32 teams played 78 games in four days at the 17th annual Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational Basketball Tournament in Sitka. For the second year in a row, Haines Sports Shop won the men’s open division. This year the team, which also included players from Sitka, beat Anchorage’s Snow City 85-70. Andrew Friske, who helped coordinate the […]
Posted inLocal News, Business & Commerce
Company looks to install 5G cell tower in Haines
A Colorado-based company is asking the borough to lease a site to build Haines’ first 5G cell tower, which could dramatically improve download speeds for mobile devices. Atlas Tower 1 submitted a request Jan. 19 to build a 120-foot tower on a plot near 1 Mile Lutak Road and proposed a $400-per-month lease fee, plus […]
Posted inBlotter
Blotter: Jan. 14-21
Monday, January 15An injured moose was reported.A vehicle was stuck in the snow on Young Road.A vehicle was reported blocking the road on Small Tracts. Tuesday, January 16Caller reported an attempt to defraud.A vehicle was reported blocking fire hydrant access on Main Street.A tree was reported blocking the highway at about 32 Mile. Wednesday, January […]
Posted inNews, Local News, Haines Borough
Assembly Briefs: No new state lobbyist, an appeal to FEMA on Porcupine Road
Mayor Tom Morphet controversially cut off a public commenter, assembly members considered an appeal to FEMA over canceled funding, and a new police chief was recommended.
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Here’s why I cut public comment short
As a former newspaper publisher and a Haines Borough Assembly member whopushed to get a second public comment period on assembly meeting agendas, I amsensitive to complaints that I limited free speech or censored public comment atTuesday’s Haines Borough Assembly meeting. As meeting chair, it’s my job to maintain order and decorum during meetings.During public […]
Posted inThank You Letters
Thank you, borough citizens and workers
Here’s a heartfelt thank you to the folks who have stopped by my office, called, brought cards and offered prayers, smiles and encouragement in the last few months. I’ve taken longer than I should have to acknowledge your kindnesses. Thank you to the great employees who daily work for the Haines Borough on behalf of […]
Posted inLocal News, Energy
‘We’re way behind’: EV charging station in Haines could bring tourists, help locals
Shelby Flemming has an electric car, but it’s not doing her much good this winter. She lives on Mosquito Lake Road, and owns a 2015 Nissan Leaf that has a 70 mile range — but only when it’s warm. Using the heater in colder weather, it doesn’t have the range to get to her work […]
Posted inEducation, School Board
Alaska board of education lowers standard for student test scores, citing nationally high bar
The Alaska board of education approved lowering the test score standard for student proficiency, after school leaders cited the state’s nationally high bar. Student success on standardized tests is categorized by what are known as cut scores, which are the range of results that show indicate a score is above or below proficiency for a […]
Posted inHealth
Annual report tracks Alaskans’ tobacco-cessation progress — and tallies tobacco’s costs to the state
Alaskans trying to quit their tobacco habits made some significant progress over the past year, according to the annual report released this week by the state’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. The program, which includes the Tobacco Quit Line, helped 1,753 Alaskans stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco or electronic cigarettes in the 12 months ending June 30, […]
Posted inState of Alaska
Interim labor commissioner Muñoz is Dunleavy’s pick for permanent job
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has named longtime interim Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Cathy Muñoz as his choice to fill the job permanently. Munoz, a former Republican state legislator from Juneau, was named the department’s acting commissioner in February 2023 after the resignation of former commissioner Tamika Ledbetter. Before the appointment, Muñoz had worked as […]