Four Haines High School alumni came forward this week detailing sexual abuse by former Boy Scout leader, school principal and superintendent Karl Ward, who died 21 years ago. Craig Loomis, Robert Brouillette, Nick Kokotovich and Roger Schnabel allege that Ward fondled them or acted inappropriately toward them while they were visiting at his home. The […]
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Planner to draft resource extraction ordinance
The Haines Borough Planning Commission is nearing a consensus on the resource extraction definition, but some members don’t think it’s ready to go to the assembly. At a workshop last week, the commission reviewed three options for revisions to the resource extraction code, the culmination of nearly a year of work. Option one amended the definition and […]
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Borough prepares for Chilkoot corridor squeeze
Alaska State Parks ranger Travis Russell said he’ll crack down on parking violations along the Chilkoot River corridor this summer in hopes of changing visitor behavior during peak bear and tourist season. The Haines Borough Tourism Advisory Board recommended last week that the borough hire an employee to assist Parks personnel. The assembly had asked the group […]
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Public safety commission appoints two new members
The Public Safety Commission recommended SEARHC administrator Pat Hefley and Chuck Mitman to sit on the board. The recommendations come after postponed meetings and Mayor Jan Hill’s desire follow the recommendations of the commission. The public safety commission last year recommended creating a drug awareness task force. It also recommended rebranding itself by adding ex-officio members from […]
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Harbor contractor prepared for litigation
Pacific Pile & Marine representatives said last week they’re willing to fight in court over the company’s $1.2 million adjustment request for last summer’s boat harbor dredging, according to Haines Borough Manager Debra Schnabel. The Haines Borough and PND Engineers disputed the contractor’s claim that the dredge basin was harder than described in contract documents, Schnabel said. The borough manager, Mayor Jan […]
Posted inNews, Police
GAS committee wants to cut borough minor offense list
A borough advisory board will pare down Haines’ list of 299 minor offenses, pending borough assembly approval. The Government Affairs and Services Committee approved a recommendation Monday that the Code Review Commission identify which minor offenses should go. The only municipality in Southeast Alaska that has more minor offenses in its code is Juneau. Petersburg […]
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What happened to the solid waste group’s proposal?
The Haines Borough is giving Community Waste Solutions an opportunity to “prove itself” before putting out-of-town waste disposal up to a boroughwide vote. Borough manager Debra Schnabel, mayor Jan Hill and Solid Waste Working Group chair Darsie Culbeck recently met with CWS owner Tom Hall by phone about a solid waste proposal presented to the assembly in the fall. The […]
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Assembly questions mayor on commission appointments
A Haines Borough Assembly member and a public safety commission applicant are pushing to seek its board appointments after Mayor Jan Hill stopped scheduling meetings. At last Tuesday’s assembly meeting, Hill said the commission wasn’t working, in part, because the assembly rejected a public safety commission proposal to change its name and membership make-up. “The manager and I, because the […]
Posted inNews, Obituaries
2017 sees shifting leadership, new beginnings
A shakeup in leadership across government and business, a group of unsatisfied citizens who challenged the assembly and how to approach policing outside the townsite dominated the news this year. The first ripples of discontent occurred after the assembly rejected Diana Lapham’s application to sit on the Ports and Harbor Advisory committee. Don Turner and […]
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Student business owner born to sell
By Kyle Clayton Seventh-grader Jacob Weerasinghe is one busy kid. You have to be when you’re a 13-year-old entrepreneur and business owner. Between piano lessons, swim and volleyball practice, church activities and homework, he also runs a successful retail and manufacturing company out of his bedroom and kitchen. “During December and the fair I had […]