Gabe Thomas, whose six years in office currently make him the longest serving borough assembly member, is running this year for another three-year term. His motivation is unfinished business. Thomas recalls first running in 2019 with hopes of finishing the Lutak Dock rebuild. That’s obviously a big portion of the unfinished business, though not the […]
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Posted inLocal News, Elections
Norton pitches himself as direction change for the assembly
John Norton has lived many lives around the region: commercial fisherman, geologist, Juneau-Douglas High School science teacher, over a decade in the Haines Volunteer Fire Department, and until recently, independent artist. Now, he hopes to add a term on the borough assembly to that resume. And if that happens, Norton plans to bring a change […]
Posted inLocal News
Assembly Briefs: Dock frustration, revenue drop, cruise ship proposal, and heliski regulations
Lutak Dock frustration The assembly once again had lengthy discussion on the Lutak Dock rebuild without taking concrete action. The consensus among assembly members who spoke on the issue was that they hope to move forward putting the project out for bid, moving away from current contractor Turnagain Marine. There was no timeline discussed at […]
Posted inLocal News, Wildlife
Sow and four cubs draw attention, tension to crowded Chilkoot corridor
The unusual sight of a brown bear sow with four cubs in tow is drawing bear watchers, photographers and enthusiasts to the crowded Chilkoot corridor this year. For many, it’s a chance for a glimpse at an extraordinary phenomenon with a stunning backdrop. But the sightseers are also causing traffic jams, ignoring bear safety protocol, […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Sargent will bring no-nonsense approach to assembly
We’re writing to express our strong support for Eben Sargent in the upcoming assembly election. Eben brings a thoughtful, no-nonsense approach to local government — just what we need during a time of serious financial strain. He’s committed to tackling our budget challenges head-on by investing more time in year-round financial planning and exploring new […]
Posted inLocal News, Environment & Natural Resources
Chilkoot sockeye to miss escapement; disagreement about cause
The Chilkoot River sockeye run will miss the state escapement goal this year for the first time in almost a decade. With this drop in the river’s sockeye return, local commercial fishermen say they are concerned about the long-term outlook — for the fish, and for the fishery. As of this week, the state Fish […]
Posted inLocal News
‘Like they were walking across the ocean’
Last spring, Luke Marquardt walked along the beach next to the Small Boat Harbor at low tide when he spotted an old, rusty anchor in the mud flats. But it was what rested nearby that really caught his attention: two shoe soles of different sizes, one appearing to belong to a woman, and the other […]
Posted inLocal News
After controversy, lobbying firm drops out of borough search
Amid confusion and controversy, lobbying firm Holland & Hart have dropped out of the Haines Borough’s search for a new federal lobbyist. Two weeks ago, multiple assembly members said they misunderstood an ordinance that named Holland & Hart employee Kaleb Froehlich as the borough’s prospective lobbyist. After the assembly voted unanimously to hire the firm […]
Posted inHaines Borough, Local News
Assembly members say they misunderstood lobbyist vote
Some assembly members are hoping to reconsider their vote last week to hire a new federal lobbyist after learning that the candidate they thought they were voting on is not a lobbyist at all — and is also the managing director of a mining company. Since 2022, the borough has paid federal lobbyists $3,000 per […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor: Ask the borough government to charge fair costs on federal grants to solve our budget woes
In a letter to the Borough Assembly (August 12, 2025), I requested that they apply what is known as the “de minimus” indirect cost rate, or IDC, to all federal grants for which we apply and/or are awarded. This has not been standard practice in the Haines Borough, and yet, as someone who manages and […]