Posted inSoutheast News, Local News

Juneau Access Road is on the map again, as DOT seeks bids for Lynn Canal transportation study

The Juneau Access Road, which was declared dead in 2017, is alive and back on the map. Proposals “to conduct a feasibility study on improving transportation access along the west side of Lynn Canal” are being sought, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced last week. Such a study would revive a decades-long […]

Posted inState of Alaska, Local News

State Parks pitches new citizen advisory board

Alaska State Parks has announced the formation of a new Southeast Regional Citizen Advisory Board which will include two representatives from Haines. The board will provide non-binding feedback to the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and will replace two existing advisory boards specific to Juneau and Ketchikan, as well as a Sitka advisory board […]

Posted inThis Week in History

This Week in History: Antiques Roadshow misses the mark, teen shoots a moose, the Juneau Road riles residents

10 years ago Did TV show exaggerate the rarity and cash value of artworks? “Antiques Roadshow” overestimated the value and rarity of two Tlingit masks that reportedly originated in the Chilkat Valley, according to experts in Haines and Juneau. “This is really, really remarkable material. These are among the rarest objects in North America,” appraiser […]

Posted inSoutheast News, Economy

AIDEA to end shipyard agreement with Vigor in November

Vigor Alaska, the private operator of the state-owned Ketchikan Shipyard, was notified that the state won’t be extending the shipyard operating agreement with Vigor once the current agreement expires in November. Citing lower-than-full utilization of the shipyard and increasing unfunded maintenance at the facility under Vigor, the shipyard’s owner Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority […]

Posted inLocal News, Government & Elections

Assembly briefs: Executive sessions, school funding, tourism survey results, a Lutak Dock update, police chief management

Executive Session A much-awaited decision on new executive session rules has been passed. A proposal by assembly member Cheryl Stickler restricts participation in executive sessions to members who call in via telephone – rather than Zoom – and only if they affirm they alone are listening to the call. Prior to that final vote, the assembly […]

Posted inLocal News

Alcohol board grants Haines two more beer and wine licenses

After nearly a year of discussions and public hearings, Alaska’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approved two additional restaurant and eating place licenses for Haines. The board met Feb. 4 and heard more than an hour of public testimony on Haines’ application before spending another hour discussing the borough’s ask for six more licenses, in addition […]

Posted inLocal News, Government & Elections

Assembly briefs: A love letter to Canadian neighbors, open meetings changes, a new borough clerk

The Haines Borough Assembly met on Feb. 11 to discuss everything from sending a letter to Canada re-affirming the friendship and cooperation between Haines and its neighbors in Haines Junction and Whitehorse to talking about changes to its rules around open meetings and executive sessions, and confirming a contract with new borough clerk Mike Denker.  […]

Posted inDuly Noted

Duly Noted: Winterfest results, a spelling bee champion, ‘delightful’ mac and cheese, and the Tournament of Readers

The Four Winds Resource Center in Mosquito Lake has been hosting an open arts studio every Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. since the beginning of January. Chrissy White and Ryan Eckert brought what friends described as a “delightful” mac and cheese during the last meeting. Eckert said the secret is to make a roux, […]

Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough

Assembly briefs: A new clerk, Jake brakes again, executive sessions, a code of conduct, nonprofits and taxes

A new clerk The assembly decided to offer professional pilot Mike Denker the open borough clerk position, pending a background check. The move comes after Denker and Margarette Jones interviewed for the role last week.  Denker is currently on a biweekly schedule with a medevac company and said last week that he would not be […]

Posted inLocal News, State of Alaska

After a year with no progress, Gov seeks appointees to bald eagle council

It has been more than a year since Gov. Mike Dunleavy first attempted to dissolve the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Advisory Council. In mid-March, the legislature rejected the action. But the council has yet to meet and the governor has not appointed council members to the three open seats on the board.  “It’s been […]