By Roger Maynard, on September 29th, 2011  Haines Mayor Jan Hill Haines Borough Mayor Jan Hill was unable to attend the Chamber of Commerce candidates forum on Friday, September 23, at the library. Hill had prearranged meetings with Yukon officials in Whitehorse. She asked Chamber of Commerce officials if she could have a statement read at the candidates forum while she was away on borough business, but her request was denied–a departure from the way the Chamber handled similar situations in past years.
Mayor Hill apologized for her absence, but said the benefit to Haines was worth the trip. The following is her report from those meetings:
Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 29th, 2011  Cruise Ship Statendam at the PC Dock We’ve said it before: “We need more business-oriented people on the assembly.”
Where non-business folks tend to look at the budget or the economy as a fixed pool of money that needs to be divided up fairly, an experienced private sector business manager realizes that the economy is something that can expand or contract, depending on sound management decisions. Decisions by a governmental body affect not only the government’s budget, but the health of the underlying private economy that the government depends on for income.
This was best illustrated at the Chamber of Commerce candidates forum last Friday, when one question separated the wheat from the chaff. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 28th, 2011 After years of indecisiveness, the Haines Assembly was unanimous in its decision to raze the old school gym still standing at the corner of 3rd and Main Streets. The decision is based on recent information showing that restoration of the old building is too expensive, and the building is not ideal for either offices or a recreation center. There is currently no heat or electricity in the building, and it has been standing that way for at least 5 years.
A small group led by Joe Poor and Jack Wenner argued to keep the building, and said they were working on a business plan to keep the building open as a recreation center for the community, but their efforts were too little, too late. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 28th, 2011  HAINES–Early voting is available weekdays from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. at the Haines Borough Clerk’s office. It’s easy, and it takes the pressure off those who may have difficulty getting to the polls on Tuesday.
Commercial fishermen, for example, can vote early and not miss any of the commercial fishing days early next week. The elderly, or others who have difficulty getting to the polls can vote at their convenience by taking advantage of early voting. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 27th, 2011 HAINES JUNCTION, YT–An RCMP officer is in hospital with non life-threatening injuries after a shooting in Haines Junction, Yukon.
Sergeant Don Rogers says officers were called to investigate a break and enter at Madley’s General Store in the community of about 600 people. Police came upon a suspicious vehicle and as they began to pursue it, one or more shots were fired in their direction. The incident happened at about 6:50 a.m. PT.
Read full story at CBCNews Canada.
By Roger Maynard, on September 27th, 2011 JUNEAU–Alaska officials say sesame sticks being recalled by Pepperidge Farms have been distributed in the state.
The Department of Environmental Conservation says in a release that Pepperidge Farms is recalling Baked Naturals Sesame Sticks because of the presence of “small, thin pieces of wire.” Some people have complained of small scrapes when eating them.
Read details in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
By Roger Maynard, on September 26th, 2011  HAINES–The desperate opposition of activists Deborah Vogt and Gershon Cohen to the recall of two assembly members only serves to confirm the public’s perception that they have been working behind the scenes to control the Haines Borough Assembly; the public is fed up, and now that this small group might lose control they are starting to panic. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 22nd, 2011 The smaller the community, the more the politics take on the intensity of a family feud.
Haines, a small town on the road system in the Alaskan wilderness, has more than the usual degree of political buzz going on, with the mayor, and all but one assembly seat up for either election or recall. In a town sharply divided between radical left ideologies and a few radical right wingers as well, control of the borough assembly is up for grabs. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 20th, 2011 SOUTHEAST ALASKA–Veteran weather watchers, pilots, and mariners see a familiar story when we study the weather charts. Today’s surface analysis shows a large, deep low pressure system centered over Kodiak Island, with the jet stream carrying some stronger, small “post-tropical” storms across the Pacific Ocean to the Southeast Alaska and British Columbia coasts. Periods of heavy rain and wind will be the norm this week.
The Daily Sitka Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/mZ02ie) the Amsterdam and Westerdam canceled their port calls Tuesday and Wednesday because of poor weather.
The last cruise ship of the year for Haines, the Statendam, scheduled for tomorrow–Wednesday, September 21–has cancelled this week’s sailing, apparently also due to weather.
View the current short term forecast and hydrologic outlook.
By Roger Maynard, on September 20th, 2011  Alaska State Trooper Dispatches:
HAINES–Take cub brown bear
On 9-16-11, Gregg A. Johnson, age 60 of Haines was cited by Wildlife Troopers for taking a cub grizzly bear that was accompanied by a sow and a sibling cub. Johnson was given an arraignment date of 10-4-11 in the Haines district court. The bear was seized by AWT. A brown bear is considered a cub for the first two years of its life. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 17th, 2011  Click image to view sample ballot In some respects, local politics can have a more immediate and profound effect on our daily lives than national politics. Our local leaders make decisions that affect our tax rates, our laws and regulations, and our infrastructure. National politics may drive economics on a larger scale, but the assembly decides how much it costs to live in Haines.
