‘We got a bonus tour:’ Cruise passengers stranded in Canada by rockslide rejoin their ships in Haines
About 150 people motored into Haines just after 4 a.m. on a summer evening, in time to rejoin their Holland America and Princess cruise ships after they were separated from their ships by a massive rockslide north of Skagway. Cruise line management, port staff and others arranged an unusual solution to the problem, a six-hour, several hundred mile drive to Haines.
Fire destroys Mike Ward’s convenience store ‘I feel like I’m losing part of my life here’
A story about a late night fire that burned Mike Wards’ Quick Shop, Outfitter Liquor, Outfitter Sporting Goods, Mike’s Bikes & Boards and four apartments to the ground, drew dozens to the Small Boat Harbor parking lot, where they watched it burn for hours. Many lamented the loss of a late-night convenience store option. Ward has since transferred operations to some of his other businesses in town, turning Caroline’s Closet into a mini Quick Shop.
Extensive private search led to the discovery of plane that went missing between Juneau and Yakutat
Haines pilot Sam Wright and Yakutat couple Hans Munich and Tanya Hutchins disappeared in the Fairweather Range on a Saturday, prompting a three-day search for any sign of the missing trio, who were headed to Yakutat from Juneau. But long after the Coast Guard and official search and rescue operations had left, it was an extensive private search and one tireless friend that finally turned up the wreckage, and closure for those who wondered what had happened.
‘Free-spirited’ and ‘gentle’ Ransom Russell dies at 47
The family of Ransom Uliah Russell, a 47-year-old from Haines, announced that he had died of pancreatic cancer. They told the story of a world explorer who lived the first seven years of his life in a dry cabin and found Haines in 2001. He enjoyed pickup basketball, helping out with moose hunts, fishing and hanging out with friends at the brewery.
Kroschel loses USDA license, wildlife center closes to the public
Steve Kroschel, who runs the popular Kroschel Films Wildlife Center in Mosquito Lake lost his license to keep his 66-animal facility open to the public, leaving cruise ship tourists and operators in a lurch mid-season. Support has poured in from people all over the world who have had intimate encounters with the moose, lynx, fox, wolverine, wolves and many other animals Kroschel cares for at the remote facility.
Alaska might as well embrace the past
A column by Wrangell Sentinel publisher Larry Persily caught people’s attention. In it, Persily satirically suggests one solution to fix Alaska’s impending oil shortage would be to go back to the days of burning coal.
Haines signs altered, welcome people to Deishú
The ‘Welcome to Haines’ signs at either end of town got a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it change in May when someone swapped out the hand carved “Haines” signs for ones that read “Deishú,” which can mean “The Beginning of the Trail” or “The End of the Trail.”It touched off a community discussion about what Haines should, or could, be called.
Stranded Beerfest travelers scramble to rebook after LeConte ferry breakdown
The ferry LeConte broke down during the busy Beerfest weekend, leaving hundreds of people stranded, particularly if they were traveling with a vehicle. Other transporters, including Alaska Seaplanes and Alaska Fjordlines, did what they could to get people home, but struggled to get to the capacity to handle a ferry full of passengers.
Man charged with assault, misconduct with weapons after morning confrontation near Fourth Avenue
Police arrested one man and interviewed a couple after a shooting in the St. James Place subdivision off east Fourth Avenue in Haines. Neighbors said before the confrontation turned violent, the two had been arguing about drugs.
Fire destroys Old Field Kitchen restaurant
Authorities are still trying to figure out what caused the Old Field Kitchen Fire in the Fort Seward Parade Grounds. Efforts to contain the blaze were hampered by thick, wet ice that blanketed the parade grounds.