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Haines Huts and Trails hires new director

Haines Huts and Trails hires new director

Haines’ trail-building nonprofit, Haines Huts and Trails, hired a new director last month. Erik Boraas spent nearly the last decade leading a nonprofit trail organization in Juneau.  Boraas has big plans to make Haines a travel destination for trail lovers of all...

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The ‘art of conceal and reveal’ dazzles Skagway

The ‘art of conceal and reveal’ dazzles Skagway

Skagway celebrated the shoulder season by showing some shoulder, and a whole lot more. The town’s homegrown burlesque company reunited for one hot night.  The Rude and Nude Revue, a burlesque group known for unwrapping on stage, wrapped their third international tour...

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Skagway to get regular dental clinics

Skagway to get regular dental clinics

Skagway’s Dahl Memorial Clinic Board of Directors approved dental contracts, meaning residents can look forward to monthly services.   Skagway has been without a visiting dentist for approximately two years. The dental office at Dahl Memorial Clinic (DMC) sits...

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SEARHC hosts a Stop the Bleed in Haines

SEARHC hosts a Stop the Bleed class in Haines

School administrators, firefighters and nurses gathered last month for a Stop-the-Bleed class in Haines.  Participants practiced lifesaving wound care skills, and discussed how the separate agencies would cooperate in case of a mass casualty incident in rural Alaska. ...

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Over 150 SEARHC employees pen letter protesting PTO cuts

Over 150 SEARHC employees pen letter protesting PTO cuts

Employees of the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium in Sitka have threatened to organize, following a recent rollback of their benefits. Over 150 staff members – including doctors, nurses, and technicians – signed a letter on February 15 protesting unilateral...

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Newscasts

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Haines’ trail-building nonprofit, Haines Huts and Trails, hired a new director last month. Erik Boraas spent nearly the last decade leading a nonprofit trail organization in Juneau.  Boraas has big plans to make Haines a travel destination for trail lovers of all...

March 18, 2024

March 14, 2024

At the eleventh hour of the Haines Borough Assembly meeting, Assembly Members voted to add a smaller dock alternative to the plans for the Lutak Dock project. Those voting in favor voiced the need to recognize members of the public who prefer a smaller-footprint...

March 18, 2024

March 11, 2024

The agenda for last Thursday’s Skagway Assembly meeting was packed, as was Assembly Chambers. Citizens testified about poultry infrastructure, and asked to keep the trees, please. 

March 18, 2024

March 8, 2024

Skagway’s Dahl Memorial Clinic Board of Directors approved dental contracts, meaning residents can look forward to monthly services. And... Skagway celebrated the shoulder season by showing some shoulder, and a whole lot more. The town’s homegrown burlesque company...

March 18, 2024

March 6, 2024

The Lady Panthers will compete at the basketball state championship. As KHNS’s Melinda Munson reports, with a strong defense and accurate shooting skills, hopes are high for the Skagway School team.  And, Haines wrestlers traveled to Fairbanks over the weekend for the...

March 18, 2024

March 05, 2024

School administrators, firefighters and nurses gathered last month for a Stop-the-Bleed class in Haines.  Participants practiced lifesaving wound care skills, and discussed how the separate agencies would cooperate in case of a mass casualty incident in rural Alaska. ...

March 18, 2024

March 04, 2024

Employees of the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium in Sitka have threatened to organize, following a recent rollback of their benefits. Over 150 staff members – including doctors, nurses, and technicians – signed a letter on February 15 protesting unilateral...

March 18, 2024

March 01, 2024

Skagway School will send a veteran contender to the state’s Poetry Out Loud finals in early March. Freshman Mina Yee will compete for the second time, with a one in eight chance of winning. KHNS reporter Melinda Munson interviewed the performer.

March 18, 2024

February 29, 2024

The Haines Borough has suffered a decade-long drought of Girl Scouts, which ended this winter when three local moms started a new troop.  Their Daisies are poised to let a truckload of Girl Scout cookies rain down on the valley this March.

March 18, 2024

February 28, 2024

Lutak Dock conversations dominated Tuesday’s Haines Borough Assembly meeting.  Last week the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration delivered a review of the project.  It gave the borough two options on how to move the project forward.  Both...

March 18, 2024

February 27, 2024

Even though Haines has a population of just under 2,000, it has a hospice program to help care for the dying in town]. Hospice of Haines hosted a winter series called Taking Care.  It included over a dozen events – Movie Nights, TaiChi for caregivers, Forest Healing...

March 18, 2024

Newscast February 23, 2024

Skagway’s Planning and Zoning Commission spent 2.5 hours across two meetings creating recommendations for the assembly to increase housing inventory. Residents voiced concerns about the process.   AND  A board member from Haines Huts and Trails participated in...

March 18, 2024

February 22, 2024

Sportfishermen and women have been lucky this February, catching king salmon in and around Portage Cove near downtown Haines.  The chinook “shore huggers” are not part of a salmon run, but instead hang out locally as part of a historical winter rearing. The older,...

March 18, 2024

February 21, 2024

Housing dominated much of Skagway’s last assembly meeting as three members were appointed to the ad hoc housing committee. As KHNS’s Melinda Munson reports, Assemblymember Orion Hanson tried to get approval for staff to draft a RFP for high density housing at the...

March 18, 2024

February 20, 2024

On Valentine’s Day, the new cruise dock float was scheduled to be delivered to Skagway’s Ore Dock Redevelopment Project. Measuring 500 by 50 feet, the float traveled from Anacortes. But, as KHNS’s Melinda Munson reports, disaster struck near Ketchikan when the float...

