Wrestler Thomsen 4th at state - page 7 Toddler grant divides board - page 5 Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966 Chilkat Valley News Volume XLII Number 50 Thursday, December 13, 2012 $1 Former Haines cop surrenders license Agencies mum on complaints By Karen Garcia made a deal with Joel to withhold Neither a statewide police the nature of the complaints from oversight agency nor the Haines the public and from prospective Borough Police Department employers in exchange for Joel’s will provide information about resignation. complaints that led to the When Joel resigned in April decertification of former Haines 2011, Lowe filled out a mandatory police Sgt. Jason Joel last week. form for the council, including The Alaska Police Standards that the department conducted an Council formally accepted investigation into Joel’s conduct. forfeiture of Joel’s police Lowe indicated on the form he certificate Dec. 4, an action that would recommend revocation of disqualifies Joel from working as Joel’s certification and would not a police or corrections officer in rehire him. the state. “There was an agreement where The council started a revocation he was allowed to resign and there process in May by sending Joel were stipulations on that about an accusation packet outlining non-disclosure to prospective complaints against him and employers. Because of that evidence collected during its agreement, I can’t go into details,” investigation. Lowe said. ALL FOR ONE -- Actors in last weekend’s production of “Dixie Swim Club” make a toast. From left Joel opted to surrender his Lowe said he made the are Vernadette Simms (Cheryl Mullins), Sheree Hollinger (Lorrie Dudzik), Lexie Richards (Hannah certificate rather than plead his agreement – facilitated by a Reeves), Jeri Neal McFeeley (Michele Wing) and Dinah Grayson (Judith McDermaid). Other residents case before the group, which union representative – because it in the cast included Jerrie Clarke, Pam Randles, Jacque Horn and Suzanne Newton. Ron Horn photo. oversees police and correction removed Joel from the department officer standards statewide. and also minimized borough Details of the council’s liability. “In my mind, it’s a Troopers won’t revisit heli-ski probe investigation and discussion are protection for the borough because By Karen Garcia Dial said. “The death investigation provided to the Dodovs because confidential and borough police Alaska State Troopers will not looked into whether there was troopers do not release medical chief Gary Lowe this week said he See JOEL page 12 reopen an investigation into the criminal conduct involved in the records. Dial said the Dodovs’ heli-ski accident that killed two death of the two individuals and lawyer could try to subpoena the people in Haines last spring, Lt. the short answer is there wasn’t.” autopsy results. Cookie cosmetics give Rodney Dial said this week. The Dodovs also claimed Dial also said Bentz did Natalia and Alex Dodov filed Alaska Heliskiing did not have interview all eyewitnesses, a an employee conduct complaint the proper permits to be on the fact stated in the report. Bentz Jobbins title for treats in mid-November against Trooper land where the accident happened. condensed three eyewitness Josh Bentz, who conducted the Again, Dial said, this would be statements into one, though, By Karen Garcia second with Christmas macaroons. investigation into the deaths of a civil issue; to be a criminal because all three made very She’s done it again. Her first-place victory with the Alaska Heliskiing client Nikolay issue, the presence or absence similar reports, Dial said. Defending champion Tammy “Surprise Package” cookies was Dodov and guide Rob Liberman. of permits would have to have The Dodovs said they are Jobbins dominated the Chamber hard-won, however, as judges The Dodovs voiced criticism directly affected the outcome of working with their lawyer in of Commerce Cookie and Candy Krista Kielsmeier, Michelle Webb of perceived flaws in Bentz’s the accident. California and intend to file a Contest, sweeping three of the top and Patty Campbell initially voted investigation and requested “It’s not germane to the death wrongful death suit against Alaska four prizes during judging Friday into a three-way tie. troopers reopen the case. investigation itself. I would have Heliskiing. evening at the Haines Visitor The judges deliberated over the Dial spoke to the Dodovs to be able to show a linking “We didn’t want to file a lawsuit. Center. decision, weighing the pros and Monday and explained that while between having the right permit We just wanted the truth, but then Jobbins snagged first and cons of Jobbins’ cookies, Tom some of their concerns – such as or not having the right