Look back at the 46th state fair - pages 6-7 Book profiles longtime residents - page 12 Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966 Chilkat Valley News Volume XLIV Number 31 Thursday, August 7, 2014 $1 Porcupine HARBOR LIFESAVER School OKs system prospector for tracking visitors By Tom Morphet and Brian Clay voted against found dead On a 4-3 vote, the Haines the system. “I totally see the By Tom Morphet Borough School Board on Tuesday arguments and rationale. It’s just Alaska State Troopers are approved a new, electronic a little more than I’m ready for at investigating the unattended death security program for tracking this point,” Doddridge said. of a longtime prospector in the visitors to the Haines School, Even board supporters Porcupine mining district. including printed badges for of the change described it as According to trooper Andrew school-day visitors and an instant feeling “creepy,” “scary” and Neason, a charter helicopter alarm notifying administrators of “uncomfortable,” and urged crew reported discovering Jerry “unwanted visitors.” administrators to work with the Fabrizio, 72, at a mining camp The Hall Pass School Visitor public in starting it up. near Cahoon Creek around 9 Management System will “I don’t like the Big Brother feel, a.m. Monday after Fabrizio didn’t cost $1,365. It advertises that and I don’t like the (surveillance) show up for a pre-arranged pick- it “instantly compares school cameras everywhere, but we’re up. visitor identification data against in charge of risk management The camp was in good order our integrated, comprehensive and this is where we’re going. I and there were no signs of foul database of sex offender registries expect to use something like this play, according to trooper Neason. for every state and the District in a public environment,” said An autopsy has been ordered. of Columbia. When a known supporter Brenda Josephson. Fabrizio last was seen on July sex offender is detected, Hall Josephson said if the system 24 when he was dropped off at the Pass sends instantaneous alerts proves unworkable, the district site, troopers said. preventing access for these could always go back to paper. Fabrizio’s brother, Philip predators.” “The more discussion we have, Lockerman of Haines, is a The system logs arrivals the more we’ll work through the partner in Fabrizio’s operation. and departures by visitors and uncomfortableness.” Lockerman said Fabrizio has student tardy data and stores Also at the meeting, the board worked at the partnership’s information about custody care, heard no one has applied for the Porcupine claims for more than court order and parental requests. district’s food services manager 40 years and recently had been The program – which replaces position formerly held by Gen using a charter helicopter to ferry a former policy of requiring Armstrong. Superintendent Jewell in and out of the remote site about school visitors to sign in and said the district needed a person every two weeks. wear a lanyard identifying them for the job with a four-year degree Lockerman said Fabrizio’s as visitors – was endorsed by in nutrition or wellness, in part to claims include more than 100 district administrators, including keep up with federal mandates for acres near the mouth of the Artist Aaron Nash hangs two panels of paintings on the side of superintendent Ginger Jewell, the program. Porcupine and more than 600 Main Street’s Alaskan Liquor Store Wednesday. The acrylic who was attending her first official “It’s not a matter of whether acres up the Porcupine drainage at paintings were inspired by Nash’s recent interest in birding and board meeting. you can cook and enter data. It’s a place called Nugget Hill, a site feature several types of waterfowl, including a yellow rubber ducky. Principal Cheryl Stickler said way beyond that,” Jewell said. about four miles due south of 35 the change “was about following Jewell also told the board she Mile Haines Highway. protocols that have to be updated has phoned “the vast majority” of Fabrizio was found in a bear- for the world in which we live.” parents of district students in the proof shelter close to where he In the event of a lawsuit, schools past three weeks “in an effort to had been working, about 25 yards Harbormaster Phil Benner tries a new safety ladder at the Small need to offer “what a reasonable build relationships and trust.” from a helicopter pad at Nugget Boat Harbor Monday. person would expect to be in place In an interview after the Hill. The spot is not accessible by in a public school in this day and meeting, Jewell said she told road, Lockerman said. age,” she said. parents she “wanted to hear