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 […]
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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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
This Week in History: Property rights, a tax exemption, and a local moose hunt
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]