In Haines, this year’s political lineup is more intense than usual, with the mayoral race, two assembly races, a vacant assembly seat to fill, and a ballot recall question for two of the remaining seats. By the time this election is over, the assembly could look radically different from what it is been in the recent past. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 15th, 2011  Google Earth rendition of the Chilkoot Valley, looking north from Chilkoot Lake, showing Connelly Lake. Notes by Roger Maynard HAINES has an energy crisis. A little town in the middle of coastal Alaska with high mountain lakes and running water everywhere, we should be rolling in surplus hydroelectric power, but we’re not. Instead, we periodically burn diesel to smoke up our valley at a premium cost to consumers. Even without the diesel surcharge, electrical (IPEC) business customers in the upper Chilkat Valley are getting soaked up to $0.61 per kilowatt hour. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 11th, 2011  Mayor Jan Hill and assembly candidates Jerry Erny and Karen Hess
HAINES–Candidates for assembly, Karen Hess and Jerry Erny held a “Meet and Greet” at the Captain’s Choice Hotel Lounge on Saturday afternoon. Turnout was good, with the lounge packed for a couple of hours as Haines residents drifted in and out, and the candidates took time to speak with them about their concerns. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 7th, 2011 HAINES–We owe a big “thank you” to candidates who chose to run for office — to those serving, as well as those running in the current election. Serving on the assembly requires a huge commitment of time and energy, and sometimes there is little thanks for the effort. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 7th, 2011  Democrats find this kind of ad "chilling" Among cases scheduled to go before the APOC commission next week include a proposed settlement with Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, and supporters, who had faced a complaint over thank-you ads, paid by local businesses, in support of Thomas.
The ads, which read, “Thank You,” were coordinated by Jim Studley and appeared over several weeks in the Chilkat Valley News. A few of the ads mentioned voting for Thomas, and APOC has determined that those ads were in violation of APOC regulations. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 7th, 2011  HAINES–Police Chief Gary Lowe informs us that there will be a meeting of the Alcohol Task Force tonight at 6:00 pm in the Assembly chambers.
To view the agenda, click here.
By Roger Maynard, on September 6th, 2011  HAINES–Republican state Rep. Bill Thomas of Haines greeted a small group of friends and supporters at the American Bald Eagle Foundation in Haines last Friday evening, to announce the kick-off of his 2012 reelection campaign.
Thomas explained that he is starting earlier this year, since the campaign will be complicated by redistricting that significantly changed the makeup of his district. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on August 31st, 2011  A seiner makes a set in Peril Strait HAINES–Gilnetters in Haines have been complaining recently about low catch numbers, and are blaming ADF&G for allowing the southeast region northern seine fleet to intercept fish before they have a chance to enter Lynn Canal.
According to ADF&G’s 2011 Preliminary Alaska Commercial Salmon Catch “Blue Sheet,” updated on August 26, 2011, the northern southeast seine fleet harvested nearly 45 million pinks and 226,000 sockeye. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on August 31st, 2011  HAINES–The Olerud family’s side-by-side Alaska Sport Shop and Olerud’s Market Center present an attractive welcome to visitors arriving in Haines by highway. The new facelift on the Market Center adds a tasteful appearance to Main Street, as well as practical amenities such as covered porches and handicap access for customers. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on August 31st, 2011
HAINES–On Thursday, August 25, Delta Western, Inc. and Southeast Alaska Petroleum Resource Organization (SEAPRO) conducted a joint training exercise in the Haines small boat harbor. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on August 31st, 2011 HAINES–Haines has an alcohol problem that has been highlighted recently by two accidents (one fatal) and other incidents involving young people who were affected by drinking alcohol. It’s time to look for a solution…
The Haines Borough is sponsoring a round-table type discussion this evening, August 31, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chilkat Center. The discussion, led by Chief of Police Gary Lowe, will focus on identifying the scope of the alcohol problem and proposing solutions.
For more information, contact Gary Lowe, Chief of Police, 766-2121, glowe@haines.ak.us
By Roger Maynard, on August 24th, 2011 The following comments are presented as a service so our readers can stay informed on local current events, and do not constitute the minutes or official record of any meeting. Meeting minutes, agenda, and other documents are available at the Haines Borough web site.
Present at the Haines Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, August 24, 2011 were Mayor Jan Hill and borough manager Mark Earnest and assembly members Daymond Hoffman, Steve Vick, Scott Rossman, Jerry Lapp, and Joanne Waterman. Borough Clerk Julie Cozzi was present, as well as Chief of Police Gary Lowe. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on August 24th, 2011 HAINES–Recent changes to the Haines Borough Code online by the publishing company have made it easier for computer users in Haines to access and use the borough code. In a presentation at the borough assembly meeting, Clerk Julie Cozzie demonstrated some of the added capabilities to the system.
Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on August 24th, 2011  Haines Harbor HAINES–The Haines Borough Assembly met Tuesday evening as a committee of the whole, to discuss proposed changes to Title 16 of the Haines Borough Code, “Harbors.”
Much of the one-hour meeting was consumed by presentations by Haines Harbormaster Ed Barrett and Boat Harbor Advisory Committee members Bill Rostad and Jim Studley, who presented the assembly with a proposed rewrite of Haines Borough Code Title 16. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on August 24th, 2011 USCG press release
KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a 70-year-old man from Gustavus near Glacier Bay 46 miles to Juneau Tuesday evening. Read more->
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| Nate Beeler
The Columbus Dispatch
May 16, 2012
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Lynn Canal Map & Marine Traffic (refresh for current ship positions)
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Haines, Alaska 99827
Editor:
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P.O. Box 784
Haines, Alaska 99827
editor@hainesnews.net
The Haines Alaska News is a public information service of the Alaska Alliance for Commerce, Inc., a grassroots movement organized to advocate for small business and a free market economy in Alaska.
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