A recording of a July 4 encounter between resident Dean “Bear” Lari and officer Simon Ford played by Haines Borough police last week revealed new details but didn’t differ significantly from previous statements about the run-in. Police chief Gary Lowe played the 12-minute conversation for the Chilkat Valley News, with 21 seconds redacted that Lowe said identified youths who […]

Haines Borough police chief Gary Lowe said this week that skateboarders who were recently cited were riding them in the driving lane. Skateboarding is allowed on the shoulder of townsite roads, he said. Under borough law, skateboarding is prohibited at Lookout Park and on the following sidewalks: Main Street between Third Avenue and Front Street; Second Avenue […]

State wildlife officials this week said they would kill three brown bear cubs of a 15-year-old sow shot early Monday by a resident at Letnikof Cove. Their deaths would raise to seven the number of brown bears killed this year following incidents around homes and property. “It’s the humane thing to do. Otherwise they’re going […]

Despite the destruction of up to seven bears this year, residents involved in the issue this week said they believe progress is being made toward reducing problems associated with attracting bears. They also said more can be done. Tim McDonough is a member of the Haines-based Chilkoot Bear Foundation and chair of the local Fish […]

The Alaska Police Standards Council has started the process of revoking the police certification of former Haines Borough police sergeant Jason Joel. The council is a 13-member, governor-appointed body of state officials, police and citizens charged with overseeing that police and corrections officers in the state meet minimum standards of their profession. The council voted to initiate […]

Haines Borough police and U.S. Coast Guard officials are investigating an incident at the Haines small boat harbor last week that included an alleged assault of the harbormaster and unsafe operation of a boat. According to police chief Gary Lowe, the incident involved a harbor user pushing harbormaster Phil Benner. The Coast Guard investigation stems from […]

Rain on Friday dropped gate receipts about 8 percent overall, but income from rides and beer sales increased, and revenues from this year’s Southeast Alaska State Fair will likely match that of last year’s record event, executive director Ross Silkman said this week. “When it’s all said and done, we’ll probably come out even with […]

The Haines Borough will crack down on use of municipal equipment for private purposes by employees following a recent fire that stemmed from after-hours use of the public works shop. Brian Lemcke, director of public facilities, said private use of the public works shop will be discontinued, and that he intends to extend the policy to other […]

Resident Dean “Bear” Lari this week said he would hire a lawyer to seek a police recording of a disputed encounter between him and Haines Borough police officer Simon Ford. “I like the people at the police department, but that is not the issue. The whole issue is about the truth. This is about character and morals […]

Haines Borough police chief Gary Lowe this week declined to say whether he would make public a recording of a July 4 encounter between officer Simon Ford and resident Dean “Bear” Lari. Ford approached Lari and two others at an evening concert at Fort Seward after receiving reports that a drug deal may have been occurring. Discrepancies […]