Posted inDuly Noted

Duly Noted

Porter Owen Del Prete was born at the Juneau Birthing Center early Aug. 5 to parents Shannon and Andrew Del Prete. He weighed 7 lbs., 11 oz., and measured 20.25 inches. Big brothers are Garrison Del Prete, 5, and Caedmon Del Prete, 3. The family planned to be back in town by midweek after three […]

Posted inDuly Noted

Duly Noted

Carol Duis is the 2013 Alaska recipient of the AARP Andrus Award, which honors a model volunteer whose work improves the community and enhances the lives of others. Beth MacCready nominated Carol, who, she says, “is behind the scenes doing everything.” Carol volunteers for Hospice of Haines, Haines Friends of Recycling, the Haines Food Bank, […]

Posted inNews, Alaska Marine Highway System

Cuts in ferry system discounts, services loom

The ferry system’s 30 percent winter roundtrip discount is gone and come next summer, the “driver go free” option will disappear, too. Cuts to the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) have been widespread and show no signs of slowing or reversing: Naturalist interpreters aboard vessels were eliminated earlier this year. Printed schedules will be discontinued […]

Posted inNews

Lapp seeks meeting time limits

Haines Borough Assembly member Jerry Lapp wants to outlaw long meetings. Lapp introduced an ordinance last week that, if passed, would end regular and special assembly meetings at 9:45 p.m. If the assembly wanted to allow the meeting to carry on into the night, four members would have to vote to continue. Mayor Stephanie Scott said she has no […]

Posted inNews, Haines Borough

Assembly approves pay hikes

The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday approved raises and benefits for employees that will cost, on average, at least an additional $165,000 annually during the next three years. The assembly unanimously approved the contract negotiated by workers’ union Local 71 and a negotiating team of borough leaders. The borough’s negotiating team included chief fiscal officer Jila Stuart, mayor Stephanie […]

Posted inNews

‘Corporate personhood’ on agenda

The Haines contingent of “We the People” is pushing the Haines Borough Assembly to pass an ordinance rejecting corporate personhood and restricting the definition of “person” in borough code to human beings. Under Haines Borough code, “person” is defined as “a corporation, partnership, joint venture, the borough and any other public agency, as well as an individual or individuals.” […]

Posted inNews

Assembly to mull $5 million bond

The Haines Borough Assembly will consider asking voters to approve a $5 million bond for districtwide school improvements. The borough’s hopes for approval hinge on the package of projects qualifying for reimbursement through a state program that covers up to 70 percent of costs. The bond would finance six projects: mechanical upgrades to the vocational education building […]

Posted inNews

Telephone poles, wires to stay

Borough officials this week said recent efforts to bury view-obstructing utility lines at the intersection of Front Street and Old Haines Highway are “dead.” The state Department of Transportation’s reluctance to work with the borough on burying the lines this far into the project plus the expense involved have effectively “squashed” the idea, said public […]