Revisions to management plans for the Haines State Forest and Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve should take less than a year, and probably won’t lead to any major changes in land or resource use in either. Department of Natural Resources planning Chief Bruce Phelps told the Haines Chamber of Commerce last week that DNR will […]
Posted inThis Week in History
Tour permit ordinance raises larger issues
The Haines City Council on Wednesday introduced an ordinance establishing a system of city tour permits, but more work is expected before it’s adopted. Hearings will be March 21 and April 4. Residents, councilors, and members of the city tourism planning committee that drafted it expressed concerns about the ordinance on the same day it […]
Posted inThis Week in History
Nonprofit group seeks to aid stray animals
Animal shelter backers have received a donation of land and are looking to move the old Catholic Church rectory to a lot at 1 Mile Haines Highway to set up a shelter and eventually house a veterinary clinic. Haines Animal Rescue Kennel executive director Milinda May said the newly-formed organization is dedicated to providing shelter […]
Posted inLocal News, Environment, Tourism
State seeks input on airboat tours
Should commercial airboat tours be permitted within the Alaska Bald Eagle Preserve? The question is going to the preserve’s advisory committee Friday, following action by the state this summer to put brakes on the proposal. Chilkoot Lake Tours owner Shane Horton is proposing to run 18 trips per night on a two-mile Chilkat River loop […]
Posted inLocal News
Fishermen help shape new rules for harbor crane use
Haines fishermen aren’t opposed to paying for using the crane at the Small Boat Harbor, but they don’t want to have to go to city hall for a key to unlock it. Gillnetters, city councilors and boat harbor committee members on Monday worked out a proposed ordinance change for using the crane that would require […]
Posted inThis Week in History
Final Juneau road report met with rally, lobbying
Residents have until March 13 to make comments on a plan to replace mainline ferry service between Haines and Juneau with a small ferry to Katzehin and a 51-mile road connecting to the Juneau road system at Echo Cove, 40 miles north of downtown Juneau. Comments should be mailed to Reuben Yost, DOT, 6860 Glacier […]
Posted inThis Week in History
Bronze Star headed for White House
Nearly 53 years after saving a Navy plane crew from an icy death off the Aleutian Islands, Leo Land of Haines, a former Army infantryman, has received a brand new Bronze Star Medal. As he did with the original in the 1980s, Land is donating the medal back to the government as part of an […]
Posted inLocal News
City considers collecting ambulance fees from rural residents
A mayoral proposal to begin collection of ambulance fees from non-city residents appears to be weakening. Faced with an audience of emergency response volunteers opposed to the proposal, the city’s public safety committee Tuesday voted against collection of the fees. Committee members Lynda Walker and Brian Lemcke wil carry their recommendation to the full council […]
Posted inLocal News, Klukwan
Klukwan celebrates ties with former trading partners
Klukwan will host a commemorative celebration next weekend, part of ongoing efforts to rebuild bonds with its neighbors to the North. For centuries, Chilkat Tlingits were trade partners with Yukon Tlingits and the Tutchone people. The first documentation of that relationship came 125 years ago, when the great Tlingit leader Koh-Klux sat down with a […]
Posted inLocal News, Government & Elections
Critic says land settlement sacrifices rights, profits
Southeast Natives whose land claims were ignored in the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act are lobbying Congress for swift settlement of their land entitlements. But one Chilkoot Native lobbying to kill the agreement proposed by the Southeast Alaska ANCSA Land Acquisition Coalition (SAALAC), saying hidden obligations to timber companies will undercut tribal authority and […]