10 years ago The Haines Borough Assembly decided a Beach Road man can keep the personal shooting range he’s maintained at his residence for 28 years. The assembly voted unanimously to reverse manager David Sosa’s order for Gary Keller to stop using his backyard shooting range. Though discharging firearms is prohibited in the townsite, Keller […]
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Posted inLocal News, Tlingit Language, Haines Borough
Assembly Briefs: Deishú signage, changes to the junk car disposal program, a new head tax, and a burn permit overhaul
Welcome to Haines/Deishú round two? In his report to the assembly, Mayor Tom Morphet wrote that interim manager Elke Doom and he met with Chilkoot Indian Association tribal administrator Harriet Brouillette and – among other things – spoke about the borough placing signs reading “Deishú” in parentheses, under the “Welcome to Haines” signs currently sitting […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
After a year on the planning commission, Sargent seeks another term
Incumbent Eben Sargent is running for a Haines Borough Planning Commission seat for a year. He was among those elected to the planning commission during the 2023 local election – a first for the borough. Previous commissioners were appointed by the mayor. Born and raised in northeastern Vermont, Sargent grew up in a small town […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Longtime public servant seeks contested planning commission seat
Jerry Lapp, a Haines resident with a long history of public service and time in local office, is running for one of two open seats on the planning commission. Lapp, who was born and raised in the lower 48, moved to Alaska in 1974 from Montana, and initially settled in Fairbanks and worked on the […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough, Public Safety
Haines police chief resigns
After four months on the job, Haines Borough Police Chief Josh Dryden has resigned. Dryden has been with the police department since 2014. He stepped in as interim police chief at least twice during that time before formally taking on the position in May of 2024, after months of contract negotiation. Reached by phone on […]
Posted inSoutheast News, Government & Elections
U.S. Navy plans apologies to Southeast Alaska villages for century-old attacks
Two Tlingít villages in Southeast Alaska will receive apologies for wrongful military action from the U.S. Navy this fall. The first of those apologies will take place in Kake this weekend, where U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark B. Sucato will acknowledge the harms of a bombardment in 1869. An apology in Angoon is scheduled for […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Assembly briefs: A new grant for the public safety building, an appeal to FEMA drags on, a dozen applicants for the borough manager position, and a new park
Find the September 10 Haines Borough Assembly agenda here. A new grant for the public safety building The borough has been given the opportunity to apply for a $20 million community change grant with the borough potentially getting another $14 million for a public safety training center. The aging building has been a concern for […]
Posted inCommentary
One size of municipal government doesn’t fit all in Alaska
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 […]
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 […]