A push by Haines Borough Mayor Stephanie Scott to allow use of special elections to fill vacancies on the borough assembly died Tuesday after failing to gain majority support on the assembly. A vote to advance the measure to a second public hearing failed with only two votes in support. Members Steve Vick, Debra Schnabel and Norm Smith were opposed. Daymond Hoffman and Joanne Waterman favored the change. […]
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Wet, cold doesn’t scare off brew fans
Intermittent rain didn’t seem to hinder the 20th Great Alaska Craft Beer and Home Brew Festival. The fair, which organizes the event, increased the number of tickets sold this year more than 25 percent, to 1,300. “I’d say it went very well,” said Jessica Edwards, assistant fair director. Pre-selling tickets and advertising the event would […]
Haines, Juneau unlinked under new district plan
The path to re-election for State Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, cleared a bit this week, as the Alaska Supreme Court reversed course and approved a redistricting plan that keeps Haines separate from Juneau. The state’s high court on Tuesday said a redistricting plan it ordered last week might violate the federal Voting Rights Act requirement for […]
HARK thankful for chain-link fence
The Haines Animal Rescue Kennel (HARK) is very appreciative of the recent donation of chain link fence that was behind the Thunderbird Motel. There are numbers of people who deserve our deepest thanks. They are: the “Uglys,” who volunteered to take the fence down in the rain; Haines Assisted Living (HAL), who gave us permission […]
Lowe, Brower, Bolen amid 18 manager applicants
Residents John Brower, Gary Lowe and Debra Schnabel and former Haines Borough Manager Tom Bolen are among 18 applicants for the borough’s top job. Applications were due May 10. Borough manager Mark Earnest has resigned effective June 15. Brower is the tribal administrator at Chilkat Indian Village, Lowe is Haines Police chief, and the self-employed Schnabel serves on the Haines Borough Assembly. Bolen was dismissed as […]
Assembly drops pay phone request
The Haines Borough Assembly last week hung up on a proposal to refer a discussion of pay phones to a committee. Newspaper editor Tom Morphet, at the request of Mayor Stephanie Scott, prepared a resolution asking Alaska Power and Telephone to reactivate a half-dozen pay phones around town. Morphet took interest in the issue last spring, after AP&T removed […]
Tax appeal board votes on 5 complaints
Members of the Haines Borough Assembly acting as the Board of Equalization lowered one property assessment and kept four the same April 30. Lack of access and wetlands were issues for property owners seeking reduced valuations. “I understand the rationale for the assessor to assess…but I’m having a hard time with property that’s 2,650 feet up the […]
Assembly: Vote on APOC disclosure rules, again
Undeterred by three defeated attempts in the past seven years, Haines Borough Assembly members again are taking steps to exempt the municipality from the state’s laws requiring candidates for local office to report their financial holdings. Assembly members say the state’s requirements are “too intrusive and rigorous,” and have “created a hardship for keeping and recruiting municipal […]
Borough grants may stay at 2011 levels
By Tom Morphet Facing a room full of advocates for local non-profit organizations, the Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday backed away from a manager’s recommendation to reduce by 50 percent the municipality’s contributions to community organizations. It appears instead the borough’s total contributions may hold steady to last year’s amount, roughly $155,000. Sixteen groups requested $180,118 this year. […]
Athletes shine on home track
The Haines High School track and field teams hosted their annual home meet last weekend. The Glacier Bears competed against athletes from Gustavus, Juneau Douglas, Sitka, Skagway and Thunder Mountain. First-place finishers for the Haines boys included sophomore Devin Light, 100-meter dash; senior Devin Braaten, 110-meter high hurdles; senior Brandon Haxton, shot put; senior Tyler […]
