The first cruise ship to cancel runs through Southeast Alaska this summer due to COVID-19 cases on board is tied up in Juneau, waiting for a 10-day quarantine for the crew to end. The 267-foot American Constellation, which was carrying 162 passengers and a crew of 52, docked in Juneau last Saturday after a day […]
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Posted inNews
Borough manager attracts 10 applicants
The borough has been without a permanent manager since last May, and the Mayor is hoping the latest round of applications will produce a successful job candidate who could start this fall. Applications closed last Friday. The borough received 10 applications. “I would like to be having a Personnel Committee meeting first to go through all the […]
Posted inNews
Grant money fuels Haines tourism marketing efforts
As summer gets underway in Haines, amid another season of few cruise ships and a closed border with Canada, the Haines Economic Development Corp. is working to draw more visitors to town through online marketing — and is seeing positive results. Last month, HEDC was awarded $190,000 through the state’s COVID-Safe Travel Promotion and Marketing […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
About 250 people attended the annual Lighting of the Library fundraiser at the Haines Borough Public Library Saturday. Attendees bid on small trees decorated by residents and businesses, including Lizzy Jurgeleit’s “High Tide” driftwood tree and Suzanne Newton’s “Noel,” a mannequin tree with bedecked skirt. Lori Carter’s “Blue Christmas” tree for Alaska Seaplanes fetched the highest bid – $175. It included two round-trip […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Lutak Dock not a municipal obligation
Haines Borough taxpayers might consider whether the Lutak Dock is truly a municipal obligation or a piece of freight industry infrastructure the taxpayers have been subsidizing for more than 40 years. Consider that all or nearly all of the towns and cities in Southeast don’t own a freight dock. Juneau doesn’t. Ketchikan doesn’t. Petersburg doesn’t. Even Skagway, […]
Posted inNews
Public remains divided about use of Lutak Dock
There’s widespread support for existing Lutak Dock services, and a need for more information and public conversation before any attempt to expand services, Haines Borough officials said after last week’s Lutak Dock town hall meeting. The meeting involved presentations from potential dock users and investors, including the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, and several hours of public testimony. “My take-away […]
Posted inNews
Mosquito Lake Community Center to host free art camp for children
The Mosquito Lake Community Center will host a free art camp for children starting July 5 and running six weeks. It’s funded by a $14,000 grant from the Rasmuson Foundation. Community center organizer Erika Merklin said she was encouraged to apply for the grant by foundation president and CEO Diane Kaplan. “I already had planned […]
Posted inNews
Recycling group tackles old fish net backlog
With the help of a Haines Borough grant, a recycling program that accepts old fish nets is getting back on track, despite recent setbacks. This year’s borough budget includes $4,000 so the Haines Friends of Recycling fish net recycling program can ship an estimated 6,000 pounds of net in the fall. “The nylon in fish nets can […]
Posted inNews
Viking Cove event venue comes under scrutiny, again
Hosting events at Viking Cove is not in violation of the property’s permit, the Haines Borough Planning Commission determined in June. Use of the Viking Cove rental property for events has, once again, come under scrutiny in recent weeks. “The Chetneys (are) advertising an events venue at Viking Cove for which they have no permit,” neighbor Katherine […]
Posted inNews, Housing
Trailer on Main St. raises affordable housing questions
A fifth-wheel trailer at the corner of 6th Avenue and Main Street drew criticism earlier this year when members of the public noticed it was being used as a permanent residence. “It became a primary dwelling, which is not allowed for a trailer outside of a trailer park,” Haines Borough planner Dave Long said. Long began serving […]