It was fitting to see two articles side by side in the recent Feb. 10 Chilkat Valley News regarding the approval of the Lutak cell tower lease and the low bird count. Might we question how much environmental pollution contributes to the loss or harm of wildlife including that from electrosmog aside from weather? The noted doctor […]
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Posted inNews
Where did those potted plants come from?
No one can quite explain the three-dozen plants in the swimming pool atrium. They just materialized during the 40 years since the pool was built. Jonathan Richardson, who tends the tropical menagerie, says he knows the provenance of the 10-foot Norfolk pine. That came as a donation from an office of a local grocery store, […]
Posted inHousing, News
Assembly passes restriction on yurts, container homes
In a 4-2 vote, the Haines Borough Assembly adopted an ordinance on Tuesday that defines yurts and container homes and restricts their use in some zones of the townsite. The final ordinance included an amendment to allow yurts and container homes in more places than would have been allowed by the original draft ordinance, which would have […]
Posted inNews
Bird count low but includes snowy owl
The number of birds spotted in the 2021 Audubon Christmas Bird Count dropped from historic numbers, possibly owing to biting cold weather on Dec. 15. 49 observers looked for birds around Haines and another nine spread out in a circle around Klukwan. The annual count is used as a barometer of the health of bird populations […]
Posted inNews
ATVs now allowed on most borough roads
*This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy. The story originally reported that the Haines Borough Assembly would need to vote to change code to allow ATV use in the borough. That was based on a misunderstanding of code. The new state law has taken effect in Haines and the assembly would need to vote to […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
Genny Szymanski and Harry Rietze were married at the Presbyterian Church Friday, followed by a waterfront reception at Letnikof Cove. Fisherman and friend JR Churchill officiated the ceremony. Genny’s sister Anna Szymanski was maid of honor. Darren Pattison was best man. Parents of the bride are Jim and Randa Szymanski; parents of the groom are Hugh and Mary Rietze. Charlie DeWitt was ring bearer and Ivy and Caroline Elliott were flower girls. Genny wore a Maggie Sottero dress. […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly approves motorized trail application, introduces yurt ordinance
The Haines Borough Assembly in December approved an application for a state grant to fund a motorized recreation trail near Lily Lake Road. The assembly voted 4-2 in favor of the application, with assembly members Caitie Kirby and Tyler Huling opposed. The trail would be a two-mile loop geared towards residents learning to ride ATVs, snow machines, […]
Posted inNews
Harbor board won’t pursue free but aging breakwater float
Harbormaster Shawn Bell reported that there would be too many issues with an aging breakwater float from Ketchikan that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had offered for free to protect Letnikof Harbor. “I love the idea of getting some protection out there. And I’m hoping to work with the Army Corps of Engineers to […]
Posted inNews
2021 sees rebuilding, recovery from disaster, pandemic
Recovery and rebuilding were the watchwords of 2021 as residents navigated life in Haines among the wreckage left by the December storms and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Also in this year’s news, the borough secured a $20 million grant to repair the Lutak Dock, a new borough manager was hired, incidents of bear and human interactions, including […]