Upper-valley community members gathered Sunday at the Four Winds Resource Center for a barbecue, and also a show of community strength as the borough government debates selling off the local community center. The resource center is housed in the former Mosquito Lake school, which was decommissioned in 2014. Since then, the borough-owned property has been […]
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Posted inLocal News, Alaska Legislature
Chilkat Valley state reps answer questions during local meetings
The Chilkat Valley’s state legislative delegation held three local, question-and-answer sessions recently. The visit came during an eventful time in the state capital, just after Gov. Mike Dunleavy last week called a surprise legislative session, asking legislative allies to help him avoid overrides of his controversial veto choices this spring. In remarks Monday, Democrats Jesse […]
Posted inSoutheast News, Economy
Layoffs begin for Ketchikan shipyard workers
Vigor Alaska laid off about 40 union-represented Ketchikan Shipyard workers on Monday and Tuesday, according to representatives of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 23. About 18 people remain employed as Vigor winds down its operation of the state-owned shipyard. Thirteen or 14 of the remaining workers are represented by the union. The Daily News was […]
Posted inHaines Herring
Ayatollah Khamenei steps down as Iranian Supreme Leader to run for Haines Borough Assembly
As the Ayatollah’s grip on power has further waned after Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian military and other government sites like a state-run media broadcaster, rival factions are vying for power. And as unrest has stirred from a population that has become increasingly emboldened to publicly resist his oppressive regime, Khamenei told the Haines […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted: Cannons, cake, celebrations, and more
Rahsaan Gregg has taken on the important role of cannoneer for the “Bloomer Blast” this year. The tradition started when Jim Shook originally stuffed the cannon with denim fabric, until Sue Waterhouse shared her idea to blast bloomers instead. The “Bloomer Blast” has seen distances of 49 ft. to 289 ft. in previous years. This […]
Posted inLocal News
Assembly Briefs: Cemetery easement, housing, public safety, and fees
Cemetery easement denied The assembly voted Tuesday on an easement request that has brought a storm of controversy since it surfaced last month. The easement would have allowed Takshanuk Watershed Council use of an existing driveway running to its new composting facility at Jones Point – a driveway largely on Jones Point Cemetery land, which […]
Posted inLocal News
Borough, voters consider adding seasonal sales tax
The borough assembly is considering adding a seasonal sales tax proposal to the ballot in October in an effort to increase borough revenue. In the past year, the borough has seen major revenue streams drop off, including federal stimulus funding, school funding from the state, and property tax revenue lost to the borough’s newly-increased property […]
Posted inLocal News
Cemetery caretakers, Takshanuk in dispute over Sawmill Road parcel
A boundary conflict between neighbors on Sawmill Road exploded into the open last week, threatening the future of a community composting facility, and, some say, the future of the borough-owned Jones Point Cemetery. The composting facility, built by local non-profit Takshanuk Watershed Council (Takshanuk), sits on land diagonally across Sawmill Road from the nearest headstones […]
Posted inLocal News
Resident targeted by scam email imitating Haines borough staff
An scam email made to appear as part of the borough permitting process targeted at least one Haines resident this week. Haines resident Jacqueline Funkhouser received an email Monday morning that purported to be from the borough planning commission and signed by acting lands director Donna Lambert. The message asked Funkhouser to wire the borough […]
Posted inLocal News
Assembly Briefs: A Lutak Dock redesign and elected official removal
Lutak Dock redesign The borough has turned over a new page in the Lutak Dock saga, with litigation officially off the table for now, and a new design proposal back on it. Earlier this spring, the borough was set to begin mediation with dock contractor Turnagain Marine. But in May, borough officials announced they had […]