The Haines Visitor Center announced the winners of their 2025 photo contest. Three runners up received $100 gift certificates to a Haines business. Those winners were Charity Joy Bigno, Sara Miller and Nate Arrants. Grand prize winners Sue York and Mandy Ramsey each were awarded a $250 gift certificate from Alaska Seaplanes.
Barbara Carr twice spotted a pair of mystery birds around 30 Mile Haines Highway recently. She said that the birds were brown and stood 16 to 18 inches tall with four- to six-inch legs and looked remarkably like wild turkeys. Robbie Harris said he’s also spotted the birds around the same location.
Turkeys are not native to Alaska and, according to Alaska Department of Fish and Game, there are no established wild turkey populations in Southeast Alaska; however, escaped or released domestic turkeys have been reported.
Carr and Harris are both aware of how rare wild turkeys are in Alaska and speculate that the birds could be peahens or maybe some very tall ptarmigan or a pheasant? Perhaps they are domestic turkeys that have escaped a local yard? Esther Gunick raises birds in the area. She reports that none of her turkeys are missing. Gunick does have young turkeys that fit the size and description, but they are currently accounted for, she said.
Erika Merklin believes her home garden is currently growing the largest field grown squash in the Chilkat Valley. The Blue Hubbard winter squash is still growing, and is 34 inches in girth, 20 inches in length and by far the largest that she has grown in her life, weighing in at just under 20 pounds. Merklin planted the squash in nutrient-rich compost in early June and plans to let it soak up the sun until the first frost of the season. She intends to harvest the squash and roast it, to be shared with the boys.
Judy San is building her dream home at 18 Mile and her brother Gary Jackson is in town to help with some of the heavy lifting. Although Jackson enjoys bear spotting, river rafting, and other standard fun that Haines has to offer, he said his happy place is high atop San’s new structure working with his sister. They both credit their father for teaching them the basics of carpentry early on. San and Jackson both have experience remodeling properties. Jackson has a degree in architecture from San Luis Obispo and brings a wealth of knowledge to share with his big sister. Judy San’s goal this season is getting a roof installed not relying on tarps and plastic to hold back the weather this winter. Jackson extended his stay in Haines for an extra five days to complete that goal. San joked that building her dream home late in life will either keep her physically fit or kill her.
Baby bunnies are multiplying at the Rard family’s farm. Casey and Jamie Rard have been adding to the farm this season. Their twin daughters Sydney and Olivia have been helping to raise a wide variety of adorable barnyard animals. They have had experience raising chickens, turkeys, rabbits, pigs and goats. The goats, Dandelion and Prim, are producing a gallon and a half of milk per day. The family has plans to slaughter six geese this weekend. Get your abacus out, the barnyard math is about to get exciting.
Happy 68th anniversary to Ron and Jean Smith. The two met by chance in Indiana at a street fair in the pouring rain. They have lived happily in Haines for 50 years. The couple celebrated their anniversary with a combination anniversary-birthday party. Their neighbor, Omar Cordes, happened to be celebrating his birthday the very same day. The party included 16 people and a delightful cake.
Nygel Duffy-Webb celebrated his 33rd birthday with family. They skipped the cake this year and celebrated with grilled steaks and an exciting day of halibut kayak fishing on the Lynn Canal. Duffy-Webb did not get a halibut but he did land a couple of flounder. He says he might only be 33 years old but he feels a bit more like 60 years old.