The Haines Borough’s heli-ski season is just around the corner, and in the wake of an accident that killed two people last spring, concerns about safety aren’t going away. Like much of the recreation industry, heli-skiing falls largely outside most state and federal regulations concerning occupational safety and health. Similarly, the borough, which requires heli-ski […]
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Schedule for Earnest review
Haines Borough assembly members have received evaluation forms for manager Mark Earnest and will submit the completed forms to the Mayor by Jan. 15. The assembly will meet with Earnest as a committee of the whole on Jan. 22 to discuss the evaluations. The meeting typically occurs in executive session, meaning it is closed to the public, but Earnest […]
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2012: The Year in Review
The earth moved in 2012 and the shift wasn’t only the “slump” on the side of Mount Ripinsky that cleaved a house and split Lutak Road. Four-term incumbent state Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, aiming to become Speaker of the House, lost his seat to Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a 23-year-old Sitkan seeking his first political office. Klukwan, Inc., once among the wealthiest Native […]
Posted inNews, Alaska Marine Highway System
Mayor joins outcry against changed ferry plan
Haines Borough officials say they were left in the dark regarding a recent, abrupt decision by Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell to change plans for the Alaska Class Ferry. Parnell announced Dec. 4 the Alaska Marine Highway System would pursue plans to construct two smaller, less expensive ferries rather than a single, larger one. Parnell said […]
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Kreiss-Tomkins makes 4-day Haines visit
State representative-elect Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins visited Haines this week. His four-day visit included playing in community hockey games and meeting with interest groups. The 23-year-old Democrat arrived Monday afternoon with the goal of networking with local agencies and leaders to determine needs and priorities. Kreiss-Tomkins visited with borough and school board officials, spoke with senior center and pre-school […]
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BLM issues ‘Ring of Fire’ draft plan
More than 300,000 acres of currently off-limits mountain terrain near Haines would reopen to heli-ski use under a recent Bureau of Land Management plan. The BLM released its Ring of Fire Draft Resource Management Plan Haines Planning Area Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement last week, which is used to determine land use designations, management […]
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Thomas’ ascent: From millhand to Alaska legislator
In 2006, a certified public accountant brought in to review the books of the Southeast Alaska State Fair determined the organization was bankrupt. A former executive director had allowed charges at local stores, federal tax bills, and associated penalties to pile up to a debt of more than $100,000. “We owed so much to the […]
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Private fix sought for junked vehicles
The Haines Borough could soon be partnering with a private business to solve towing, impoundment and junked-car related issues. The assembly voted Tuesday to direct the administration to request bids for providing the services. The provider would help the borough enforce laws already on the books. In light of recent discussion of a proposed local motor vehicle […]
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Architects rate condition of borough buildings
The Haines public safety building is in bad shape. In fact, Anchorage-based architect Jason Gamache said he hasn’t seen anything quite like it in the rest of the state. Gamache, along with McCool Carlson and Green associate Jason Weir, delivered a presentation recently at Haines High School outlining the results of their Haines 2015 facility […]
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Heli-ski safety claim in question
Until Tuesday evening, Haines-based Alaska Heliskiing claimed on its website to be a member of the Alaska Helicopter Skiing Association, which does not exist, according to numerous industry operators. In the safety section of the company’s website, under the heading “Our Safety Program,” Alaska Heliskiing claimed membership in an organization called the Alaska Helicopter Skiing […]