Tainted soil halts road upgrade - page 3 BOE upholds Canary’s work - page 4 Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966 Chilkat Valley News Volume XLIII Number 17 Thursday, May 2, 2013 $1 Borough: 6 heli-ski violations in season By Karen Garcia The Haines Borough recently leveled a combined $1,200 in fines against two heli-skiing companies for six permit violations in March and April. The borough fined Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) $400 for two out-of- bounds landings on March 19. It also fined Alaska Heliskiing $800 for three out-of-bounds landings and one incident of deviating from a flight path. For both companies, manager Mark Earnest assessed each violation at $200 apiece. SEABA’s violation came to Snowmen sprouted up around town last week, as more than 10 inches of snow fell downtown. From left, one at the entrance of the state light after a random GPS spot fair’s “Spring Fling” event; friends Sadie Anderson, Teya Silkman, Taylor Ganey and Aubrey Cook with one they helped build on Small check by the borough. SEABA Tracts Road; a jolly version created by Dr. David McCandless near the Haines Senior Village. Doris Ward and Tom Morphet photos. was asked to provide GPS data for March 19 and April 2, two randomly selected dates, and April nearly as cold as February; record snow showed no violations on the latter. Alaska Heliskiing provided By Tom Morphet competed in the snow last weekend in Juneau weather. It’s a cold mass of air funneling down random GPS data for March 3 and Five days of snowfall in the past week on a rubberized track, but the gravel surface of from the Yukon and the Arctic into the Interior March 13, and no violations were buried plans for the annual Haines Invitational the Haines track absorbs moisture. and Southeast,” said Richard Lam, weather found. track meet and caught motorists and plow “There’s four inches of water on the track. service meteorologist. However, resident Carolyn drivers by surprise. They can’t line it. It’s under water,” Taylor But the cold may seem especially cold due to Weishahn submitted a complaint to The weather set an apparent record for total said. A 1987 graduate of the school, Taylor unusually warm weather early in the year, and the borough on April 13 regarding snowfall for the month of April downtown said she couldn’t remember the last time the typically mild weather here at April’s end. Alaska Heliskiing’s April 12 flight – 13.3 inches – but not one for cold. The event was cancelled. According to the weather service, April’s though the Klehini Valley and month’s average temperature, 34.9 F., was In April, the days got longer, but not warmer. average temperature was less than one degree three out-of-bounds landings in five degrees colder than normal but still a The average low temperature for the last 10 warmer than February’s average temperature the Little Jarvis Glacier and Saksia bit warmer than the coldest April on record, days of the month – 27.1 F – was 1.5 degrees of 34 F. But February’s average was 7.2 Glacier areas. which came in 2002 when the monthly below the average low for the first 10 days of degrees warmer than normal for the month. “The helicopter was flying average was 34.7 F., according to National the month, according to the weather service. January’s average – 27 F. – was four degrees right across from my house, which Weather Service officials in Juneau. The highest temperature for the month – 52 above normal. overlooks the Klehini River... If Haines High School activities director F. – came on April 7. The lowest temperature Snowfall in the past week also set they’re flying in front of the range, Tiana Taylor said she cancelled the track meet – 19 F. – came Sunday night. Wednesday due to soggy conditions. Athletes “Everything in Alaska is seeing this See COLD page 12 See HELI-SKI page 12 Culbeck to moonlight for mine firm Mystery ship found By Karen Garcia which conflicts with his official consideration the nature of where Executive assistant to the duties.” that position falls within the Haines Borough manager Darsie Culbeck said he is not a organization. For example, if on sea floor at Lutak Culbeck will work as a camp decision-maker, but can only it were me as the manager, my manager for Constantine Metal make recommendations to the outside employment is extremely By Karen Garcia The raw data indicates the Resources this summer while the assembly and manager. Also, the limited, almost to the point of The origin of an apparent boat is resting on a slope company performs exploratory borough is