Haines Christian Center A/G

Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966
Chilkat Valley News
Volume XLIII Number 45
Thursday, November 14, 2013
$1
Haines man found
dead near fairgrounds
SHUT DOWN -- Haines eighth-grader Hudson Sage blocks Skagway player Danny Brady while
teammate Cameron Merklin-Bauer, eighth grade, looks on during the middle school basketball
tournament in Skagway last weekend. The boys went undefeated, winning 38-8 against Skagway
and also taking games against Juneau, Kake and Hoonah. Jeff Brady photo.
Highway slides challenge DOT
By Karen Garcia
For years, the Alaska
Department of Transportation
has struggled with what to do
about the expensive and unsafe
slide areas at 19 Mile and 23 Mile
Haines Highway, designated the
number one and number nine
slope stability hazards in the entire
state, respectively.
When rain or snowmelt
saturates the unstable Chilkat
Mountain slopes at 19 Mile and 23
Mile, debris comes rushing down
the mountainside, occasionally
overflowing onto the highway.
The debris blocking the highway
can be five to 20 feet deep.
According to DOT
communication officer Jeremy
Woodrow, each major slide
involves the displacement of
20,000 to 50,000 cubic yards of
debris and costs the department
$200,000 to $250,000 to clean up.
Not only are the slides expensive,
but they pose a significant hazard
to motorists. Between 2004 and
2012, the highway has been
closed about 10 times, including
a multiple-day closure during
2005’s Thanksgiving season.
This September, Haines resident
Macky Cassidy was caught in a
mudslide at 19 Mile which began
pushing her vehicle toward the
Chilkat River. A friend arrived in
time to tow her Subaru out of the
knee-deep muck.
As part of the Haines Highway
Improvements project, DOT
is looking at several options
for mitigating the slide areas,
including installing four to six
large box culverts big enough
to drive a truck through and
elevating the road 15 to 18 feet.
C u r r e n t l y, 1 9 M i l e h a s
two culverts about eight feet
i n d i a m e t e r. D O T ’s l o c a l
maintenance operations manager
Matt Boron says the culverts are
“way undersized” and “plug up
immediately” when debris flows
down the mountain toward the
river.
See SLIDES page 8
Tourism bounces back after slow start
By Tom Morphet
A cold spring brought a slow
start to the 2013 tour season, but
the season rebounded in July and
August to finish with numbers on
par with last year.
Below the surface, however,
is an undercurrent of change,
including some fueled by fear
that numbers of independent
travelers aren’t rebounding to
historic highs. Cruise ship tour
operators say they saw a small
improvement in business over
2012, but numbers are still down
from peaks seen before the 2008
national recession.
“We’ve seen a fairly steady
decline in independents in the
past 10 years. It’s discouraging.
There’s so much publicity about
Alaska right now,” said Alison
Jacobson, whose family-run boat
tours to Juneau started in 2000.
The firm also ran a shuttle between
Haines and Skagway, starting in
1991.
The company has cut days
of operation and hired family
members to reduce costs. Next
year they’ll try an independent
whale-watching tour out of
Skagway, marketing through the
Internet.
Canadian visitors have helped
buoy the Jacobsons’ business
in recent years, but they’re not
filling boats like traffic from the
Lower 48 used to, Jacobson said.
August was a great month for
the company but the numbers
came from fuller and larger
RV caravans, not independent
travelers, she said.
“We guarantee a lot of things,
and we can produce it. We can
show people whales, porpoises,
seals, but it’s still hard without
that Lower 48 traffic to pull from,”
Jacobson said.
If Jacobson’s Skagway venture
pays off, she’ll join a small group
of operators who are carving a
niche by tapping into cruise ship
traffic, independently. Haines tour
operator Joe Ordonez has taken a
similar route.
Three-quarters of Ordonez’s
business is off Skagway cruise
ships, but less than half his
business comes from sales
aboard ships. The difference
comes from website sales and
tour brokers.
Ordonez said cruise passengers
have become savvy in recent years,
and are more willing to book tours
independently, relying on ratings
from outfits like TripAdvisor.com,
where his company has received
excellent reviews.
“For the passenger, it’s a little
more effort and a little more
risk. Their ships aren’t standing
behind the tours they’re buying,
but they’re finding they can have
a quality tour, in a smaller group,
and do something different,”
Ordonez said last week.
Ordonez employed 15 parttime guides this year and offered
tours including kayaking in
Chilkoot Lake, gold panning in
the Porcupine, wildlife viewing
and photography.
See TOURISM page 8
By Karen Garcia
A canine search team from
Juneau found the body of 26-yearold Haines resident Jonathan
Ward Wednesday morning near
the Southeast Alaska State
Fairgrounds.
Ward apparently committed
suicide, said trooper spokesperson
Megan Peters.
Two guns – a shotgun and a
pistol – were found with the body
about 300 meters southwest of the
fairgrounds in a wooded, hilly
area, Peters said.
She would not say whether
gunshot wounds were present on
the body.
Law enforcement officers and
volunteers searched for Ward
Tuesday and Wednesday after
Ward’s family reported him
missing Tuesday morning. He was
last seen at 4:30 a.m. on Friday,
Nov. 8, leaving his residence near
the intersection of Small Tracts
and Tower roads on foot.
“It was reported to us that he
was consuming alcohol prior
to setting out and that he was
intoxicated,” Peters said.
No foul play is suspected, and
no suicide note has been found,
she said.
There was no sign of predation
on or around Ward’s body, Peters
said. “I know there is a rumor
going around that he was being
eaten by a bear, but there is no
evidence of that.”
Interim Haines Borough police
chief Simon Ford said after the
team discovered the body, he was
staged in the area in preparation
for a bear attack, as many bear
tracks had been spotted around
the fairgrounds. That’s how the
rumors might have gotten started,
Ford said.
“Our first assumption was a
bear had probably been in on the
body and was probably caching
it, so we were prepared for the
worst,” he said.
Ford, Alaska State Trooper
Andrew Neason, wildlife trooper
See DEATH page 4
Thefts of cash strike
two borough facilities
By Karen Garcia
Thefts at two Haines Borough
facilities over the past three weeks
have kept police department staff
busy interviewing suspects and
following leads.
Three separate thefts of cash,
totaling about $200, have been
reported at the pool, said interim
police chief Simon Ford. Three
incidents of theft, also totaling
roughly $200, have also been
reported at the library, he said.
On Nov. 4, a pool lifeguard
called police and said a member
of the Haines Dolphins Swim
Team discovered money missing
from their clothes – stored in a
pool locker – after practice.
Interim Sgt. Jason Rettinger
went to investigate, and by that
time, other members of the team
had discovered cash missing from
their lockers, too. A woman heard
Rettinger asking questions and
piped up.
“While he was at the pool,
another person said, ‘My husband
was swimming last week and
$150 was taken out of his wallet.’
That hadn’t been reported to us,”
Ford said.
The $150 was stolen Oct. 30.
Pool manager RaeAnn Galasso,
who has worked at the pool in
one form or another – either
instructing, lifeguarding or
managing – since 1992, said she
has never witnessed anything
like this.
“ I t ’s j u s t b i z a r r e a n d
unfortunate,” Galasso said,
adding that it was “pretty low”
of the person to steal from young
children.
Rettinger ultimately identified a
suspect, as the lifeguard on duty
had offered a detailed description
of a suspicious, hooded man who
was seen in the building at the
time of the thefts.
“Everybody at the pool knows
See THEFT page 5
Residents, borough warm
up to possible sauna at pool
By Karen Garcia
In an attempt to increase
usership and revenue at the
pool, the Haines Borough is
setting up exercise equipment
in the facility’s solarium and
looking at installing a sauna.
The treadmill and elliptical
were put in the solarium about
a month ago to draw people
to the pool for reasons other
than swimming. Pool manager
RaeAnn Galasso said the pool
is seeking more equipment
to add to the room – another
treadmill, a stationary bike,
some free weights – and will
trade a 20-punch pool pass for
functional donations.
“There’s certainly a need for
an indoor recreation center that
isn’t necessarily swimming,”
Galasso said.
While open gym at the
school offers a weight room
and activities like volleyball
and basketball, its late-night
hours are often prohibitive to
attendance, she said. “Open
gym for some people is hard
to hit at those times. We have
kind of better hours than open
gym for sure.”
Executive assistant to the
See POOL page 6
Page 2
Letters to the Editor
‘We the People’ out of line
Dana Hallett, a member of the “We the People” group, stated in a
recent article, “Some people are uncomfortable at going to vote (at
the American Bald Eagle Foundation), as there is a one-sided political
viewpoint that permeates that place.”
