Kim Zimmerman has a busy month ahead of him. He’s finished contract negotiations with the Haines Borough, and the assembly is set to review the terms of that contract during a special meeting on Wednesday. Then, he’ll have to schedule a visit once the borough does a background check. When reached by phone Tuesday, he […]
Search results
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Get information from the source instead of relying on government officials to paraphrase it
As an administrator of the Facebook group Haines Chatters, I regularly post notices of public meetings, transcripts, recorded comments, and agenda items to the group. This social media option provides a community service to interested members regarding official information taken directly from the Haines Borough website. My postings of government information are copied word-for-word from […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly briefs: A new borough manager, an interim police chief, and a severance tax
Haines Borough Assembly members met Tuesday without Mayor Tom Morphet who is out of town. Deputy Mayor Cheryl Stickler presided over a four-hour meeting that included a public hearing on severance taxes, extensive discussion of who the next borough manager should be, and updates on open government positions, who can attend executive sessions, and the […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Committee members who prefer to spread dogma over finding solutions should be removed
Members of the Ports and Harbors Advisory Committee have been using their individual seats for personal attacks against members of the public and prior assembly members, as evidenced in the Oct. 31, 2024 meeting. These same two individuals routinely spread misinformation about the Lutak Dock issue to perpetuate an unaffordable project when they should be […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted: A death, an absence, a week honoring veterans, and a voucher program
Betty Ewing Dewitt, 89, died on Oct. 20. Dewitt, her husband and three children moved to Haines in 1962. A full obituary will be included in a future edition of the Chilkat Valley News. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is set to issue an executive proclamation declaring Veterans Small Business Week. Visiting Haines Rep. Andi Story shared […]
Posted inThis Week in History
This Week in History: Veterans Village, bears after anglers, Berger hearings
10 years ago Soboleff-McRae Veterans Village officials don’t think property tax should be levied on the second floor of their building. The Haines Borough manager disagrees. At manager David Sosa’s recommendation, the assembly last week declined to introduce an ordinance which, if passed, would have granted a “community purpose exemption” for the residential floor, relieving […]
Posted inLocal News, Government & Elections
After closed-door session, new assembly fires borough clerk
After just 11 weeks on the job, Kristine Kennedy is out as borough clerk. The Haines Borough Assembly fired her during its Oct. 22 meeting without cause after a closed-door executive session. Initially, Kennedy said her preference would be to have the meeting in public. The assembly justified going into executive session by citing an […]
Posted inWildlife, Haines Borough, Local News
New signs warn people away from borough land along the Chilkoot corridor
When Rebecca Hylton first moved to Haines 28 years ago, she said it was pretty well understood that people did not go into the woods along the east side of the Chilkoot River. “I mean, you can during the hooligan run when the bears aren’t around, that’s totally fine. The river is super low and […]
Posted inThis Week in History
This Week in History: The road, ancient remains, and a cruise ship oil slick
10 years ago DOT: Road will boost economy After crunching numbers, updating studies and considering an additional alternative, the Alaska Department of Transportation is still convinced building a 50-mile road from Juneau to the Katzehin River is the best option for transportation in the Lynn Canal. DOT released its delayed Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Sept. […]
Posted inElections, Corrections
Longtime Haines resident and local politician Schnabel seeks re-election
Debra Schnabel has lived in Haines since she was 11 days old. She left for a period of time to go to college and then to pursue a career in broadcasting – but she got caught up in the family business. Her father, John Schnabel, was involved in timber, and mining, and a lot of […]