When I think of local governments in Alaska, I’m often reminded of just how different they are. There’s no easy way to say that one decision or another will impact all cities and boroughs equally as they’ll experience policy and budget decisions on a very individual basis. Size is a pretty important factor, both in […]
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Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted: Guitar camp, a rare gyrfalcon sighting, and it’s bear-proofing season
Rob Goldberg recently traveled to the Acoustic Alaska guitar camp, which has been happening for 22 years in Wasilla. He said it was his 10th year, almost consecutively except he skipped one during the pandemic. For a long time, Goldberg said he was the only person from Haines traveling to the camp. But this year […]
Posted inThis Week in History
This Week in History: Lutak sinkhole, cruise ship head-tax, and local woman participates in world craft show
September 11, 2014 – Another sinkhole opens at Lutak A fourth sink hole has opened up at the Lutak Dock, a reminder that the Haines Borough structure is in serious need of repair or replacement. The hole about 18 inches in diameter was discovered last week, said harbormaster Phil Benner. The hole is a result […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Re-election message for Schnabel was misleading
Haines, we still have a problem. Last week, Carol Tuynman submitted a letter in the CVN containing misleading information while promoting support for Debra Schnabel’s reelection campaign. She stated the current assembly “inherited from the previous assembly a property assessment disaster,” and today we have “Alaska State Law that protects property owners.” The letter implies […]
Posted inThis Week in History
This Week in History: Save the trees, maybe it’s the plankton, and a missed deadline
10 years ago 09/04/2014 Board rejects digital meeting packet The Haines Borough school board on Tuesday almost voted to do away with printed meeting packets, before getting hung up on the question of providing computers to board members. Board members instead voiced support for posting meeting packet information and agendas on the district’s website. Tuesday’s […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Support incumbents Natalie Dawson and Debra Schnabel in the Oct. 1 election
My brother Paul Nelson, who grew up in Haines, informed me when I moved here 20 years ago, “If you want to know what you are doing, ask your neighbor.” As a past borough assembly member, I’ve noticed—If I want to know what the Haines Borough Assembly is doing I need to attend meetings and […]
Posted inNews, Local News, Haines Borough
Citing workload, Ben Aultman-Moore steps down from Assembly early
Assembly member Ben Aultman-Moore is stepping down a year early. The remaining year on his three-year term is one of three seats up for grabs in the October municipal election. He said the decision was recent and driven by a number of things – but the biggest factor was time. “I make the majority of […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough, News
Assembly Briefs: The Lutak Dock saga, progress at Portage Cove, and a cruise tourism study
A cruise ship study, ongoing contention with the Lutak Dock contractor and downtown camping opportunities were some of the things on the Haines assembly agenda on Tuesday evening. Members met for about three and a half hours and also heard a lot of testimony from residents frustrated with the management of the Chilkoot Lake State […]
Posted inNews, Local News, Haines Borough
The impacts of constant churn in borough managers
Borough manager Annette Kreitzer worked her last day on Aug. 12. Her temporary replacement, Elke Doom, arrives in town this week and borough finance director Jila Stuart is acting as interim manager in the few days between when one leaves and the other starts. Kreitzer, who has been with the borough since October of 2021, […]
Posted inThis Week in History
This Week in History: Communication breakdown, cruise dump felons, fin
July 31, 2014 – Earthquake breaks link to phone, internet A 5.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked Southeast Alaska at about 3 a.m., July 25, cut Alaska Power and Telephone cell phone and Internet service in Haines, as well as ACS cell phone service, for nearly a day. The break in service also affected some AT&T customers […]