This year’s state primary, which took place Aug. 18, saw record-setting absentee voting, according to the Alaska Division of Elections. “Overall, absentee by-mail voting has nearly exceeded any election conducted by the state,” Division of Elections director Gail Fenumiai said. The trend was evident in the absentee voting numbers for House District 33, which includes […]
Search results
Posted inNews, Public Safety
Counterfeit $100 turned over to police
Last week, Haines had its first counterfeit cash report of the year. “Once it was pointed out that it was fake, it was kind of obvious,” Rachael Pattison said of the counterfeit $100, which she learned was a fake after a friend tried to use it to purchase groceries. “(The counterfeit) had a different feel […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
The museum board won’t divest
Thanks Dan Henry. You couldn’t have stated the importance of the Haines Sheldon Museum more beautifully. It contains the very essence and fabric of our community; provides the opportunity for all residents to learn about our heritage; remembers our elders who shaped our valley; and showcases who we are to visitors from afar. The museum […]
Posted inNews
Businesses, arts groups receive more federal funds
On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly approved the use of federal coronavirus relief dollars to assist previously overlooked businesses and leverage additional funds from the Rasmuson Foundation for local arts and culture organizations. Under the Municipal Arts and Culture Matching Grant Program, the Rasmuson Foundation offers a one-to-one match for the first $20,000 in CARES Act funds […]
Posted inSports, Public Safety
Police kill more bears as town continues to deal with property damage
Gunfire rattled Small Tracts Road residents Monday afternoon as law enforcement killed four bears, according to area residents. It’s unclear how many of the bears were responsible for nearby property damage. Haines Borough police chief Heath Scott declined to comment other than to say that officers assisted the Alaska State Troopers and questions needed to be […]
Posted inNews
Two candidates withdraw from local races
Less than a week after the Aug. 20 filing deadline, two candidates have withdrawn from the Haines Borough Assembly and school board races—Tresham Gregg from the assembly race and Sara Chapell from the school board contest. Chapell’s withdrawal means the four remaining candidates—school board member Brian Clay, school board president Anne Marie Palmieri, high school senior Lydia Andriesen and Tiffany DeWitt—are guaranteed seats […]
Posted inNews
Personnel committee proposes autonomy
The Haines Borough Assembly’s Personnel Committee recommended revisions to the clerk and chief fiscal officer (CFO) contracts that would clarify the assembly’s supervisory role for these positions. Under borough charter, although municipal officers including the clerk and CFO “work under the direct supervision of the manager,” they are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the […]
Posted inNews, Public Safety
Haines police respond to online threats
The Haines Borough Police Department stepped in last week after being informed that an individual in town was posting threats on social media. Over the course of a roughly two-week period the individual made a series of posts on social media, including a post saying they were suicidal, police chief Heath Scott said, adding that he was […]
Posted inNews
DNR approves borough request for land
This time next month, the Haines Borough will be 0.1% larger. On Aug. 13, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved the conveyance of 2,196 acres of state land in Excursion Inlet and near the Lynn Islands to the borough. The Aug. 13 decision pertains to a total of 3,902 acres, most of which the borough […]
Posted inNews
July 2020 unemployment comparable to winter numbers
Although down 4% from June, at 15.9%, the Haines Borough unemployment rate remained the second highest in Southeast in July, second only to Skagway. Haines unemployment remains high compared to past years. In July 2019, the unemployment rate was 4.7%, the lowest of any month that year. A 15.9% unemployment rate is comparable to January and February […]