Just over a year after Haines’ former harbormaster recommended closing it, and nearly 50 years since it first went into service – the Letnikof Dock has broken beyond what borough staff are willing to repair. On Nov. 22, acting harbormaster Jeremiah Kinison alerted the assembly and interim borough manager Elke Doom that a pipe float […]
Posted inThis Week in History
This Week in History: Wastewater, White Fang, and a temporary appointment
5 years ago (12/12/2019)Mining committee loses members The Takshanuk Watershed Council resigned from the Chilkat Mining Forum Committee, with board president Ben Kirkpatrick saying it was “not worth the effort we’re putting into it.” Takshanuk is the fourth organization to resign from the Mining Forum Committee since 2017 when the Chilkat Indian Village and Lynn […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted: A Cybertruck, The Nutcracker, and sports fundraisers
This year’s Lighting of the Fort festivities were postponed due to a fire at the Old Field Kitchen. But Kiara Hylton said she and her neighbors in the fort would still like to celebrate, so they’re inviting the community to a pre-parade gathering at the town Christmas tree on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 3:30 p.m. […]
Posted inSports
Wrestlers prep for Region V tournament in Haines
More than 200 wrestlers, coaches and guests are arriving in Haines for this weekend’s Region V wrestling tournament. It’s the first time Haines has hosted the tournament in 12 years. “In Southeast, not everyone gets to host every year. We’re one of those schools,” said coach Andus Hale. Wrestlers from Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Ketchikan and […]
Posted inThank You Letters
A thank you to Alaska Power & Telephone
The Salvation Army would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our friends at AP&T for their generous donation to our food bank program here in Haines, Alaska. For a number of years now we have been able to partner with them as well as other agencies to ensure that we meet the needs […]
Posted inLocal News, Government & Elections
State board delays hearing Haines’ petition for more beer & wine licenses until 2025
A state board hearing on the Haines Borough’s petition for more restaurant and eating place alcohol licenses has been delayed until February. Borough staff say there were unclear deadlines on when to get the borough’s full application in for a November quarterly meeting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office staff […]
Posted inGovernment & Elections, Southeast News
Wrangell leaders round up support for continued federal air service subsidy
Alaska Airlines has received a federal subsidy since 1976 to provide Wrangell with twice-daily jet service, and the mayor and chamber of commerce are rounding up community support to urge the government to issue a new contract after the current agreement expires in 2025. “I want to ensure it stays around,” Mayor Patty Gilbert said […]
Posted inNews, Economy
Wages for Alaska workers are up, but total jobs remain lower than pre-pandemic levels
The average hourly wage in Alaska was $33.60 in 2023, putting the state in 11th place among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The median hourly wage – which is calculated in a way that reduces the influence of the highest and lowest numbers […]
Posted inSoutheast News, Environment & Natural Resources
Renewed Southeast Alaska wastewater discharge permits require better bacteria controls
Six Southeast Alaska communities are getting renewed wastewater discharge permits that require better controls of bacteria flowing into the receiving waters, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Thursday. The communities – Haines, Skagway, Sitka, Wrangell, Ketchikan and Peterburg – must make improvements to reduce what are deemed to be overly high levels of fecal coliform and […]
Posted inNews, Government & Elections
No expansion of military IVF coverage included in final defense policy bill
Congress will not expand access to in vitro fertilization for active duty military members and their families in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, the annual bill that sets policy for the Pentagon. The House-Senate compromise released this weekend follows months of debate between the two chambers over whether to broaden TRICARE’s coverage of assisted […]