Ask Ray Willard how he feels about his job flying 747 cargo jets around the world and he has a quick answer: “Sure beats working.” That’s how much Willard enjoys his career as a jet pilot, something he says he “stumbled into.” Willard grew up in Klukwan and Haines. His father, Evans Willard, was a commercial fisherman […]

Haines Borough Assembly members discussed hiring a consultant and appointing a task force Tuesday after two local trash companies and the president of the Haines Chamber of Commerce pleaded for increased borough participation in solid waste management. No action was taken during the committee-of-the-whole meeting, but the assembly is expected to revisit the topic at its […]

Gillnet fishermen in Lynn Canal harvested salmon worth $9.38 million in 2011, with nearly 80 percent of the catch value coming from hatchery-raised chum. Fishermen netted 1.11 million chum, a new record, topping bumper returns in 2008 (1.07 million) and in 2006 (1.09 million). A strong price – 85 cents per pound – helped make the season […]

The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday voted 4-2 to request the federal government require developers of a potential hydro-electric project above Chilkoot Lake to conduct additional studies, including examination of insuring against potential losses to fisheries and other values there. About 35 residents turned out for the special meeting and all but eight of the 25 who testified were cricital […]

The Upper Lynn Canal Advisory Committee to the boards of Fish and Game will take up game proposals, as well as a request to prohibit black bear baiting in the area, at its Dec. 16 meeting, according to chair Dean Risley. Game guide Steve Fossman asked for the ban, saying he was afraid that the efficiency of […]

The Haines Borough Assembly will hold a special meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday to formulate comment on a preliminary permit sought by Alaska Power & Telephone. It would give the utility exclusive rights to develop a hydroelectric power plant and rock-fill dam about four miles upstream of Chilkoot Lake. The privately-owned utility that provides phone and electric service […]

The Haines Borough would spend up to $15,000 on a Lynn Canal Gillnetters Association study aimed at improving sockeye escapement to Chilkat and Chilkoot lakes, according to an ordinance the assembly advanced last week. J.R. Churchill of the gillnetters’ group submitted the funding request “to review Alaska Department of Fish and Game data and management policies for the past […]

Contractors working for the Chilkoot Indian Association last week removed more than 400 old dock pilings from the Port Chilkoot Dock beach, including ones from a barge ramp where the first car ferries in Lynn Canal landed in the 1950s. They also harvested about a pick-up truck load of metal scraps from the beach, under a project […]