Skagway News Feb. 28, 2025 by publisher-skagwaynews

SKAGWAY NEWS.

Federal firings hit U.S. Forest Service in Alaska

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Friday that potentially over 100 federal Alaska jobs were cut and called the approach inefficient while bringing confusion, anxiety and trauma

By Corinne Smith Alaskabeacon.com

At least 30 federal workers with the U.S. Forest Service in Alaska have been terminated immediately, as of Feb.13, according to the National Federation of Federal Employees union.

“We got word yesterday that there were going to be 3,400 terminations of probationary employees within the U.S. Forest Service nationwide, and those terminations started at midnight,” said Matt Brossard, a national business representative with NFFE, speaking Friday at 10 a.m.

“There were 30 employees terminated yesterday,” he said, in Alaska. “I don’t have any numbers of what has occurred today, but I would say that there’s been a significant increase in

that number, just from what we’re seeing in other areas of the country.”

Brossard said the firings will have an immediate and severe impact nationwide.

“This is going to severely handcuff the agency’s ability to perform the necessary work that we do,” he said.

“Whether it’s wildland firefighting, recreation facilities, visitor centers, this mass termination is going to affect every function in the national forests.”

The union, which represents over 110,000 federal employees nationwide, joined a coalition of labor organizations in filing a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging the firings by President Donald Trump’s administration, and what they say is an attempt to gut the federal workforce.

The lawsuit, filed in the

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, urges the court to intervene in the federal terminations, challenging the firing of probationary employees. The lawsuit also alleges that the federal administration

has pressured employees to voluntarily resign, and the large-scale reduction in federal workforce violates the law.

“It’s going to be a waiting game to wait and see what the courts are willing to do

to support federal employees,” such as putting a stay on the firings, Brossard said. He added that the union is looking at filing a temporary restraining order to prevent further firings.

More cruise traffic in Alaska is followed by more wastewater violations, officials say

By Yereth Rosen Alaskabeacon.com

As cruise ship visitation has increased, so have water-quality violations, state officials told lawmakers last week.

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation representatives presented a summary of this data on Thursday to the environmental subcommittee of the House Finance Committee. In addition to tracking

the raw numbers, it shows a contrast in the number of violations — also known as “exceedances” — between the time when onboard observers called “ocean rangers” monitored wastewater discharges and the period after that program was abolished in 2019.

“We are seeing an increase in exceedances, but we’re also seeing an increase in compliance response, postocean ranger,” Gene Mc-

Cabe, director of the Division of Water, told the subcommittee.

Compliance actions, which range from letters of warning to enforcement steps, more closely tracked the number of wastewater violations after the ocean ranger program ended, McCabe said. That is because the ocean rangers did not have enforcement powers and could merely forward information to en-

Photo by Deb Potter`

Supporters of Klondike Gold Rush National Park protest the sudden layoffs of park service employees on Valentine’s Day. One Skagway employee lost his job during the latest chaotic purge of public servants by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency directly under the influence of mega-billionaire, Elon Musk. Unelected and unrestrained, Musk, with the blessings of President Trump, has created confusion and trauma with rash layoffs of thousands of government employees. The local worker had been employed by the government for years, but a recent promotion put him a category of new hires - and in the algorithm of being fired.

Page 2

The Skagway News.

Skagway’s First Newspaper Christened in 1897, buried alive in 1904 and resurrected in 1978, The Skagway News is currently celebrating 48 years of reporting in Skagway and Dyea, Alaska, recording our Centennial years and beyond.

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Next issue will be published MAR.14, 2025

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All news copy, letters and calendar events by Mar. 7, 2025

Vol. XLVIII, No3 (988)

February 28, 2025

Published online the second and fourth Friday of the month

Phone: (907) 983-2354 www.skagwaynews.com

editor@skagwaynews.com sales@skagwaynews.com

Publisher Gretchen Wehmhoff

Contributors & Volunteers

Alaska Beacon

Chilkat Valley News

Jeff Brady

Jaime Bricker

Katherine Moseley

Larry Persily

Kerri Raia

Skagway School

Joe Stoltze

Denise Welch

Editor Emeritus

William J. “Jeff” Brady

Submissions

The Skagway News welcomes opinions pieces and letters to the editor.

Opinion pieces should be no longer than 600 words and will be published based on space availability and relevance to current and local events. Letters to the editor should not exceed 250 words.