I applaud the eagle foundation and the Olerud family for opening
their doors to the public to provide an accessible and centrally-located
polling place. I thank them for having the vision, courage, and work
ethic to make that vision a reality, so that all of us can enjoy this unique
facility. I am grateful to the foundation for providing Chilkat Valley
residents of all ages and backgrounds with educational opportunities
featuring subjects that make our valley unique. I am thankful that
visitors have the opportunity to visit the foundation and return to their
homes with a positive impression of the Chilkat Valley.
Political views have no place in the discussion about the eagle
foundation. The comprehensive election reforms that “We the People”
want are extreme. Mistakes were made in the last election, but they
were not done with the intent to sway votes.
Thank you to the polling staff who are eternally helpful to the voting
public. Thank you to Ardy Miller and the Haines Borough staff and
assembly for conducting a thoughtful investigation of the election,
which will prevent confusion in the future. I, for one, will never support
“We the People” as long as members attempt to create political
divisiveness and negativity where none exists.
Suzanne Vuillet-Smith
Firing of lifeguard handled improperly
My daughter-in-law Patricia Peters, a Red Cross-certified lifeguard
and water safety and swim instructor, was given a notice of termination
in the most cowardly, underhanded, and chickencrap way on the
evening of Nov. 9 by a borough policeman. Now, she is not a criminal,
nor was this a subpoena: it was simply a letter with petty charges and
accusations signed by the city clerk. Is this really a part of the job
description for our police to deliver a notice telling you “You have
been terminated”?
Barbara Blackwell
Experience key in manager hire
The Haines Borough’s need for professional, experienced leadership
is great. The borough assembly should seek out an experienced,
professional administrator to serve as interim manager to lead now
and ensure quality managerial choices in the future.
Maybe they are from right here or maybe from far away. What
matters most is a proven record of success and professional experience
in municipal management. Let’s not wait any longer.
Burl Sheldon
Head Start parking lot smoothed out
I would like to thank Kenny Waldo and Roger Schnabel for helping us
start our school year out on a smooth note by working on our parking
lot. Roger donated the material and Kenny came in and compacted
and smoothed it out. It has made a huge difference. Again from all the
teachers and parents of Haines Head Start, thank you so much.
Melissa Blaine
Chilkat Valley News Save the Date
Walkers, 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the high school
gym. Every Tuesday and Thursday.
SEARHC Haines Health Center Open
House, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the clinic.
Diabetes Discussion, 5 to 6 p.m. at the
library.
Woman’s Club meeting, 5 p.m. at the
library.
Burger Feed, 5 p.m. at the American
Legion.
Wild and Scenic Film Fest, 5:30 p.m. at
Harriett Hall.
Carving Class with Jim Heaton, 6 p.m. in
the high school shop. 766-6727.
Planning Commission meeting, 6:30 p.m.
in assembly chambers.
Friday, Nov. 15
SEARHC Klukwan Health Center Open
House, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Klukwan Clinic.
“Lunch and Learn” videoconference
with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra
conductor, noon to 1 p.m. at the library.
After School Beading, 3:30 p.m. at the
library. Homework Help, 4:30 p.m. at the
library.
Square Dance, 7 to 9 p.m. at the ANB Hall.
Saturday, Nov. 16
Woman’s Club Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
in the elementary gym.
HARK pet photos with Santa, 11 a.m. to
2 p.m. at the senior center.
Ready! Classes, 10 a.m. to noon for ages
3 to 4 and 1 to 3 p.m. for ages 4 to 5 at Haines
Headstart.
Bald Eagle Festival Banquet Dinner, 5
p.m. at the American Bald Eagle Foundation.
Port and Harbor Advisory Committee
meeting, 10:30 a.m. in assembly chambers.
Sheldon Museum Board of Trustees
meeting, 10:30 a.m. at the museum.
Mother Goose Stories and Songs, 11 a.m.
at the library. After School Glitter, 3:30 p.m.
at the library. Birding with Jedediah, 5 p.m.
at the library.
Scouts consistently help out
Be more conscientious about recycling
Open Gym weight room, 7:30 to 10 p.m. in
the high school weight room. Monday through
Thursday.
Open Gym Volleyball, 8:30 to 10 p.m. in the
high school gym. Also Wednesdays.
Tuesday, Nov. 19
Tykes and Trikes, 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the
elementary gym. Also on Thursdays.
Taco Tuesday, 5 p.m. at the American
Legion.
Meet Palestinian exchange student
Haytham Mohanna from Gaza, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
at the library.
Haines Sportsmen’s Association meeting,
6:30 p.m. at the fire hall.
Open Gym Basketball, 8:30 to 10 p.m. in the
high school gym. Also Thursdays.
Wednesday, Nov. 20
After School Tempera Paint, 3:30 p.m. at the
library. Homework Help, 4:30 p.m. at the library.
School Board Workshop, 7 p.m. at the school.
Thursday, Nov. 21
Chamber Bingo Night, 6:30 p.m. at the ANB
Hall. Every other Thursday.
Chilkat Valley Community Foundation’s
Dessert Reception to celebrate grantees and
donors, 7 p.m. in the Chilkat Center lobby.
Friday, Nov. 22
G l a c i e r B e a r s Vo l l e y b a l l S e e d i n g
Tournament, at the high school. Also Saturday.
Saturday, Nov. 23
Haines Sportsman’s Trap Shoot, 10 a.m. at
the Mud Bay Shooting Range.
Library Book Club, 3 p.m. at the library.
Sunday, Nov. 24
Derek Yaple-Schobert: Presented by The
Haines Arts Council, 7 p.m. at the Chilkat
Center.
Thursday, Nov. 28
Thanksgiving: Federal, state and borough
offices closed.
Saturday, Nov. 30
Holiday Open House, 3 to 5 p.m. at the
library.
Duly Noted
By Eileen McIver
Going in for their routine
veterinarian appointments, some
Haines pets have been greeted
by a National Geographic film
crew. J.R. Myers’ cats, Spunky
and Sassy, were filmed during
My husband and I would like to thank the wonderful members
their physical exams Nov. 3 at the
of our community for helping to make Royce’s benefit dinner
American Bald Eagle Foundation.
and auction a great success. Thanks to your fantastic support,
The crew has been following
some of the stress from Royce’s medical bills has been lifted. veterinarian Dr. Michelle Oakley,
Thank you to Olerud’s Market Center, Mountain Market, and
who is based in Haines Junction
Howsers IGA for their more than generous donations of food and
and travels to rural communities of
supplies for the dinner. Thank you to Captain’s Choice, Sherri
the Yukon and Southeast Alaska.
Brewington, House of Beads, Dejon Delights, The Happy Hippy, The
When Sandra Tuohy took her
Bamboo Room, Material Girls and Radio Shack for donating such
dog Bitsy to see Oakley a few
sensational auction items. Thank you also to all the individuals who
months ago, she was shocked to
donated excellent items to the auction. see a large film crew following
A huge, special thank you to the American Legion for allowing us to
her pooch’s vet around. The name
use their dining space and kitchen for the benefit. A very special and
of the National Geographic show
appreciative thanks to all of our wonderful friends who donated their
is not clear, but Myers was told
time and helping hands with prep, cooking, cleaning and last-minute
it may air in January or February
trips to the store. Thank you Kristy Hinkle, Deb Siegel, Steve Girgus,
and will be advertised on the
Faith Tuohy, Abbey Martin, Jess Contreras and T.J. Jobbins. Without
Haines Community website.
your help we would not have been able to make it happen. Monday’s Veterans’ Day dinner
I am so thankful to live in such a special community. Thank you
at the Legion Hall was jam-packed,
all! We look forward to repaying the kindness in the future and passing
said Mike Case, Commander of
it along to others.
American Legion Post #12. About
Alexis and Royce Dombrock
125 people attended, not including
the approximately 50 elementary
school students who gave a
For the 16th time, I thank the Scouts for moving wood from the lot patriotic singing performance
to my porch. Greg Podsiki brought Troop 70 in 1997, the year my directed by music teacher Teresa
husband Karl Ward died, as a tribute to his advocacy of Boy Scouting, Land. The children passed out
and groups from Cubs to this year’s Venturer Scouts continue that help. handmade cards to the nearly 50
On a cold, wet Thursday, Isaac Wing, Autumn Gross, Natalia Taylor veterans in attendance. The prime
rib and baked salmon dinners were
and Kai-Sato Franks did the job efficiently and cheerfully. Thanks.
