The first day of school in the Haines School District was August 20, 2024. (Photos by Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)
Top: Lexi DeWitt talks to students in her 2nd grade classroom on the first day of school.
Second row: Students pour into the school after the doors are unlocked at 8 a.m., Noah Nash pledges allegiance to the U.S. Flag on the first day of school. Aurora Lockhart hugs Riverlynn Hess as the two catch up on the first day of school in the Haines Borough school district.
Third row: Matt Davis walks a classroom of new students through the available photography equipment. Joseph Miller smiles during a coloring activity on his first day of 2nd grade.
Bottom: Isabelle Sweet, 10, gets her locker assignment on the first day of school.
More than a hundred people turned out for the grand opening of Jenae’s Playground on August 17, 2024, in Haines. (Photos by Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)
Top: Harrison Mason, 3, scoots across a part of Jenae’s Playground.
Bottom: Indiana Lapeyri, 7, takes a ride on a merry go round net climber.
Dozens of kids turned out for a flag football tournament on August 17, in Haines. (Photos by Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)
Top: Asher Jimenez grabs for Eli Powlison’s flag during a game on August 17, in Haines. Grady Robinson and Canaan Larson both reach to catch the ball during a flag football game. Jessie Sanders coaches a flag football game.
Bottom: (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) A flag football game on August 17, 2024, in Haines, Alaska.
National Navajo Code Talkers Day is celebrated on Aug. 14, the day World War II ended in 1945. The day is not only to commemorate the contributions of Native American code talkers, but also Alaska Natives, who served in the U.S. military during World Wars I and II. There are two Tlingít code talkers from Southeast Alaska buried in the Haines Cemetery at Jones Point – Robert “Jeff” David Sr and George Lewis.
The Chilkat Valley News’ Francisco Martínezcuello set out to better understand their roles and sat down with William C. Meadows, a Professor of Anthropology and Native American Studies at the Missouri State University in Springfield.
Above: Tlingít code talkers Robert Jeff David Sr., and George Lewis are buried at the Jones Point Cemetery in Haines.
(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Southeast Alaska Independent Living grilled up nearly 200 burgers on August 17, 2024, at its annual community picnic. The organization serves seniors and people experiencing disabilities across Southeast Alaska.
(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Jesse Crow (left) and Nora Crake look at items in a silent auction benefitting Natalie Benassi during a Nachos for Natalie event on August 17.