Obituaries for people with connections to Skagway are printed free of charge up to 700 words

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P.O. Box 125 Skagway, AK 99840

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POSTMASTER send address changes to: The Skagway News PO Box 125, Skagway, AK 99840

Editorials, Opinions and Letters

By Gretchen Wehmhoff Publisher

This issue is missing something. I’m well aware, and it pains me to send it to press without all that should be included.

What is missing is a good recap of the past month of legislation, discussion and decisions made by the Skagway Assembly. They have certainly been busy, but the news stories about their work are missing from this issue.

The newspaper is a means to transfer information to the town residents who don’t have time to attend every meeting or follow every topic. The paper is also a recorder of history. When researchers, students or the curious seek information from a particular time period, the newspaper is usually the first source.

February 28, 2025

I’m not able to cover the town the way I believe it should be covered. Not alone.

I have been fortunate to discuss the future of the Skagway News with a number of wonderful folks who love this valley. The goal is to close a deal to preserve the News and get back to writing history.

In the meantime, I plan to get us caught up on the harbor, the setbacks, the votes and the vetoes in the next issue, but I could use your help this coming month.

If you are interested in writing about life in Skagway, I could use some help covering several things.

Buckwheat. Everyone loves the pictures and stories from Buckwheat. Can you share?

The second semester of school is al-

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

ways full of performances, projects in the classroom and in the community. Are you able to share stories about our kids? Their music? Art? Speeches? Sports?

Vacations and relaxation in or out of Skagway. What did you do this winter? Did you spend time with books, art projects, hiking or did you learn a skill? Did you go somewhere far away with sparkling waters and blue skies? Share a photo or a story.

There won’t be any money in it for you, but you will be published in the best paper in town.

Who knows, maybe we can start something here. What about a true community paper created by the community? That could be a great deal of fun. Many hands recording lots of history. Oh the things we could do…

Tourists walk along Juneau’s harbor on April 26, 2024, next to the docked Carnival Spirit, a ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Cruise ship visitation to Alaska has increased in recent years, and so have measured violations of wastewater standards. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Ocean ranger program funding vetoed by Dunleavy in 2019

forcement agencies, he said.

For cruise ships, pollution limits are set for what is known as graywater, which is runoff from sinks, kitchens and showers, and for blackwater, which is generally treated sewage. Monitoring is done through water samples, which typically number between about 1,400 and 1,800 each year, according to the DEC presentation.

Large ships, with space for 250 or more passengers, are regulated differently than smaller ships, but wastewater from both categories is tracked, according to the

presentation.

From 2015 to 2018, while the ocean ranger program was in place, there were generally about 20 to 25 exceedances a year found in samples from both large and small ships, and generally about 10 compliance actions a year, according to the DEC information. But in the past few years, total detected exceedances ranged from about 60 to about 75 a year, according to the DEC information.

Cruise traffic has increased dramatically over the past decade.

There were a little under

1 million cruise passengers who visited Alaska in 2015. That number grew to about 1.1 million in 2018, according to the DEC presentation.

After cruise traffic to Alaska ground to a halt in the COVID-19 pandemic year of 2020, numbers started to climb again. In 2023, a record 1.65 million cruise passengers visited Southeast Alaska, the state’s main cruise destination. Numbers last year were similar, and bookings this year indicate another record, with about 1.9 million cruise passengers expected, according to the DEC presentation.

Naloxone overdose kits (name brand NARCAN) have been placed around town to assist in an opioid emergency. They can be found at the following locations:

● AMHS Ferry Terminal

● Eagles F.O.E. Aerie #25

● Elks Lodge #431

● Grizzly’s General

Emergency

● Skagway Recreation Center

● The Station

● U.S. Post Office

● Wells Fargo Bank

● Two kits are at the school

medical assistance is still necessary after administering naloxone.

The Cruise Lines International Association “does propose that Alaska is North America’s No. 1 destination, and the numbers are proving that out,” McCabe told the committee.

The ocean ranger program was created as part of a 2006 ballot initiative imposing a per-passenger fee and a set of environmental regulations on the cruise industry. Money to employ the ocean rangers came from that fee.

The program was abolished after Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2019 vetoed its funding.

(from FRONT page)

Over 100 Alaskans struck with layoffs

(from FRONT page)

He said many employees had been notified verbally, and then received a letter of termination effective immediately.