Doris Ward delivered to veterans and widows
of veterans who could not attend,
while the Haines Venturer Scouts
served those at the event. Gene
Friday, Nov. 15, is America Recycles Day. It can be a day to re- Strong, Bill Thomas, Michael
evaluate how we are disposing of our waste. Statistics indicate the Byer, David Berry and Case were
average American produces over four pounds of waste daily. How much among those who spoke, and Tara
of that “garbage” are you recycling? Did you know that recycling one Bicknell gave an update on the
aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for four hours Veterans Village project.
Haines poker players returned
or that if Americans had recycled all paper in 2011, we could have
covered 42,000 soccer fields in paper three feet deep? We can all do from Las Vegas where they
better in reducing, reusing and recycling. Take the pledge for better competed in The Great American
Poker Challenge. The Harbor
recycling next year.
Ramona Holmes Bar-sponsored entourage included
Donations made fundraiser a great success
To list an event in Save the Date, phone 766-2688 or
email [email protected].
Thursday, Nov. 14
Monday, Nov. 18
November 14, 2013
Mike Ward, John Newton,
Michael Ganey, Tyrell Horton,
Kerry and Joyce Town, Dean
Risley, Dylan Beckish, and Ryan
Cook. The weeklong tournaments
took place at Planet Hollywood
Resort and Casino, where the
group competed in a series of
tournaments against players
throughout the country. Kerry
Town placed in the top 100 in
the World Tavern Poker National
Championship.
T i n a a n d J a s o n G h a n
celebrated their 25th anniversary
with a trip to Ecuador and
Washington, where they visited
daughters Samantha of Spokane,
and Jessica of Renton. The couple
spent their two weeks in Ecuador
backpacking through beaches,
visiting little towns along the
coast, and staying in B&Bs.
Tina said although they couldn’t
compare to the Haines mountains,
the Andes were spectacular, as
was the banana bread the couple
bought from a vendor selling
baked goods on a bus. For Tina, it
was interesting to see fowl riding
public transportation with her,
including a rooster that sat on a
man’s lap during a long bus ride.
“He was the most well-behaved
rooster I’ve ever seen,” she said.
The Haines youth group Infinite
Life returned from a weekend of
volunteering at the Glory Hole, a
Juneau homeless shelter and soup
kitchen. Al Giddings and Jane
Cowart led the group, with the
help of Andrew Del Prete, Jesse
Bordon and Zak Little. Youth
volunteers included Destinee
Cowart, Autumn Gross, Paige
Anderson, Caleb Anderson,
Scotty Hansen, Victoria Hansen,
Polly Bryant, Courtney Gage,
Serena Badgley, Grace Jones,
Matt Green and Rebekah Green.
The group brought a truckload of
donated clothing and cooked a
beef and macaroni dinner serving
about 75 people. Badgley received
life advice from an ex-convict, and
Bryant lent an ear to a woman who
appreciated having someone to
talk to.
Former resident Amanda
Vigilante, now in Fairbanks,
married Patrick Murray
of Fairbanks on Nov. 9 at the
Northern Lights Chapel at Fort
Wainwright. Nearly 40 people
attended, including parents of the
bride, former residents Ralph and
Stacey Vigilante, of Ketchikan.
Amanda’s siblings, former
residents Aaron and Ashley
Vigilante, of Spokane, Wash.,
also attended, as did grandma and
former resident Linda Teague, of
Albuquerque, N.M. Family of the
groom, parents Mike and Manju
Murray, and brother Jimmy
See DULY page 6
Chilkat Valley
News
(ISSN8750-3336)
USPS Publication No. 500290
is published weekly, except the
last week Dec. & 1st week Jan.
Publisher: Tom Morphet
Staff: Karen Garcia, Cassie Miller,
Eileen McIver
Office: Main Street, Haines.
Mailing: Box 630, Haines AK 99827
Tel: (907)766-2688
E-mail: [email protected]
Subscription rates:
Haines, $42 plus tax;
2nd Class, Alaska, $48;
2nd Class, Out of state, $54;
1st Class, $75
Periodical postage paid at
Haines, AK 99827
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to
Box 630, Haines, AK 99827
Vol. XLII #45 November 14, 2013
November 14, 2013
Chilkat Valley News
Page 3
Borough drafting tech,
social media policy
Police Facebook post scrutinized
By Karen Garcia
A photo posted to the Haines
Borough Police Department’s
Facebook page on Halloween
has brought the issue of drafting a
social media policy for employees
back to the fore, said interim
manager Julie Cozzi.
The photo, posted by interim
police chief Simon Ford, depicted
a man holding a handgun standing
next to a jack-o’-lantern, the
face of which had been punched
out by bullets. The photo was
taken down after several residents
complained.
“As soon as I found out about
that, I just deleted the picture and
learned a lesson that that’s not the
appropriate vehicle to use to share
humor. It is a borough website
and it needs to be professional,”
Ford said.
The complaints focused on the
cavalier attitude toward firearms
the photo seemed to be promoting.
Interim manager Julie Cozzi
said she and the borough’s IT
consultant Warren Johnson
have been working on a draft
technology policy for the past
year, though the incident on
the police Facebook page
pushed it back to a higher
priority.
“What this photo has done is
kick it back up higher in the task
list,” Cozzi said.
Cozzi said the policy dictates
how employees can use public
computers and private computers
connected to the borough
network. It also addresses what
borough employees can post
on social media, though Cozzi
wasn’t clear if there would be a
distinction between posting on
borough and private Facebook
pages.
Once the policy is finalized, all
users of the borough computers
will have to sign a waiver saying
they have read and understand its
contents, Cozzi said.
Haines Dolphins win big at
Whitehorse competition
By Krista Kielsmeier
The Haines Dolphins aren’t
exactly “amateurs,” as a few
of them took home cash prizes
following the season-opening
meet in Whitehorse, Y.T.,
Nov. 1-2.
Seventeen Haines
swimmers competed in the
“international dual meet,”
said Dolphins president James
Alborough.
“The highlight of that meet
is the 50-meter freestyle, in
which the kids get cash prizes
for first, second and third,”
Alborough said.
Rio Ross-Hirsh, 7, earned
first place and $25 as the
winner of the girls’ 8-andunder division, with a time of
52.02 seconds. Jasper Posey,
15, won the boys’ 13-andover event in 30.93 seconds.
Brennan Palmieri, 10, was
third in the boys’ 9-10 race in
38.80 seconds.
Alborough said Dolphins
who didn’t leave the meet with
extra cash likely brought back
“a bunch of ribbons.”
“The format of that meet is
to reward all swimmers who
get best times,” he said. “If
you go in and you beat your
time, you get a ribbon.”
Both Alborough and coach
Robert Butker credited Dylan
Palmieri, 15, for enduring the
400-meter individual medley,
a nearly seven-minute race.
Palmieri finished fifth and said
the event is “really tiring” and
“definitely not overrated.”
“Last year, I took a break
from swimming, so I was not
ready for it, at all,” Palmieri
said. “It completely destroyed
me for like 20 minutes after.
By the end of this year, I want
to get to the point where I do
it, and after it, be like, ‘Yeah,
I’m tired, but I can go do
something else now.’”
The 8-and-under Dolphins
also were impressive, Butker
said.
“Our younger swimmers,
specifically, Rio, Rylee
(Tonsgard) and Jackson
(Long), who just recently got
promoted to ‘B,’ they all swam
100-meter events,” he said.
“We had these small, 7-and
8-year-olds right next to 13and 14-year-olds, swimming
the exact same events.”
Butker said he is expecting
about 10 Dolphins to make
the trip to Petersburg for
a Nov. 22-24 meet, where
swimmers will attempt to
achieve qualifying times
for December’s Southeast
Champs competition in
Juneau.
Domestic Violence
Prevention Initiative
Jackie Mazeikas, DV Educator
766-6382
GETTING THEIR HANDS DIRTY -- Women looking to learn how to take care of their vehicles
look on as Tod Sebens instructs during Tuesday’s Community Education class. John Hagen photo.
Developer dumps subdivision plans
By Karen Garcia
A Juneau developer has
scrapped plans for a 20-lot
subdivision above Lutak Road,
citing a sluggish Haines housing
market and high development
costs as reasons for abandoning
the project.
Jan Van Dort is trying to sell
18.7 acres of land between Lutak
Road and Oslund Drive, which he
envisioned would have turned into
Lynnvista Estates.
“I concluded that there really
is not a market in Haines for oneacre lots. The cost of producing
the lots is just too much, and there
is no market for lots at the price
you would need to sell it at,” Van
Dort said.