not involved at this being zero... You have to look at s u n k e n s h i p r e c e n t l y about 200 feet offshore, with drilling for a potential mine about stage of the project and won’t be what level that position rises to, discovered just offshore of the bow sitting at about 35 40 miles north of Haines. for the foreseeable future, he said. and how much authority they have Lutak Dock puzzled Haines feet under water and the stern Culbeck and other borough “As far as I know, there’s no to make independent decisions,” Borough officials and local about 100 feet down. The officials – including manager Mark permitting, no decision-making Earnest said. history buffs this week. measurements are preliminary Earnest and mayor Stephanie Scott that the borough assembly has to Culbeck disclosed his previous Hydrographer Ben Hocker, and subject to change, he said. – said this week they didn’t see a weigh in on at this point that has employment relationship with who last week took sonar Hocker said the sonar conflict in the arrangement that to deal with (Constantine). I’m Constantine when he applied images of the sea floor near technology revealed the allows Culbeck to simultaneously not on the assembly; I don’t make for the borough position, so the the dock, said preliminary majority of the vessel’s continue working on projects for decisions,” Culbeck said. connection is not a secret, Earnest data shows what appears to exposed surface is smooth and the borough. “I don’t see anything coming said. Assembly members also are be a 180-foot long, 30-foot flat, leading him to believe the Culbeck, who has previously that would put me in a conflict aware of his connection to the wide barge overturned and boat is overturned. If it were worked as a consultant and camp of interest, because I don’t see company, Culbeck said. partially buried in the sea right-side up, the imaging manager for Constantine, said this where they need the borough’s “I don’t think I have that much floor just north of the dock’s would likely show some sort week he will work two months engagement any time soon,” he influence, because the decision barge ramp. of superstructure or hold, he this summer managing safety said. makers are (Earnest) and the “Generally speaking, the said. and logistics at the company’s Manager Earnest pointed to assembly, and they all know who shape is indicative of a vessel The smooth surface also base camp. the executive assistant’s advisory I work for. So if I came across hull. There are what would suggests the hull is made of Borough code prohibits “any role and inability to implement and wrote some document that appear to be guide rudders steel, as wooden hulls tend to elected official or employee to policy or expend funds as reasons said, ‘Give them a permit,’ they’d on the end of the hull and a invest, either directly or indirectly, why Culbeck’s employment with pointy bow,” Hocker said. See SHIP page 7 in any business or participate in Constantine is not problematic. any private business transaction “You have to take into See HIRE page 9 Page 2 Chilkat Valley News May 2, 2013 Letters to the Editor Save the Date Thanks for Hospice volunteers Thank you to whirlwind workers and community treasures, Mardell Thursday, May 2 Annual Tlingit Park Cleanup Party. Gunn and Diz Kistler, for volunteering to once again organize, manage, Strong & Fit Class, noon to 1 p.m. at the Volunteers needed. 314-0608. and operate the annual Hospice of Haines Spring Rummage & Bake Chilkat Center lobby. Same time Tuesdays. Haines School concert, 6:30 p.m. in the Sale. They, along with over 70 volunteers put in over 400 hours and Burger Night, 5 p.m. at American Legion. elementary gym. Grades 5 though 8. raised about $9,000, about one-fourth of Hospice’s annual budget. They Friday, May 3 Thursday, May 9 reduced waste in the community, recycled, and made a lot of generous givers and eager buyers very, very happy – all for a good cause. It may Teen Drop-in Clinic, 3 to 4 p.m. Public Health Haines DDF / Music award night, 6:30 to have been snowing outside (a first!) but inside the ANB/ANS Hall this Nurse available to answer questions on topics 7:30 p.m. in the high school open area. weekend, there were plenty of warm smiles. On behalf of the board important to teen health, including contraception. Haines Borough Planning Commission of Hospice, our deepest gratitude to all who gave, who helped, who Confidential and safe environment. Every meeting, 6:30 p.m. in assembly chambers. bought, who baked, to the ANB/ANS, Acme Transfer, Howsers, Haines Friday.