New Hope Fellowship Church celebrated Father’s Day with a barbeque and softball game. Heather Rogers grilled burgers and hot dogs to perfection. The Mason family brought a honey dandelion cake that was not to be outdone by the blueberry pie or the strawberry-rhubarb crisp. The softball game featured Riley Hall, Jim Stickler and Sage Thomas as rotating pitchers. Several homers were hit out of the Mosquito Lake ballfield, all by the dads.
The Kluane Chilkat International Bike Race (KCIBR) official numbers are not in yet, but the unofficial numbers tell a story of about 960 participants biking through an awe-inspiring landscape and enjoying mountain views while they pedaled into Haines from Haines Junction. Longtime KCIBR racer Richard Clement summed it up as “a very pleasant ride”. Some riders complained about the headwind at the 10 mile marker. Clement said that on a scale of 1-10, the wind was about a 2 or 3.
The team “Too Young, Too Old” was composed of two teenagers from Haines Junction and two adult Yukoners, Grace Snider and Grant MacDonald. In the spirit of a relay, their focus was on fun and working on personal goals. Leading up to the event, Snider says that she personally accumulated 1,500 km (932 miles) leading up to the event. The teenagers on the team did not cross into the U.S as their families advised them that the current political situation is an issue. MacDonald and Snider stayed in Haines for a couple of days to unwind and enjoy what Haines has to offer.
The Haines Hot Shots competed in the 2025 Alaska YESS shooting competition. Alaska SCTP-YESS is the statewide organization for youth clay-target shooting, and the Haines Hot Shots brought back nine awards. Corbin Wright (JV division) achieved second place in trap shooting. Jonah Wray earned third place in wobbles, third in sporting clays and first place in trap. Wray won a new shotgun. Hannah Jamison was awarded JV lady runner-up for her scores over the duration of the tournament.
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is meeting this week at the Tlingit Park longhouse. Ruth Mason, Issah Mason, and Carina Dunkin are a few of the crew leaders this year. As crew leaders, they help oversee the younger kids with support and creative direction. Ruth Mason is going into her fifth year attending the camp and speaks highly of the program. She wants the kids in Haines to know that they don’t have to attend a church locally or be a particular religion. Vacation Bible School is for everyone and the program is a fun way to discuss religion and have a great time with your friends, she said.
Pastor Dana Perreard of Haines Presbyterian Church reports that VBS has had about 70 participants a day. They start the day with a song and motions to warm up in the morning and introduce a new creature each day. Claudia the crab was a notable character this week. The overall theme this year is “True North” – trusting Jesus in a wild world.
Natalie Jobbins graduated from Northern Arizona University in May, finishing her degree in psychology and minor in criminal justice in just three years. Jobbins credits local teacher Sam McPhetres, when asked how she finished her degree so quickly. While she was attending high school in Haines, he advised her on which classes to take to get credits for college. Jobbins plans to begin working on her master’s degree, and her ultimate goal is to be a criminal profiler.