The property is split into a
11.02-acre parcel and a 7.69-acre
parcel.
The January 2012 hillside
slump which cracked Lutak Road
and undermined one home had
nothing to do with his decision to
sell the property, he said.
Van Dort said he originally
bought about 24 acres of land
four years ago, and subdivided
it into four lots – three parcels
totaling roughly four acres, and
one large parcel. He planned to
sell off the three small lots to
finance development of the large
one, which would need to have
utilities and roads installed.
Van Dort had a harder time
selling the three small parcels
than he initially thought: southern
exposure to sunlight, views of the
Lynn Canal and good soil made
Van Dort confident the properties
would be snapped up.
“In Juneau they would go in a
heartbeat. You would sell all of
the lots in a week,” Van Dort said.
Haines Borough Planning
Commission chair Rob Goldberg
said Van Dort just picked the
wrong time to get into Haines
real estate. “His timing was at
the time the housing slump was
happening and people weren’t
buying property... I think he
thought he was going to sell the
land easily and it hasn’t been
easy,” Goldberg said.
Jim Studley, a broker with
Haines Real Estate, said the
low demand for single-family
residential housing is tied in with
the overall Haines economy,
which has been lagging. “In
other communities, they have
a high-demand market. They have
employment. There’s no demand
for a single-family residential
home to be constructed here,”
Studley said.
Pam Long, an associate broker
with Haines Real Estate, said she
has about a half-dozen lots for
sale in the same general vicinity
as Van Dort’s property: in the
Highland Estates, Skyline Drive
and Nukdik Point areas.
Developing land through the
installation of water, sewer, power
and roads is also a risky endeavor
in such a shaky housing market,
Studley said.
“A lot of demand is put on the
subdivider and the developer for
these expenses, and it becomes very
costly very quickly because it has to
be paid all up-front,” he said.
Van Dort said ideally he would
like to sell only one of the two
parcels and keep the other for
development of a personal
vacation home. Haines School advances in tech contest
By Karen Garcia
When Haines High computer
teacher Sam McPhetres received
an email from Samsung soliciting
applications for the “Solve for
Tomorrow” contest three weeks
ago, he assumed it was junk.
Still, he had some time on his
hands, so he took 10 minutes to
fill out the application detailing
science teacher Mark Fontenot’s
ongoing alternative energy
program. Now, Haines High
has been named one of the five
finalists in Alaska.
“This is basically a fluke,”
McPhetres said. “I looked at it and
thought, ‘What the heck, I’ll just
throw our high school in because
Mark Fontenot has been doing
some incredible things.’”
By being named a finalist –
along with Z. John Williams
Memorial, Akiuk Memorial
School, Dzantik’i Heeni and
Romig Middle School – Haines
High has won two Galaxy tablets
(similar to iPads) and a chance to
vie with the other four Alaskan
schools for $20,000 worth of
technology.
Fontenot’s power systems
engineering class is currently
exploring the possibility of harnessing
wind energy in Haines, and was also
responsible for the installation of the
solar panels on top of the school that
power the LED sign.
Dr. Elizabeth Wolfe, Veterinarian,
will be seeing pets in Haines
Nov. 29th - Dec. 2nd
Shot Clinic Monday, Dec. 2nd, Noon - 1:30 pm
First come, first served.
Office across
Call Lori, 766-2867 for appointments.
from Post Office
“Our high school science
program is so cool and the things
they do there are so dynamite.
It’s cool to have that recognized,”
McPhetres said.
The contest was created in
2010 to drive interest in science,
technology, engineering and math
across the country.
More than 2,000 applications
were submitted, and 255 state
finalists -- five from each state -will submit a full lesson plan for
the second phase of the contest.
Each of the 51 state winners
(including Washington, D.C.) will
receive $20,000 and a chance to
compete for one of 15 national
finalist spots and $35,000.
McPhetres is currently working
on the second phase of the contest,
including making a video.
“If $20,000 comes our way,
I’m sure we can find a way to
efficiently spend it,” he said.
We want to hear from you!
The Chilkat Valley News welcomes letters
from its readers. Letters should be no
longer than 250 words and must be signed
by the author. Letters may be edited for
punctuation, brevity, good taste and libel.
All letters must include a phone number
and address at which the author can be
contacted.
Letters may be sent to P.O. Box 630 Haines, faxed to
766-2689 or sent electronically to [email protected]
as an attached Word document.
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TUESDAY - THURSDAY: 2P.M. - 8P.M.
FRIDAY & SAT: 2 P.M. - 9P.M.
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Malia Hayward, Agent
766-2444
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(907) 789-3127
Page 4
Chilkat Valley News November 14, 2013
Wrestlers top Skagway
Haines senior Dalton Tuohy grapples with a Skagway opponent at last weekend’s wrestling meet
at the Haines School. Tuohy posted a 2-0 record, and the Glacier Bears won seven of 10 matches
overall. Matt Davis photo.
DEATH from page 1
Ken VanSpronsen, and officer
Adam Patterson started searching
the trail system between the
fairgrounds and Cemetery Hill
Tuesday morning, Ford said,
after conducting interviews with
Ward’s family and friends to try to
discern his whereabouts.
By Tuesday afternoon, they
brought in the SEADOGS K-9
rescue team from Juneau to assist
in the search. The dog picked up
a scent and led the search team
toward Major Road.
“The dog found a trail and we
followed it, but it got dark, so we
had to stop the search,” Ford said.
A search team met up again
at 8 a.m. Wednesday and found
the body a little before 10 a.m.,
Peters said.
“According to the trooper, we
probably would not have found
him without the assistance of (the
search and rescue dog),” she said.
Ford said Ward’s family didn’t
call police to report Ward missing
sooner because Ward had a habit
of taking off for friends’ houses
for a couple days.
Krystal Lloyd, a friend of
Ward’s who knew him since
he was 10, said it wasn’t out
of character for him to leave
abruptly, though he would usually
contact someone if he would be
gone for an extended period of
time.
“I think (his family) was
concerned, but like I said, John
would go to his friend’s house
and crash there occasionally,
so I think that was everyone’s
mindset of what was going on,”
Borough will cover election costs
The Haines Borough Assembly
voted 4-2 Tuesday to cover the
$11,556 election investigation tab,
relieving school board candidate
Ardy Miller, who contested the
election, of the financial burden.
Assembly members Dave Berry
and George Campbell were opposed.
Berry said the issue of who
would pay for the investigation
was a “difficult situation,” and
that he had considered different
ways to split the bill between
Miller and the borough.
Assembly member Jerry Lapp
voted in favor, though during the
comment period he stated he believed
the same results of the investigation
could have been achieved through a
less expensive means, like submitting
a letter of concern.
Four members of the public,
including Miller, addressed the
assembly, stating the borough
should pay for the investigation,
since major mistakes were
identified through the investigation
report.
Miller reiterated she was
disappointed that the election was
not overturned and a new election
held, but said the investigation
still resulted in significant benefit
to the community. She also said
citizens concerned with how an
election was run shouldn’t have
to ask themselves, “Just how
much democracy can we afford?”
when considering whether to
contest an election.
Decorative Concrete
Retaining Wall Blocks
Stamped or Plain!
Also Wire Mesh, Rebar, Snap Ties
& Form Clips
766-3999
Len Feldman, M.D.
Family Doctor
Office closed all day Wednesday
& Friday afternoons.
1.5 Mi. Mud Bay Rd. 766-3009
period,” Jacobson said. “When
I was trying to get up, I couldn’t
build my base.”
The most thrilling bout of the
night was junior Casey St. Clair’s
overtime, 16-14 defeat of Henson
at 152 pounds. St. Clair said
the home crowd “really helped
me push through” the match.
He faced a four-point deficit in
the final seconds, but secured a
takedown and back points to knot
up the score.
“Towards the end, I was a little
concerned, but then it went into
overtime, and I had it,” St. Clair
said. “I felt pretty confident once
I got past the third round.”
He quickly finished the match with
another takedown in sudden-death.
“I just felt for whatever was
open at the time,” St. Clair said.
“In the heat of the moment, you
can’t really plan that far ahead.”
Freshman Mori Hays (138
pounds) went 0-2 at the meet,
but nearly sent his second match
into overtime. Skagway’s Foote,
though, avoided a late takedown
and held on for an 8-6 victory.
Goebel grabbed the third win
for the Panthers, topping Haines
sophomore Tyler Murphy (170
pounds) 17-6 to close out the meet.
