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Hike proposed in freight rates

The Haines Borough is considering exponential rate increases for using Lutak Dock, under a proposed ordinance set for a second public hearing Tuesday. “These rates, in general, haven’t been changed in many years,” said borough manager Mark Earnest. “They’ve just been low, and they’ve been low for a long time.” The Haines Borough Assembly on Feb. 22 advanced the ordinance to a […]

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Earnest: Budget will be ‘uncomfortable’

The Haines Borough budget for the coming year will amount to “putting a size 9 foot into a size 8½ shoe,” borough manager Mark Earnest told a joint meeting of the assembly and school board Tuesday. “You won’t get gangrene, but it won’t be comfortable,” Earnest said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but we can get through.” The budget, drawn […]

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Borough accelerates port work for potential bond

In preparation for “an emerging opportunity” to secure Lutak Dock funding, Haines Borough Manager Mark Earnest has requested to speed up the timeline for new studies on the dock. “We will be putting together a recommendation here for the assembly, in the form of a budget amendment, to accelerate the programming on the Lutak Dock project,” Earnest said last month. “I look at […]

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Winds up to 61 mph smack town

Three days of high winds wreaked havoc last weekend, falling trees, damaging buildings and cancelling the sailing of the ferry Aurora up Lynn Canal. Sue Libenson was in her office above the bookstore on Main Street about 6:30 p.m. Friday when a six-foot-long plate-glass window shattered a few feet away from her desk, in an […]

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Point acquisition hits questions, criticism

Real estate agent Jim Studley said Picture Point owner Roger Beasley is interested in working with the Haines Borough to acquire two scenic pullouts there, including terms that would provide time for the municipality to use scenic highway funds for a purchase. “We’ve offered a very liberal acquisition process,” Studley said in an interview. Picture Point has […]

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Skaters survive fall through ice

Tim McDonough said he and wife Ann Myren will be wearing new Canadian-made ice spikes on future skating outings following their fall through the ice at Chilkoot Lake on Dec. 16. McDonough, 56, and Myren, 55, were skating in the moonlight around 9 p.m. when the ice gave way under them. They were 40 yards offshore, near […]

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Chilkoot corridor work postponed

A planned meeting to discuss designating a portion of the Chilkoot Lake watershed a state recreation site or state recreation area has been postponed until further notice. State Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, said this week that the replacement of state parks director James King will delay consideration of the idea. “(Parks officials) thought it best that we just […]