By Editor, on February 4th, 2012 Public Information Release
HAINES–A Resolution to declare a disaster and requesting state assistance was adopted in a special meeting of the Haines Borough Assembly today at 1:15 pm. The situation was elevated to this point when the main sewer line from 125 homes on the hillside of Highland Estates and Skyline Drive was broken by the slide activity.
Crews from Southeast Road Builders Inc. and the Borough Water & Sewer Department started emergency repairs to this line before light this morning. Work is ongoing as of this report (3:00pm Friday afternoon) PSA’s asking residence above this area to restrict their use of water going into the sewer until crews finish emergency repairs today. [Borough officials] will place an announcement on KHNS when the work is completed and normal usage can resume. Crews will continue working until repairs are finished today. Thank you for your patience.
No update is scheduled for the week‐end unless there are major changes to report.
Command Center – 766‐2258 Roc Ahrens ~ Emergency Coordinator
DAILY Update Recording – 766‐22567
Click here to view all official updates on the Haines Borough Website.
By Editor, on February 3rd, 2012 PUBLIC NOTICE
HAINES BOROUGH ASSEMBLY SPECIAL MEETING NOTIFICATION
Location: Borough Assembly Chambers, February 3, 2012 at 1:15 pm
PURPOSE: Consider Resolution 12-02-330 Declaring a disaster and requesting state assistance.
According to the agenda, “The slump in the Oceanview Drive/Lutak Road area continues to move and has breached the sewer line. It is anticipated that the area will continue to move and destroy public facilities. The manager has deemed it necessary to declare a disaster and request state assistance at this time.”
The Haines Alaska News will post more information as it becomes available; readers can also check the Haines Borough Website for updates.
By Editor, on February 3rd, 2012 Public Information Release
HAINES–6 PM Revision–Melting snow revealed an old manhole, not showing on any as builts, or known by local maintenance officials, during dye testing of the sewer line running through the middle of the slide area late this afternoon. This manhole is being compromised by the ground shifting close to a crack near the top of the slide area. Plans are being put together this evening to remove that manhole and to re‐connect the sewer line. This damage appears to be from earlier shifting in this location but has been buried under the snow, keeping it from detection.
Activity in the active area of the slope movement appeared to calmed down today with very little new visual movement detected.
The command center has been receiving very detailed information from several State and Federal offices in an effort to help in our planning efforts. Some of it is so detailed that we have to filter through the information to determine what is relevant to our event. If you have questions about any information you may be hearing rumors about, please contact the command center at 766‐2258.
Warmer weather will still be with us for a few more days, which is helping melt the snow, but also brings added concern to the area that is already over saturated.
Next scheduled update will be 3 PM Friday afternoon.
Command Center – 766‐2258 Roc Ahrens ~ Emergency Coordinator
DAILY Update Recording – 766‐22567
Click here to view all official updates on the Haines Borough Website.
By Editor, on January 28th, 2012  Former CIA Tribal Administrator Jim Carnahan Press Release:
HAINES–Jim Carnahan, former Tribal Administrator for the Chilkoot Indian Association, announced today that he has settled his lawsuit against CIA. CIA terminated Carnahan in October 2010 and violated his employment contract in doing so, according to documents filed in December 2010.
Carnahan said he is pleased this has finally come to an end and he has been absolved of all wrong doing. CIA made the following statement in the settlement agreement, “CIA is pleased that we could work out a settlement of our employment dispute. We withdraw our allegations of wrongdoing on your part. As we are sure you will agree, CIA regrets that this matter was not handled and resolved in a different manner.”
Carnahan finished by saying, “CIA has tremendous potential to help its members and the people of Haines. I wish them the very best as they try to move forward.”
Carnahan is represented by Michael Lessmeier from Juneau. “Mike is an incredible attorney and worked hard to resolve this claim,” said Carnahan. “He went above and beyond the call of duty.”
Contact Jim Carnahan at 35th@msn.com for more information.
By Editor, on January 28th, 2012 By Brian Edwards | ACCUWEATHER
Alaskans have been experiencing the most brutal winter conditions of anybody in the United States this season. Thanks to cold being bottled up across the Northwest Territories and Alaska, the season has been chock full of snow, frigid temperatures, and plenty of ice fog to go around.
Read the full story at Accuweather.com.
By Editor, on January 27th, 2012 Alex DeMarban | ALASKA DISPATCH
Alaska Senate President Gary Stevens said Thursday that the Senate will soon hold a hearing on its own oil-tax reform bill, essentially declaring dead House Bill 110, legislation passed last year by the state House and fervently backed by Gov. Sean Parnell.
Read full story in the Alaska Dispatch.
By Editor, on January 25th, 2012 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.