“Even the matches we lost,
we’re doing things that we’re
learning in practice, and that’s
my main goal,” said co-coach
Andrew Cardella. “We had two
weeks without any competitions,
so we got to do a lot of practicing,
and I think it’s really showing
right now.”
The event also featured 2013
Haines graduate Jimmy Thomsen
as referee and the energetic
announcing of Liam Cassidy.
The Glacier Bears are scheduled
to compete in Ketchikan this
weekend. Book online at
www.flyalaskaseaplanes.com
766-3800 • 800-354-2479
• Courtesy Van Service
• Frequent Flyer Program
• Business Freight Delivery and Pick-up
Daily flight schedule November 2nd - November 29th
Depart HNS Arrive JNU
Depart JNU Arrive HNS
8:15 am
12:05 pm
2:50 pm
Depart HNS
8:15 am
11:15 am
9:20 am X Sun
12:40 pm
3:25 pm
Arrive SKG
8:30 am X Sun
11:30 am
8:05 am X Sun
11:05 am
2:40 pm
7:30 am
10:30 am
1:30 pm
Depart SKG
11:40 am
2:25 pm
Arrive HNS
11:55 am
2:40 pm
FERRY SCHEDULE
SPONSORED BY HAYTHAM, WITH HELP FROM HAINES PEOPLE FOR PEACE
Wings is proud to continue offering you reliable local
service through the year.
Current Flight Schedule effective through January 31
Haines to Juneau
Depart
Arrive
Days
8:35 am
9:20 am
11:50 am
3:20 pm
9:10 am
9:55 am
12:25 pm
3:55 pm
M-F
Daily
Daily
Daily
Haines to Skagway
Depart
Arrive
Days
Stamped & Dyed for driveways,
floors and walkways
Jonathan Ward
Lloyd said.
Wa r d ’s b o d y i s b e i n g
transported to the state medical
examiner’s office for an autopsy.
Peters couldn’t say when the
results of the autopsy will be
available.
By Krista Kielsmeier
An impromptu Haines-Skagway
wrestling dual on Saturday drew a
big crowd of Glacier Bear fans to
the elementary school gym.
Co-coach Dennis Durr said he
was pleased by the turnout for the
“kind of a last-minute” meet, and
both teams had positive results.
“It’s a rivalry, but a friendly
rivalry,” Durr said. “It’s something
we just came up with, and I think
it’s something we’ll try and maybe
do annually.”
Skagway brought a team of five
wrestlers - Trevor Cox, Richard
Deichen, Dominique Foote, Ethan
Goebel and Donovan Henson –
who each wrestled twice under the
direction of coach Duppy Ticarro.
The Glacier Bears took seven of
the 10 matches, with seniors Dalton
Tuohy (138 pounds) and Walker
Blair (152 pounds) each going
2-0. Tuohy picked up both wins by
major decision, and Blair won by
technical fall and major decision.
Tuohy hadn’t wrestled in a
competition since the seasonopening meet at Petersburg in
mid-October, and said he felt “like
I was right where I left off.”
“I was very happy that Skagway
got to come over so that we could do
this meet, because I was super sad
that I wasn’t going to get to wrestle
in front of Haines,” Tuohy said.
To get more matches in, several
wrestlers grappled with heavier
opponents.
Freshman Charlie Bower,
who has been wrestling at 106
pounds, opened the meet with a
16-1 technical fall over Deichen.
Fellow freshman 106-pounder
Ketch Jacobson also wrestled
Deichen, who was listed at 120
pounds. Jacobson trailed early, took
a 15-5 lead, and then won by fall.
“He felt heavy in the first
7:45 am
8:30 am
2:30 pm
3:15 pm
8:00 am
8:45 am
2:45 pm
3:30 pm
M-F
Daily
Daily
M-F
Juneau to Haines
Depart
Arrive
7:45 am
11:00 am
1:45 pm
2:30 pm
Days
8:20 am
11:35 am
2:20 pm
3:05 pm
Daily
Daily
Daily
M-F
Skagway to Haines
Depart
8:10 am
8:55 am
2:55 pm
3:40 pm
Arrive
Days
8:25 am
9:10 am
3:10 pm
3:55 pm
M-F
Daily
Daily
M-F
Please check in 30 minutes prior to departure.
Haines Office at Airport Terminal
907-766-2030 or 1-800-789-WING (9464)
www.wingsofalaska.com
For
update info,
call the
Terminal
766-2111
Recording
766-2113
NORTHBOUND
Thur
14
Fri
15
Sun
17
Mon
18
Tue
19
Thur
21
Fri
22
Sun
24
Mon
25
Thur
28
Fri
29
Arrival
from JNU
1:30 pm
11:30 am
11:30 am
2:30 pm
11:30 am
2:00 pm
11:30 am
11:30 am
11:45 am
2:00 pm
11:30 am
Arrival
SOUTHBOUND
from SKG
Thur
14
No SKG
Fri
15
3:00 pm
Sun
17
3:00 pm
Mon
18
7:45 pm
Tue
19
3:00 pm
Thur
21
No SKG
Fri
22
3:00 pm
Sun
24
3:00 pm
Mon
25
5:45 pm
Thur
28
No SKG
Departure
to SKG
No SKG
12:00 pm
12:00 pm
4:00 pm
12:00 pm
No SKG
12:00 pm
12:00 pm
1:15 pm
No SKG
12:00 pm
Departure
to JNU
3:30 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
9:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
7:45 pm
4:00 pm
November 14, 2013
Chilkat Valley News
Page 5
Knutson loved poetry, skydiving
By Heather Lende
A memorial service for longtime
resident Lowell “Knute” Knutson
will be held Thursday, Nov. 13, at
1 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church.
He died Nov. 7 at his Officer’s
Row home. He was 91 and had
cancer.
Knutson’s wife Lola met the
Haines logger, skydiver and wood
worker on a visit to Haines in
1978 when he joined Lola and her
friends for dinner. “I am a poet,
and they said Lowell will recite
poetry for us,” she said. After
d i n n e r, h e r e c i t e d s e v e r a l
poems, both Robert Service and
numerous favorite poets of those
present. He told Lola that he
could read fortunes, which, of
course, required that he hold her
hand. In the course of the fortune
telling, “He said, ‘I’m going to go
home, get cleaned up and then I’m
going to come back and marry up
wit’cha.’ And he did, and we were
together 35 good years,” Lola
said. Her husband could recite
Longfellow, Tennyson, and many
more classic poets. He studied his
poetry books during lunch breaks
while logging, she said.
Annette Smith recalled
Knutson’s dramatic arrival in
her life in the mid 1960s. “He
literally dropped out of the sky
onto the parade grounds right in
front of our house. He was on a
quest to land in significant places,
the Arctic Circle, places like that,
and believed the parade grounds
was one.” Her mother Mimi
Gregg sent Smith out to invite the
skydiver in. The neighborhood
soon became his home base. “He
was a logger and away at camps
much of the time in those years,
but I remember his stories of Paul
Bunyan, the bears of Admiralty
Island, and he loved to recite
Robert Service, so that became a
tradition at our house. I can still
hear him,” she said.
He jumped there often, another
neighbor Lee Heinmiller said.
“Every time I think of Knute I see
Ted Gregg running down to greet
him with a glass pitcher with a
swivel stick and a martini glass on
a tray shouting ‘Bravo, Bravo.’”
Lowell William Knutson was
born July 27, 1922, to Fred
Lowell Knutson
W. Knutson and Ada E. Orr in
Orofino, Idaho. His father was a
plumber and his mother cooked
for a nearby mental institution.
He had six siblings. While he was
often called Knute, he preferred
Lowell. After leaving school
at the beginning of the 10th
grade, he served in the Civilian
Conservation Corps and later
worked in a bakery.
Knutson was working in a
Washington shipyard when he
fibbed about his age to join the
Army. He was a machine gun
NCO in the 359th Infantry,
Company M, 90th Infantry
Division fighting in Europe
during World War II and earned
a Bronze Star for bravery. Both
his legs were injured by German
shelling three weeks before the
war ended, leaving him without
his right kneecap and resulting in
considerable crippling. Knutson
considered himself fortunate, as
his brother spent three years in
a Japanese prison camp. In spite
of his disability, he left the war
behind him. “He was not a grudge
holder. He’d say, ‘Well, that was
then and this is now,’” Lola said.
After the war he used the GI
Bill to learn to fly and became a
skydiver. He worked in a sawmill
until he could return to work as a
logger. He married and had two
daughters. He and his family lived
in Northwest Oregon.
