Despite pressure from Haines Borough officials, it’s not looking like the Department of Public Safety will fill Haines’ second trooper position any time soon. Southeast Deputy Commander Lt. Rodney Dial said this week he “optimistically” hopes the position can be filled by fall. The state trooper position in Haines has been vacant for eight months, causing wildlife […]
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Posted inNews
Earnest scores a ‘satisfactory’
The Haines Borough Assembly gave manager Mark Earnest a “satisfactory” evaluation Tuesday, a decision that came during an executive session at a committee of the whole meeting. Mayor Stephanie Scott announced the decision during the regular assembly meeting that followed the closed-door session, but did not elaborate. Based on interviews after the meetings, it appears the satisfactory determination relied heavily on […]
Posted inNews
Crash knocks out electric
A Haines Borough grader struck a power pole on Deishu Drive Monday morning, knocking out electricity areawide for about 10 minutes. Carlos Jimenez, the borough’s director of public facilities, said public works superintendent Bruce Smith backed the grader into the pole while plowing. The collision sheared the pole off at the ground, broke it in one other […]
Posted inNews, Mining
Mining trip: Necessary or junket?
Some Haines Borough officials are questioning whether the borough is spending its time and money wisely by sending three public officials to a Canadian mineral exploration conference. Borough Manager Mark Earnest, executive assistant to the manager Darsie Culbeck and assembly member Steve Vick are scheduled to travel to Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 28-31 for the Mineral Exploration Roundup conference. Assembly member Debra […]
Posted inNews
Board asked to explain spending
Haines Borough Assembly members say they want more information on school board spending decisions following the board’s approval of $619,000 for district facilities and equipment at a December meeting. The December action came a few minutes after a joint assembly-school board meeting about borough support for funding school capital projects through the Alaska Legislature, including upgrades to the […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Advisory committee elections scrutinized
Following an unusually large turn-out at the Upper Lynn Canal Advisory Committee’s Dec. 14 election, the Haines Borough Assembly will recommend the committee consider changing its election procedures. The election – which drew 78 people, packed the assembly chambers beyond capacity, and forced the creation of extra ballots – seated new members Julia Heinz and Kip Kermoian and reseated John […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News
Connelly Lake facing obstacles
Funding issues, local opposition, and permitting hurdles are grinding the progress of the proposed Connelly Lake hydroelectric project to a slow crawl. Officials from project developer Alaska Power & Telephone say public perception and opposition to the project have contributed to its under-funding. The Alaska Energy Authority’s Renewable Energy Fund recently ranked Connelly Lake 45th on its list of […]
Posted inNews
National heli-ski group focuses on standards
The Haines Borough’s heli-ski season is just around the corner, and in the wake of an accident that killed two people last spring, concerns about safety aren’t going away. Like much of the recreation industry, heli-skiing falls largely outside most state and federal regulations concerning occupational safety and health. Similarly, the borough, which requires heli-ski […]
Posted inNews
Schedule for Earnest review
Haines Borough assembly members have received evaluation forms for manager Mark Earnest and will submit the completed forms to the Mayor by Jan. 15. The assembly will meet with Earnest as a committee of the whole on Jan. 22 to discuss the evaluations. The meeting typically occurs in executive session, meaning it is closed to the public, but Earnest […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
Emmett Carpenter Williams was born Nov. 29 to former resident Rebecca Hylton and James Christopher Williams of Skagway. Emmett weighed 9 pounds, 15 ounces and measured 21 inches. Rebecca and Kristin White met for daily walks in Juneau while waiting for their babies to arrive. Friends stopped by the hospital to greet Emmett, including Jane […]