A new ad hoc committee Haines Borough manager Debra Schnabel created has one goal in mind: to reduce bear and human interactions. Last week, the Haines Borough Assembly approved the Bear Task Force. The group’s stated objective is to “reduce Haines Police and State Trooper time dealing with bear issues by reducing bear-garbage encounters,” by March 31. Based on the group’s recommendations, Schnabel […]
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Policing issue heads GAS committee
Despite its new three-members, the Haines Borough Assembly is no closer to a solution on areawide policing. On Tuesday, the same resolution that failed two months ago was brought up again, this time by assembly member Brenda Josephson. According to borough charter, the borough may provide “emergency dispatch” on an areawide basis. However, police service is limited […]
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Townsite bear activity prompts state visit
A team of Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists and wildlife trooper came to town in response to public outcry over increased bear activity including damage to property. “Last night I saw dumpsters getting hit everywhere,” biologist Carl Koch said Wednesday morning, his last day in town. “We saw five bears; all of them […]
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New assembly weighs sauna location, bears
The Haines Borough Assembly met Tuesday for the first time with newly elected members Gabe Thomas, Paul Rogers and Zephyr Sincerny. The assembly discussed residents’ concerns regarding increased bear activity in town, the requested relocation of a sauna that’s been five years in the making and assembly member Sean Maidy’s effort to launch a special election. Haines […]
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Area-wide policing fails, assembly misses deadline
The proposition to allow police services boroughwide will not appear on the October ballot, after the assembly failed to vote on the ordinance in enough time to allow for the required 40-day notice period before elections. “At least 40 days before each general or special election, notice of the subject of any proposition, referendum or […]
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Wind storm beaches boats, causes power outage
A wind storm last weekend toppled a tree on Beach Road and broke lines on boats in Letnikof Cove, sending one boat owner into the frigid and wavy waters to keep her boat from drifting away as the tide came in. New boat owner Rachel Kukull received a call at work Sunday from the Haines Police department […]
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Policing ballot prop stalls
A charter change for areawide policing might not make it to the October ballot. The Haines Borough Assembly voted 4-2 to hold a third public hearing for the ordinance at their Tuesday meeting to give staff time to hash out disputes in interpretation of charter language. “We’ve had some information that caused us to have more than […]
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Chief Scott up for reappointment
by Jenna Kunze The Public Safety Commission this week recommended the borough manager reappoint police chief Heath Scott, whose three-year contract will expire July 20. “I proposed to my boss that I’d be happy to sign a five-year contract,” Scott told the commission on July 8. “Provided discussion go well in those areas I’ve asked […]
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Assembly again will consider expanded police service area
Policing outside of the townsite could be on the October ballot once again, one year after Mud Bay, Lutak and Haines Highway voters rejected raising property taxes to create a separate police service area in their neighborhoods. On July 8, the borough’s Public Safety Commission voted 2-1 to recommend the assembly introduce an ordinance that would add […]
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Domestic violence safe house nearly closed this winter
Becky’s Place Haven of Hope, the local safe house for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, almost closed this year due to lack of funding, said owner and operator Jackie Mazeikas. Becky’s Place is a nonprofit that has housed more than 30 victims of domestic violence each year since at least 2016. Police chief […]