I was perplexed that your article on the disappearance of king salmon from the Kelsall was so focused on past logging. A recent government report showing 59,000 king salmon inadvertently caught by pollock trawlers this fall has the rest of coastal Alaska up in arms. Another study by Kate Myers, of the University of Washington’s […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Many industries help Haines ‘survive’
How does Haines survive when “it doesn’t have an industry, period”? We survive because we have many industries. There are 687 business licenses registered here; 491 of those are from Haines addresses, and 86 are new businesses that started this year. A community prospers when it takes in more money than it sends out. Fishermen […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Why must we have generic holidays?
In our beautiful and well-organized Haines Library, where all the staff and volunteers are so helpful and knowledgeable, why has no one thought to include the words “Happy Hanukkah” or “Merry Christmas” at the annual Lighting of the Tree ceremony? We all grew up in a Judeo-Christian society, so why must we have generic holidays? […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
Former Chilkat Valley News reporter Bill McAllister is quoted in a Nov. 21 New York Times Magazine article about Sarah Palin. McAllister, a former Palin press secretary who now works as a spokesman for the state Department of Law, said the national media “grossly mischaracterized” Sarah Palin “in a way he found frustrating and maddening.” […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Chamber ballots are in the mail
Ballots for the Haines Chamber of Commerce board of directors went out this week. The chamber has four candidates for three available seats: Rodney Hinson, owner of Alaska Rod’s; Brenda Jones, controller at Southeast Roadbuilders; Ned Rozbicki, owner of Mojave West Insurance Services; and incumbent Evangeline Willard-Hoy, owner of Tlingit Ink Designs. Ballots must be […]
Posted inNews
Japanese exchange student embraces U.S. traditions
Japanese exchange student Rin Hamada said her first Thanksgiving was “awesome.” Hamada, 17, is a Haines High School junior from Tokyo who is the school’s only exchange student this year. She spent Thanksgiving with the Podsiki family of Haines. “I love turkey and I enjoy cooking,” Hamada said. “I learned how to bake turkey and […]
Posted inNews
Rasmuson gives fair $67K for hall
The Rasmuson Foundation has awarded the Southeast Alaska State Fair $66,692 for the renovation of Harriett Hall. “We’re really honored by the Rasmuson Foundation’s Tier Two grant award,” said Kelly Hostetler, fair executive director. “It means the Rasmuson Foundation has confidence in our organization and supports the renovation of Harriett Hall. We’re excited about making […]
Posted inNews
Thomas gives update
State Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, at a Nov. 29 Haines Chamber of Commerce lunch discussed the impact of Southeast population declines and his new position as co-chair of the House Finance Committee. “I tell people, ‘In all honesty, I don’t think Haines realizes what a co-chair of finance means,’” Thomas said. “It’s big. It’s huge. Like […]
Posted inNews
Helicopter-ski committee takes up map, GPS issues
Mayor Jan Hill appointed two members of the Haines Borough’s heli-skiing work group to a map subcommittee at a Nov. 23 meeting, after discussion had shifted to global positioning system technology for monitoring helicopter flight paths. Hill instructed Sean Brownell of Alaska Heliskiing and resident Rob Goldberg to “try to incorporate some of the suggested new areas […]
Posted inNews
Energy commission future in limbo; Scott resigns
Stephanie Scott has resigned as the Energy Sustainability Commission (ESC) coordinator, but she still shows strong support for its mission. “I’m stepping aside so that somebody else can kind of take the lead here,” Scott said. “I think that it’s time for the borough itself to take the lead in this effort, and I think they […]