Skagway News archives 2008

Archived Top Stories: 2008

Online issues started with our May 12, 2000 edition. To see stories from issues prior to that date, e-mail us: skagnews@aptalaska.net to request the specific issue you want. We have most of our back issues from May 1978 to the present available for purchase at a postpaid cost of $2.00 per issue.

The new is published twice monthly except in January when there is just one issue.

January 25, 2008: New border rules begin Jan. 31, 2008; Summer ferry schedule puts day boat in Skagway; Comp plan rewrite - two stories; New med center to be named for Rasmusons; Dyea land sale date set; Holiday features: Christmas Bird Count, Skagway artist and KGRNHP ornament welcomed at White House; High hopes for hoop teams in 2008; Don Hather Tourney results, gallery; Obiruaries: Billie Belle Barry, Walter Gordon, Jonelle Butler, Herbert Smail.

• February 15, 2008: Audit letter lists internal control deficiencies; Sprinkler trouble leaves board feeling all wet; Classification study will weigh heavily on pay scale; Borough capital project additions; Dyea land sale date set; Four top finishes for school DDF team at regionals; Family hopes to raise money for service dog; Dick Hotch runner-up; SHS boys notch first league wins; Girls roll toward showdown with Yakutat; Obituaries: Irene Erickson, Shirley Jonas.

• February 29, 2008: Audit issues on the mend; Steering toward "balance" on residency, comp. plan; Employees, assembly agree on Plan B pay scale; Additional year, same pay for Borough Managar Sorum; Non-food sales tax clarified; More money in school budget; Winning sculpture at Rendezvous; Feature - Mercuray rising in arctic; Sports- SE 2A preview, teams fall at Yakutat.

• March 14, 2008: The buck stops here: Skagway plans for influx of revenues from state's passenge tax; Land lottery switcheroo: Two Dyea lots off, one added after leach field questions raised; All agree Gold Rush Cemetery needs work - proposed bus stop draws tour opposition; Appeal submitted for borough lands; Petitions - cancel of vote on bus barn; DDF at State: First Anchorage, on to Vegas - UAS, SHS host Nuclear Awareness Conf. in April; Top excursion award for WP&YR; Hoop teams finish third at regionals.

• March 28, 2008: Construction worker dies in accident at Kasidaya; Denali Commission kicks in $2.2 million for clinic; Obituary: Violet "Connie" Conard; SMART stop at cemetery on hold for improvements, request tally; Appraisals high, land sale goes on; Hovercraft tour situation up in air; Buckwheat Ski Classic 2008 feature, results, gallery; Science Fair; Easter Egg Hunt.

• April 11, 2008: Bus barn project rejected after bid far exceeds grant; $2.2 million school budget presented; Make a run to the border. And wait?; Borough - Port planning award; School - Dr. Dickens renews for one year; Josh Cotton carves a future in art; Health Fair check-up gallery; Obituary: Ed Hanousek Sr.

• April 25, 2008: Yukon prevails in Dyea lottery; Scrambling to rescue the Haines-Skagway shuttle ferry; Assembly approves school budget request; Hall steps in with low cost cemetery tour; Special Report: Finding hope amidst fear, Two Skagway girls share message of peace with world; April events: Folkfest, Darts, Earth Day, Canadian Navy visit; Fish This!

• May 9, 2008: Hovercraft supporters fail to win enough votes to overcome parking appeal; Canol Connection? New route proposed to link mines to port; Border bus boarding will be 'normal'; NWCA rep. explains lower numbers, cruise issues; Affordable housing gets comp. plan treatment; Rough budget passes first reading; No change to school calendar for next year; Obituary: Everrett Hamme; May Events; Spring concerts; State Science Fair; Hooligan run; SHS track; Tight fish regs; KCIBR registration; Heard on the Wind.

• May 30, 2008: Future heli-landings on Meade Glacier in question; Malaspina back as day boat; Palin approves $2.6 million in projects for Skagway; Steam engine spews oily soot on track neighbor; Delia Commander named new STC president; Town meeting will focus on survey results; Presenting the class of 2008; Fish This!; Herd on the Wind.

• June 13, 2008: Bears are back - black bear shooting under investigation; Community opinions raised at town meeting; Budget holds at $4.581 million despite big boost in health insurance premium, big projects stay funded (2 stories); 'Pleasant' selection of clinic bid results results in Dawson at $5.987 million; Disabled cruise ship misses call; Fran Delisle Cancer Walk; Little League, Softball Field Notes, YRQ & KCIBR previews; Obituaries: Mary Jane Hanousek, Dr. William Godbey, Frances 'Lady Elmo' Godbey; Heard on the Wind.

• June 27, 2008: State says bear shot on June 5 was a light-colored cinnamon bear, no charges filed; 'Sprit Bear' has not turned up, receives a Tlingit name; Juneau Access road receives Corps permit; Skagway prepares for world record egg toss; Tlingit interpretive signs dedicated; Borough- FY09 budget finalized, employee health benefits assessed; KCIBRE bike race; Fish This: Preserving the fighting spirit; Heard on the Wind; 4th of July schedule.

• July 11, 2008: Eggs go flying for world record - 4th of July photos; Borough approves White Pass estoppel certificate; Seen on the Wind: Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart; Pat Moore Derby days; Empress of the North sailing away early; New name, old buses as Discover Alaska Tours absorbs Gray Line, Princess Tours; Sen. Ted Stevens visits Skagway; Lichen central to air quality study; Yukon River Quest reporter's journal; Field Notes - two Skagway teams in 4th Tourney winners circle.

