After reviewing a draft charter amendment requiring police to respond to emergencies outside the townsite, members of the Haines Borough Assembly’s Government Affairs and Services Committee determined revisions were needed. The question of policing outside the townsite came under increased scrutiny after Haines lost its “blue shirt” Alaska State Trooper in 2017. According to borough charter, the […]
Search results
Posted inNews
Tourism board: Bring more RCCL ships
The Tourism Advisory Board is unanimously recommending that the Haines Borough Assembly pass a resolution in favor of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. increasing its number of port calls to Haines in future years. The board met for the first time in roughly a month and a half to discuss RCCL prospects with Haines tourism director Steven Auch. […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
School staff teach lesson on hardship
I want to thank all the staff at the Haines Borough School District, and especially Mr. Sam McPhetres, for all their hard work that they have been doing through this difficult time. Teachers and coaches have always taught us to push through hardships. Now that we are in that hard place, they are the ones pushing […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Time to defend borough facilities
During the May 5 Haines Borough Assembly budget discussion, manager Debra Schnabel presented a budget proposal to close the Sheldon Museum to the public for one year and close the public library one month per year, while eliminating four part-time positions there. Several assembly members also would eliminate Chilkat Center funding. No commensurate cuts are proposed to staff at […]
Posted inNews
Assembly considers year-long museum closure
A new budget draft discussed at Tuesday’s Haines Borough Assembly meeting proposes cuts including a one-month closure of the library and a year-long closure of the museum. The assembly has yet to officially adopt the new draft. It will have the opportunity to do so at its next meeting on May 12. Borough manager Debra Schnabel drafted the new […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly approves $3,000 chamber request
The Haines Borough Assembly unanimously approved at its Tuesday meeting the Haines Chamber of Commerce’s request for $3,000 and declined to discuss a $20,000 request from the Alaska Avalanche Information Center. Prior to the meeting, both organizations had submitted funding requests for assembly consideration. The chamber has lost revenue with the loss of its pull-tab operation due […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly requests new budget with more cuts to offset sales tax loss
On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly introduced the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and began discussion of changes necessary to reflect the stark revenue realities of COVID-19. Borough manager Debra Schnabel’s budget estimates a 40% reduction in sales tax revenue for this year and makes a series of cuts to offset the reduction, including […]
Posted inNews
Students plan for virtual graduation
This year’s Haines High School seniors are in the early stages of designing a virtual graduation ceremony since the state issued a health mandate closing school facilities through the end of the school year. The mandate has prompted schools across Alaska to begin planning virtual graduation events. “So far, we’re thinking (the ceremony) will follow […]
Posted inNews
New shipping containers include a temporary morgue
The Haines Borough has purchased three shipping containers-two for storing search and rescue and wildland fire fighting supplies, and the other as a temporary morgue. The borough ordered the containers in January to store emergency supplies and equipment such as cots, blankets, ropes, backpacks and other firefighting supplies said Haines Volunteer Fire Department chief Al Giddings. The […]
Posted inNews
Winery clears hurdle in permitting process
A winery is making its way through the permitting process. Last week, the Haines Borough Assembly unanimously approved the liquor license application for the Three Northmen winery owned by Chris Thorgesen, Jeremy Groves and Chad Clark. The proposed winery will be located behind Alaska Wild Bear Photography, across the street from the bank, according to a diagram […]