Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

Haines-based news outlets won six awards at the Alaska Press Club’s annual journalism competition.

Public radio station KHNS won four awards, including a first place for “Talk Around Town” in the category Best Ongoing Public Affairs Show. Other awards for KHNS included second place for Best Daily News Program, in the all-radio category for a series of newscasts; second place in Best Government and Political Reporting for “House District #34 Race, (an award shared with KCAW of Sitka); and third place in Best Health or Science Story for “Richard Boyce Inflatable Suspenders.”

Station news director Margaret Friedenauer, who started on the job a year ago, said she was encouraged by the awards. “When you’re in a small town like this, it’s nice to be validated by your statewide colleagues because you don’t know how many people are listening.”

The Chilkat Valley News won two awards. Reporter Karen Garcia’s story on illegal blood testing by the Haines Borough Police Department, “DUIs Reduced After Illegal Blood Tests,” won first place in Best Reporting on Crime or Courts in the small print category. Obituary writer Heather Lende’s story on Hilma White, “White Launched Hotel Halsingland, Dies at 98,” won second place as Best Profile in small print.