• July 25, 2008: Bear shootng briefing - state game biologists, trooper discuss what went wrong; Skagway harbor subjecty to state, fed water quality studies from EPA ship Bold; Empress of the North sailing away early; WP&YR sets new daily ridership record - twice; For now, no shuttle to Gold Rush Cemetery; First ore ship of summer serviced by MSI; Fish Derby results and photos; WP women take title at Dustball; WHISKY Cup heads back north; Obits: Alice Selmer, Mae Heidelberger, Tom Caposey.

• August 15, 2008: Skagway still a possible port for gas pipeline movement; Wings flying at capacity after LAB grounded by FAA; Aug. 26 Primary Election Preview; Borough- CANOL study funded, Clinic administrator search begins; Flower and Garden show; Rasmuson Health Center groundbreaking; Brew Co. takes softball title; Skagway runners among top finisher in trail marathon; Heard on the Wind.

• August 29, 2008: First numbers in - new sales tax scheme off to strong start, rental market changing; Proposed cruise pot time rule finally nixed; Stevens takes Skagway: Primary election results; Haines requests back taxes from Temsco, brings flawed tax codes to light; P.O. staff shortage limits service; Borough -All races uncontested, projects funded, MOA with White cancelled; Sports & Rec - Skagway runners get set for Klondike Road Relay, Cross-country preview, Fishing update; Fish This! One hours on the lake; Heard on the wind; Obituary - Art Nelson.

• September 12, 2008: Sarah Palin first lived here, Skagway reacts to news of governor's rise to national stage; Port plan touts 'Skagway Advantage'; Garden City RV Park purchase, land sale, West Creek hydro focus of meetings; Chamber speakers talk up new of governor, tourism and port opportunities; Obama supporters gather, want Palin to stay home and be governor; Borough - Rifle range bid allows two additives, SFD equipment shuffle helps Kenny Lake; Klondike Road Relay - Great weather, northern lights add to nighttime excitement, Starting Gallery; Skagway girls, boys off to great cross-country start; upcoming sporting events; Editorial - Gov. Palin - Low in the weeds no more; Heard on the Wind.

• September 26, 2008: Assembly will proceed with negotiations for old Mission tract, RV park; Skagway Rec. Center benefit questioned; New draft schedule shows 2009 numbers could be slightly more than 2008; Municipal Election Candidate Profiles; Borough - Moe's permits issueed for demolition, restoration; West Creek hydro MOU approved, How to sell Nahku lots; Voices in the Windy City feature; SHS cross country teams aim for top spots; Heard on the Wind wraps a season; Final Fish This of season.

• October 10, 2008: Taiya River bridge derating curtails heavy traffic; How random do sales tax audits need to be?; Cruising for a criminal; Unchallenged incumberts cruise in Oct. 7 election; Port plan completed, governance decision next; Borough - RV park negotiatins next week, Dawson gets seawalk final phase; School - District report card highlights, count period begins; Obituaries - Richard Dick, Linda Hancock; Wilson powers to region X-C title, girls falter to take third.

• October 24, 2008: Game board to address new 'cream-colored' bear proposal; Dyea emergency measures explored, bridge options dwindle; World record egg toss in the books; Municipality, diocese waiting on re-evaluation of old mission tract; Borough - SRC benefit removed, CI{ liste crafted, Sales tax holiday starts Nov. 1; School - No changes in board officers, Planned absence form worked over; CVB - Visitation down about 6 percent, Charlotte Jewell wins Chuck West award; New fire truck in, old engine to Carcross; State election forum; Dawson Dolly woos Barrow; SHS wrestling, volleyball, DDF.

• November 14, 2008: TSB report recounts fatal 2006 derailment: Too many overloaded cars, bad brakes, untrained crew caused runaway train; Interview with Gary Danielson of WP&YR; Board of Game defers action on light-colored bear protection; Public voices support for purhase of big tract; Troubled bridge over Dyea water; Borough: New face for clinic; CIP resolutions pass; School: Final count 94.55 students; Nov. 4 Election Results and Voting Gallery; Volleyball team takes second in home tourney.

• November 26, 2008: Borough land fund value falls 14 percent; Hovering again - tour proposes new hovercraft landing area at mouth of river; Kasidaya hydro project now online; WP&YR embarks on modernization program; UTU satisfied with TSB report's conclusions on cause of derailment; Borough- Few public voices heard as Skagway Comp. Plan rewrite nears completion; School- Marshall Islands trip approved, senior trip tabled; Skagway matmen prepare for regionals; Lego League teams win in Juneau; Paul Wilson obituary.

• December 12, 2008: Borough Manager Alan Sorum resigns; Borough requests private financing for RV park urchase; $1.6 million ore termina expansion near completion; Borough- clinic, revaluation contracts modified, Rapuzzi Collection agreement signed; Lego League breakdown; DDF update; Student active in Polar Bears International; Volleyball team advances to State; Wrestlers wrap season at regionals; Yuletide Beginnings Gallery.

• December 24, 2008: State agencies approve hovercraft tour on river; Governor's 2010 budget includes old STIP projects for Skagway; Manager preparing to leave Jan. 5, mayor wants Sorum as special projects manager; Jackie Schaefer receives 2009 Helen B. Clark Community Service Award; Vlleyball team falls at State; YRQ entries open; Yuletide Colors Gallery.

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