Haines | Transportation | Utilities

Ocean View / Lutak Road Slope Movement
Daily Update for February 1, 2012

There was a sudden increase of movement in the slide area beginning around 7:30 pm which aroused residents nearby. Upon investigation, the shifting that had occurred at the large cracks at the top of the slide in Lutak Road, was very visible. There was an approximate horizontal shift of 8 inches, and a vertical drop of near 4 inches. Residents in the immediate area were notified of the increased activity, as well as appropriate State agencies.

The State DOT survey crew finished setting additional control points surrounding the whole area, and plan to be back in two weeks to check for any differences.

Haines DOT/PF crews ground the remaining hump in the north bound lane today with Southeast Road Builders re‐claimer. Borough Maintenance crews filled the cracks in Lutak road for the State who were busy grinding the pavement of the bump and the bottom of the active area.

Next scheduled update will be 3 PM Thursday afternoon.

Command Center – 766‐2258 Roc Ahrens ~ Emergency Coordinator
DAILY Update Recording – 766‐22567

Haines | Tourism | Transportation | Utilities

Ocean View / Lutak Road Slope Movement
Daily Up‐Date for January 27, 2012

Public Information Release
The boring of 5 test holes was completed before noon today by Denali Drilling, to collect samples of materials in and around the slump area down to 40’. The material samples will be taken back to the lab for testing that will help provide information for the cause of the slope movement.

Survey points were completed today to daily track the amount, and direction of movement in and around the active area. Baseline numbers were collected and recorded for daily movement monitoring.

Local State DOT is making plans to cut out the hump and the bottom of the slide area as early as Monday. Until then, please use caution going over the hump near the intersection to Front Street, as it is getting pretty severe.

Next scheduled update will be Monday afternoon.

Command Center – 766‐2258 Roc Ahrens ~ Emergency Coordinator
DAILY Update Recording – 766‐2256

To view all updates: http://www.hainesborough.us/slopemovement.html

Haines | Local News | Tourism | Transportation

Ocean View / Lutak Road Slope Movement
Daily Up‐Date for January 26, 2012

Public Information Release:
Denali Drilling from Anchorage has completed three (3) of the five (5) test holes scheduled by 2:30 pm, and plan to complete the forth test hole on Mathias today as well. The last test hole is scheduled for tomorrow morning, Friday, in Lutak Road which will require a lane closure. One lane will be left open, and expect traffic control and flaggers through this area tomorrow morning.

Core samples of the materials are being collected by PND geo tech engineers that will be taken back to their labs for analysis.
A surveyor for PND continued to set up reflector targets, and survey points that will allow more accurate collection of data to study the daily movement. The surveyor is training employees how to set up the equipment and collect the data on a daily, or as time allows basis.

Because of all the activities happening today with the large snow fall, water line breaks in Highland Estates, drilling test holes and setting up survey equipment, we were not able to measure or report the amount of movement since yesterday.

Command Center – 766‐2258 Roc Ahrens ~ Emergency Coordinator
DAILY Update Recording – 766‐2256

To view all updates: http://www.hainesborough.us/slopemovement.html

Economy | Federal Regulation | Oil & Gas | Transportation

Opinion: Keystone Pipeline
A Key Ingredient Missing from Obama’s Economic Recovery Recipe

The Heritage Foundation
President Obama’s State of the Union address laid out his long-term economic recovery plans, which he claims will “work for everyone, not just a wealthy few.” That is, unless it is the pipeline construction business. President Obama’s politically intoned decision to reject TransCanada’s permit application to construct a 1,700-mile pipeline from Alberta, Canada, to Texas refineries last week sent a clear message that special-interest demands are more important than more energy and much-needed job creation.

Read full opinion piece at the heritage.org.

Events | Haines | Outdoors | Tourism | Transportation | Whitehorse

Davy wins second Alcan 200
Yukoners take four divisions

By Tom Patrick | YUKON NEWS
Whitehorse’s Jarrid Davy hurtled down the Haines Highway at near record speeds at the Alcan 200 International Snow Machine Road Rally on Saturday.

Averaging a speed of 191 kilometres an hour, Davy was about two kilometres an hour from the record. (Average times include fuel stops.)

