Ron Jackson hiked the Chilkoot Trail for the first time this month with his friends Russ White, Cyndi Buckson, Molly Sturdevant, Diane La Course and Sharron Resnick. They hiked the whole 33 miles in five days, first staying at Canyon City camp, then on to Sheep Camp, Happy Camp, Linderman Camp and ending at Bennet in British Columbia. Ron said the views were beautiful.
Erik Stevens is back from a visit to California where he met up with his sister, Shannon Stevens, and former American Bald Eagle Foundation intern Maude Dinan in San Francisco. Erik also had lunch with another former intern Ashley Santiago who is now working at Golden Gate Raptor Observatory next to the Golden Gate Bridge. Erik also drove with Maude to Sequoia National Park where she works and explored the Sierra Mountains.
Alison Jacobson held a big 80th birthday party for her mother, Virginia Jamison, at the Klondike Restaurant on Friday. Alison’s siblings Mike Jamison from Perry, Kan., Gina Jamison from Seattle, Wash. and LeaAnn Holzmeister from Tempe, Ariz. and their families attended. Alison’s three children, Ketch, Libby and Anna were there as well as other Haines friends and a cousin from Colorado. The family had swing and country dance lessons at the party, and later moved to the Pioneer Bar where the Lack Family Band played a special set of oldies music for Virginia.
Katie Dickerson returned from a brief trip to Holland, Mich. where she was a bridesmaid in her friends Sarah Steeds and Justin Glicks’ wedding. While there, she visited her parents and brother in Kalamazoo.
Jessica Edwards has family visiting for the Southeast Alaska State Fair. Her half-brothers Rob Harrold from Kansas City, Mo. and James Harrold, and wife Mataya Harrold, from Colorado, are visiting for six weeks while volunteering at the fair and the family rafting business. The couple said they are enjoying the time spent with Jessica’s 6-year-old daughter Sophia. Jessica’s half sister Helen Edwards is visiting for a month before going off to Wales to begin graduate school at Aberystwyth University where she will pursue a degree in archive administration. Helen is working as barn manager at the fair.
Jessica’s other half-brother Sam Edwards is living in Haines this week working at Rafting Co. and his wife Lindsey Moore is visiting while on summer break from her job as a school counselor in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Also visiting are Jessica’s stepmother Mary Lynn from Tacoma, Wash., her uncle David Pierce with his wife Mary Pierce from Phoenix, Ariz. and cousins Debbie, Don, and Hazel Curran. Her father-in-law David Hedden lives in Haines during the summers.
Chris Kocher, a member of the U.S. Ultimate team and son of Haines’ Eric Kosher, won gold in the Flying Disc Competition at the World Games 2017 in Poland this month. Countries compete in ultimate frisbee against one another for a world title. The U.S. team played against Columbia in the final match.
Longtime Haines resident Byrne Power had his 60th birthday party, two years late, over the weekend. About 60 people attended at his home. The party was also a farewell to the Quonset Hut as he moves out in December. The hut is the last structure of its kind in Fort Seward, owned by the McDonald family that plans to sell the building. Byrne lived there for 20 years.
Friends said farewell to Jared and ChanaSue Mixon, and children Vander and Johanna, at lunch following worship at Haines Presbyterian Church last week. Jared has been playing the piano at Presbyterian Church services. The family leaves Aug. 3 for Kake, where Jared will teach.