February 19, 2024

February 19, 2024

The Haines Borough wants to clean up old contaminated soil outside of town and they’re asking the state for help. The site is 34 miles down/up the Haines Highway near a salmon stream. It’s unclear how the contamination happened.  But as KHNS’s Jenn Shelton reports,...

March 18, 2024

February 15, 2024

The Haines Borough Assembly discussed the next steps for both the Chilkat Bald Eagle Advisory Council and Lutak Dock at Tuesday’s Assembly meeting.   And… Students and staff of Haines schools celebrated Elizabeth Peratrovich Day on Thursday with a school-wide...

March 18, 2024

February 14, 2024

It’s the final story of our two-part series about “How to Write the Perfect Valentine’s Day Card.”  Today Alaska’s writer laureate and Haines local Heather Lende gives tips on how to write from the heart.  And she goes out of her comfort zone when asked to craft a...

March 18, 2024

February 13, 2024

For the next two news days, Love is on the air. KHNS interviewed two authors on how to write the perfect Valentine’s Day card.  We’ll hear from Alaska’s author laureate–and Haines local–Heather Lende on how she uses the written word to spread the love.  But first,...

March 18, 2024

February 12, 2024

Skagway elders have more opportunity to socialize this winter now that senior lunches have resumed, but a proposed municipal senior-center facility is still on hold because it fails to meet ADA standards.   And, Skagway and Haines Middle School Wrestling teams dueled...

This week in Skagway news with Melinda Munson

  Melinda Munson brings us news from Skagway, with updates on the Dahl Memorial Clinic Board of Directors, our state Legislative Representatives visited, and Skagway Middle Schoolers start a new club; the Planet Protectors. ... In Skagway, the Dahl Memorial...

Newscast – May 9 2023

  Scientists and tribal governments in Southeast are collaborating to assess risks of landslides and floods. The research will be tailored to each community’s needs.

Newscast – May 8 2023

   Cruise ships in Skagway will not be hot berthing this summer. But this means slightly fewer visitors will come to town. And Saturday was heavy equipment day at the Haines fairgrounds. And the ramp at the Haines ferry terminal has been repaired.

Newscast – May 5 2023

  Alaska’s congressional delegation speaks out against a possible closing of Salmon trolling, the Haines ferry ramp is down, and Alaskan State Troopers are beginning to wear body cams.

Newscast – May 4 2023

  Kyle Clayton is taking a step back from his responsibilities as an editor at the Chilkat Valley News. He has hired Lee Zion, who comes from Minnesota, by way of Ukraine. Clayton says Zion responded within hours of his posting the job offer online.

Newscast – May 3 2023

  The Southeast Alaska State Fair has decided to keep a controversial show on this year’s program. And Wednesday was bike to school day at the Haines school, the yearly event encourages students to commute under their own power.  And a mishap caused a boat to...

Newscast – May 2nd 2023

  The Haines police have arrested four people on drug charges in recent weeks. The department has received assistance from other agencies through a regional collaboration program.

Newscast – May1st 2023

   Last week in Haines, the Takshanuk Watershed Council organized an event aimed at promoting harmonious cohabitation with bears. In recent years, the area has dealt with a high number of human-bear encounters. The council’s program presented specially trained...

Newscast – April 28 2023

Alaska’s sole congressional representative is urging the federal government to do more in the transboundary watersheds of Southeast Alaska.  

Newscast – April 27 2023

  Two environmental advocates recently came to Haines to discuss mining in the region. The Takshanuk Watershed Council hosted the talk at the Chilkat Center on Wednesday evening.

Newscast – April 26 2023

  A Haines man was arrested on drug charges, and Skagway artists will be allowed to perform in municipal parks for visitors this summer. The borough assembly recently passed a busking ordinance

Newscast – April 25 2023

  Haines is gearing up to welcome summer visitors. One early group has come from Whitehorse, but, Haines was not quite ready.  

Newscast – April 24 2023

   American Pacific announced its budget for the 2023 drilling season at the Palmer project. The company also shared some details about the work that is planned this summer. And, Lynn canal writers receive multiple awards at a media conference

Newscast – April 21 2023

  With less than a week until cruise ships begin to arrive in Haines, the Alaska Arts Confluence wants to highlight the community’s artistic profile and diversify its economic activity through a new arts festival. 

Newscast – April 20 2023

  It’s an unpleasant fact for everyone who eats fish in Alaska: Mercury is in the food chain, and it’s particularly prevalent in seafood. And while the amount of mercury found in Alaskan seafood remains far below dangerous levels, a pair of researchers want to...

Newscast – April 19 2023

The results for the Skagway Special election are in and predictions for Southeast Alaska’s Pink Salmon run aren’t looking bright.

Newscast – April 18 2023

  The Chilkat River has been nominated by an environmental nonprofit as one of ten most endangered rivers in the country. The nominations are meant to bring attention to threats to the nation’s waterways, and point to actions that can be taken to protect them.

Newscast – April 17 2023

  A special election on Tuesday will be asking Skagway residents to decide whether to increase the local sales tax. The extra revenue would allow the municipality more funding flexibility, but some residents think it is not the right time to impose more costs on...

Newscast – April 14 2023

As the school year draws to a close, two challenges loom over the Haines School District, low funding and a shortage of teachers for the next year. According to Superintendent Roy Getchell, those challenges are being met.

Newscast – April 13 2023

  Skagway residents will soon be asked whether or not the municipality should sell the Dahl memorial clinic business to SEARHC.  The question will be posed in a special election on Tuesday.