When Christie Willis and family loaded onto the LeConte ferry in Haines last week, her son Eli had Robbie, his emotional support stuffed bunny, in hand. Eli, a 13-year-old with autism, uses Robbie to communicate when he is over-stimulated.. But after they landed in Skagway, Robbie was nowhere to be found. Christie Willis said she […]
Posted inLocal News
Chilkat Chef returns for 6th competition
An annual cooking competition that pits five teams of culinary competitors who grill, fry, sauté and sear their way to the title of top Chilkat Chef kicks off this Saturday, Oct. 11 at Harriett Hall. The event marks the sixth Chilkat Chef cooking competition and banquet meal, an event that aims to highlight the Chilkat […]
Posted inEducation, Local News
School district considers new cell phone policy
The Haines Borough School District’s school board is considering a policy that would require students to stow their cellphones and other devices in designated areas in each classroom. The school district doesn’t currently have a formal board policy on cell-phone use. The district’s student handbook says high schoolers can use their phones “at the teacher’s […]
Posted inLocal News, Wildlife
Moose season closes; 24 reported taken by Wednesday
Twenty-four bull moose, including two illegal animals, were harvested by the end of the fall moose hunting season that started on Sept. 15. The hunt was open for the full season, through Oct. 7, and so far it looks as though the season met the guideline harvest limit of 20-25 animals. By Tuesday afternoon, 24 […]
Posted inObituaries
Former Haines resident Laura Ann Ritter dies at 69
Laura Ann Ritter March 1, 1956 – May 29, 2025 Laura Ann Ritter was born on March 1, 1956. A lifelong Alaskan and a member of the Juneau and Haines communities, she passed away on May 29, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by family, love, and the comforting memories of […]
Posted inLocal News, Wildlife
State asks for Kroschel’s help in retrieving remaining animals from his property
Kroschel Films Wildlife Center owner Steve Kroschel appeared by phone in Haines for his first court hearing Wednesday. Kroschel faces multiple felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges from what the state says were preventable deaths of animals in 2023 and 2024, and another charge centering on the condition of a brown bear seized by Alaska […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor: A thank you to the citizens of Haines
As one of the passengers on the Nieuw Amsterdam who was “stranded,” I would like to thank the citizens who helped us all. Knowing there was a warm shelter available made all the difference. I was impressed at how quickly the community acted, working to get us all to the community center. My experience in […]
Posted inEducation, Local News
DEED asks education board to delay imposing strict limits on local government funding for schools
Postponing a proposal to sharply limit funds municipalities can give school districts is being recommended by the Dunleavy administration to the state’s education board, which is scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday. The proposal changes the “local contribution” rules for non-instructional funding such as recreational activities and student transportation. State officials said the proposal sought […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Unofficial voting results show Thomas, Sargent in the lead for assembly
Updated at 10:26 p.m. Preliminary results from Tuesday’s borough elections have Gabe Thomas and Eben Sargent as the top vote getters for borough assembly, and Rachel Saitzyk and Dan Schultz in the lead for planning commission. A seasonal sales-tax rate passed, with 562 yes votes to 515 no votes. Up to 36 votes had yet […]
Posted inNews, Science, Wildlife
In a changing Arctic, how much noise is too much?
Aline of pink lingers above the horizon, the April sun offering a welcome dose of brightness after the months-long polar night. A dozen miles off Point Barrow, Alaska’s northernmost tip, the sea is still frozen except where inky tendrils of open water spiderweb across the pack ice. On the surface, the scene feels hushed by […]