Moose hunting season began Tuesday and hunters harvested three legal animals on opening day. Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) wildlife biologist Carl Koch said he was unable to spot many moose during recent surveys due to weather conditions, but estimates the population at around 400 moose, which is healthy. “We hope to see […]
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Posted inNews, Alaska Marine Highway System
AMHS finalizes winter ferry schedule
The Alaska Marine Highway System began accepting bookings for its winter ferry schedule this month. Under the finalized winter schedule, Haines will receive three port calls a week—Sunday, Tuesday, Friday—from the LeConte until the vessel goes into layup in mid-February. After that, the community will receive a weekly visit from the Matanuska until the LeConte […]
Posted inNews
Interim manager describes AIDEA conversation
News of a meeting between borough staff, Mayor Jan Hill and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) regarding Lutak Dock repair needs is generating interest among local conservation groups. In a Sept. 14 email, Lynn Canal Conservation criticized the borough for lack of transparency about the discussion with AIDEA, and urged the public to contact assembly members and request a […]
Posted inNews
Candidates differ in COVID-19 response and new revenue ideas
Messages from mayoral and assembly candidates at the Haines Chamber of Commerce’s Sept. 9 forum were largely the same. The eight candidates—two mayoral and six assembly— emphasized working together and the need to create more business opportunities in Haines to help stimulate the economy, without offering many specifics. Areas where the candidates distinguished themselves included […]
Posted inNews
Union filed grievance against borough over Alten firing
The Haines Borough is dealing with a July 14 grievance from Public Employees Local 71, the borough’s employees union, filed on behalf of former museum director Helen Alten, who was fired on June 30. A grievance is a formal process for resolving disputes relating to interpretation of the borough’s collective bargaining agreement. Alten said she decided to […]
Posted inNews
Should the permanent fund be tapped?
A measure on the ballot for the Oct. 3 election has sparked debate over the Haines Borough permanent fund’s purpose—whether the principal should function as a “rainy day” savings account during economic disasters, or whether the fund is strictly intended to support the borough through its earnings. The ballot measure, which the assembly approved in June, asks […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Remove the tin foil
Take off your foil-lined MAGA hat for a minute, put on your flag-emblazoned mask, and tell my why any fiscal conservative would want to spend $20 million for a new public safety building when the existing one can be rejuvenated for less than $1 million. Oh, but (and only an engineer could come up with […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Two candidates, withdraw from, local races
Less than a week after the Aug. 20 filing deadline, two candidates have withdrawn from the Haines Borough Assembly and school board races—Tresham Gregg from the assembly race and Sara Chapell from the school board contest. Chapell’s withdrawal means the four remaining candidates—school board member Brian Clay, school board president Anne Marie Palmieri, high school senior Lydia Andriesen and Tiffany DeWitt—are guaranteed seats […]
Posted inNews
Two candidates withdraw from local races
Less than a week after the Aug. 20 filing deadline, two candidates have withdrawn from the Haines Borough Assembly and school board races—Tresham Gregg from the assembly race and Sara Chapell from the school board contest. Chapell’s withdrawal means the four remaining candidates—school board member Brian Clay, school board president Anne Marie Palmieri, high school senior Lydia Andriesen and Tiffany DeWitt—are guaranteed seats […]
Posted inNews
Personnel committee proposes autonomy
The Haines Borough Assembly’s Personnel Committee recommended revisions to the clerk and chief fiscal officer (CFO) contracts that would clarify the assembly’s supervisory role for these positions. Under borough charter, although municipal officers including the clerk and CFO “work under the direct supervision of the manager,” they are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the […]