I received a surprise email with this short book review: “Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness by Jamil Zaki.” Cynicism is making us sick; Stanford Psychologist Dr. Jamil Zaki has the cure—a “ray of light for dark days”. In 1972, half of Americans agreed that most people can be trusted; by 2018, […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Local newspaper, public radio station must provide more in-depth coverage
In recent years, our society has unfortunately transitioned from the Age of Information to the Age of Misinformation. Our founding fathers considered a well-informed electorate to be so fundamental to our democracy that they created the U.S. Post Office to assure that our nation’s newspapers could be delivered to even our most rural citizens. But […]
Posted inThank You Letters
Hot Shots grateful for Alaska Marine Lines support
The Haines Hot Shots Shooting Team would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Michael Ganey at Alaska Marine Lines/Lynden Transport for your generous donation of freight charges for the shipment of target clays. Your support plays a crucial role in ensuring that our team has the resources needed to practice, compete, and continue developing […]
Posted inSoutheast News, Government & Elections
State commission approves new borough government in northern Southeast Alaska
A five-member state commission has approved plans for a new local government centered on the Southeast Alaska town of Hoonah. Approval sets the stage for a local election on the proposed Xunaa Borough. If voters approve the borough’s creation, Hoonah will be dissolved as a town and reincorporated as a city-borough with governmental authority over […]
Posted inLocal News, Public Safety
Two women charged by bears during lunchtime hike
‘Wrong place, wrong time,” is how Tracy Wirak-Cassidy described her recent encounter with two bears near the Mount Ripinsky trailhead. Wirak-Cassidy and friend Emily McMahan decided to do a quick lunch hike up the mountain Oct. 28 and were just coming up on the trailhead. “We were talking. We weren’t being quiet and we weren’t […]
Posted inLocal News, Public Safety
Woman totals car after hitting bear on the highway
Just about two weeks ago, a bear finished what a coyote started with Michelle Stigen’s 2017 Hyundai Tuscon Sport. Stigen was on her way home from a shift at the 33 Mile Roadhouse when she rounded a corner near Klukwan and hit the brown bear just after 7 p.m. “I had no time to even […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News
Assembly briefs: A new borough manager, an interim police chief, and a severance tax
Haines Borough Assembly members met Tuesday without Mayor Tom Morphet who is out of town. Deputy Mayor Cheryl Stickler presided over a four-hour meeting that included a public hearing on severance taxes, extensive discussion of who the next borough manager should be, and updates on open government positions, who can attend executive sessions, and the […]
Posted inSoutheast News, Alaska Marine Highway System
Wi-Fi coming to state ferries; will start with Columbia next month
While planning and hoping for as much as $2 billion to replace its shrinking fleet of older ships over the next 20 years, the Alaska Marine Highway System also is looking at smaller things it can do to improve service in the near term. That will include Wi-Fi service on the ships; possibly more offerings […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Nearly 800 votes counted in unofficial Chilkat Valley election results
At least 798 Chilkat Valley residents cast ballots according to results released by the state’s Division of elections early Wednesday morning. In the presidential election, both Haines No. 1 which encompasses Lutak Road, Mud Bay and Haines and Haines No. 2 which includes much of the upper Chilkat Valley voted for former President Donald Trump […]
Posted inLocal News, Wildlife
Annual bald eagle survey low for this time of year
Takshanuk Watershed Council Science Director Stacie Evans said she started counting bald eagles in mid-September and will continue through mid-December. She starts out along the Chilkoot River and counts at a few sites, then does one where Mud Bay Road and Small Tracts Road intersect. She then stops along the highway up to 30 Mile, […]