Though just off the record, his speed was enough to win his second straight title in the 651cc-open class, one of four divisions won by Yukoners this year.

Read the full article in the Yukon News.

Haines | Tourism | Transportation | Utilities

Ocean View / Lutak Road Slope Movement
Daily Up‐Date for January 25, 2012

Public Information Release
Denali Drilling from Anchorage began drilling test holes around noon today, starting on Ocean View Drive. They will be drilling a series of holes above and below the slump area to provide PND Geologists and Engineers with soil samples of the area. Borough Sewer & Water employees worked with PND engineers set up control stations to collect accurate measurements of the movement in the active slide zone, as well as data of the area above the “cracks” of the active portion of the slump. Work will continue Thursday & Friday, with a planned lane closure for drilling in Lutak Road on Friday morning.

The recent storm hindered the mechanical measurements of the movement over the last 24 hours, but the activity we could see where the snow was plowed out for the drilling crew appeared to be about the same; from 1 –2 inches.
Next update will be approx. 3 PM tomorrow.

Command Center – 766‐2258 Roc Ahrens ~ Emergency Coordinator
DAILY Update Recording – 766‐2256

Haines | Tourism | Transportation | Utilities

Ocean View / Lutak Road Slope Movement
Daily Up‐Date for January 24, 2012

Public Information Release
Weather continues to plague efforts to get drill rig parts and transportation for engineers that are still trying to make it to town.

Monitoring of daily movement showed a slight increase in the rate we have been seeing, with a 4” crack in the Ocean View Drive road area, that is new from yesterday, and cracks re‐opening in Lutak Road that had been filled by DOT. We are anxious for the engineers and equipment to arrive that will help us collect more accurate data. Read more->

Haines | Local News | Tourism | Transportation | Utilities

Ocean View / Lutak Road Slope Movement
Daily Up‐Date for January 23, 2012

Public Information Release:
HAINES–A core drilling contractor arrived in Haines over the week‐end and will begin drilling a series of bore holes in and around the slide area as soon as their equipment is ready to go. PND engineers, scheduled to arrive this afternoon, plan to install accurate measuring instruments that will help track daily movement.   Read more->

Haines | Tourism | Transportation

Ocean View / Lutak Road Slope Movement
Daily Up‐Date for January 21, 2012

Public Information Release:
HAINES–DOT/PF crews filled cracks and dip in the pavement, making travel through the problem area safe and smooth. Our thanks to the crew for their concerns and efforts to keep this portion of the road safe for our use.

Even though we continue to record slow movement in this area, PLEASE check with the Command Center in Brian Lemcke’s office, or at least check the latest update on the Borough website or the PSA’s on KHNS before running with the wild rumors that are circulating. These updates will be posted daily, or when necessary to report.

Lutak road is not closed, nor are there any plans at this time to do so. Any such information will be posted to the website as soon as possible, so we can all know the truth at the same time.

Haines Borough Command Center – 766‐2258
Link to Haines Borough updates on this issue.

Haines | Local News | Transportation

Ocean View/Lutak Slope Movement Update

The center line and fog lines, originally straight, have moved sideways several inches. Photo by Roc Ahrens

HAINES–The land that has suddenly started sinking in the vicinity of Lutak Road and Oceanview Road has the attention of Haines Borough residents, especially since Lutak is the main road from Haines to the Alaska Marine Highway Terminal and the freight dock.  The area continues to move, with cracks in the road growing about 1 inch since yesterday, and other areas showing a 9-inch vertical shift overnight.  Read more->

Haines | Juneau | Skagway | Transportation

AMHS Cancellation: MV LeConte

AMHS Press release 1/20/2012
JUNEAU–MV LeConte has run into severe weather conditions and will return to Auke Bay; today’s sailings to Haines and Skagway have been canceled. An estimated time of arrival to Auke Bay will be released when the vessel is able to turn south in the vicinity of Berners Bay. AMHS staff will notify affected passengers of these changes. For more information, please contact the Juneau reservations call center or your local terminal by dialing 1-800-642-0066.

For tomorrow’s schedule, please see the MV LeConte sailing calendar for January 2012.

