After letting funding lapse for nearly two years, Congress voted to renew crucial federal funding that rural counties and schools have counted on for a quarter century. The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday evening voted 399-5 to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act through September 2026, and to provide lapsed payments for the […]
Posted inLocal News, Science
Earthquake north of Yakutat rattles Southeast Alaska
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake Saturday morning spawned a series of aftershocks that rattled communities throughout Southeast Alaska and Yukon. Dozens of people from Valdez to Whitehorse to Southeast Alaska reported to the United States Geological Survey that they’d felt the earthquake, which occurred about 11:40 a.m. according to Alaska Earthquake Center data. The epicenter was […]
Posted inLocal News
Uncertain future for 81-foot tender that sank in the small boat harbor
This story was updated on Friday, Dec. 10 at 7:45 p.m. It’s still not clear what caused the 81-foot tender, the F/V Pavlof to sink last Thursday in the Haines Harbor.Harbormaster Henry Pollan said he was first notified of the boat sinking just before 10 a.m. Harbor staff worked the rest of the day laying […]
Posted inSoutheast News, Local News
Tidal Network embarks on ‘listening tour’ of Southeast communities
Tlingit & Haida’s Tidal Network is embarking on a seven-city tour of Southeast communities this month to update people on the organization’s plans for wireless internet service in the region and listen to community concerns. Tidal Network has encountered differing levels of opposition to its plans to put up telecommunications towers in Wrangell, Sitka, Petersburg […]
Posted inLocal News
Borough reviewing Letnikof cruise ship deal
Borough staff and advisory committees hope to negotiate a deal with American Cruise Lines to help fund Letnikof Dock reconstruction and open up the dock to cruise ship business. The facility has been mostly out of commission after it broke last winter at the end of its projected lifespan. In the last year, the borough […]
Posted inLocal News
Planning Commission-targeted scam claims first victim
Last month, Heli-ski company Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures became the first victims of a scam that has been targeting Haines borough residents since June, paying $4,800 to scammers claiming to be from the Haines Borough administration. For months, the scam targeted residents with business in front of the borough planning commission, sending invoices made to […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted: An illumination, deer hunting, strong athletes, good gardeners, visitors and pie
There is not yet a permanent light fixture installed, but school officials rigged a temporary, battery-powered light in the lighthouse at Jenae’s playground in time for the fifth anniversary of the deaths of Jenae Larson and David Simmons, who were killed during a landslide on Dec. 2, 2020. During a Tuesday evening meeting, Haines school […]
Posted inLocal News, Environment & Natural Resources
Defying trend, two new forestry staff could be headed to Haines
There could soon be two new faces in the Division of Forestry Haines office, with the division promoting longtime area forester Greg Palmieri to a regionwide management position, and hoping to hire a second forester position in Haines, spokesperson Lorraine Henry said last week. Palmieri has been the Haines State Forest manager since 2015, before […]
Posted inLocal News
Come for camaraderie, stay for the dessert
Arnold and Jennifer DuVernay used to spend Thanksgiving either at home, or in a Cracker Barrel. That one was a newer revelation, where “for 12 bucks you’re getting a full Thanksgiving meal with coffee and dessert and then you don’t have to clean anything up,” Arnold said. But always, Cracker Barrel or otherwise, it was […]
Posted inLocal News
Resident charts her own path toward holiday tradition ‘To be grateful at any time is good for us, you know?’
Locals might recognize Evelyna Vignola by the berets she always wears — maybe the only beret-wearer in the Chilkat Valley — or by the wire cart she wheels up Main Street with groceries; maybe also by the hammer-shaped cookies she’s baked for Hammer Museum First Fridays. What people might not know is that recently, she […]