Greg Podsiki celebrated 30 years working for the United States Postal Service in Haines this week. Podsiki was surprised with decorations made by his children and grandchildren, including Melissa Bastable Ganey and Kaitlyn Podsiki, and friends and coworkers Gen Bell, Aimee Jacobson, Shori Heaton, and Corrie Stickler. Podsiki also was treated to a cake baked by Ganey and decorated by Kaitlyn Podsiki with the […]

Erika Merklin donated sunflower starts to Haines School teachers and staff to celebrate Teacher’s Appreciation Week. Merklin and children Cameron Bauer and Chisel Triezenberg planted 500 sunflowers at the new Mosquito Lake Community Center greenhouse from seeds Merklin had saved from her garden last year. She is also giving sunflowers to kids when they pick up their lunches from the […]

Josie Allen celebrated her 40th birthday camping on the Katzehin and hiking the ridge towards Santa Claus Mountain with friends Alissa Henry, Gen Bell, Knikki Cinocco, Leslie Ross and Rio Ross-Hirsch. “Great group of ladies,” Allen said. “I look forward to trying again later in the season.” They hit snow line about halfway up their hike, and enjoyed a fabulous […]

Kimberley Strong is running for the Sealaska Board as an independent candidate. “Sustainability of our traditional ways of living off the land is very important to me,” said Strong. “My vision for Sealaska is sustainable economic growth that creates employment and distribution opportunities for our shareholders.” Strong currently serves as tribal president of the Chilkat Indian […]

Thomas McGuire’s novel Steller’s Orchid, published in June 2019 by Boreal Books, received a silver medal at the Independent Booksellers Awards in the category of Best Regional Fiction, West-Pacific. The book is set in Western Alaska in 1924 and tells the story of a young man’s quest for an orchid. The orchid was described by the […]

Mike Case, a former Haines Borough Assembly member and Mayor, has moved with dog Fox to the Palmer Pioneer Home. Case said that although it is quite a change from his Haines life, he appreciates the outstanding staff. “I miss my friends,” he said. “I listen to KHNS every morning to keep track of what’s going on.” Friends can send mail […]

Liam Cassidy and Tracy Wirak were married on Saturday, June 6th, just past Kelgaya Point. The bride’s sister, Lizi Wirak, served as marriage commissioner during a small evening ceremony attended by a few close friends. The couple exchanged rings made by Brittany Dunbar, the bride wore a flower crown made by Vija Pelekis, and the bouquet was made from lupine gathered from Kelgaya Point. […]

Amelia Nash celebrated her birthday last week with a virtual karaoke party. “Sing me a song for my birthday!” she wrote. “I miss public singing. I miss watching people sing.” As an incentive, Amelia Nash offered $5 to the local food bank for each song, with a cap of 20 songs. Participants danced and sang the […]

Teslin Grace Podsiki and Josh Whitby were married on Saturday, June 20 at the top of Shawnee Mountain in Delaware, Pennsylvania. Eleven people attended the outdoor ceremony, including the bride’s mother Teri Bastable-Podsiki, and aunt Lyn Witt Orris, and the groom’s mother, Dana Whitby. The groom’s cousin Matt Williams with wife Katie also attended. The bride wore a cream short dress with a lace back. Although guests […]

Huxley Evans Dunbar was born to Brittany and Luck Dunbar at Bartlett Hospital in Juneau at 6:50 p.m. June 24. He weighed 7 pounds and was 20 inches long. He joins big brother Archie Dunbar, who made the trip to Juneau to meet his baby brother. Friends of the Jacobson family hiked to God’s Camp, a popular resting point overlooking Rainbow Glacier, where Chris Naughton surprised Anna […]