In 1964, Knutson found himself
in a logging camp at Berner’s
Bay. He said Alaska made him
feel, “like he’d died and gone
to heaven,” Lola said. After
“dropping in” on the Greggs,
Mimi and her husband Ted,
who also organized the annual
Strawberry Festival, made “Knute
the Chute” the headliner for
the 1966 Haines event. He also
became the first skydiver to land
in mission field downtown. A
full-page photo of Knutson in
the Yukon News announced he
would be the “daredevil” star of
766-3221
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the Sourdough Rendezvous in
Whitehorse and parachute onto
the frozen Yukon River.
In Haines, Knute flew
inspections of the old pipeline
route to Fairbanks with Layton
Bennett, married and had a son, and
invested in a Fort Seward home.
Knutson also earned his
G.E.D. studying woodworking
and general education at
Alaska Indian Arts through the
Manpower Development Training
Act. Teachers included Nathan
Jackson, Gil Smith, Dorothy
Fossman and Ted Gregg. The
Chilkat Valley News reported
“Knutson received the highest
score of any MDTA student
in the state—98 percent—
despite a lapse of twenty years
in schooling.” Lowell told the
paper in a later feature article,
“Ted [Gregg] recognized that
I had an ability to learn wood,
because I loved wood and was
good with a chainsaw—I’d been
falling timber all my life.” The
Knutsons sold his Southeast
Alaska State Fair award-winning
paper-thin wooden goblets, vases,
and bowls in Knute’s Shop in
their home. He guaranteed his
products for life. “My lifetime.
Which is all I can really guarantee
them for,” he told the paper.
Knutson performed a popular
pre-show Robert Service
dramatic recitation in Lynn Canal
Community Players’ summer
melodramas, “The Smell of the
Yukon” and “Lust for Dust.”
Juge Gregg, Ted and Mimi’s
grandson who grew up next door to
Knutson, said this week, “Knute’s
ever-present logging suspenders
and hickory shirts belied the fact
that he was a true gentleman.”
His injuries from the war, his
occupation and hobbies, took
their toll and Knutson left logging
and returned to camp cooking at
Prudhoe Bay during the pipeline
construction. He and Lola were
married in the Methodist Church
in El Centro, California. In his
retirement, they enjoyed winters
there in their California desert
vacation home, walking, and
reading and reciting poetry.
Knutson’s 93-year-old sister
Verle Grasser, of Orofino, made
the trip to Haines last week to say
goodbye. “She came Monday and
he lived to Thursday,” Lola said.
In addition to her, wife Lola
and his son Morgan Knutson
of Haines, he leaves daughters
Lola Pollock of Apache
Junction, Arizona, and Karen
Brosseth of Aurora, Colorado;
step-children Clyde Pritchard
and Gayle Pritchard-Royer
of Oregon, 10 grandchildren,
three great-grandchildren and
numerous nieces and nephews.
STANDING TALL -- Third-grader Koa Doddridge speaks Monday
at the Veterans’ Day dinner at the Legion Hall. Doddridge spoke
about his veteran grandfather’s hat. Matt Davis photo.
THEFT from page 1
each other, so when somebody
comes up and isn’t swimming, it is
kind of suspicious,” Galasso said.
Rettinger went to the home
where the suspect, a 22-year-old
Haines man, was staying, and
found the man outside smoking
a cigarette. “We’ve taken some
interview interrogation classes
and learned to recognize deceptive
behavior and truthful behavior –
the way they hold their eyes
and posture and body language
and things like that – and he
immediately started displaying
some deceptive indicators,” Ford
said.
Rettinger asked the man, “What
would you say if I told you I just
got done watching a video of you
rifling through lockers?” and the
man immediately admitted to the
crime, Ford said.
“Then (Rettinger) said, ‘Well,
what about last Wednesday?’ And
he said, ‘Yeah, I took the $150,
too.’ So he admitted to both the
things and returned the money he
still had on him” which amounted
to $14, Ford said.
Charges of third-degree theft
and second-degree burglary are
being forwarded to assistant
district attorney Amy Williams,
though Ford said he is doubtful
the burglary charge will stick.
To secure a burglary conviction,
Ford said, an attorney needs to be
able to prove a person entered or
remained unlawfully in a premises
with the intent to commit a crime.
Since the pool is open to the
public, that might be hard to
argue, he said. “You can make
Caroline’s Closet
&
an argument that there’s an
expectation of privacy in the
locker, but the lockers weren’t
locked. It’s a public facility.”
The locker room, though, was
not the only part of the pool
facility hit by a thief in recent
weeks.
On the morning of Oct. 29,
Galasso also realized $50 was
missing from the pool’s cash
register. Ford said he doesn’t
know if the locker room and
register thefts are connected.
“There’s reason to believe that
the theft out of the till at the pool
was done by someone who could
gain access to the building after
hours, and there’s not really any
reason to think that this other
person who was going through
the locker room would have that
access,” he said.
The investigation into the theft
from the register is ongoing.
Ford is staying relatively mum
on the $200 stolen from the library
cash register.
Library director Patricia Brown
reported cash stolen from the
register on Oct. 24, Oct. 30 and
Oct. 31, Ford said.
Ford doesn’t know if the thefts
occurred during or after business
hours, or whether they were
committed by an employee or
visitor. “The area is accessible
just around the corner of a
cabinet, so in theory, even if the
library was open and volunteers
were there or staff was there
assisting somebody looking for
a book in the back or using the
bathroom, a person could access
that during business hours,”
Ford said.
Anyone with information on
any of the incidents is asked to
call 766-2121.
Blake’s Corner Store
Hours:
Closed Sunday & Monday
Tuesday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pizza to Order
• Hawaiian
• Veggie
• Meat Lovers
• Chicken Pesto w/
Sun Dried Tomatoes
• 4-Cheese
(Marinara or Pesto)
• Pepperoni
• Sausage Mushroom w/Black Olives
★ 24-hours notice required ★


Mountain Market & Cafe

Old silver bracelets
carved by Dan
Katzeek, Smith
Katzeek, Leo Jacobs
and others for sale at
The Women’s Club
Bazaar. Discounts
for family members.
Page 6
Chilkat Valley News November 14, 2013
Police report
Monday, Nov. 11
A caller reported rocks in the
middle of 2 Mile Lutak Road.
Police responded and removed
the rocks.
Firefighters investigated a
plume of smoke on Otter Lane
and determined it was the result
of an unauthorized burn.
A caller reported a Second
Avenue business burning illegal
materials. Police responded and
discovered the man was burning
plastic and informed him this
was not allowed.
A caller reported a possible
drunk driver and vehicle accident
near 4 Mile Haines Highway.
Police responded but were
unable to find any evidence of
an accident.
Sunday, Nov. 10
The U.S. Coast Guard in
Juneau contacted dispatch
regarding maintenance issues
at the radio tower in Haines.
Borough employees assisted in
troubleshooting.
Police received reports of
slippery conditions on Young
Road and Third Avenue. Public
works responded and sanded
the areas.
Police assisted a motorist
Notice of Application
in changing a tire on Second
Avenue.
Saturday, Nov. 9
A resident reported children
screaming on Front Street at 4
a.m. An officer responded and
discovered young adults yelling
at the northern lights. They said
they were told that yelling at the
lights “makes them react and
dance more.” The officer told
them to keep it down.
A person turned in an
abandoned bicycle found on
Allen Road.
A caller reported a juvenile
on a motorcycle pulling
skateboarders up Young Road.
An officer responded and
warned them the activity was
both illegal and dangerous, but
did not ticket them.
A caller reported a domestic
d i s p u t e o n D e i s h u D r i ve
regarding a dog doing its
business on private property.
The issue is ongoing.
Traffic stops resulted in a
citation for failure to provide proof
of insurance, three citations for
speeding, and verbal warnings
for failure to stop at a stop sign,
taillight violation and expired
registration.
DULY from page 2
Friday, Nov. 8
A caller reported receiving
a fraudulent letter regarding a
sweepstakes. The letter said the
recipient had won a large amount
of money and just needed to
verify an account number and
pay a processing fee. Police sent
the information to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, as the
letter came from outside Alaska.
A caller asked police to assist
with an unsecured premises on
Oslund Drive. A door was open
that should not have been, she
said. Police responded and
found the building was clear.
A Deishu Drive resident
requested police help with an
ongoing dispute with a neighbor
regarding a dog going onto
private property.
Thursday, Nov. 7
A caller reported the expected
death of a man in hospice care.
A caller at 26 Mile Haines Highway
reported a person burning plastic.
Troopers were advised.
A person reported a missing
pet turtle and asked that police
help find it. She called back to
say she found the turtle due to
its scratching against the wall.
