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 February 3rd, 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
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 26th, 2012 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.
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  Image is from the NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows the solar flare that erupted Sunday evening National Weather Service
The largest Solar Radiation Storm since October 2003 is occurring. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center is reporting that a G1 Geomagnetic Storm and a S3 Solar Radiation Storm are in progress.
Impacts for this event include:
- Power Systems: Weak power fluctuations can occur
- Spacecraft Operations: Minor impact on satellite operations
- Other Systems: Migratory animals are affected
Aurora will be commonly visible at higher latitudes. Tips on viewing the Aurora are located here. Share your pictures of the Aurora on the Space Weather Prediction Center’s Facebook.
For additional information monitor the Space Weather Prediction Center.
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 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 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 9th, 2012
By Editor, on January 6th, 2012 AK DOL Press Release
JUNEAU—The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s annual job forecast is 1.2 percent job growth in 2012, a modest gain in Alaska for a third straight year. The state’s employment levels dropped briefly in 2009 due to the national recession. Read more->
By Editor, on January 4th, 2012 by Jeff Richardson | FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER
FAIRBANKS—Gasoline prices in the $4-per-gallon range may be uncomfortably high for many Fairbanks residents, but Doug Reynolds believes prices in the years ahead could make these seem like the good old days.
Reynolds, a professor of oil and energy economics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said he sees oil prices soaring in the next five to 10 years, “easily” reaching $200 per barrel or more.
That increase, roughly double the current price of oil, would translate into gasoline in the $5 to $10 range at the pump, he said.
Read full story in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
By Editor, on January 3rd, 2012 By Richard E. Mooney | NY TIMES
Washington, Jan. 3, 1959 — Alaska became a state today. By the clock on the mantel in the Cabinet Room at the White House, it was two minutes past noon. In Juneau, capital of the forty-ninth state, it was 9:02 A.M., Pacific Standard Time.
Read full article from 1959 in the New York Times.
By Editor, on December 31st, 2011 By Andrew Halcro
JUNEAU–According to the Alaska Department of Revenue, the state will depend on oil & gas revenues to fund 92% of state spending this coming fiscal year. With increasing government costs and decreasing oil production, Alaska’s economic engine needs an overhaul.
In 2007, just weeks after successfully pushing through the largest tax increase on the oil & gas industry in the state’s history (ACES), the Palin administration proudly predicted that oil production would be 675,000 barrels per day in 2011. The actual production number turned out to be 603,000 barrels per day.
In fact, according to the optimistic projections after the tax increase was adopted, the Palin administration didn’t forecast Alaska’s daily oil production would drop to current day levels until 2022.
Looks like we arrived at their projected decline destination ten years early.
Read Halcro’s full editorial opinion at AndrewHalcro.com
By Editor, on December 30th, 2011 by Jeff Richardson | FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER
FAIRBANKS — Filing for an Alaska Permanent Fund dividend check is a happy ritual for most Alaskans, but this year some residents have been a little too eager to get their paperwork in the mail.
The Alaska Department of Revenue has received hundreds of applications this week for the 2012 PFD and expects as many as 1,000 could arrive in Juneau by the end of the year.
That prompt attention comes with a drawback: Applications aren’t valid unless they’re signed and delivered after Jan. 1.
Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner – Mailing glitch results in early PFD filings
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| Scott Stantis
Chicago Tribune
Feb 4, 2012
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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. |
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