permit and we started to be showered with second place in the adult candy Heywood’s sugar cookies and Liberman’s autopsy indicating whether it would have affected lies,” Natalia Dodov said. competition and first place in adult Barb Blood’s cranberry pecan recent marijuana use – might be the outcome here,” Dial said. Alex Dodov said he believes cookies. drops. legitimately raised in civil court, The Dodovs also asked why the there is a two-year statute of “I couldn’t believe it. I never “That is one of the best-tasting the company could not be held autopsy report was not included in limitations in filing a civil suit. expected to win all three of my cookies I have ever had,” Webb responsible criminally. the report, and why all eyewitness Dial said he added some entries,” Jobbins said Monday. said of Blood’s cranberry pecan If Liberman survived, he could statements were not included. information to the report at the Though she hadn’t previously drops. But the judges decided the potentially be held criminally Dial said the autopsy report is request of the Dodovs, including an entered the candy competition, drops were short on appearance, liable, but the company is not included in the official report, but Jobbins took first place with criminally liable by extension, it was not included in the report See HELI-SKI page 9 pistachio cranberry fudge and See COOKIE page 8 Thomas’ ascent: From millhand to Alaska legislator By Rosalie Loewen legislator would be the good than a decade as a lobbyist in the In 2006, a certified public things he did for his hometown. Alaska Legislature and previously accountant brought in to review Over the Haines mayor Stephanie Scott served as CEO of Native village the books of the Southeast this week estimated Thomas corporation Klukwan, Inc., as a Alaska State Fair determined Mountains steered as much as $95 million in member of the Haines Borough the organization was bankrupt. state funds to projects and groups Assembly and board member of A former executive director had in the Chilkat Valley. Chilkoot Indian Association. allowed charges at local stores, A recent appropriation “It’s easier to fail these days federal tax bills, and associated board treasurer. of $50,000 to the Takshanuk than to be successful,” Thomas penalties to pile up to a debt of State Rep. Bill Thomas, Watershed Council for Lynn said during an interview before more than $100,000. R-Haines, provided the lifeline, Canal beach cleanup will put local the recent statewide election “We owed so much to the securing state appropriations of youths to work next spring. campaign, comparing his life federal government in taxes. The $120,000 to keep the organization Providing jobs was a priority growing up here to the world of federal government was putting afloat. “It saved the fair, pretty for Thomas, 65, a lifelong today’s youth. The big difference, the squeeze on us. We owed much,” Doddridge said in an commercial fisherman who rose to he said, is jobs. (creditor) Roger (Schnabel) a interview this week. be co-chair of the powerful House “Back then, people worked, bunch of money. The fair would Thomas, who was in San Finance Committee before losing people looked forward to going have been done, basically,” Antonio, Texas, last week helping this year to Democrat Jonathan to work. We had the (lumber) recalled resident Scott Doddridge, care for his father-in-law, said he Kreiss-Tomkins of Sitka. who had recently become fair hoped his legacy as a four-term Thomas also worked more See BILL page 9 Rep. Bill Thomas Page 2 Chilkat Valley News December 13, 2012 To list an event in Save the Date, phone 766-2688 or Letters to the Editor Save the Date e-mail [email protected]. Lynch story off-base, unwarranted Thursday, Dec. 13 Monday, Dec. 17 Your article regarding the death of Ted Lynch in the Dec. 6 edition of Burger Night, 5 p.m. at American Legion. Care-a-Van Service available for seniors the CVN was off-base and unwarranted. I was shocked and surprised Well & Fit Community Challenge, 6 p.m. 60+, Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 766- that you would base an entire article on one person’s account of at the school library. 2383. the events that day and draw conclusions based on that singular Haines Chamber of Commerce Thursday Mother Goose Story Time for newborns to account, to what end? What could possibly be gained from printing Bingo Night, 6 p.m. at the senior center. 3-year-olds, 11 a.m. at the library. such an article, at the expense of the memory of Ted Lynch and his “Watching Wildlife and Tracking Eagles” Senior Exercises, 11:15 a.m. at the senior huge body of family and friends? Ted’s influence on Haines cannot by Dr. Taal Levi, 6 p.m. at the library. center. Same time Wednesday.