Alaska | News | Tourism | Transportation

Ice storm cancels more Seattle flights Friday

SEATTLE–Alaska Airlines reports flight cancellations are expected to continue through Friday.

Travelers are advised to check your flight status before leaving for the airport and visit Alaska Airlines’ advisory page for rebooking options and more info.  For more information, see the Alaska Airlines website.

Haines | Local News | Transportation | Utilities

Slip-sliding away…part 2
Highway damage, some homes in danger from sinking land in Haines

Mayor Stephanie Scott examines the fault along Ocean View Road, along with Water/Sewer Operator & Fire Chief, Scott Bradford.

Haines has the attention of state officials and geologists today, as they try to determine the cause of subsiding land in the vicinity of Lutak Road and Ocean View. The sinking ground threatens a major highway, some residences in the area, and sewer and water lines that transit the area.  Read more->

Alaska | Oil & Gas | Transportation

Most of the gas, about half the fuel oil pumped to Nome

By Mary Pemberton | AP
A Russian tanker Wednesday was nearly finished pumping fuel to the iced-in city of Nome, having sent more than half of the 1.3 million gallons of diesel and gasoline through two hoses snaking across the ice.

The remote Western Alaska coastal city has been anticipating its winter fuel delivery since November when a powerful storm prevented the delivery by barge. The tanker left Russia in mid-December and pushed through miles of ice to begin the high-stakes delivery on Monday.

Read full story in the Anchorage Daily News.

Haines | Local News | Transportation | Utilities

Slip-Sliding Away…
State and Borough to investigate settling ground in Haines

Part of the Lutak Road in the vicinity of Ocean View Drive has settled several inches in the past few days, and state and borough investigators are trying to determine the cause so that corrective action can be taken. Meanwhile, drive carefully on the way to the ferry terminal–there are a couple of new bumps in the road.

The following update is from Haines Borough Manager Mark Earnest: Read more->

Alaska | News | Oil & Gas | Transportation | Utilities

Difficult Ice Conditions for Nome Fuel Delivery

USCG video:

Read more:
USCG Blog press release.
ADN: Ice conditions raise worries about Nome fuel delivery

Alaska | Alaska Politics | Entertainment | Transportation

New texting ban among 30 bills filed for legislative session

By Becky Bohrer | AP
JUNEAU — An explicit ban on texting while driving and a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap state spending and force saving were among the 30 measures filed Friday in advance of this month’s legislative session.

The ban on texting or typing while driving is from Reps. Les Gara and Bill Thomas. It comes as the state’s intended ban, passed in 2008, faces a legal challenge, with a magistrate in Kenai recently saying the Legislature should have been explicit if it truly meant to prohibit the activity.

Read the full article in the Anchorage Daily News.

Lifestyle | Transportation

AAA: New Year’s Eve Party-goers Should Plan Ahead

AAA press release:
HELENA, Mont. (12/29/2011) – With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, AAA is reminding celebrators to plan ahead and find a safe way to get home this holiday weekend. Read more->

Southeast AK | Tourism | Transportation

Alaskan Dream Cruises Adds New Itineraries

By: Travel World News Editor

SITKA–Alaskan Dream Cruises, one of the newest small-ship cruise lines sailing in Southeast Alaska, is announcing three new itineraries, additional ports of call and ship renovations. Alaskan Dream Cruises is owned and operated by an Alaska Native family in Sitka, Alaska. The company will operate its second season from May through September 2012.

The 42-passenger Alaskan Dream will sail on three new itineraries in 2012: an eight-day trip that focuses on many less-explored destinations, including Hobart Bay and Kasaan, and two more comprehensive 11- and 13-day trips through the Inside Passage. The three itineraries also include new ports of call for the cruise line: Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Thorne Bay, Kasaan, Wrangell and Gustavus.

Read the full story in the Travel World News.
Visit Alaska Dream Cruises website.

Federal Regulation | Tourism | Transportation

Obesity rise prompts Wash. ferry capacity change

SEATTLE (AP) — The Washington state ferry service isn’t going to start turning away hefty passengers, but it has had to reduce the capacity of the nation’s largest ferry system because people have been packing on the pounds.

