Plastic-bag bans nationwide have seen a dip in compliance due to the COVID-19 pandemic with communities from Anchorage to New York City delaying or suspending enforcement measures in 2020. The Haines Borough has also seen a dip in compliance, although it never officially suspended its ban. In May 2019, the borough assembly approved an ordinance banning “single-use, […]
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Geoscientists begin fieldwork this week
Geotechnical experts are in Haines this week, collecting information about the stability of the Beach Road area to inform future decisions about access to homes. The Alaska Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the contract, said they hope to have a report of findings by the end of March. On Dec. 2, a landslide on […]
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At least $17.5 million CARES Act funds reached Haines in 2020
Roughly $17.5 million came into the Haines Borough through the CARES Act in 2020, not counting Economic Impact Payments (EIP) to individuals, also known as “stimulus checks.” Based on census data, it’s likely that between $1.5 million and $2 million entered the community through the first and second EIP, but the IRS said it doesn’t have a […]
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Task force continues to discuss wildlife tech
The Haines Borough Bear Task Force is working on a detailed recommendation for funding a new “wildlife tech” position to help address the community’s bear problem. At a Feb. 18 meeting, task force members said they hope to finalize the recommendation in time for consideration during this year’s budget process. Borough departments have started working with interim […]
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New travel recommendations exempt vaccinated
Travelers who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are no longer encouraged to test before they enter Haines. On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Emergency Operations Center (EOC) issued a new set of recommendations for travelers. “We’re trying to encourage vaccination, and trying to start loosening the strings a bit,” EOC incident commander Carolann Wooton said. Until Tuesday, […]
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Business Briefs
Mediation could cost $50,000 A $780,200 settlement offer from Pacific Pile & Marine was rejected by the Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday. Instead the group voted to enter non-binding mediation. The company originally sought $1.1 million last summer in additional funds for increased labor time and wear on its equipment, claiming the ocean floor was harder than described […]
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Duly Noted
Lauren Rutland is the new Haines Dolphins swim coach. She and husband Ryan Rutland moved to Haines from outside Saginaw, Texas, with their three dogs, two cats and two children, Carson, 5, and Archer, 4. Ryan was recently hired as a Haines Borough Police Department officer. Before moving to Haines, Lauren was doing graphic design work in Texas, and taught swim teams […]
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Beach Road resident returns to his home
Learns to adapt to life without electricity Phil Pink, 71, did not sign up to live off the grid when he moved from Florida to his cabin at the end of Beach Road, but for the past two months he’s been hauling drinking water, gasoline for his generator and propane for his backup heat. Despite […]
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Board cancels 2021 Beerfest
The Great Alaska Craft Beer and Home Brew Festival, “Beerfest,” has been cancelled for the second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Basically, with the border closing, we just thought it would be really difficult for us to have a successful Beerfest financially,” fair executive director Kari Johnson said, adding that the […]
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Assembly tweaks bear attractants ordinance
The Haines Borough Assembly is refining an ordinance specifying what constitutes a bear attractant in preparation for the upcoming bear season. Discussion at a meeting Feb. 9 focused on when a townsite property owner should be required to secure fruit trees with an electric fence. “If somebody has an orchard that consists of a significant number of […]