Haines Christian Center A/G
Transcription
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. 766-2442 MONDAY: 11:30A.M. - 8P.M. TUESDAY - THURSDAY: 2P.M. - 8P.M. FRIDAY & SAT: 2 P.M. - 9P.M. Harbor Bar nOVEMBER Hours Open Mon- sat 4 p.m. - ? Malia Hayward, Agent 766-2444 9110 Glacier Highway Juneau, AK 99801 (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 Start now with your holiday shopping! All Nike clothing 20% off Z-Lens Safety Glasses clear or yellow $6.99 Peltor Ear Muffs Bulls eye #9 $21.99 All Outdoor Edge Cutlery 20% off Outers Universal Gun Cleaning Kit $11.99 Come check out weekly specials through the holidays! 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, ANONYMOUS tuni d r o n pp 270 2nd Ave. South, Haines, AK Call 907-766-2329 a l O MON, s ofandaSAT sedWEDcr,eFRI s i M us a6 - 7 PMont ge pl HealthakConference e fr Room 4Public l Main Street, Gateway Bldg ith Upstairs wPhone Mike: 314-0165 Subscribe $44.31 in town From the Baha’i Scriptures “The religion of God is for love and unity: make it not the cause of enmity or dissension.” What more, PRICE! ~Abdu’l-Baha Dusty Trails $249,500 Apartments ! D L · Rent subsidized by Salvation Army USDA Rural Development · Rent Based on Income SO for Eligible Households Store Open 6 days a week · 1,2 & 3 bedrooms · Carpet · Storage Area · Appliances · On-Site Laundry Facility · Off-Street Parking Wednesday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed daily noon to 1 p.m. Hearing Impaired 1-800-253-4091 Accepting Donations NO Truckloads 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 November 14, 2013 Chilkat Valley News Un-Classified Ads DRY CANADIAN FIREWOOD LOGS $175/cord. Dimok Timber 867-634-2311. (50cb) FOR RENT Two-bed, two-bath apartment. Great southern view on Mud Bay Road, close to town. Rent includes oil heat, water, and sewer. Onsite washer/dr yer. $850/month includes sales tax. Available immediately. Call Dan at 3143075. HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS FOLLIES: Dec. 22. Call Joe at 766-2447 to sign up your act. (44cb) WANTED: used 215-70R-16 snow tires on rims. . DOG AND CAT FOOD: Is your cat under or over weight? Have thick mats on their fur, or no vitality? Suspect improper nutrition. Order now and watch an amazing transformation take place. To learn more or to place an order call Carrie Kinison at Klehini Carnivore 907-767-5676. (44,45b) Is your man a cold fish? Warm up with a new flannel nighty or PJs from Buckshot & Bobby Pins. 766-2450. (45b) For Rent: 1-2 bedroom furnished apartment, utilities included, no pets, no children, $975.00/ month, Eagles Nest Motel, 3140910. (45b) HI MAJ AND PAJ: Can’t wait to see you and pups and kits in 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 Open Wed.- Fri. 10 am to 3 pm Starting Nov. 1 766-2437 767-5693 ~Serving the Chilkat Valley since 1994~ Community Waste Solutions • One-Bag Recycling • Composting • Curbside Collection • Self-Haul • Const. /Demo. Disposal • Septic Pump Out OPEN 10-3 M-S End of FAA Road 766-2736 www.communitywastesolutions.com FLOORING INSTALLATION L & B Projects Carpet, vinyl, linoleum, laminate Residential and Commercial Serving Haines & Skagway since 1987 Call Len 314-0150 Free Estimates $44.31 907-314-0434 moose horn laundry open Surf Fisheries Supply Double, Triple & 50 lb Loads 314-0984 Clean Showers Mile 1 haines Highway Order now for 10% off nets for 2014 7 am - 9 pm 7 days a week REDUCED 5 bedroom, 3 bath. 18 Mile Haines Highway $199,000 Call Glenda Gilbert 766-3511 or 321-3512 Subscriptions starting at By Appointment • Mustang Survival Inflatable Work Vests • Whale Pingers • 6” MoMoi Web Stormin Norman 723-4848 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 Pioneer Bar LIVE MUSIC Juan Night Stand Saturday Nov. 16 @ 9:30 p.m. 33 Mile Roadhouse Cafe Best Burgers South of the Border with real French Fries Homemade Pies • Cookies • Soups • Specials Mon.- Fri. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sat. & Sun. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. • Cabin Rentals • Laundry • Showers• 767-5510 100 gallons of heating oil = 14 million BTUs 1 cord Spruce/Hemlock = 14 million BTUs 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 STUMP COMPANY Momoi Gillnet Web FOR NEXT SEASON Commercial, subsistence and net building components (cork, lines, lead, etc.) Ducks Unlimited Banquet Dinner & Auction Saturday, November 23rd At Harriett Hall Doors open at 6 p.m. PRE-ORDER NOW Bamboo Room Prime Rib dinner catered by the Emblem Club Bar provided by The Fogcutter Bar And a very sharp knife with purchase of web! 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