Many were in their oneor two-year probationary period, and Brossard and the union argue the termination wrongfully cites performance. “They’re being terminated, essentially for a performance issue, even though their performance appraisals have been fully successful,” he said.

A copy of a termination letter sent to the Alaska Beacon dated Feb. 13 reads: “The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment with the Agency would be in the public interest. For this reason, the Agency informs you that the Agency is removing you from the position.”

Brossard said that’s inappropriate.

“So they’re just using this blanket authority of, ‘We can terminate you in your probationary period’ as a

Feb. 1 to14, 2025

Feb. 3

way to reduce the size of government employees,” he said. “And this is not just a Forest Service thing, this is across the board. Civilian Department of Defense positions, VA (Veterans Affairs), every single U.S. government branch in the executive branch is getting these termination orders.”

For now, for those federal workers, Brossard said there’s not much relief. “Right now, those employees are terminated. So depending on how a judgment were to come out from the courts, would determine if those employees get their position back, get any further compensation — any of that. We’re going to have to wait and see and let the legal process kind of work itself out,” he said.

“It’s going to put an incredible workload on the other employees in the agency, because a lot of that work has to be done,” he said.

Alaska has an estimated 1,200 federal employees who have been in their jobs less than a year, Alaska Pub-

lic Media reported. Brossard did not have any further information on firings at other Alaska agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the National Weather Service, as of Friday morning.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski issued a statement via Facebook late Friday addressing the firings. “Dozens of Alaskans – potentially over 100 in total – are being fired as part of the Trump administration’s reduction-in-force order for the federal government,” she said.

“I share the administration’s goal of reducing the size of the federal government, but this approach is bringing confusion, anxiety and now trauma to our civil servants … indiscriminate workforce cuts aren’t efficient and won’t fix the federal budget, but they will hurt good people,” Murkowski said.

Alaska State Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage and majority leader of the Senate, said Friday that it’s concern-

Submitted by Skagway Police Dept. Police & Fire Blotter

• A caller reported they lost their wallet. Later, they reported they found it.

• Police assisted a resident who had misplaced their car keys while dining.

• A cell phone and keys were found and turned in.

Feb. 4

• Police responded to a citizen reporting a theft.

• 911 was pocket dialed once.

• Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute. Upon arrival, officers contacted one individual but were unable to locate the second.

Feb. 6

• Police responded to a vehicle lockout.

• 911 was pocket dialed once.

• Fire personnel responded to a downtown fire alarm. The alarm was tripped due to a power outage.

• A downtown business reported they had customers stuck in the elevator due to the power outage. Police and fire personnel responded.

Feb. 7

• 911 was pocket dialed once.

• A caller reported they lost their credit card.

• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.

Feb. 8

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.

Feb. 9

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.

• Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute. Upon arrival, officers made contact with both individuals.

ing. “We have a lot of forest fires. We need those Forest Service employees here helping us protect the largest asset we have, in terms of land, those trees. Yeah, these are important things I’m not supportive of, of course. But

SKAGUAY NEWS DEPOT & BOOKS

Here! BLACK WOODS, BLUE SKY

• 911 was dialed four times to test emergency services.

Feb. 10

• An officer reported a suspicious man on the Lower Lake Access Road, but they were unable to locate the individual again.

• Dispatch was contacted about a possible emergency call services disruption. Services were restored.

• 911 was dialed twice to test emergency services.

Feb. 11

• Dispatch assisted an elderly citizen who needed help with heating their household.

Feb. 12

• Fire personnel responded to a fire alarm and water flow alarm for a business in the downtown area. An interior and 360 search was conducted, and there were no signs of smoke or fire.

• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.

• Police responded to a disorderly conduct call of two men yelling in the street. Upon arrival, the officer reports there is no longer yelling in the area.

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.

Feb. 13

• A caller reported they lost their keys.

• A caller reported a scammer on Facebook posing as a Skagway resident who had available housing.

• A caller reported an area of the boardwalk needed to be repaired.

• Dispatch was contacted about a possible emergency call services disruption. Services were restored.

The acclaimed new novel by Alaska’s Eowyn Ivey, Pulitzer Prize finalist for The Snow Child •••••••

Get your copy now and have it signed by Eowyn, this year’s North Words keynote author, at the end of May. Winter Hours: 12:30-4:30pm Monday-Saturday 907-983-3354 • store.skagwaybooks.com

The Skagway Library Wifi is available outside the library 10am-10pm.

