Thank you to all who have supported Mosquito Lake School. This is an exciting time for everyone who is interested in the future of the school possibly reopening in the fall. Some of you may or may not know how wonderful and important this small school has been to Haines residents – especially in the upper valley. Friends […]
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Posted inNews
Snowplow savings a possibility
A dearth of snow this winter could lead to a blizzard of savings for the Haines Borough. As of Tuesday, only 8.2 inches of snow had fallen downtown all winter, according to Paul Swift’s co-op weather station on Union Street. That’s less than one-tenth the historic average for this point in winter, according to National Weather […]
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Burner burnout a pellet system issue
A problem with a pilot-program boiler and questions about a delivery system are delaying a Haines Borough plan to replace oil-burning heat systems with ones that burn wood pellets. The borough received $1.2 million from the state last year to pursue the biomass project, but public facilities director Carlos Jimenez said this week he wouldn’t be purchasing […]
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Borough signs economic development director
On a unanimous vote, the Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday approved the hire of Bill Mandeville, the town’s new community and economic development director. He will start Feb. 1 with an annual salary of $64,000. Mandeville this week toured borough facilities, spoke with staff members, and gave the assembly a rundown of his qualifications and background. Mandeville has […]
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Former Representative Thomas will advise borough
The Haines Borough has hired former state house Rep. Bill Thomas as a consultant. Manager David Sosa this month hired Thomas for one month for a fee of $5,000. Thomas is helping borough staff develop entries for the state’s grant request system. He will also assist them in developing a legislative strategy: who to talk to, what to talk […]
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Sosa proposes new survey to gauge citizens’ priorities
Three years after the Haines Borough conducted a survey to steer its Comprehensive Plan, manager David Sosa is seeking to conduct a new survey to gauge community opinions and priorities. The issue arose at the Dec. 16 assembly meeting when resident John Schnabel submitted a letter urging the borough to conduct a short survey on the Juneau […]
Posted inNews, School Board
School Board: Keep Mosquito Lake School
Following testimony by a half-dozen upper highway residents, the Haines Borough school board voted 5-0 Tuesday to oppose putting up for sale Mosquito Lake School before July 2016, with members saying such a move was premature. The same question will go to the borough’s planning commission Thursday. “It seems we’re moving awfully fast on this,” said board member […]
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Icy walks take toll on pedestrians
During the recent freeze, Susan Yamada was driving her car from her apartment on Third Avenue to her job at the medical clinic at First Avenue, two blocks away. Yamada would sooner walk, but the sidewalks were too icy, she said. “It’s awful that right downtown it’s not shoveled or sanded,” Yamada said in an […]
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Federal money cut for towns in forests
The discontinuation of Secure Rural Schools funding means a loss for the Haines Borough, but the cut in federal funding won’t dent the municipality’s budget. Chief fiscal officer Jila Stuart said last week that because program funding hasn’t been certain, the borough didn’t include it in its budget projections. The money – compensation to communities around […]
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Gas prices drop, but that’s relative
Barry Paige, a retired pipeline worker from Wasilla, delayed buying gasoline in Canada as he drove down the Alaska Highway to catch the ferry. He figured he could buy it cheaper here. On Dec. 29, Paige was using his cell phone to take a picture of gas prices posted on Second Avenue – $4.43 per […]