Author: Nicole Thompson

The search for a missing plane bound for Yakutat was called off late Monday evening after exhaustive efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies. The aircraft, a 1948 Beechcraft Bonanza owned by longtime Haines pilot Sam Wright, was carrying Yakutat residents Hans Munich,Tanya Hutchins, and Sam Wright himself. It was last tracked near Mount Crillon at the southern end of the Fairweather Mountain Range. The three individuals departed from Juneau on Saturday, but the plane never reached its destination. Wright, along with Munich and Hutchins, who own Coastal Air Service, were reported overdue that evening. Both Wright and…

Joshua Kelly-Morris, a 24-year-old Bethel resident, has been sentenced to 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. The charge stemmed from a fatal fight in a Bethel home in 2022 that resulted in the death of 21-year-old Ian Makaily. According to legal authorities, Kelly-Morris was initially charged with first-degree murder. Details surrounding the fight remain unclear, but witness statements allege Kelly-Morris and Makaily were heard arguing downstairs before Kelly-Morris informed others upstairs that Makaily was dead. Based on these statements, Bethel police apprehended Kelly-Morris. As part of a plea agreement, Kelly-Morris pled guilty to the lesser charge of…

Residents of Bethel are being warned by the local police department about a phone scam involving a person posing as a police officer. Reports have surfaced of an individual identifying themselves as “Deputy Chris,” using various last names, and making calls that appear to originate from Bethel’s courthouse. The scammer claims to have urgent legal documents that require immediate attention. Residents have also reported on social media that the caller accused them of property crimes and demanded they account for their whereabouts. This scam in Bethel is part of a wider trend of police impersonation scams across Alaska, with similar…

Kauffman Museum has received a transformative gift of $3.4 million from the estate of Donald C. Harder, a long-time supporter and friend of the museum. This generous donation is the largest single gift in the museum’s history, and it will profoundly impact the institution’s ability to preserve and showcase the region’s cultural and scientific heritage. The $3.4 million gift will support various initiatives at the museum, including enhancing exhibits and programs to make them more engaging and interactive, expanding the museum’s collections to include new and significant artifacts, supporting educational initiatives and outreach programs for underserved communities, and renovating and…

The Bethel Police and Fire Departments responded to a reported stabbing at the intersection of Main Area Street and Kilbuck Street. The incident occurred on Saturday at 6:00 PM on evening. The victim, a 32-year-old male, was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is currently in stable condition. Authorities have confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public, emphasizing that the situation was isolated. The Bethel Police Department is actively investigating the incident to gather more details, including the motive and any potential suspects. Additionally, community members have been reassured of their safety as the investigation…

HUBER HEIGHTS— a small group of Bethel Township residents attended the Huber Heights City Council meeting to express their objections to a proposed 296-acre annexation. The annexation, petitioned by a few property owners on January 16, involves land near the Carriage Trails development. During the meeting, Bethel Township resident Jeff Morford highlighted issues such as traffic and school overcrowding, attributing them to the council’s annexation plans. “Your solutions would not be needed if you had not created the problem in the first place,” he urged the council to reconsider future annexations to allow Bethel Township to grow at its own…

Bethel Park student Lyla Walsh has taken the initiative to set up a summer engineering camp exclusively for girls, aiming to inspire and increase female representation in engineering fields. Recognizing the gender disparity in engineering, Lyla Walsh designed the camp to engage young girls in hands-on engineering projects and interactive learning experiences. The camp includes activities like building the tallest paper tower and making the sessions fun and educational. In addition to the interactive projects, the camp features guest appearances by female engineers who provide mentorship and share their professional experiences. This initiative aligns with broader efforts like the Girls…

James Harris, a seasoned law enforcement professional with 32 years of experience, recently relocated to Bethel, Alaska from New Mexico. Previously, he served as the police chief in Belen, New Mexico starting in 2019. Harris has taken on the dual roles of Bethel’s Chief of Police and the newly established position of Public Safety Director, where he will oversee both the police and fire departments. Harris aims to address Bethel’s persistent issues with recruitment and staff retention, which have been significant challenges for the city’s police department. The department has struggled with high turnover rates and a staffing model where…

Emergency crews are relentlessly searching Lake Norman for a swimmer who went missing after a drowning incident reported Thursday afternoon. Location: Near the sand bar, west of the Bethel Church Road peninsula on Lake Norman Time Reported: Thursday, after 7:00 PM Responding Agencies: Huntersville Fire Department, Medic officials, Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue Huntersville Fire Department reported first responders resumed the search on Friday. Law enforcement officials are urging boaters to avoid Marker D4 and the “Sandbar Lake Norman” area to avoid hindering search efforts. This incident comes just hours after Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue issued a safety reminder to boaters enjoying the…

The Bethel Craft Summerfest will take place on Saturday, July 6, 2024, from 10 AM to 4 PM on the front lawn of the Municipal Center at 1 School Street, Bethel, CT. This annual event, which offers free admission, features a wide array of crafts in various categories, showcasing the talents of around 60 exhibitors​ (FestivalNet)​​ (Step Outside)​. The Bethel Craft Summerfest is organized by the Artisans Alliance and has become a staple in the community, attracting about 1,000 attendees yearly. The event is non-juried, meaning exhibitors do not need to undergo a selection process to participate, and no prize…

The Bethel Police Department requests the public’s assistance in locating missing juvenile Jake Chief. If you have any information regarding Jake Chief’s whereabouts, be sure to contact the Bethel Police Department immediately. Share this information on social media platforms with the hashtag #FindJakeChief. Encourage others to share the missing person report to broaden the reach. Print and distribute flyers with Jake Chief’s information in the Bethel City Sub Area. Time is of the essence in cases of missing persons. We can help bring Jake Chief home safely by working together and sharing information. Missing Person: Jake Chief (juvenile) Last Seen:…

Attention Bethel Water Department customers. There’s a double dose of important news regarding water usage and regulations. Originally scheduled maintenance on the town water system has been delayed until July 15th. Residents must dramatically reduce their water use for that entire week to prepare for this. The department urges everyone to do their part by limiting lawn watering to two days per week throughout the summer.  To conserve water further, they recommend avoiding watering between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and reminding everyone to skip watering their lawns altogether when it’s raining. In addition to these conservation measures, the Water…