U.S. Passports: Crystal Harris, our Library Assistant, is currently Skagway’s only passport acceptance agent. Applications are accepted by appointment only Tuesday through Friday. day. Please call to schedule. For more more information - 907-983-2665 or email library@skagway.org

A three-day certified pesticide applicator training course is scheduled for April 22-24.

Course will be taught by the University Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service via Zoom and is available statewide.

Class will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is designed to help participants understand and pass the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation exam.

A $75 fee includes study materials available at Extension offices. Contact mjohansson@alaska.edu

The materials will be mailed for an additional $25.

The deadline to register April 15.

Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Alaska Broadband Office (ABO) announced the opening of the Alaska Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program.

The ABO received a State Digital Equity Capacity Grant from the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA), of which $3.45 million will be made available for the instate grant program. This is the first of three tranches of Digital Equity Capacity Grant funding the ABO will receive.

The Grant program will provide funding to eligible entities proposing projects that will implement aspects of the Alaska Digital Eq-

Scholarships, grants & opportunities

uity Plan. These projects will work to eliminate barriers preventing Alaskans within the covered populations, identified in the Digital Equity Act of 2021, from meaningfully using the internet.

The ABO will begin accepting applications immediately through the 120-day application period ending on April 11, 2025. The grant application, and access to the online application portal – can be found on the ABO webpage at https://www. commerce.alaska.gov/web/abo/.

SHI Acceptiong applications for college, voc-tech SEALASKA Scholarships

Applications are open for the 2025-2026 school year.

The deadline to apply is March 1, 2025. However, Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is offering a $50 incentive to those who complete their scholarship application on or before Feb. 1 and who are accepted as scholarship recipients; if selected as a recipient, the $50 will be included in their scholarship award. Applications must be filled out and submitted online at scholarship.sealaskaheritage.org.

Awards will be made to Alaska Native Sealaska shareholders and descendants enrolled full- or part- time in accredited colleges, universities and voc-tech schools. Students must also have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. The scholarship program was founded by Sealaska and is administered by Sealaska Heritage.

Alaska high school students invited to apply for fair scholarships

This year, the Fair will award

$8,000 in scholarships. Scholarships are open to all Alaska junior and senior high school students who plan to attend college or vocational school. The 2025 scholarship awards include:

• $3,000 first-place award

• $2,000 second-place award

• $1,500 third-place award

• $1,000 4-H/FFA/Vendor/Dependent of Fair Member award

• One $500 honorable mention.

• Applicants recieve free tickets

To apply, students should submit:Application deadline March 26, by 4:30 p.m. AKDT.

For more information on requirements and submission, visit alaskastatefair.org or contact Kelly Larson, 907.746.7164 or kelly@ alaskastatefair.org.

Audubon Photography Contest

The National Audubon Society invites photographers and videographers to enter the 2025 Awards, now open to submissions until March 5, 2025, at noon Eastern Time, 8 a.m. Alaska time. Judges will award eight prizes to residents of the U.S. and Canada, including the new Birds Without Borders Prize and Conservation Prize, along with the Grand Prize, Birds in Landscapes Prize, Youth Prize, Plants for Birds Prize, Female Bird Prize, and Video Prize.

Audubon Photography Awards is expanding to welcome photography and video submissions from Chile and Colombia. Many vulnerable birds migrate between Canada and the U.S. and these countries.

The 2025 contest prizes are: (in USD) Grand Prize: $5,000, Video Prize: $2,500, Female Bird Prize: $1,500, Plants for Birds Prize: $1,500, Birds Without Borders Prize: $1,500, Birds in Landscapes Prize: $1,500, Conservation Prize: $1,500, Youth Prize: Six days at Hog Island Audubon Camp for Teens during the 2026 season

Winners will be featured in the Fall 2025 issue of Audubon magazine.

The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 13 years of age or older as of the date of the submission.

Photos and videos that do not adhere to Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography will be disqualified.

Entry is $15 per image or video for individuals in the U.S. and Canada. No payment is required for submissions to the Youth division for entrants who are 13 to 17 years of age. Visit the U.S. and Canada contest page for official rules, details on prizes and judges, and frequently asked questions.