A caller reported a bear in the
Applicant Robert W. Harris
is making application for a
new Beverage Dispensary
License sec.04.11.090
liquor license, doing
business as 33 Mile
Saloon located at 33 Mile
Haines Highway, Haines,
AK 99827.
Interested persons should
submit written comment to
their local governing body,
the applicant and to the
Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board at 2400 Viking Drive,
Anchorage AK 99501.
woods near Front Street. The
person called back and said the
bear had moved toward Third
Avenue. Wildlife troopers were
advised.
Wednesday, Nov. 6
A Highland Estates resident
reported a bear had caused
damage to a shed and spread
garbage around the yard.
Wildlife troopers were advised.
A person reported the theft
of a tire and rim from under his
vehicle while it was parked on
Cemetery Hill.
A caller reported a reckless
driver exiting a parking lot near
0 Mile Haines Highway who
had nearly caused an accident.
Police discovered the man was
elderly, but not intoxicated, and
are asking him to retake the
licensing test.
A traffic stop resulted in a
warning for speeding.
Tuesday, Nov. 5
A caller reported a bear ran
toward him on Deishu Drive
while he was walking his dog
early in the morning. Wildlife
troopers were advised.
Police responded to a dispute
over use of parking spaces on
Main Street. HAINES BOROUGH
REQUEST FOR BIDS
Haines Gym, Pool, & Chilkat
Center Doors and Haines Gym
Mat Hoist: Soliciting sealed
bids from qualified & licensed
contractors to perform the work
for the above project. Bid deadline:
2pm local time, Mon., 12/2/13, at
the Clerk’s Office, Borough Admin
Bldg, 103 Third Ave S., PO Box
1209, Haines, AK 99827. Bids may
be hand-delivered or mailed. Bid
documents are available at www.
hainesalaska.gov/rfps. Contact
the Clerk for more information:
[email protected] or 907-7662231 ext. 36 or 28.
Posted 11/12/13
Krista Kielsmeier, Administrative
Assistant
POOL from page 1
Murray, all of Okanogan, Wash.,
were also present.
H a i n e s M i d d l e S c h o o l
basketball players went undefeated
at last weekend’s tournament in
Skagway. Coached by Ralph
Swinton, Sarah Swinton and
James Sage, the Haines boys’
team played against Juneau, Kake,
Hoonah and Skagway. The girls’
team, coached by Lori Giddings
and Tiffany DeWitt, played
against Skagway, two Hoonah
teams and Whitehorse.
Holly Jo Parnell returned
from a month-long trip to Gilbert,
Ariz. Husband Joe Parnell went
with her and stayed a week,
enough time to meet six of her
eight siblings. Holly Jo, a selfdescribed “Disneyland guru,” said
a highlight of the trip was going
to Disneyland’s “Mickey’s NotSo-Scary Halloween Party,” with
younger sister Stacy Martin of
Gilbert. The sisters partied for 15
hours. They also toured Beverly
Hills and Hollywood, and went on
a “seedy” Dearly Departed tour,
where the duo was taken through
some of Hollywood’s most
notorious deaths and scandals.
Holly Jo visited parents Floyd
and Beulah Martin’s home in
Pinedale in Arizona’s White
Mountains. She also met new
nephew Riley, born to Casey and
Tanya Martin of Tempe, Ariz.
Business Excellence awards
were presented to local businesses
at the Haines Chamber of
Commerce annual banquet Nov.
2. Haines Home Building won
Business of the Year; Oceanside
RV Park won the Customer
Service Award; Venturer Scouts
won the Youth Recognition
Award; Uglys of Haines won the
Community Service Award; and
Sarah J’s Shoppe won the Rising
Star Award.
After more than four years with
a head full of dreadlocks, Lori
Webster has cut them off. At a
small dread-cutting party Monday
at her house, Webster snipped
off her 45 dreads, one by one,
as friends Sophia Armstrong,
Karen Garcia, Eileen McIver,
Susan Schumacher, Tracy Cui
and Krista Kielsmeier looked
on. Webster decided years ago
that she would cut them once she
turned 30. As for how to dispose
of the pile of dreads, which
weighed in at about half a pound,
Webster is undecided. The dreads
will remain in a nest-like mound
on her kitchen counter until a
decision is made. Webster has
vetoed ideas including: giving
one to each of her friends, burning
them in the wood stove, creating
a homemade jump rope and many
more.
manager Darsie Culbeck is also
researching the possibility of
installing a sauna at the pool.
The estimated cost is $5,000 to
$7,000.
“To date, we have done some
research on saunas, determined
possible spaces, spoken with the
fire department, our insurance
company and public works,”
Culbeck said.
Hot yoga classes are held a few
times a week in the upper deck
area, and the idea is people might
come to the pool to exercise on
the equipment, take a yoga class
or have a sauna, which they would
! the regular user fee to
haveEtoW
pay
N
do, Culbeck said.
Galasso has been informally
polling pool users about whether
they would use a sauna if one
were installed. More than 50
people have signed a sheet at the
pool indicating their desire for a
sauna, she said.
“I think it would bring in users
we don’t see, a whole group of
adults in the evening that we
don’t get. I think this community
is way overdue for a sauna. It’s so
healthy,” she said.
Galasso also tossed around
the idea of a hot tub, but the
maintenance and operational costs
would just be too great, she said.
Once the word gets out about
the equipment in the solarium,
Galasso hopes more users will start
rolling in. The elliptical hasn’t been
a great success, so she is hoping
another treadmill gets donated so
people can exercise in pairs.
South
towards isthenot
sun,
“ (The
elliptical)
the
biggestland
hit, for
so the
we garden,
are being
selective
on the donated
basement
for thematerial
kids
at this point.
We
really
want
Deck for the BBQ, it
to be something people want to
use,” sheGarage
said. for the car,
ALCOHOLICSty,
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From the Baha’i
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Closed daily noon to 1 p.m.
Hearing Impaired
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Accepting
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HAINES
Presbyterian
Church
“Whoever lives in love lives in
God, and God in him.”
- 1 John 4:16
Come & Worship with us!
907-766-2377 Sundays at 10 am
1st Ave. South, by the Boat Harbor
www.haineschurch.org
[email protected]
[email protected]
115 SECOND AVE. SOUTH
766-3510
Worship Service
11:15 am Sunday
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sponsored,
in part by
Chilkat Valley Baptist Church
6th and Main
Sunday School 10 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship 11 a.m.
Sunday Evening Worship 6 p.m.
Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7 p.m.
Pastor Royce L. McCoy 314-0672
“From the border to the bay...”
Day
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
5th & Union Street 766-2470
WWW.HAINESREALESTATE.COM
Date
High Low Rain
Nov 5 38
29
.18
Nov 6 39
34
0
Nov 7 38
29
0
Nov 8 31
26
0
Nov 9 29
22
T
Nov 10 29
17
0
Nov 11 29
21
.6
Soil Temp. 37.1
Snow
0
0
0
0
T
.3
.3
Day
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
AP&T
Long
distance
Date
Nov 5
Nov 6
Nov 7
Nov 8
Nov 9
Nov 10
Nov 11
High
31
34
35
35
28
28
26
1-888-GO-APTLD
46-27853
Low
29
29
30
19
12
12
14
Rain Snow
.16
1.1
.04
0
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0
0
0
0
0
0
0
November 14, 2013
Chilkat Valley News
Un-Classified Ads
DRY CANADIAN FIREWOOD
LOGS $175/cord. Dimok
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FOR RENT Two-bed, two-bath
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immediately. Call Dan at 3143075.
HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS
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month, Eagles Nest Motel, 3140910. (45b)
HI MAJ AND PAJ: Can’t wait to
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a month. Krennie.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
t h a t A m a n d a S m a l l ey h a s
b e e n a p p o i n t e d Pe r s o n a l
Representative of the Estate
of Patrick Donald Smalley. All
persons having claims against
the said deceased are required
to present their claims within four
months after the date of the first
publication of this Notice or said
claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be presented
to Amanda Smalley, Personal
Representative, c/o Faulkner
Banfield, P.C., 8420 Airport Blvd,
Suite 101, Juneau, Alaska 998016924, or filed with the Superior
Court for the State of Alaska, First
Judicial District at Juneau, Alaska,
1JU-13-272 PR. October 31, 2013,
November 7, 2013 and November
14, 2013.
Haines Christian Center A/G
Union & Second St.
