
(Courtsy/Leslee Downer)
Eddie Bryant and Dave Long dig through the snow to get the Haines Borough office doors open on Monday, Dec. 29., 2025, in Haines.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) An eagle snacks on a fish head in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, near Haines, Alaska.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Henry Leasia plays with the Holly Jolly Dollies during the Holly Jolly Follies on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at the Chilkat Center in Haines, Alaska.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) The Rusty Gingers band plays during Act II of the Holly Jolly Follies on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Judith McDermaid watches the Haines Holidazzle parade on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) The famed Snow Dragon appears during the Haines Holidazzle winter parade on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Oryn Stanford, 9, and Zephyr Cox, light sparklers during the Haines Holidazzle parade on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) A swan paddles in the Chilkat River on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, near Haines, Alaska.

The F/V Pavlof, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

Evelyna Vignola in her home, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Haines’ newest school board member Corrie Stickler listens to board president Shelly Sloper during the meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Haines, Alaska. Stickler was selected by current school board members among a pool of five people who applied for an open board seat. She will serve out the remainder of the seat’s term, which is about a year.

Bingo regular Nelle Jurgeleit-Green celebrates winning a bingo game, Friday, November 14, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) (left) Lorrie Dudzik and Michael Marks watch a storyteller during a special “Bird is the Word” themed Rivertalk on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

(Jane Pascoe/Chilkat Valley News)
Alison Adams, Nene Wolf and Tom Heywood play music in an elevator in the Gateway Building during First Friday on Nov. 7, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

Ryan Hanson tows an eagle-fest visitor back onto the road, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

Jones Hotch watches Lani Hotch speak as the two are honored for their conservation work in the Chilkat Valley on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) A crowded Pioneer Bar on Halloween night on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Despite the wind and rain, about a dozen people — many in costume — showed up for the annual witches paddle on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News
Caleb Willard-Wilson, 4, watches tv on Tuesday, in Haines. Willard-Wilson attends the Klukwan community school which just launched a weekend food program to help families like his cope with the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, benefits that the state informed recipients would not be paid in November due to the ongoing federal shutdown.

Dennis Geasan at Saturday’s No Kings protest, Oct. 18, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

Election worker Rhonda Hinson at the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood Hall, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

Sophia Hedden climbs up a hill during the 2025 ASAA Cross Country Division III Championships at Mike Janecek Trails in Palmer, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Northern Lights hang over Haines on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.

(Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News) Passengers Natasha Dioril and Cindy Maestas wait in the Chilkat Center Wednesday evening, September 17, 2025.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) (left) Austin Finnan and Wildlife Trooper Josh Whitby describe an antler shape during a pre-season hunting meeting on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at the American Bald Eagle Foundation in Haines, Alaska.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Baylee Pearson holds onto the rack of a moose she took on Monday, September 15, 2025, on the first day of hunting season in the Chilkat Valley. Pearson was the second person to report harvesting a moose at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in Haines. According to Fish and Game measurements, the moose had a 52.5 inch rack, and 5 points on both sides.

(Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News) Eldred Rock, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

(Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News) Gina St. Claire cleans windows at Eldred Rock, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Luke Marquardt looks at one of his finds, Aug. 18, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

Chloe Copeland waits to go onstage at Friday’s wearable arts show, August 1, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

Shannon Miller after competing in Friday’s beach wrestling, August 1, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

Olen, Aksel, and Oryn eat cotton candy at the state fair, Friday, August 1, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Rob Martin works on cleaning a section of a red spruce log as James Hart and Sgwaayaans TJ Young confer on a measuring technique on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in Haines, Alaska. The three are working on a replica of the Friendship Pole.

(Courtesy/Chuck Jones)
PhoebeSnow Desatoff is engulfed in glitter during an annual brunch in the Chilkat Valley.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Paul Nelson smokes a cuban cigar to celebrate his sale of Bigfoot Auto Service to Haines Industrial owner Haynes Tormey on Thursday, July 31, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

Jim Green holds a shot put lent to him by Nancy Nash, July 25, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Mila Thomas narrates for the audience during a rehearsal for the upcoming The Claw musical on Monday, July 21, 2025, at the Chilkat Center in Haines, Alaska. The musical is the product of the annual Summer Youth Theater Conservatory.

The aftermath of Sunday’s watermelon eating contest at the Four Winds Resource Center, July 13, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) (left) Rune Monstad holds daughter Signy Monstad, while Amelia Monstaad holds son Hugo and Thor climbs on a Piper PA 28-140 plane the family bought in Haines, Alaska. The Haines Junction family intends to suspend the plane in a Quonset hut on their property for use as a children’s playhouse.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Charlie DeWitt (left) sights in a rifle for granddaughter Brooklyn Dewitt, 18, during a gong bong shooting competition on Friday, July 4, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

Krystal Lloyd hands out watermelon to Zella and Lilly at Tlingit Park, Saturday, July 4, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News).

