A state panel on Monday approved new boundaries for Alaska’s 40 House and 20 Senate districts. Under the plan Haines would no longer be matched with the communities of Yakutat, Cordova, Tenakee or Gustavus. Haines would now be included in house district 34, which includes Sitka and other small communities. Skagway would be included with […]
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APOC renews investigation into Thomas ads
With the Alaska Legislative session over for the year, the Alaska Public Offices Commission has renewed its investigation involving a complaint against five Haines individuals for a series of ads last summer featuring Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines. “We are looking into the matter,” said APOC executive director Paul Dauphinais. The 17 “thank you” ads ran last […]
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Thomas backs Parnell’s tax plan
In a recent interview, state Rep. Bill Thomas explained his support for Gov. Sean Parnell’s plan to roll back taxes on companies that explore for oil in Alaska, a proposal that would cost the state treasury as much as $2 billion per year. Parnell’s plan was approved by the state House of Representatives but was blocked in […]
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Jobs would come with Haines railroad
For over a year I have been working on the idea of building an extension to the Alaska Railroad from Haines to Delta Junction. I started with Denali Pipeline, then TransCanada. I have interest from Yukon Economic Development, Alaska Railroad, TransCanada, state Rep. Bill Thomas, Alaska Gov. Parnell and Congressman Don Young. With enough interest to […]
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Capital bill holds $9 million for town; Parnell yet to wield veto pen
The Alaska Legislature has approved about $8.5 million in capital projects spending in the Haines Borough, including $4.5 million for rehabilitation of borough roads, $1 million for a Chilkoot River bear-viewing platform, and $535,000 for removal of asbestos cement water lines. In Klukwan, the legislature would spend $3.6 million, all but $100,000 of it going to the […]
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Thomas, Kookesh undecided on tax break for oil industry
Haines’ two state legislators staked out opposite views on a proposed school funding bill, but each said they were undecided on a proposal by Gov. Sean Parnell to reduce taxes on oil companies by $2 billion per year. Parnell’s proposed reduction of oil industry taxes has overshadowed most other issues since the session began in […]
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Don Young to give talk
U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, will address the Haines Chamber of Commerce during a special meeting set for noon Friday, March 25 at the American Bald Eagle Foundation. It’s been a decade or more since Young has visited the Chilkat Valley. Alaska’s lone congressman, Young has held the state’s seat in the House of Representatives […]
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Piers sought at Chilkoot
The state Division of Parks is pushing ahead with a request for bear-viewing platforms along the Chilkoot River, regional superintendent Mike Eberhardt said in a recent interview. Former parks director James King held a meeting here in December where changes to the road to Chilkoot Lake were discussed, as well as a planned later meeting for creation […]
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Thomas’ APOC issues iced until session ends
The Alaska Public Offices Commission last month filed a complaint against state Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, for improperly transferring campaign funds. According to the complaint, following the 2008 election, Thomas transferred $15,291.40 in campaign funds to a future campaign account, exceeding a $5,000 transfer limit. “They called me and said I had too much money in […]
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Borough accelerates port work for potential bond
In preparation for “an emerging opportunity” to secure Lutak Dock funding, Haines Borough Manager Mark Earnest has requested to speed up the timeline for new studies on the dock. “We will be putting together a recommendation here for the assembly, in the form of a budget amendment, to accelerate the programming on the Lutak Dock project,” Earnest said last month. “I look at […]