As we bid goodbye to 2024, here’s a review of some of this year’s most viewed stories. They include Skagway’s Pius X federal designation, the Quick Shop fire, the Red Onion sale and an interview with former writer laureate Heather Lende. 

 

Skagway’s Pius X Mission classified as Federal Indian Boarding School

By Melinda Munson | August 9, 2024 

In July, the former St. Pius X Mission Residential Boarding School for Native Children in Skagway was recognized by the federal government as a Federal Indian Boarding School.  

Pius X, located on what is now Garden City RV Park, operated from 1932-1960 under the direction of the Catholic Church. The Juneau Archdiocese sold the land to the Municipality of Skagway in 2013. 

The Skagway Traditional Council is a sovereign tribal government. They raised concerns at the time that the land should not be sold, but returned to the Tribe according to a federal law that says lands of former boarding schools should go back to Indigenous owners. 

Jamie Bricker is the president of Skagway Traditional Council, or STC, and the granddaughter of a Pius X survivor. She addressed the assembly on Aug. 1. 

“I’ve been thinking long and hard about the conversation that STC started with the municipality about 15 years ago, sharing our story about Pius X and teaching you about the interests we had in the school property,” she said. “And it fell on deaf ears to the majority at this table, repeatedly, and somehow you still think you’ve done your due diligence.”

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Family suffers hunting accident, devastating fire in same weekend

By Melinda Munson | October 7, 2024

To say that the Ward Family of Haines had a bad week is an understatement. 

On Friday, Michael Ward Junior, also known as Mike T, suffered a fall while out goat hunting with a camera crew. His father, Michael Ward Senior, described the accident.

“There was a rock that got dislodged,” Mike Senior said. “He ended up falling quite a ways down the mountain, getting knocked out. And they had some real concerns about him.” 

After being stuck on a mountain for most of the day because of his difficult location, Mike T was finally extracted by a helicopter and taken to Anchorage for medical treatment. Mike Senior said his son was released and is doing well. That was Friday night.

Within hours, Mike Senior’s business block, which housed four stores and four apartments, burned to the ground. The convenience store Quick Shop, along with Outfitter Liquor, Outfitter Sporting Goods, Mike’s Bikes & Boards and four apartments are a total loss. 

Mike Senior’s Facebook profile picture on Sunday showed him standing in front of the rubble. The day before, the site employed eight Haines residents.

“I feel like Quick Shop is like one of my kids,” Mike Senior said. “In fact, I started Quick Shop before I started having kids. So yeah, I’ve definitely invested a big part of my life in there. And the community goes there a lot. And those people that go there – our customers really appreciate it. And the employees and the customers definitely have a bond. And we’ve been there, and we’ve been open every day till today.”

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Red Onion Saloon to continue its saucy enterprise under new ownership

By Melinda Munson | October 14, 2024

Skagway’s historic Red Onion Saloon is changing hands. Oct. 10 was the final night of the season under the current owner. Patrons shared wild stories and reminisced about the old days.

Reporter : “So, the donkey came in here?” 

Logan: “And would drink everybody’s beer. (aside) You remember Dewey?” 

That’s Scott Logan, long-time resident. He recounts people bringing dogs in to have dress up contests. Horses and chickens would visit, too.

It’s closing night for Red Onion’s 44th year, and Jan Wrentmore’s last season as the owner. She reopened the gold rush brothel as a pizza restaurant and bar more than four decades ago.

The saloon has always been a place to find love. Lara Labesky got two marriages out of it. Coincidentally, both men were named Denny.

“This is the first place I came the very first night that I arrived in Skagway,” Labesky said. “It’s been important in my life, because I met both my husbands here. And I don’t know that the story’s over yet.”

Reporter : “The husband story, or the story of the Red Onion?”

Labesky: “Well, yeah, the Red Onion and the husband story.”

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Alaska writer laureate and Haines resident back to blogging and book writing

By Melinda Munson | November 26, 2024

Heather Lende’s term as Alaska state writer laureate came to an end last month when a Juneau screenwriter and playwright was named as the next laureate. Lende, who lives in Haines, reflected back on her tenure and how the pandemic brought her closer to the people she couldn’t visit in person.  

Haines author Heather Lende was nervous for this interview, but not for the reason you might think. A friend’s dog was missing and she wanted to go look for it. 

Instead, she decided to have faith that there were enough people searching and stay positive. Staying positive is one of Lende’s trademarks.

“Twenty years ago, I was hit by a truck,” Lende said. “And I was hit by a real truck. And people were, ‘Oh, you were so brave. You went through all the rehab. You did all this therapy, and you were so strong and so positive.’ I always felt like that really wasn’t correct. I mean, what choice do you have? Really? What’s the option? And now there are plenty of people who feel like they’ve been hit by the proverbial truck. So what’s the choice? Get up, dust yourself off, get to work. Do good stuff. Find people that you can connect with. And better yet, connect with people that you don’t think you can on some other project that has nothing to do with anything else.”

That’s strong advice from someone who lives in Haines, a town famous for its deep political divide.

Recently, Lende called into a tense municipal meeting to mention that she adopted a cat from the local animal shelter. It was a bright spot of connection that lifted the mood.

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