Joseph Rossman leans out the window of his float during Saturday’s parade, July 4, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

the winning team of Luke Williams, Kevin Shove, and Robert Jennings nears the finish at Saturday’s Mad Raft Race, July 4, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

A mink left behind at Steve Kroschel’s wildlife facility, Friday, June 27, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

KCIBR individual champion Hudson Lucier is helped off his bike after finishing the race, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

Liz Landes in the Henderson Farm high-tunnel, Monday, June 2, 2025. The farm grew roughly 1000 pounds of food last year, which Landis said was given to volunteers, the senior center, Haines Assisted Living, and other community events.

Owen Stickel jumps a creek across from Pyramid Island during Tuesday’s Haines Public Library Trail Adventure (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Veteran Russell Price looks at graves in the Joines Point cemetery where about 65 people gathered for a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 26, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

Hayden Jimenez, Asher Jimenez, and cousin Liz Seagars, Tuesday May 20, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/chilkat Valley News) Rayna Bell, 1, holds two hooligan as students from the Klukwan school and their families fish on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in the Chilkat Valley.

Lynn Duff competes at the Unit 427 Bridge Sectional in Haines, Saturday April 26, 2025. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Craig Loomis holds up a handful of wet soil on his property on April 1, 2025, in Haines, Alaska. Loomis was cited recently after firefighters responded to his property to put out a fire he started to burn brush, he maintains that it was never out of control and that his soil is too wet to have caused concern.

Lucy Nieboer brings an audience member to the stage at the Crystal Saloon in Juneau Tuesday night for an imrpomptu speech about the Haines Pool. That was during the set of relevantly-named Keep the Pool Open (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News).

Rally organizer Nancy Berland listens to speakers during Saturday’s rally in downtown Haines (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News).

Brody Ferrin refuels his snowmachine mid-race, Saturday, March 22, 2025 (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News).

(Courtesy/Nate Motes)
Kenneth Waldo hauls equipment to his cabin on March 18, 2025, in the Chilkat Valley.

Bus driver Shannon Spring’s son, Ansel Spring says goodbye to students as they get off at school. Ansel Spring plans to attend Klukwan School next year when he is old enough. Thursday, March 6, 2025 (Will Steinfeld/Chillkat Valley News).

Shannon Spring pulls the bus up to a stop on Third Ave. in Haines. Thursday, March 6, 2025 (Will Steinfeld/Chillkat Valley News).

The total lunar eclipse resulted in a blood moon visible throughout the Chilkat Valley on Thursday, March 13, 2025, seen from Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

Students in a spoon-carving workshop taught by Ketchikan artist Kevin Clevenger try out their carved spoons by whipping up a batch of xákwl’i (soapberries) on the last day of class on March, 2025, at the Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center in Klukwan, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

Kathleen Menke watches Katharina Guhlmann perform during the Northern Lights Showcase on Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

Donald Weigha Hotch carves the bottom of a set of chopsticks during a class with Ketchikan teaching artist Kevin Clevenger on March 7, in Klukwan Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/for the Chilkat Valley News)

Yoa George (left) and Finn McMahan (right) play an online FEMA disaster preparedness game during Haines School’s Healthy Choices Day, Thursday, February 27th (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News).

Haines Middle School seventh graders Taylor Hildre and Gabriella Long look for rocks during a P.E. class walk to the waterfront, Monday, March 3, 2025 (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News).

Haines players hug after the final buzzer against Petersburg in Haines, Saturday, Feb. 15th, 2025 (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News).

Jan Hill leads Haines Elementary School Students in Lingít dance at the Haines School Elizabeth Peratrovich Day celebration Thursday, February 13th, 2025.

Sam Schirmer and Ryan Kirtley take off during the Alcan 200 Road Rally Race on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, near the Pleasant Camp border station in British Columbia, Canada. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

Firefighters work to extinguish a house fire and keep it from spreading to trees and a nearby home on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, in Haines, Alaska. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) A group of preschoolers feel a group of clay beads they made on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, at the Klukwan school in Klukwan, Alaska.

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) Mahina Brownell, 3, pretends to lick her clay food on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, at the Klukwan school in Klukwan, Alaska.

Michaael Wald laces on his skates with as he responds to help with the search for a man who fell through the ice on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at Chilkoot Lake, near Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

Haines Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brian Clay directs personnel from shore as they respond to a report of a man who fell through the ice while skating on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at Chilkoot Lake, near Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News) A pair of boots sit on the shore of Chilkoot Lake the day after a man who went ice skating fell through and disappeared on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, near Haines, Alaska.

State Park Ranger Jacques Turcotte (left) talks to Tim Ackerman about what may have killed it, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2024, on the Letnikof Cove shoreline. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

Samantha Crain sings with Ya Tseen during their show on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

An American flag on flies at half mast on the ferry Hubbard on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in the Lynn Canal. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

Daniel Klanott tells a story about how a clan house in Klukwan got its name on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, during the Northern Lights Showcase at the Chilkat Center in Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

(Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

(Photo by Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)
Haines Chamber of Commerce Director Amanda Brandon and Ken Gross chat in the Chamber of Commerce Office on Main Street on Jan. 21, 2025, in Haines, Alaska.

Haines’ Ar’iel Godinez Long looks for an opening during a game Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

Aimee Creelman and partner Thom Ely celebrate after their polar plunge on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)