Haines Borough Police Chief Heath Scott said resistance to borough-wide police expansion is due to “misinformation that’s being circulated.” “I think one misconception is how much skin does (Alaska State Troopers) still have in the game,” Scott told the Haines Public Safety Commission last week. “If there is truly something dramatic that happens out the […]
Search results
Posted inNews
Lutak Dock plan downgraded
After its first choice was turned down for funding, the Haines Borough Assembly endorsed a less expensive Lutak Dock design plan with a decreased level of service. PND Engineers released a report in October of 2014 saying the Lutak Dock, the borough’s entry point for freight and fuel, is “near the edge” and living on “borrowed time.” It said the dock’s […]
Posted inNews
Public criticizes proposed salary cut for mayor
The Haines Borough Assembly considered an appeal from a resident to reimburse them for the cost of providing adequate water pressure to their future home and held several public hearings on ordinances that would decrease the mayor’s annual salary and change the funding source for service areas. John Winge, Carol Tuynman and Cindy Jones, spoke out against […]
Posted inNews, Obituaries
Recall proponents absent from public forum
In a public forum Wednesday, Aug. 9, the three Haines Borough Assembly members targeted for recall answered questions regarding the allegations against them in a KHNS and Chilkat Valley News public forum. While around 30 of the recall sponsors and supporters were invited to defend their views, none agreed to attend. The special election to recall assembly […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Haines votes ‘No’ to recall three assembly members
Assembly members Heather Lende, Tresham Gregg and Tom Morphet retained their seats on the assembly, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s special recall election. More than 1,050 people, 47 percent of registered voters, cast their ballots in the special election, signaling the end of a recall effort that started in April. Don Turner Jr. initiated […]
Posted inNews
Uber driver ditches app, plans new taxi business
A Haines Uber driver is starting her own cab company after experiencing the difficulties of the mobile transportation app in a rural community. Suzanne Ashe is in the process of starting a new taxi service called Red Cab, named after her red 2010 Chevy HHR. Gov. Bill Walker signed a bill in June that permits […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News
Staff to reexamine pot tax
A proposed tobacco and marijuana excise tax ordinance will be divided and head back to the Haines Borough Assembly as two separate ordinances. The assembly voted unanimously Aug. 8 to separate the two taxes that charges an excise tax of $2 per pack of cigarettes, 45 percent of the wholesale price of other tobacco products, and $5 […]
Posted inNews
Union attempts to influence recall with attack ad
A statewide public employee union’s “Recall Tom Morphet” Facebook post is encouraging Haines voters to recall the assembly member for a reason not listed as the grounds for recall. Local 71 business representative Tom Brice said the advertisement is not about the grounds against Morphet in the local recall effort, but about Morphet’s breach of […]
Posted inNews
Expanded police service goes back to committee
The question of extending police service borough-wide won’t go before voters this October after the Haines Borough Assembly referred the issue back to committee. Borough staff recommended sending it back to the Government Affairs and Services Committee after several public meetings about the proposed ordinance to create a “community safety service area.” The issue began after the […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Assembly members dedicated
The recall attempt of Haines Borough Assembly members Heather Lende, Tresham Gregg and Tom Morphet is a classic example of, “No good deed goes unpunished.” These residents have devoted decades of service to this community, and most recently added assembly duties to that legacy. Week after week Tom and the Chilkat Valley News staff, including Heather, have sacrificed […]