10 years ago

An Alaska Power and Telephone anemometer atop an FAA Road tower recorded winds reaching 64.75 mph at 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Wind speeds exceeded those of a Jan. 14, 2011 storm, which reached 61.8 mph and tore siding off the Haines Quick Shop. Storm winds on Dec. 5, 2011, cut utilities, downed trees and blew out a sign atop the Pioneer Bar. A news account of that storm didn’t include wind speed. Winds above 72 mph are considered hurricane-force.

(Chilkat Valley News/File)
In this Oct. 26, 1993. Headstart students and staff began Halloween preparations Tuesday by carving jack-o-lanterns. Front row (left) Justin Henricks, Wayne Stickler, Michele Berzanske, Jason Albecker, Thomas Ward, Elizabeth Phillips, Cynthia Phillips. Back row, Sherry Hannon, Brandon Ferrier, Kathleen Willard, Wesley Lippy, Amy George, Cecily Trowbridge, Shaila Edwards, Felicia Beaman, Crystalyn Lemiuex and Anneliese Stacy.
(Chilkat Valley News/File) In this Oct. 26, 1993. Headstart students and staff began Halloween preparations Tuesday by carving jack-o-lanterns. Front row (left) Justin Henricks, Wayne Stickler, Michele Berzanske, Jason Albecker, Thomas Ward, Elizabeth Phillips, Cynthia Phillips. Back row, Sherry Hannon, Brandon Ferrier, Kathleen Willard, Wesley Lippy, Amy George, Cecily Trowbridge, Shaila Edwards, Felicia Beaman, Crystalyn Lemiuex and Anneliese Stacy.

15 years ago

Authors of a feasibility study commissioned by the Haines Borough on a district wood-fired heating system say the “project is challenged” based on fuel prices but borough officials and foresters say the costs and benefits deserve further investigation. 

The borough’s energy sustainability commission will take public comment on the study at its next meeting. 

“It’s a technical document and I’m hoping to get technical feedback,” said energy coordinator Stephanie Scott. “This report is going to take some very careful reading.” 

Scott told the assembly the study’s conclusion that the project is “challenged” had been controversial. 

Engineers CE2 of Anchorage based the economics of the study on fuel oil priced at $2.87 per gallon and estimated locally produced wood chips would cost $85 per ton. 

Chips also might be produced from a mill in Haines Junction, from Tok, or from Craig, or pellet fuel could be shipped from the Lower 48. 

The biomass system would be more viable if fuel oil cost $3.75 per gallon, the study concludes. “The project economics are greatly affected by fuel oil cost and inflation.” 

At the borough’s request, CE2 based their investigation on a district heating system that would lower heating costs for the Haines borough administration building, the public library, the Haines School and vocational education building. 

Project costs are estimated at about $2.6 million with the time for return on the initial investment estimated at 25 to 30 years. Primary infrastructure includes a centrally located wood heat building, boiler, chip storage bin, and pipe system to move heat to the buildings. 

(File photo/Chilkat Valley News, Tom Morphet)
In this Oct. 28, 1993 file photo, volunteer firemen and carpenters lift a wall into place at the firehall. The expansion will include a truck bay, fire extinguisher shop and "hazard area" for handling of contaminated material.
(File photo/Chilkat Valley News, Tom Morphet) In this Oct. 28, 1993 file photo, volunteer firemen and carpenters lift a wall into place at the firehall. The expansion will include a truck bay, fire extinguisher shop and “hazard area” for handling of contaminated material.

20 years ago

The people of the Chilkat Valley are reaching out to victims of the Dec. 26 Indian Ocean tsunami. 

School board member Stacie Turner helped her children give their piggy bank money to relief last week. “They chose the Red Cross, over a more targeted fund,” she said. “Because they said they help everybody.” 

Navy petty officer Tim Warren, of Klukwan, is working as a storekeeper abroad the Abraham Lincoln helping dispatch supplies to devastated villages on the coast of Sumatra. 

The first day on site, 27 helicopter loads of food and medical supplies were shuttled ashore, Tim’s mom , Pat, recounted this week. Soldiers affected by the loss have pitched in personal supplies as well, collecting candy and other treats for youngsters dealing with the trauma. 

At the book store on Main Street, Liz and Tom Heywood have information from the country about ways to aid victims. Tom said he posted it the day after the tragedy. 

“Like everybody else, I was trying to figure out how you can help.” 

Since then, there have been more local opportunities to assist. “There was the Mark Sebens send-off,” Heywood said. “A lot of folks contributed to that.”

Handyman, softball player, actor, singer, father, husband and all around go-to” guy Mark Sebens is now in Sri Lanka making sure a 13-member medical relief team from the Community Church in Palmer has vehicles that run, lights that work and conditions that are as safe as possible. 

Nishan Weerasinghe, whose family is originally from Sri Lanka, lost a 12-year-old cousin when the wave hit. Nishan’s father, former resident Kumar, expedited passports for the Community church group in Seattle. 

Jane Sebens said the family doesn’t expect to hear from her husband until next week, but has learned indirectly that his team arrived safely in Colombo and has set up a medical station on the coast, where they are providing care to stricken Sri Lankans. 

Before he left Haines last week, Sebens said the decision to travel halfway around the world to help strangers was an easy one. 

“You see things like this on TV and usually the best you can do is send the Red Cross fifty bucks,” he said while sorting gear for the trip. “I work seasonally, I have a current passport and my own tools. Basically I was in a very fortunate spot to be able to help. I’m not a doctor or a nurse. I just know how to make things work and to fix  things and build things.”

50ish years ago (Jan. 9, 1975)

 Eight days of wind, snow, and mechanical malfunctions kept the Chilkat Pass area of the Haines Cut-off highway closed, stranding motorists in Haines and at Lake Dezadeash at Mile 125. 

The road opened to one-way light vehicular traffic Friday, Jan. 10 at about 9:30 a.m., and a highway department spokesman said it was hoped that the road would soon be prepared for two-way traffic including trucks. 

At the height of the closure, an estimated 75 to 100 northbound travelers were stranded in Haines. Most of them were en route to jobs in the Interior; some were returning home. 

Since many of the travelers had not counted on an extra week’s board and lodging expenses, some ran out of funds. A coordinated effort was mounted by the city of Haines, the state disaster office, local churches, civic clubs, and interested citizens. Mary Cordes, local civil defense coordinator, maintained liaison with the state. 

Cots and blankets were shipped to Haines from Juneau; vacant space at the Army’s Tank Farm facility was made available to travelers for sleeping accommodations. Visitors also were housed in several of the local churches. 

The Haines Camp of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood set up a feeding station at the ANB-ANS Hall, and at first food was donated by many local citizens. 

Volunteers prepared it in the ANB-ANS Hall kitchen. Arrangements were then made for some food to be purchased, paid for by the Red Cross. 

Ferry travelers heading for the Interior were urged by the state to disembark at other Southeastern ports to keep from adding to the burden at Haines. 

Thirty-seven families had signed a register at the ANB-ANS Hall, and Salvation Army Lt. Jery Akin estimated some 75 persons were being fed daily. 

One convoy of trucks and cars was stranded about Mile 62 and some 30 persons were airlifted by helicopter to the Canadian highway maintenance camp at Mile 75, and later some were brought to the border at Mile 42 by helicopter and then to Haines by car. 

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