We Welcome You
Sunday school-----9 am
Sunday Worship---- 10 am
Infinite Life Youth Group
Sunday Evening ----- 7:00 pm
Come and Fellowship with Us
and share the Love of Jesus Christ
Page 7
BUSINESS
DIRECTORY
Welcome Eagle Festival
Participants! Bring our Special
10% Off Coupon included in your
American Bald Eagle Foundation
welcome bags to our store for
10% off storewide.
HOULBERG
Local News
PLUMBING & HEATING, LLC. without all the wires.
Complete Plumbing & Heating Services
Commercial & Residential Mechanical Contractor
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Open Wed.- Fri. 10 am to 3 pm
Starting Nov. 1
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Page 8
Chilkat Valley News November 14, 2013
TOURISM from page 1
He sells some tours through big
cruise ships, but he also caters
to smaller ships whose clients
are looking for tours in smaller,
custom options. His company
grew enough this year that he’s
training a manager. “We were up.
We had a good year.”
Ordonez said for Haines to
try to resurrect historic cruise
ship or RV traffic is “barking up
the wrong tree.” He said Haines
should market itself as an offshoot
destination from Skagway.
Nowhere else in Southeast is a
busy cruise port like Skagway so
close to a small town like Haines,
he points out.
“Skagway is the gateway
community to Haines. That’s the
way I’m looking at it. That should
be our marketing strategy. For
68 bucks (fare on the fast ferry)
you’re in a small town with only
1,000 people in it, with great
people and restaurants,” Ordonez
said.
Ordonez said Haines also could
serve as a “bedroom community”
for Skagway summer workers,
possibly ensuring traffic for a
shuttle between the towns.
Jetboat tour operator Karen
Hess said Ordonez has identified a
niche in the cruise market, but she
sees it as a small one with limited
impact on the local economy. “For
the town to really benefit, people
need to come over to go shopping
and see the town. That will be
hard until we get more shops in
Haines. Until the town gets more
businesses, it’s going to be hard.”
Getting more ships docking in
Haines would spur investment
in local retail, she said, making
the town more attractive as a
destination from Skagway.
Hess said her company’s
numbers saw an uptick in 2013,
but have been mostly down since
2007 due to the loss of ships,
including Cruise West, and a
general downturn in spending by
passengers. Revenues in 2012
were the company’s lowest since
1997 and half of what they were
in 2007, she said.
“In the last five years, people
have been holding onto their
money tighter. When they’re
spending on shore excursions,
they’re only going to have one
expensive excursion on their
entire cruise,” Hess said.
Hess once sold logo clothing
at a company gift shop on the
Chilkat River. As sales declined,
she shifted to less expensive
souvenirs. She then closed the
shop, as the volume of sales didn’t
justify the effort, she said.
“Things seem to be starting to
come up now. We’re hoping that
continues,” she said.
For now, the Haines tourism
department is still working on
attracting large ships. Tourism
director Tanya Carlson said she’s
pinning hopes for an uptick in
cruise traffic in Haines to 2015,
when larger ships that previously
couldn’t fit through the Panama
Canal will be deployed to Alaska.
Carlson’s hoping those giant
ships will bump smaller ones to
destinations like Haines, part of
a “Backroads Alaska” campaign
to steer cruises to less crowded
destinations.
Haines will lose two Princess
Cruise dockings next year, as the
company is pulling a ship out
of Skagway, making room for
the Haines dockings to move up
the canal. The town should see
30,481 cruise passengers next
year, compared to 31,696 in 2013.
The town will again see 18
dockings by Holland America
ships, but the larger Oosterdam
will replace the Zaandam,
bringing up to 250 passengers
more each week. Also, Haines
will gain the 600-foot Regatta,
a 680-passenger vessel catering
to upscale clients who are
typically bigger spenders in
port. Also in 2014, there will
be 10 dockings of the Legacy,
an 88-passenger vessel sailed
by Uncruise Adventures, a
company that will include
Haines in trips between Juneau
and Sitka.
Highway numbers since 2009
show a decline of about 3,000
into the Chilkat River. Patz said,
to his knowledge, this has been
disallowed for at least the past 15
years he has been on the job.
“The concern is that the quality
of material potentially could
impact some of the habitat in the
river, particularly for spawning
salmon,” he said.
DOT is in communications
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the Department of
Natural Resources, Fish and
Game, Native landholders and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to
see if certain amounts of debris
could possibly be put in the river
at specific times of the year.
The goal of the mitigation
isn’t to reduce costs; savings will
likely exist, but won’t be very
significant, Woodrow said.
“The main idea is not lowering
the cost, it’s that it wouldn’t be
as big of a danger to traffic,”
Woodrow said.
Boron agreed, but said some
money might be saved because
workers won’t have to spend
entire days clearing out the small,
clogged culverts. “The whole
point is that cars won’t get trapped
in (the slide) and the highway
won’t ever be closed,” he said.
Boron acknowledges that even
with DOT pouring thousands
of dollars into designing and
constructing creative ways of
getting around both the 19 Mile
and 23 Mile slides, the problem
will never really be solved.
“No matter what we do, it
will have to be maintained.
Mother Nature is never going
to stop throwing stuff down that
mountain,” he said.
SLIDES from page 1
“There are no mechanical
means to clean them out. We
literally have to clean them out
with wheel barrows and water
pressure. It’s not a good scene,”
Boron said.
The oversized culverts would
allow a large piece of equipment
to drive through and quickly clear
the debris away.
Where that debris will go is also
in question, though.
More than 600,000 cubic yards
of cleared material is sitting in a
DOT right-of-way south of the
slide path. “We’re just making a
pile to keep the highway open,”
Boron said. “We have absolutely
nowhere else to put it.”
“It’s our hope that when the
improvements go through, they
are going to need fill and hopefully
they can use that dirt to realign the
highway,” he said.
Greg Patz, DOT’s chief of
maintenance and operations for
the entire state, said that is likely
not an option. Most of the material
is frost-susceptible, making it an
unlikely candidate for road work,
he said.
“We’re limited in that there
aren’t any good places to haul it.
It isn’t usable material and hauling
it would be expensive, even if it
were (usable),” Patz said.
One of the options DOT is
looking at is allowing the material
to keep flowing downhill, through
the culverts, and then pushing it
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to have that much bounce. “It’s
just cheaper to cruise up here,”
Carlson said. “But it will also help
the independent market.”
To u r - r e l a t e d b u s i n e s s e s
without a direct tie to cruise ships
provided reports similar to tour
boat operator Jacobson’s.
Hotel owner Jeff Butcher said
the season was “right in the
middle” of the previous years,
with a slight increase over last
year, he said, due in part to two
conventions held here this year.
B o o k s t o r e o p e r a t o r To m
Heywood said the summer was
the store’s slowest. “It was
very similar to last summer, the
previous lowest.” His numbers
have been sinking in the last four
to five years, he said.
“Wednesday ships do not create
many sales for us,” Heywood said.
“We’re trying to figure out a way
to diversify to stay afloat.” But
road traffic, for the book store,
was definitely down, he said.
Fred Shields of the Wild Iris
found that business was about the
same as last year. “I think there’s
been a downward trend.”
AT&T cells down over weekend
Some AT&T customers in
Haines were unable to use their
cell phones over the weekend due
to a power outage and generator
failure at the company’s Mount
Ripinksy tower.
Cell phone service ceased at
about 4 p.m. Saturday and was
restored by Sunday afternoon,
said AT&T spokesperson Andy
Colley.
“AT&T technicians worked to
repair the damage as quickly as
possible and restored the wireless
service at approximately 1 p.m. on
Sunday,” Colley said.
The Thanksgiving edition of the CVN
will be published Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Letters
and ad
deadline
is noon
Monday,
Nov. 25.
CVN subscriptions make great gifts!
www.chilkatvalleynews.com
o
you d th
a
the m
$275/cord Split & Delivered
766-3321
$650/5-cord load of logs delivered (green)
The
travelers per year in each direction
through the border between May
and September.
Independent travelers still
outnumber cruise passengers
about two to one, but Carlson
isn’t optimistic about returning
to historic numbers of visitors
by road.
Tighter work schedules and
higher gas prices have hurt
that traffic, she said. Lower 48
residents are more likely to fly
in and rent an RV than to drive
from the Lower 48, she said, but
when they do, their destination
is Anchorage, which is generally
less expensive than coming into
Juneau.
She said she’s hoping to secure
funding from the borough for a
study that will help identify the
demographics of independent
visitors, including their ages and
place of origin. Also, next year for
the first time since the 1980s, the
State of Alaska will advertise on
network TV in prime time.
Such advertising helped boost
road traffic to record highs in
the early 1990s, but isn’t likely
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