Members of the Haines Dolphins swim team are aiming to raise $17,000 at their annual Swim-a-Thon fundraiser on Saturday, April 4. Swim-a-Thon is the team’s “one and only big fundraising event,” said Dolphin parent Sarah Posey. Last year’s record-setting haul raised $20,332, an average of around $800 per participant. Swimmers collect flat-rate donations or pledges […]
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Posted inNews
Heli-ski area open for 1 year
The Bureau of Land Management is opening more than 66,000 acres of land south of Haines to heli-skiing, an area that has been closed to the activity since 2009. BLM recently issued permits to Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures, Alaska Heliskiing and Alaska Mountain Guides to use 66,200 acres of land in the “south block” of […]
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Assembly: More work needed on tax-exempt rule
Nearly a dozen residents turned out at Tuesday’s Haines Borough Assembly meeting to roundly criticize an ordinance that would change how nonprofits apply and qualify for property tax exemptions. Supporters of nonprofits called the ordinance “messy,” “confusing,” “stiff” and “cumbersome,” saying the legislation would put undue financial and administrative hardship on organizations whose resources are already […]
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Legislators: Close state forestry office
The state Division of Forestry office in Haines would close under a proposal being considered by the Alaska Legislature’s House Finance Committee. The measure would end the Division of Forestry’s resource management program and close all of the division’s offices in Southeast. The Haines office manages the 286,000 acres of the Haines State Forest. […]
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Noise, cop studies get assembly’s OK
The Haines Borough Assembly approved a major spending package Tuesday, including $41,300 to study helicopter noise, $22,000 to study the police department and $100,000 for planning toward Lutak Dock improvements. The assembly voted 5-1 to approve the package, with assembly member Ron Jackson opposed. Mayor Jan Hill broke the tie in favor of including the noise study in the spending package, […]
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Should workers get to assess manager?
With Haines Borough Manager David Sosa’s one-year anniversary approaching, so too is his first performance evaluation. On Wednesday, assembly members will meet to discuss the procedure for evaluating him. Historically, only assembly members have assessed the manager, using evaluation forms and holding discussions in executive session. Employees, who work in the same building as the manager on […]
Posted inNews, Alaska Marine Highway System
DOT: Cut ferry day boat sailings — Agency proposes $9 million in reductions
Reduced ferry funding scenarios proposed by transportation officials include eliminating dayboat service in Lynn Canal between July and September, eliminating winter service by fast ferries, limiting fast ferry service to four days weekly during summer months, and eliminating contracted marketing and advertising. Other proposed changes would delay the start of service by the Taku between Prince Rupert, […]
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Assemble: No to proposal to protect harbor workers
The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday voted down a resolution that would have supported extra protections for the harbormaster and harbor employees. The resolution would have supported passage of state legislation establishing a minimum amount of jail time for people convicted of assaulting or harassing port and harbor employees. The assembly voted 3-2 to strike down the resolution, […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
Southeast Alaska State Fair director Jessica Edwards spent three days at the International Association of Amusement Park Attractions trade show in Florida. She visited the 42-acre event with husband Andy Hedden, daughter Sophia Hedden, and the president of the fair board Eric Forster. The fair hopes to add a new ride by its 50th anniversary […]
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Borough signs economic development director
On a unanimous vote, the Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday approved the hire of Bill Mandeville, the town’s new community and economic development director. He will start Feb. 1 with an annual salary of $64,000. Mandeville this week toured borough facilities, spoke with staff members, and gave the assembly a rundown of his qualifications and background. Mandeville has […]