Dear readers, When I bought the Chilkat Valley News last year, we went through the books and realized that our subscription rates had held steady for the previous six years. During that time, our local subscriber postage rates went up by 34%, our out-of-town mailing costs went up by 41%, and freight costs to fly […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough, Public Safety
Two officers to split borough policing until vacant positions are filled
Interim borough police chief Michael Fullerton completed his official last day on the job at the end of April, leaving Haines with only two police officers splitting round-the-clock policing. That critical understaffing might be a new normal, with borough staff saying they face an uphill climb in hiring new police officers. Interim borough manager Alekka […]
Posted inLocal News, Public Safety
State investigation determines police chief was justified in firing his gun
A state investigation into the Feb. 17 incident in which Haines interim police chief Michael Fullerton shot at a man near the post office determined that he was justified in doing so. The confrontation between Fullerton and the Haines resident occurred after a call reporting a man brandishing a knife on Soap Suds Alley. The […]
Posted inHealth, Local News
Summer school lunch program in final days of signup in the Chilkat Valley
The application for a state program called Meals to You is newly available in the Chilkat Valley and closes soon. Both Chatham and Haines Borough School District students are among the 31 school districts eligible to enroll in the program this year. Families will receive weekly meal boxes with shelf-stable, kid-friendly foods designed to support […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Budget nuggets: From payroll to heated showers, Assembly looks for places to cut
It’s budget season for the Haines borough, kicked off by an assembly discussion Thursday night to go line-by-line through its areawide general fund. The budget determines taxation – who gets taxed and by how much – and spending, on services like education, the pool, public safety and economic development. Balancing this year’s budget has been […]
Posted inThis Week in History
This week in history: Ferry LeConte helps to rescue two in near-tragic canoeing mishap
April, 1975 Tragedy was averted late Saturday evening when the occupants of a capsized canoe were towed to shore in Lutak Inlet opposite the ferry terminal and then brought safely back by the ferry LeConte. Russ Needham and Terry Wheelock of Haines spent about a half hour in the frigid water after their canoe swamped. […]
Posted inThis Week in History
This week in history: School revises plan for respect talk
April, 2000 After receiving 17 phone calls in opposition, Haines school superintendent Ron Erickson this week canceled a discussion of homophobia scheduled as part of an upcoming program on respect at Haines High School. Characterizing the calls as a “substantial groundswell of opposition,” Erickson said he scratched the discussion because he feared it would generate […]
Posted inSports, Local News
Five Dolphins to swim at state championship
This week, Haines Dolphins swimmers are headed to Anchorage to compete in state swimming championships. The number of races each swimmer participates in is directly tied to their performance, so it’s not yet clear how many races they’ll compete in. But head coach Jacob Bazar has some idea of what they’ll start in, based on […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Mosquito Lake facility an asset to the community and the borough
Imagine that a facility is gifted to the borough for literally nothing. This facility is basically in great shape, requiring minor maintenance compared to other borough facilities. In addition, things are happening at this facility that are new age. For example: Now, imagine this: a proposal to sell this facility, in effect pulling the rug […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letter-writer calling citizens “misinformed” was himself misinformed
I’m writing in response to the recent CVN letter that characterized local citizens protesting Trump’s autocratic drift as “poor misinformed souls.” I wonder if the writer also found Senator Murkowski “a misinformed soul” when she told constituents last week that Trump’s authoritarianism is real and frightening. As she explained, her lack of total obedience to […]