the Lockerman said mining at the Safety ladders added Jewell said the system good and the bad.” She said she addressed a variety of safety site will continue. “The operation Harbormaster Phil Benner who fell overboard. He swam heard “overwhelming positive issues. “God forbid the building is still very viable. We’re just tested new escape ladders at about 30 feet from a finger to a feedback. I think most people burns down and I can’t say who restructuring the company right the Small Boat Harbor Monday ladder location at the edge of a were just floored that I was on the was inside my building.” now. afternoon, by jumping in fully float, where he was able to pull other side of the line.” Still, many board members Fabrizio kept a low profile clothed. himself up. “It works,” he said. Jewell said some parents had voiced apprehensions. Members and spent winters in the Lower Benner said he wanted to Scott Doddridge, Sarah Swinton 48, including Seattle, Lockerman replicate the experience a boater See LADDERS page 8 See SCHOOL page 12 said. Theft, vandalism at Catholic church By Tom Morphet candle is valued at about $300. and stole a bottle of altar wine. A waist-high donation box was The beeswax candle is adorned Last winter, parishioners found stolen and a large, ceremonial with buttons and other features evidence that fuel oil was stolen candle was destroyed recently at that appear to have been carved and installed a locking mechanism the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. off by the culprit. on the fuel tank located outside “Isn’t that really something? Flegel said this week he the church. It’s hard to imagine,” said suspects a recent visitor to the Fr. Kenaston said the thefts Dick Flegel, a longtime parish church, who kept toward the rear are the first he’s heard of from a volunteer who serves on the of the church during services and local church. “We’re looking at church’s finance committee. appeared to be a “troubled soul.” different options including getting Fr. Perry Kenaston said he The man apparently left town, (surveillance) cameras for the noticed the three-foot-long candle Flegel said. church. The last alternative is to missing about a month ago when The missing cash box, lock it up.” he saw wax shavings on the carpet purchased from a church supply Flegel said he’d hate to see at the front of the church, where company, is valued at $200. the church locked up. That would the pascal or “Easter” candle is Kenaston said it’s unlikely that defeat the church’s purpose, he traditionally displayed. the box contained much money. said. An alternative might be Kenaston last week discovered The thefts are only the most locking up just the sacristy, he a foot-long portion of the candle recent ones for the church at Third said. in a church storage room last Avenue and Dalton Street. About Ministers at two other week, along with a handmade a year ago, someone allegedly downtown churches said they stand that serves as its perch. The broke into a cabinet in the church haven’t seen such crimes. Fr. Perry Kenaston with the damaged Easter candle. Page 2 Chilkat Valley News August 7, 2014 To list an event in Save the Date, phone 766- Editorial Save the Date 2688 or email [email protected]. At a workshop Tuesday, Haines Borough Assembly members Thursday, Aug. 7 Haines Borough Planning Commission pondered $21 million they need to raise to replace the sewage treatment meeting, 6:30 p.m. in assembly chambers. plant, expand the boat harbor and improve the Lutak Dock. Community reception with U.S. Sen. Lisa That hefty cost doesn’t include the price of fixing or replacing the Murkowski , 11:45 a.m. at Chilkat Center. Friday, Aug. 15 Chilkat Center or public safety building, upgrading the school with Eldred Rock Lighthouse Committee Celebration of Bears Festival, various events essentials like working locker rooms and a roof that doesn’t leak, or meeting, 6 p.m. in the museum’s upper gallery. downtown all day. Also Saturday. building a new swimming pool. Friday, Aug. 8 The Dr. Phil Project, 7 p.m. at the Chilkat Center. Local musicians perform songs written Because of numbers like these, borough staffers deserve credit, not Summer Reading Program Finale, 11 a.m. scorn, for pointing out that the senior citizens’ tax exemption will cause by local artist Christy Tengs Fowler and inspired at the Tlingit Park playground. by Dr. Phil McGraw. Free childcare provided. a reduction in property tax income as more Baby Boomers (defined Flea Market Bling Sale, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as those born 1946-1964) become eligible for the state-mandated at the ANB Hall. Saturday, Aug. 16 exemption. Saturday, Aug.