The borough has agreed on a contract with officer Jimmy Yoakum, of Loudon County, Tenn., for Haines Borough chief of police. Yoakum’s hire must be approved by the borough assembly before the decision is made final. If approved, Yoakum will start as chief on June 16, said interim borough manager Alekka Fullerton. Yoakum was selected […]
Posted inLocal News
State seeking comments on options to remediate contaminated soil at Mile 34
Petroleum-contaminated soil deposited at the Mile 34 gravel pit two decades ago is slated for state cleanup, although the exact method and location of that work is still under consideration. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is taking public comments through June 5 on a suite of remediation options for the 1,300-cubic-yard stockpile, including its […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Federal law enforcement officials should be identifiable
I have been a police officer, deputy sheriff and chief of police. During my 30-year career, 17 of which were here in Haines, I worked in three states for five different departments. I was a patrol officer, corporal, sergeant and chief of police in two separate jurisdictions. I was a SWAT team member, served civil […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Sunny days with Ramona
Regarding the sad news that Ramona Holmes passed away, I’m keen to share a bit about her. Growing up out Lutak she was a big part of my life. It started with her babysitting me. We’d pal around when everyone else played bridge. At some point we became more than neighbors, we were family. Ramona […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
A tired mother’s request
This town hasn’t been silent about the struggles young families face with childcare. We’ve had luncheons, meetings and numerous surveys, all asking for input on potential improvements and the realities of the situation. Recently, at a library meet-and-greet, an older woman approached me and launched into a series of assumptions and accusations: “Why haven’t you […]
Posted inLocal News, Klukwan
NDN Girls Book Club brings Indigenous literature, art to pop-up in Klukwan
Last week, families and students in Klukwan gathered in the library to meet members of a rapidly growing nonprofit that hosts pop-up book shops and gives away free Indigenous-centered books. It was one stop in a 10-day tour of the region by the NDN Girls Book Club, a national organization which partnered with Southeast Alaska’s […]
Posted inBlotter
Blotter: May 18-24
Sunday, May 18An officer responded to a civil issue on Main Street and filed a follow-up report. Monday, May 19A caller on Deishu Drive reported garbage in a neighbor’s yard creating a bear attractant.A caller on Haines Highway reported the theft of oil from their property. An officer was advised.A driver received a verbal warning […]
Posted inLocal News
Chilkat Valley veterans remember fallen friends, family on Memorial Day
Just before 11 a.m. on Monday, Haines’ fire chief Brian Clay stood scanning the graves in the Jones Point Cemetery, many freshly decorated with American flags in honor of Memorial Day. Clay, an Army veteran, weaved through the gravestones, stopping to point at Frank Wallace’s grave. “I knew him, he was the fire chief here.” […]
Posted inHaines Borough, Local News
Budget Nuggets: Assembly decides to fully fund the school district, keep the pool open longer
Assembly members voted through a number of changes on Tuesday to the interim manager’s proposed budget for the upcoming year, including fully funding the school district and opening the pool for 11 months. School funding Haines Borough School District superintendent Roy Getchell once again sounded the alarm on school district finances, which he says have […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Assembly Briefs: Paying elected officials, Lutak Dock, housing relief
Elected Official Compensation The assembly voted Tuesday to amend a controversial pair of proposals that would take away compensation from the borough’s elected officials. The proposal still has one more public hearing to go before a final vote, but will now be voted on as a proposal to allow elected officials to opt out of […]