wife Jamie, who are Packer fans, met up with the group along with Whitehorse friends Karl Gruber and Mike Reynolds. “It was a blast,” Ganey said.

Chilkoot Indian Association’s annual meeting took place at the ANB/ANS Hall last weekend. Attendees dined on fish caught by Luke Williams and Ted Hart and the staff prepared the rest of the meal. Before presentations Les Katzeek was honored for his service with housing and the transportation departments. Les retired in September and is still on the tribal council. Georgiana Hotch worked for CIA since the mid-90s and has now taken a job with Tlingit and Haida. Speakers included tribal administrator Harriett Brouillette, Nick Kokotovich and Ryan Barber in the transportation department, Williams in the environmental department, Hart in Fisheries, and Aliza Tompkins in housing. Corrie Stickler made a three-dimensional cake shaped like a dugout canoe that was a big hit.

Ralph and Sarah Swinton recently returned from Klamath Falls, Oregon where they visited their daughter Kayley Swinton. During the visit they traveled to the Oregon and California coasts to see redwoods and the ocean in Brookings with Kayley. They also enjoyed catching up with Ralph’s mother Janie Swinton who lives in Roseburg, Oregon.

Makayla Crager returned from a trip to Lewiston, Idaho to visit her cousin Brittney Bradford at Lewis-Clark State College where she is enrolled. “Highlights were seeing the Harlem Globetrotters, watching college basketball games and just seeing a different place. It was really beautiful there and the fall colors were so bright,” Makayla said. The cousins also got matching cross tattoos on the back of their necks.

More than 50 vendors sold baked goods, cuttings boards, knives, oils and more at the Haines Woman’s Club Bazaar last weekend. “We raised about $2,500 selling chili and baked goods along with the table rentals,” said club president Judy Ewald. Other members include Susan Johnson, Julie Shook, Sarah “Tigger” Posey, Laura Clements, Carol Lawrence and Carol Duis. The Woman’s Club offers scholarships and supports other community projects in Haines. The club is looking for more members. If you would like to join the organization contact Judy at 766-2455.

Longtime resident Bob Budke, 87, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends on Nov. 10 at the home of his daughter, Cheri Hildebrand in Bartlett, Texas following a brief illness. There will be an obituary after the family returns to Haines, and a memorial service here next summer.

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