Coast Guard vessel stability rules that took effect nationwide Dec. 1 raised the estimated weight of the average adult passenger to 185 pounds from the previous 160 pounds, based on population information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

…The new stability rules may have a bigger impact on the smaller charter fishing boats, such as those that take anglers fishing out of the Pacific Ocean ports of Westport and Ilwaco, Young said. Any vessel that carries more than six paying customers has to be inspected and certified by the Coast Guard as a passenger vessel.

Read full article in the Seattle PI.

Juneau | Southeast AK | Transportation | Yakutat

Dec 26: Kennicott’s Auke Bay Departure Delayed

JUNEAU–MV Kennicott will delay departure from Juneau/Auke Bay terminal today; Monday, December 26th by 24 hours due to severe weather. For more information, please contact your local terminal by dialing 1-800-642-0066.
At this time, Kennicott is scheduled to depart Juneau/Auke Bay on Tuesday, December 27th at 4:30pm for an arrival in Yakutat on Wednesday, December 28th at 9:30am.

For more info or updates, see FerryAlaska.com.

Alaska | Environment | Transportation

Japan tsunami debris expected on Alaska shores soon
A few items with higher sail areas have hit B.C., Washington beaches.

By Mike Dunham | ADN
ANCHORAGE–Debris from the March 11 Japan tsunami has reached Washington state and British Columbia. According to predictions from a leading oceanographer, Alaskans can expect to see flotsam — perhaps tons of it — washing up on beaches soon.

Read the full story in the Anchorage Daily News.

Alaska | Federal Regulation | Tourism | Transportation

Alaska, Feds again at odds over Yukon River access rights

by Craig Medred | ALASKA DISPATCH
Alaska’s Fed-wary political leadership tried to challenge National Park Service oversight of the Yukon River after rangers took down Interior elderly riverboat operator Jim Wilde in an ugly show of force in the fall of 2010, but they backed off after a federal magistrate ruled he wasn’t going to buy state ownership of the river as a defense against charges levied against Wilde.

Now, though, state officials seem to think they’ve found the perfect vehicle to challenge federal authority in a lawsuit filed by moose hunter John Sturgeon. A former state forester who’s now an executive with Koncor Forest Products, Sturgeon has sued the federal government, charging it has gone well beyond its legal authority to regulate navigable waters in Alaska parks and preserves. By law, Alaska’s navigable waters were supposed to pass into state ownership at statehood.

Read the full story in the Alaska Dispatch.

Economy | Military | National politics | Oil & Gas | Transportation

Can U.S. lawmakers stomach the cost of new icebreakers?

Mia Bennett | ALASKA DISPATCH
The U.S. Congressional Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, part of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, held a hearing earlier this month on U.S. Coast Guard operations in the Arctic. The chief topic of concern was icebreakers. As I reported back in February, the U.S. will be without heavy icebreakers for at least two years.

Read full article in the Alaska Dispatch.

Alaska | Transportation

Alaska Airlines Debuts “Club 49″ for Alaska Residents
Members: Free checked bags, last-minute travel discounts, weekly fare sales

Alaska Airlines Press Release
ANCHORAGE — Alaska Airlines announced a new program today exclusively for residents of the state of Alaska. Club 49™ offers Alaska residents special perks, including free checked baggage, last-minute travel discounts and exclusive emails featuring weekly fare sales.

“Alaska Airlines’ success would not be possible without the loyal support of residents in the state whose name we proudly fly on our aircraft,” President Brad Tilden said. “Club 49 is our way of making air travel more affordable and saying ‘thank you’ to Alaskans.”

Club 49 benefits are available to all Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members who are Alaska state residents. Residents can join the complimentary program by visiting www.alaskaair.com/club49.

Nate Beeler
The Columbus Dispatch
May 16, 2012
DAILY CARTOON click to enlarge
ANDERTOONS.COM DAILY CARTOONS

Haines Alaska News
Classifieds

Search by keyword

Search by City


Categories

Lynn Canal Map & Marine Traffic (refresh for current ship positions)

Publisher Information:

Publisher Information:

Alaska Alliance for Commerce, Inc. (AAFC)
P.O. Box 784
Haines, Alaska 99827

Editor:

Roger L. Maynard
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.

The AAFC is organized under section 501(C)(4) of the U.S. Tax Code; contributions are not tax deductible.