Margaret Frans Brady Fund 2025 Scholarship

The Juneau Community Foundation with the Brady family of Skagway announces the Margaret Frans Brady (MFB) Fund will make up to $10,000 available in scholarship funding in 2025 for qualifying area students who are pursuing artistic excellence.

Applications for the 2025 Margaret Frans Brady arts scholarships are requested. Application forms are available on the Juneau Community Foundation website at https:// www.juneaucf.org/fund/margaret-frans-brady-fund/.

The application and requested materials are due by midnight, Monday, April 14, 2025.

The Margaret Frans Brady Fund was established in 2012 at the Juneau Community Foundation to support arts and education projects and programs in Skagway and northern Southeast Alaska. A separate MFB Scholarship Fund was established a year later to assist students and artists in our area with scholarships to help them improve their creative abilities. Since 2013, more than

$87,500 has been awarded to 100 area students.

Scholarships are considered for all students pursuing creative arts including writing, music, visual, and performance arts. These scholarships include grants to help artists attend arts camps, schools, colleges, symposiums, or conferences.

The scholarship committee expects to announce this year’s scholarships in early May. Scholarships are sent to the tax-exempt non-profit or educational institution that awardees will attend.

For more information, contact Jeff Brady, MFB Scholarship Committee Chair, at wjbradyak@me.com or 907-9833188.

Hather Family Scholarship Fund Scholarship

The Juneau Community Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 application period for the Hather Family Scholarship Fund is now open. Up to $15,000 will be awarded in 2025, and the scholarship is open to graduates from Skagway High School pursuing higher education at a university, college, or vocational school. All 2025 graduating seniors and any past graduates from Skagway High School are welcome to apply. Selection is based on your application, personal essay, and letter of recommendation.

The Hather Family Scholarship Fund was established with the Juneau Community Foundation in 2022 to further Betty Hather and her husband Don’s collective ambition to support youth in the community they loved and to continue to enrich the lives of others – a passion of theirs, which they were well known for.

The scholarship may be used for tuition or to enable the purchase of necessary books, academic supplies, tools, equipment, or uniforms. The scholarship will be sent to the institution the awardee will be attending. The deadline to apply is Thursday, May 1, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. Application and details can be found at https://www.juneaucf.org/fund/

The Skagway Marathon 2025 June 28, 2025

The event features a full marathon (26.2 miles), a half marathon (13.1 miles), and a walking half marathon(13.1 miles), catering to seasoned marathoners and casual runners alike. The Skagway Marathon is renowned for its stunning yet demanding course, winding through the historic town of Skagway and into the picturesque mountains that define this unique region.

Runners will enjoy well-marked routes, hydration stations, and enthusiastic community support throughout the course. Registration for the Skagway Marathon 2025 is NOW OPEN! Runners are encouraged to sign up soon for their spot and begin training for an unforgettable challenge. For more details and to register, visit https://www.skagwaymarathon.org/

BULLETIN BOARD

Library Hours:

Mon. - Thurs. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Fri. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat-Sun 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Call 983-2665 or email https://skagwaylibrary.com/ library@skagway.org

Dahl Clinic Hours:

Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed Sat. and Sun. 907-983-2255

For after-hours emergencies, dial 911.

Solid Waste Facility Hours

T, Th, Sa, Su. 1 - 3 p.m.

Skagway Museum 907-983-2420

Border stations:

7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Call each station for specifics.

Ferry Terminal Hours

Daily 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Earlier when there is an early ferry Skagway Rec Center https://skagwayrecreation.org

SKAGWAY WORSHIP DIRECTORY

Assembly of God Church 8th & State • 907-983-2350 Sun. Worship....................11 a.m.

Wed. Bible Devotions & Prayer 7 p.m. Email skagwayag@outlook.com

First Presbyterian Church 5th & Main • 983-2260

Sunday Worship 11 a.m.

Online access available

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 11th & State • 983-2518

Sun. Sacrament Meeting...10 a.m.

St. Therese Catholic Church 9th & State • 983-2271

Sun. Mass..........5 p.m.

October - April (when a priest is available)

Weather Watch

02/01 13 7 .00

02/02 20 8 .00

02/03 26 7 .00

02/04 27 20 .00

02/05 27 20 .00

02/06 32 23 .00 02/07 32 19 .00

02/08 26 9 .00

02/09 26 9 .00

02/10 21 16 .00

02/11 25 16 .00

02/12 28 9 .00 02/13 25 9 .00

02/14 24 15 .00

02/15 19 11 .00

02/16 18 26 T 02/17 27 18 .00

02/18 32 26 T

02/19 39 29 .00

02/20 40 32 .00

SN.

