Mayor Douglas Olerud, former fire chief Al Giddings and borough manager Annette Kreitzer traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby the borough’s congressional delegation for funding to build a new public safety building. The trio, along with the borough’s lobbyist, met with Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Mary Peltola and their staff, Sen. Murkowski’s staff and […]

As the state moves ahead with a proposal to make changes to Lutak Road, some neighbors are advocating for adding a bike path and lowering the speed limit. A new bike lane from the ferry terminal to the Chilkoot recreation site and a 25 mile-per-hour speed limit past 8 Mile Lutak Road would help lessen traffic along the road, […]

Haines’ heliski season lifts off this weekend, featuring one operator’s earliest start in years and an expected return to stability for an industry affected by covid and last-minute regulatory changes. Alaska Heliskiing begins guiding Feb. 4, a couple weeks earlier than usual. “This is our longest season we’ve ever had. This is the earliest start we’ve had,” […]

A federal judge proposed an order in December threatening to close Southeast Alaska’s troll fishery, a move that could spell financial trouble for fishermen, processors and other workers across the region, including about a dozen Chilkat Valley residents. “It would be a pretty big disaster,” said Haines resident Brent Crowe, who runs a tender for […]

The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday night reversed the planning commission’s decision to grant a conditional use permit (CUP) for a Chilkat River Adventures heliport at 24 Mile Haines Highway. The assembly voted 5-1 with Debra Schnabel, Ben Aultman-Moore, Cheryl Stickler, Gabe Thomas, and Tyler Huling in favor and Jerry Lapp in opposition to reversing the decision. The assembly reconsidered the approval of Chilkat River Adventures co-owner […]

The borough’s GASC committee recommended the assembly require one year of residency before serving on empowered government boards, such as the planning commission. The motion, created by Debra Schnabel and seconded by Gabe Thomas, will be reviewed by the assembly next Tuesday. Schnabel suggested the one year rule work in tandem with additional efforts to familiarize commissioners […]

The Chilkoot Indian Association (CIA) purchased Fort Seward’s Parade Grounds from Alaska Indian Arts (AIA) on Dec. 20—ending more than a year-long question of what entity would own the property. “With the transfer of ownership, the Chilkoot people have regained control of part of the land that they provided to Presbyterian missionaries at the end […]