The Haines Borough Assembly on Aug. 9 unanimously renewed a commercial permit for Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA), but members said they want more information on how global positioning system data will be used to track helicopter skiing. Members discussed the permit at a meeting on July 26, but approval was delayed to hear recommendations from police […]
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Posted inNews
Borough leaders talk about youth drinking
Haines Borough Mayor Jan Hill, police chief Gary Lowe and manager Mark Earnest met this week to discuss youth drinking in the community. A 21-year-old Haines man was killed and an 18-year-old was seriously injured in alcohol-related accidents since July 4. Hill could not be reached on deadline but Lowe said the Mayor is interested in perhaps holding a town hall meeting on […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Voters won’t get tourism tax issue; Rossman, Lapp, Waterman vote keeps question off October ballot
The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday shot down a proposed ordinance to put the borough’s municipal sales tax designated for tourism promotion and economic development on the October ballot, surprising residents who put a citizens’ ballot initiative on hold this spring and were absent from the meeting. The ordinance failed to advance to a second public hearing, […]
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Man, 18, survives being run over at drinking party
Haines Borough Police Chief Gary Lowe said this week he did not anticipate filing charges in connection with an incident in which an 18-year-old man was run over during an underage drinking party early Saturday at Jones Point. The man was med-evaced to Anchorage with severe facial injuries and was undergoing tests at midweek. A photo of him […]
Posted inNews
Bears prowl downtown
Police chief Gary Lowe is hoping late-summer salmon runs will draw bears away from town. The Haines Borough adopted new regulations last year aimed at making residents more careful with potential bear food sources, including garbage. No one has been cited under the new law, but some warnings have been issued. No bears have been put down by police, […]
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Recall petitions expected Friday; Organizers say they’ll have enough signatures for vote
Jim Shook, chairman of the Haines Recall Committee, said petitions for the potential recall of Haines Borough Assembly members Daymond Hoffman and Joanne Waterman will be turned in by Friday, Aug. 12, the deadline to be on the ballot for the October municipal election. Each petition needs at least 275 certified signatures. “We want to get as many as possible, because […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Election change doubles length of political season
A change in law approved by the Haines Borough Assembly last year effectively doubled the length of the municipal election season. Local politicians are divided on the merits of the change, which extends the duration of a campaign for assembly or school board to at least two months. The change – requested by borough clerk Julie Cozzi – was […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Election lineup finalized; Smith and Hess vie for seat, again
The filing period for the Haines Borough’s October municipal election closed Friday, with contested races for Mayor and the Haines Borough Assembly, but a shortage of school board candidates. The race for assembly seat “E” is a rematch of sorts, pitting Karen Hess against Norm Smith. Greg Goodman replaced Smith on the assembly last October, after defeating write-in candidate Hess. […]
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Assembly proceeds with demolition
The Haines Borough Assembly on July 26 voted to start the process of demolishing the rest of the old elementary school building. Assemblyman Scott Rossman was absent for the 4-0 vote. The building has been proposed for a community recreation center. Borough manager Mark Earnest said assembly approval would be required before the borough awards a contract for demolition. […]
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Former cop pleads not guilty
A former Haines Borough Police Department officer on July 28 pleaded not guilty to a charge of felony perjury. Kevin K. Kennedy, 29, allegedly lied under oath when he appeared telephonically at a January administrative hearing. That hearing discussed a 52-year-old Haines man arrested at 2 Mile Haines Highway in November 2010 for driving under the influence […]