In the face of two appeals citing conflicts of interest, the Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday voted unanimously to delay the controversial process of redrawing recreational helicopter flight and landing paths until next summer. A newly-formed advisory panel will have more data on the plan’s effects on mountain goats and denning grizzly bears and have time to review […]
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Retired judge Asper returns to Haines courtroom
From now until the end of the fiscal year in June, Haines will once again have a resident magistrate – thanks to the community spirit of retired district court judge Linn Asper. The new magistrate judge began hearing cases on Monday. Asper, 72, who has for years kept a home here and served as the […]
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Parks and Rec panel discusses heliskiing
The other recreationists who populate the backcountry of Haines weighed in Monday on the controversial remapping of heliski site maps where helicopters drop off and retrieve clients. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee convened to hear public comment from hikers, cross-country skiers and others who might believe their outings would be compromised by the thump-thump of hovering […]
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Becky’s Place: Nonprofit offers shelter to abused
Jackie Mazeikas remembers walking around Haines, questioning people about something nobody here wanted to talk about. Women were being assaulted and sexually abused by husbands, boyfriends and fathers who lived and worked and shopped here, who walked around smiling and laughing; their friends and neighbors unaware of what went on at home. The town, she […]
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High demand shuts down electrical grid
All of Haines and Skagway went black for 13 minutes Monday as winter electricity demands maxed out power systems. Darren Belisle, Alaska Power and Telephone manager of power operations for Upper Lynn Canal, said the Goat Lake hydroelectric system in Skagway does not produce enough power to keep up with the extra heating and Christmas light […]
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Assembly to tackle big agenda Tuesday
The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday will issue a six-month report card for newly-arrived manager Bill Seward to determine whether any course correction is necessary for one of Haines’ newest public officials. The item is part of an already jam-packed agenda that became more crowded when the assembly’s Nov. 29 meeting was postponed due to bad weather […]
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At 26, public works chief ‘wicked smart’
In August, Will Hickman was hired as Haines Borough public works superintendent. At 26, he may be the youngest person ever to hold that position. Hickman was born and raised here, graduating from Haines High School in 2009. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout, became the first in his family to attend college, and graduated from […]
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Fort Seward’s new art piece aims to slow sands of time
One of Haines’ newest public art pieces is an interactive work that combines glass, steel, stone and even the contemplative sands of time. The piece, called “Time Out,” was unveiled last week at the Fort Seward Sculpture Garden, the eclectic outdoor art space in the old barracks foundation at the decommissioned fort. The concept is […]
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Heliski debate centers on goat, bear impacts
The Haines heliskiing map committee convened Monday for another round of reviewing the backcountry site maps where ski-adventure companies drop off and retrieve clients. Committee members, state biologists and public observers debated – often with an edge to their voices – such topics as bear dens and estrogen cycles, sows, cubs, nannies and kids. In […]
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Committee seeks area brown bear count
How many brown bears live in the Haines and Skagway Boroughs? No one really knows. Consequently, an advisory committee decided Wednesday to ask the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to find out. The Upper Lynn Canal Fish and Game Advisory Committee is sending that request to the state. The request leaves the details of such a […]