Alaska Seaplanes is continuing seasonal direct flights from Juneau to Whitehorse next spring; tourism organizations in both cities are excited about the 55-minute route
Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian speakers reconnected with their language roots during a three-day language summit this week
Governor-elect Mike Dunleavy has asked all state workers who serve at the pleasure of the governor to resign and reapply for their jobs
Dunleavy wants to freeze any new regulations the Walker administration issued going back to election day
Alaska Seaplanes’ Pilatus PC-12, parked on the ramp at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport (Photo courtesy of Carl Ramseth/Alaska Seaplanes)
This past June, Alaska Seaplanes began offering the only direct flights between sister cities Juneau and Whitehorse three times a week. They stopped running in September, but they’re planning to continue offering the seasonal flight next spring. General manager Carl Ramseth said that business was a little slow at the beginning, but it picked up as the summer went on.
He said there were some permitting delays with the Canadian government that pushed their first flight back to June 15.
“That put us in a tough spot for the summer of 2018,” Ramseth said.
The trip is just 55 minutes in a nine-seat, fully pressurized Pilatus PC-12. Compared to an hours long ferry ride to Skagway plus a two-and-a-half hour drive into the Yukon, or alternatively, flying through Seattle and back up, it’s a big time-saver.
It’s also gotten a lot of support from tourism organizations in Juneau and Whitehorse. Ramseth said that a group of stakeholders, including TIA Yukon, the Juneau Economic Development Council and Travel Juneau met in September to discuss marketing ideas to promote the airlink. Liz Perry, president and CEO of Travel Juneau, said that the direct flight creates the opportunity to market Southeast Alaska and Western Yukon as one travel destination.
“There are lots of opportunities for Juneauites to travel to Whitehorse and for residents of Whitehorse to come down to Juneau, and experience, you know, sitting by the water and getting some fishing in and doing things they can’t do up there,” Perry said. “People could ostensibly start their trip either in Juneau or Whitehorse and then make the extended trip up, either up into the Yukon or down south into Southeast Alaska.”
“It’s a comfortable flight, and you get to see some beautiful scenery on the way up and back,” Perry added. “So if time is of the essence, or time is a consideration, I think this is going to be a great option for a lot of travelers.”
Robin Anderson, global marketing manager at Tourism Yukon, agrees. He said that because Yukon and Southeast are often a combined destination for travelers, and having a direct flight helps tourism on both ends.
“A lot of visitors, when they come this far, they’ve traveled a long way. They really quite often combine the Yukon and Alaska in the same itinerary,” Anderson said. “Anything that can be done to help facilitate travel between the two destinations is only going to have a positive impact. We would love to see it continue.”
On top of that, he said Yukoners visiting Southeast Alaska appreciate the shortened travel time.
“Yukoners think pretty highly of Southeast. A lot of Yukoners even own property in places like Haines or Skagway. Or you know, we go fishing in Yakutat and Hoonah … To be an hour or so from doorstep to doorstep is very attractive.”
Ramseth said that the 2019 season will kick off on April 23. He said Alaska Seaplanes is planning to continue with the route for at least the next two seasons. “We’re hopeful that the demand will grow … the longer we’re in the market and more people are aware of it, the convenience of it,” he said. “And our schedule is set up where we could add more days of the week if the demand is there.”
Update (12:25 a.m.)– Kavitha George
The next state House District 33 representative will be Sara Hannan, replacing Rep. Sam Kito III. Hannan, who ran as a Democratic Party candidate, will represent Skagway, Haines, Klukwan, Gustavus, downtown Juneau and Douglas, starting January 15, 2019. She will serve for two years.
She says that having won in a difficult four-way primary against three other Democrats helped her hone her message. “I had to explain to voters why I was a better choice. It wasn’t about a position on a single issue,” she said. “I think that helped translate in the general (election), to the skills that I think I have that will make me successful in the job.”
Democrat Sara Hannan celebrates winning a seat in state House District 33 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Alaska’s Energy Desk)
Hannan ran on a progressive platform prioritizing a balanced state budget, affordable and accessible health care, renewable energy and public education. “I had hoped to be working with a progressive governor, where we could make some real substantive change in health care issues and education,” she said. “I think with the governor who’s being elected, we’re going to be playing a little bit more of a defensive game, working to protect Medicaid expansion and the level of services of schools … just protecting things that I think are really critical to the future of Alaska.”
Her win comes as something of a surprise since her opponent, Chris Dimond, outraised her campaign by more than $17,000, pulling in a total of $80,677.97 compared to her $63,541.93.
Dimond said he feels good about what his campaign has accomplished in the race, even as Hannan’s victory was looking probable. “Win or lose, we’ve run a hard campaign,” he said. “I have no regrets. I still feel good. No matter what, I’m gonna go home and feel good tonight.”
Update (10:25 p.m.) – David Purdy
With about 82 percent of precincts reporting, Democrat Sara Hannan is currently in the lead with 54 percent of the votes counted, compared to independent candidate Chris Dimond with about 42 percent of the votes counted.
Original story
There are two candidates in the race for House District 33, representing Skagway, Haines, Klukwan, Gustavus, downtown Juneau and Douglas.
Sara Hannan, the Democratic nominee, is running on a platform prioritizing a balanced state budget, affordable and accessible health care, renewable energy and public education. She was also the only Juneau area legislative candidate in support of Ballot Measure 1, which would increase protections for salmon and other anadromous fish habitats. Hannan is a retired public high school teacher and owns a small business with her husband selling locally-caught fish. She is also a former legislative aide and in 1994, organized Fran Ulmer’s successful campaign for lieutenant governor.
Chris Dimond, an Independent, comes from a background in union organizing, serving in an elected position in the regional carpenters’ union. In that vein, he has continually stressed the importance of securing good-paying jobs as his number one priority for Alaskans, and secured the endorsements of more than a dozen local workers’ unions. His platform also includes balancing the state budget and investing in infrastructure and capital projects. If he wins, Dimond will be the first non-Democrat to represent the Juneau area since 1974. Last week, he earned the endorsement of Gov. Bill Walker.
Both candidates share similar views on most issues, including supporting an income tax, funding fast ferries on the Alaska Marine Highway System and investing in early education. Their widest difference comes in their approaches to infrastructure development — unlike Dimond, Hannan does not support a Juneau access road.
Polls close Tuesday night at 8 p.m.
This story will be updated as election results come in.
