The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday reversed an earlier vote and approved adding a 33-foot-long segment of steel breakwater barrier that fishermen and harbor officials called a critical piece of the Portage Cove Harbor Expansion project. But assembly members also made a concession to concerns the project deserved equal funding to ensure the aesthetics of the final product. […]
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Posted inNews
Trooper director: Haines post next in line to be cut
Alaska Department of Public Safety Col. James Cockrell warned last week that if his agency suffered continued budget cuts, Haines will be the next rural community in the state to lose its state trooper. “If we get any more cuts in our resources, Haines will be the first post we close,” he said. Haines Borough last […]
Posted inNews
State Parks fields gate questions
Why the state Division of Parks recently built a gate on the Chilkoot River Road remains clouded. Amid questioning last week by the Haines Borough Planning Commission, state Park Ranger Travis Russell could offer few details of what use the gate served and why it was installed without public comment or notice. In the end, the committee […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly delays action on heliski map expansion
In the face of two appeals citing conflicts of interest, the Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday voted unanimously to delay the controversial process of redrawing recreational helicopter flight and landing paths until next summer. A newly-formed advisory panel will have more data on the plan’s effects on mountain goats and denning grizzly bears and have time to review […]
Posted inNews, Courts
Court rejects heliport appeal
A Juneau Superior Court Judge ruled against a bid to operate a heliport on Chilkat Lake Road, the latest twist in years-long attempt by a Haines outdoor recreation company to land helicopters at 26 Mile. Judge Phillip Pallenberg’s Dec. 6 decision upheld the Haines Planning Commission’s denial of a heliport permit requested by Scott Sundberg, the owner of Big […]
Posted inNews
Sosa leaves Merchant Marine Academy post
David Sosa, a former Haines Borough manager who requested to be released from his three-year contract, has left his post as commandant of midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Sosa started his position in Haines in April 2014 and submitted his resignation in November 2015 to move to Kings Point, N.Y. Reached this week, Sosa declined […]
Posted inNews
Planners dig into comprehensive plan review
The Haines Borough Planning Commission had doubts Tuesday about how many projects in the 2025 Comprehensive Plan the borough can actually complete. “The list was so long and the borough just doesn’t have money to put into a lot of these things,” said commission chair Rob Goldberg. The commission barely scratched the surface of an ongoing 2016-2017 […]
Posted inNews
Groups join forces to plan loop trail in town
Haines organizations are working together to expand and connect trails over lands held by different owners to create a two-mile loop near town. Takshanuk Watershed Council, Chilkoot Indian Association, Southeast Alaska State Fair, Port Chilkoot Co., Haines Borough, the borough’s Parks and Recreation committee, runners, skiiers, hikers, private individuals and others are collaborating on the project. […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Fiscal officer clarifies recent comment
Thank you for your Dec. 1 article “Assembly Members Brace for Big Budget Battle.” I would like to clarify one point. Your article said that I suggested “raising taxes was inevitable.” If I suggested that, it was not my intention. Faced with the prospect of shrinking state revenues, Haines needs to decide what services it is willing […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Smith family appreciates community concern
The family of Leo Smith would like to thank the community of Haines for your prayers, cards, flowers and loving support during the recent loss of our beloved husband/father/grandfather. We would especially like to thank the Haines EMT team for their rapid response and compassionate care getting Leo from the accident site in Haines to […]