The Haines Borough school board on Monday narrowly rejected an amendment to the district’s union contract that would have allowed aides and others in non-teaching positions to change job titles without slipping on the pay scale if the new position had a “substantially similar scope of work” as their previous one. Board opponents of the change expressed concern […]
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Posted inNews
Officials review harbor option history
Concerns about the Small Boat Harbor project this week prompted Haines Borough staff to look into how the current design was chosen. Manager David Sosa and interim public facilities director Brian Lemcke on Tuesday started digging into the question, pulling old assembly agendas, minutes and timelines. The two discovered the Feb. 25, 2014, assembly agenda item to […]
Posted inNews
VanSpronsen’s dropped cases showed similarities
Following Ken VanSpronsen’s recent move from wildlife trooper to Haines Borough police officer, another Haines man has come forward alleging VanSpronsen leveled unfounded charges against him. VanSpronsen initially referred 27 charges to the district attorney against lodge owner Byron Rettinger, six of which were filed on March 7, 2014. All six charges were for unsworn falsification, alleging […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Cosmic clouds surround police here
The Haines Borough Assembly continues to flow with indecision regarding establishing a purposeful, inclusive, orderly process for selecting a new police chief. I have urged action in writing and in person since early April. Is their intent to continue the cosmic clouds that have plagued Haines’ public safety and law enforcement for the past year-and-a-half? One short-term police chief, an expensive consultant, the […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Holiday picnic raised $4,500 for library
Thanks to everyone who helped the Friends of the Library raise $4,500 for our incredible library. Special thanks to Haines Packing Co., Olerud’s Alaska Meat and Grocery, Southeast Alaska State Fair, Sheldon Museum, and all the bakers, grillers, servers, book donors, and our stupendous community and visitors. It really was a perfect day. Barb Blood Friends […]
Posted inNews
Picture Point work runs thin on funds
The Picture Point Wayside Project is costing more than the Haines Borough projected, with new bathrooms at $25,000 over budget and paving of the pullouts pretty much out of the picture. The ad hoc Picture Point Design Committee met at the site Monday to discuss the project and get an update from tourism director Leslie Ross. Ross […]
Posted inNews
History puts heat on police chief hire
Following a 2013 scandal surrounding former Haines Borough Police Chief Gary Lowe and the subsequent hire of Bill Musser, who lasted only a year on the job, the pressure is on the borough to find a suitable police chief. When interim manager Julie Cozzi urged the assembly to hire former chief Musser in February 2014, she assured the assembly […]
Posted inNews
Trooper now an officer; agencies mum on switch
Former Alaska Wildlife Trooper Ken VanSpronsen is now a member of the Haines Borough Police Department, but no one will say what brought about the end of VanSpronsen’s stint as a trooper. Department of Public Safety officials and Police Chief Robert Griffiths declined to comment on the circumstances of VanSpronsen’s departure from the troopers. When asked if […]
Posted inNews
For local man, bears are quadruple trouble
A Haines man facing charges for recently shooting three brown bears near his Beach Road home complained that police didn’t shoot another bear that got into the hold of his fishing boat at the Small Boat Harbor last week. In an interview this week, Kristopher Morden, 49, said he felt “terrible” about shooting a sow […]
Posted inNews, Education
Carlson offered superintendent job
The Haines Borough school board on Monday voted to offer Rich Carlson of Juneau a six-month contract to serve in the position of temporary interim superintendent at a rate of $425 per day, equivalent to $110,000 per year. The board last week interviewed Carlson, who most recently served an interim 11-month superintendent position in Cordova. He also worked […]