The borough assembly on Tuesday is set to decide whether to cut ties with Lutak Dock contractor Turnagain Marine. Turnagain was hired in 2022 to design and rebuild the dock, but construction has not gone forward as planned – the cause of which is the subject of a dispute between the borough and the contractor. […]
Posted inNews, Environment
Hybrid solar-diesel power is less expensive than diesel alone in parts of rural Alaska, study shows
A new study published by the Belfer Center of the Harvard Kennedy School has concluded that solar power plants are now cost-competitive with diesel for many rural Alaska communities, even if solar is only usable during part of the year. “The conclusion was that they were pretty darn competitive,” said Henry Lee, the study’s co-author and director […]
Posted inLocal News
State information session recalls decades of Juneau Road debate
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration this year revitalized a long-running proposal for a road up the Lynn Canal, pitched as a way to better connect the state capital in Juneau to the surrounding region. The proposal has, over the span of multiple decades, proved extremely resilient. It has returned again and again in the wake […]
Posted inLocal News
Disputed Jones Point Cemetery parcel now being developed
Volunteers on behalf of the borough this month cleared new land at Jones Point Cemetery, across Sawmill Road from the main burial grounds. The stretch of land was the subject of a controversy earlier this year when neighboring non-profit Takshanuk Watershed Council applied for a borough easement for use of a driveway running through the […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted: Reunions, renovations, lit times at the fire department, and more
When Christie Willis and family loaded onto the LeConte ferry in Haines last week, her son Eli had Robbie, his emotional support stuffed bunny, in hand. Eli, a 13-year-old with autism, uses Robbie to communicate when he is over-stimulated.. But after they landed in Skagway, Robbie was nowhere to be found. Christie Willis said she […]
Posted inLocal News
Chilkat Chef returns for 6th competition
An annual cooking competition that pits five teams of culinary competitors who grill, fry, sauté and sear their way to the title of top Chilkat Chef kicks off this Saturday, Oct. 11 at Harriett Hall. The event marks the sixth Chilkat Chef cooking competition and banquet meal, an event that aims to highlight the Chilkat […]
Posted inEducation, Local News
School district considers new cell phone policy
The Haines Borough School District’s school board is considering a policy that would require students to stow their cellphones and other devices in designated areas in each classroom. The school district doesn’t currently have a formal board policy on cell-phone use. The district’s student handbook says high schoolers can use their phones “at the teacher’s […]
Posted inLocal News, Wildlife
Moose season closes; 24 reported taken by Wednesday
Twenty-four bull moose, including two illegal animals, were harvested by the end of the fall moose hunting season that started on Sept. 15. The hunt was open for the full season, through Oct. 7, and so far it looks as though the season met the guideline harvest limit of 20-25 animals. By Tuesday afternoon, 24 […]
Posted inObituaries
Former Haines resident Laura Ann Ritter dies at 69
Laura Ann Ritter March 1, 1956 – May 29, 2025 Laura Ann Ritter was born on March 1, 1956. A lifelong Alaskan and a member of the Juneau and Haines communities, she passed away on May 29, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by family, love, and the comforting memories of […]
Posted inLocal News, Wildlife
State asks for Kroschel’s help in retrieving remaining animals from his property
Kroschel Films Wildlife Center owner Steve Kroschel appeared by phone in Haines for his first court hearing Wednesday. Kroschel faces multiple felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges from what the state says were preventable deaths of animals in 2023 and 2024, and another charge centering on the condition of a brown bear seized by Alaska […]