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

As a mom, one of my favorite things about living in Haines is the freedom and independence my kids enjoy. I love it that, at a young age, they can take off from home on their bikes and be out tooling around town with friends for hours, and that they can bike to school alone, without much concern.

When I reflect on the prospect of Lutak dock becoming an ore transfer facility, these are some questions that come to my mind. How many trucks would be coming through town each day? Would it still be safe for the kids in our Young Road neighborhood to transverse the truck route on their bikes? How would the truck traffic affect the quality of life for residents whose homes are along the highway, Union Street, and Lutak Road? What about the dust from the ore, which I understand is toxic? How would we track any toll on our health or the health of our waters and food supplies?

I’m not opposed to resource extraction - my entire life has been sustained by the fishing industry. I just want to make sure we’re asking all the important questions and considering all the consequences.

What do you love about living here?

Keri Eggleston