By Editor, on January 25th, 2012 USCG Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska — Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews rescued 11 fishermen from two different vessels near Kodiak Wednesday morning. Read more->
By Editor, on January 25th, 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
By Editor, on January 25th, 2012 By Becky Bohrer | AP
JUNEAU–Some Alaska lawmakers, hoping to make a point about federal encroachment on state rights, are urging the federal government take over New York City’s Central Park and designate it as a wilderness area.
Read more in the Anchorage Daily News.
By Editor, on January 25th, 2012  By Stephanie Joyce | KUCB
Rapidly advancing sea ice has left crabbers scrambling to get their gear out of the water or stuck in port, waiting for better weather.
Fish and Game area management biologist Heather Fitch says there are more than 8000 snow crab pots out on the fishing ground right now. They cost at least a thousand dollars each, so that’s more than $8 million worth of gear. And Fitch says almost all of the pots are north of 56.5 degrees. The ice was already at that latitude east of the Pribilof islands today and it’s forecast to move in quickly to the west.
Kathleen Cole is an ice forecaster for the National Weather Service in Anchorage. She says that’s unusual.
Read full story at KUCB.org:
http://www.kucb.org/post/ice-puts-snow-crab-season-hold
By Roger Maynard, on January 25th, 2012  Overall winners, left to right: Randy Martin #3, Craig Hill #2, Jarrid Davy #1. Photo courtesy of Karen Hess. Saturday’s Alcan 200 snowmachine road rally on the Haines Highway from the Canadian border to Dezadeash and return was won by Jarrid Davy of Whitehorse for the second year in a row.
According to race organizer Karen Hess, the race was fast but no new records were set, “This year there was $1,500 for the fastest local to finish and that was Chris Brooks. The money came from $1,000 Mary Miles in memory of Dennis, $200 Fogcutter Bar & $300 Howser’s IGA. The odd thing is that he won because he wasn’t the fastest but the only local to finish. There were two locals and Jack Smith Jr. didn’t finish, so the money went to Chris. Chris also got the RED LANTERN AWARD, for the last racer to finish the race in 2:46:10, with an average speed of 56.”
Overall winners:
Jarrid Davy 1st overall / Whitehorse / Time 1:18:11 / avg. speed 119.
Craig Hill 2nd overall / Fairbanks / Time 1:21:08 / avg speed 114.6
Randy Martin 3rd overall / Fairbanks / Time 1:31:10 / avg speed 102.
Read more->
By Editor, on January 25th, 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->
By Editor, on January 21st, 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.
By Roger Maynard, on January 20th, 2012  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->
By Editor, on January 20th, 2012 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.
By Editor, on January 19th, 2012 By Michelle Theriault Boots | ADN
In a state that expects to see more than 400 cruise-ship sailings with nearly a million passengers this summer, it’s difficult to look at the images of the Costa Concordia and not wonder: Could it happen in Alaska?
“It kind of gives us a little wake-up call,” said Rick Janelle, a civilian U.S. Coast Guard employee based in Juneau who acts as an adviser on cruise ship safety.
Read full story in the ADN.
By Editor, on January 19th, 2012 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.
By Editor, on January 19th, 2012 By Amanda Coyne | ALASKA DISPATCH
In a wide-ranging State of the State address Wednesday night, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell told Alaskans that much of the future of this state will be determined by the actions of legislators in the upcoming session.
Read full story in the Alaska Dispatch.
By Editor, on January 18th, 2012 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->
By Editor, on January 10th, 2012 By Matt Miller, KTOO – Juneau
JUNEAU–A Hoonah man has been declared incompetent to stand trial for the murder of two police officers nearly a year-and-a-half ago. Monday’s ruling means that a long-delayed jury trial, recently scheduled to start January 30th, will not happen anytime soon.
Listen to full story at APRN.
By Editor, on January 10th, 2012 by Doug O’Harra | ALASKA DISPATCH
ANCHORAGE–Alaska just experienced its third warmest December on record, with temperatures averaging about 8.7 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, according to the latest analysis posted by the National Climate Data Center. At the same time, the state was splattered with the fifth “wettest” December – most of that precipitation piling up in big white drifts that blocked on-street parking and choked residential streets to single lanes.
Alaska’s weird warm-wet month was so unsettling, the climate agency listed it as one of the month’s most significant weather events in the nation.
Read full story in the Alaska Dispatch.
By Editor, on January 10th, 2012 By Charlie Bermant | PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT TOWNSEND, WA—An explosion aboard a 56-foot commercial fishing vessel docked in Boat Haven on Monday morning shook local windows and rattled walls but caused no injuries or damages to the adjacent boats— which included the Coast Guard cutter Osprey.
Read full story in the Peninsula Daily News.
By Editor, on January 9th, 2012
By Editor, on January 7th, 2012 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.
|
|
| Scott Stantis
Chicago Tribune
Feb 4, 2012
|
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. |
|
| Help us keep you informed.
See complete publisher info at the bottom left sidebar. |
"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left."
Ecclesiastes 10:2 NIV
|
-- 
-- 