Late last week, Steve Johnson, a tourist visiting Haines from Wisconsin, was grumbling about his gas bill: $92. “It kinda sucks. Just looking at gas in Skagway, which is where we’re going, it’s $5.05 (per gallon),” said Johnson. Haines fishermen, tourism businesses and vacationers have all been dealing with high gas bills as per-gallon prices […]
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Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
By Tom Morphet Judy Hall Jacobson, Terry Jacobson, Nene Wolfe, Mark Kistler, and Mardell Gunn, and about a half-dozen other residents attended the annual Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Haines Junction, Y.T. Five bands from across Canada and the Lower 48 performed during the three-day event last weekend. Friends and family members of Stephanie Scott celebrated the life of […]
Posted inAlaska Marine Highway System, News
Winter ferry schedule proposed
Haines would get ferry service between four and five times per week under a winter draft schedule by the Alaska Marine Highway System. Community leaders this week praised the schedule, which includess more stops than at any time since 2019. “That should allow people to go for medical appointments and everything else, as long as […]
Posted inNews
Borough, DNR talk about state parks
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources commissioner John Boyle met with Haines Borough Manager Annette Kreitzer and Mayor Douglas Olerud on June 19 to discuss challenges facing state parks. The Chilkat Valley is home to five state park facilities: Chilkat State Park, Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site, state campgrounds at Portage Cove and Mosquito Lake, and the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Tourism tax may lose designation
A proposal that would do away with restrictions on how two local sales taxes are spent could face voters in the fall. Currently, the Haines Borough levies a 1% sales tax that can be spent only on tourism and economic development and a half-percent tax designated for emergency medical service. Last year, the borough collected about $677,000 […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Chamber of Commerce farewell
By Andrew Letchworth To all of Haines, but especially the business community. You’ve probably heard I’m stepping down as the Haines Chamber of Commerce Director. The rumors are true; this time, I’m officially stepping down. I’ve threatened to do it several times, but my love for this community and my passion for helping entrepreneurs like […]
Posted inNews
Gas, insurance, labor: Here’s why Haines flights are so expensive
When Haines resident Greg Podsiki was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020, doctors told him he would need to go to Juneau for five laparoscopic surgeries under anesthesia and another half dozen intrusive follow ups. Luckily, doctors caught Podsiki’s cancer in time, but he faced a different sort of challenge: paying for it. Podsiki ultimately […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Existing dock can’t meet town’s needs
I appreciate constructive criticism, it’s instructive and helpful in future decisions. A recent letter writer to the CVN made a number of overly broad statements that I’d like to address here. I’ve reviewed two heliport permits and forwarded them to the Planning Commission for its action. There have been issues with two large event venues, I don’t […]
Posted inThank You Letters
Thanks for support with memorial
By Reed, Josh, Heron Scott-Schwalbach Thank you so much to everyone who helped us celebrate our mother Stephanie Scott the month of June. From the many folks who helped us with the house to the special tributes from Mayor Doug Olerud and State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, we feel incredibly lucky to be from a community like Haines. A special […]
Posted inNews, Housing
Borough comprehensive plan get underway amid tensions
Work on Haines Borough‘s 10-year comprehensive plan got under way on Tuesday as tensions between environmentalists and resource developers and concerns over the process for developing the plan simmered below the surface. Boroughs are required to periodically update their comprehensive plans under state law. The plans guide the planning commission and assembly about code and zoning […]