CLASSIFIEDS

Classified Ads cost 40 cents per word, $4 minimum.

AP&T is hiring for a Customer Service Agent in Skagway. Starting wage is $24.00 per hour plus benefits. For a full job description please see: CareersAP&T

AP&T is hiring for a full time Power Plant Operator Apprentice in their Skagway location. Starting ay is $28.84 per hour. For a full job description and benefits summary please see their career’s page at: www.aptalaska.com/careers

REQUEST FOR BIDS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Rockslide Mitigation

Engineering & Design Services

Bid/RFP Status

Open - accepting bids and proposals

Bid/RFP Due Date

Wed, 03/26/2025 - 2:00 PM

The Municipality of Skagway is requesting proposals from qualified engineers for civil and geotechnical engineering/design, survey/drafting support for Plans, Specifications, and Estimates / Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (PS&E/SPCC) development, permitting, and project management for Phase 1 of the Rockslide Mitigation to Protect Skagway’s Critical Port Economy (RMP) in Skagway, Alaska. The purpose of the project is to design ground failure (rockslide) mitigation efforts, which include excavation of the unstable rock mass at the top of the North Slide, for soil stabilization to prevent catastrophic failure and locally generated tsunamis at the Port of Skagway. This project is in its preliminary plan phase with only 10% conceptual design complete. The engineer will, at a minimum, oversee engineering mitigation efforts and will fulfill requirements for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA), Environment and Historic Preservation (EHP), and other requirements. This will include applying for permits and providing project management in partnership with Municipality staff. Find the proposal documents on our website: https://www. skagway.org/rfps

The Municipality of Skagway is an equal opportunity employer.

FREE GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPIES To Forever Homes due to relocating: 1 Male, 1 Female, Excellent Temperament, House Trained. Will Not Re-home To Just Anyone! Preferably email me first at: stephaniechristensen59@ gmail.com before Text (541) 6559477

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Full-Time Year-Round Job Opportunity

We are seeking a highly organized and proactive Office Manager to oversee daily administrative operations and ensure the smooth functioning of our office. The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing office procedures, coordinating with staff, and maintaining a productive work environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily office operations and ensure a well-organized workspace.

• Manage office supplies, equipment, and inventory.

• Coordinate schedules, meetings, and appointments for staff and leadership.

• Handle administrative tasks such as filing, data entry, and correspondence.

• Support HR functions, including onboarding new employees and maintaining records.

• Assist with budgeting, expense tracking, and financial reporting.

• Ensure compliance with company policies and office regulations.

• Act as the primary point of contact for vendors, suppliers, and service providers.

• Address office-related issues and implement solutions for efficiency.

• Plan and organize office events, team meetings, and special projects.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Proven experience as an Office Manager, Administrative Assistant, or similar role.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) and office management software.

• Ability to multitask and handle various responsibilities efficiently.

• Problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to challenges.

• Knowledge of basic HR and accounting principles is preferred.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Management, or a related field (preferred).

• 2+ years of experience in office administration or management.

Work Environment

• Most work will be in an office environment, with some time spent at various division locations. The schedule will have higher hours and activity during the cruise season, with normalized hours and scheduled time off during the offseason.

• Limited travel may be required.

Salary & Benefits:

• This will be a high-level position with initial salary based on experience. There will be growth potential and continuing bonus opportunities based on performance.

• This position will have medical, dental, and optical benefits as well as an employer matching retirement plan. A robust PTO program including paid vacation is also included.

• Professional development opportunities are available through both training and education.

EEO Statement

The Klondike Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Company Description

The Klondike Group is an integrated tourism company operating multiple divisions in Skagway, Alaska. We operate Richter’s Curios, Southeast Tours, Avis/DIY Rentals, and Skagway Pizza Parlor. We also provide private luxury tours, shuttle services, and other business services throughout the year. We are a busy fast-growing company seeking engaged individuals to join us on this exciting journey.

Contact

Please send your resume or any specific questions you have to our Human Resources Department at HR@klondike group.net

If you would like to speak directly to someone locally, please call: Tyler Rose, Senior Vice-President

The Klondike Group (907) 612-0175