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P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 49, Issue 122
In the news Corps releases draft review of Pebble Mine project JUNEAU — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released a draft report detailing potential impacts of developing a large copper-and-gold mine near the headwaters of a major Alaska fishery. The corps plans to take comments through March, April and May on its analysis of various development alternatives for the proposed Pebble Mine, including a nodevelopment option. The Pebble Limited Partnership has proposed an open-pit mine and related infrastructure including a power plant and water treatment plants and tailings storage sites. The project is in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region. About half the world’s sockeye salmon is produced by Bristol Bay. Critics say a mine doesn’t belong there. Pebble in 2017 settled a lawsuit with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that cleared the way for the company to seek permits.
Arizona lawmaker to be sentenced in June in Alaska murder JUNEAU — Sentencing has again been delayed for a former Arizona state legislator who last year was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of a man at a remote cabin in southeast Alaska. Mark Desimone was found guilty in May of killing Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales during a 2016 hunting and fishing trip. Sentencing has twice been delayed. It has now been set for June 17 to accommodate travel for Rosales’ family. During trial, his attorney didn’t dispute Desimone fatally shot Rosales, but unsuccessfully argued it was an accident and a lack of motive was a huge hole in the prosectuor’s case. Desimone resigned from the Arizona House in 2008 after being arrested in a domestic dispute with his then-wife. That case was dropped when he agreed to counseling. — Associated Press
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Thursday, February 21, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
$1 newsstands daily/$1.50 Sunday
2019 king outlook below average By KAT SORENSEN Peninsula Clarion
The 2019 Kenai River king salmon outlook is below average according to the state’s 2019 forecast.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game released both the early- and late-run predictions for king salmon on Feb. 12 and called for a below average early run and a well below average late run.
The department is forecasting 3,168 large fish in the early run, meaning king salmon equal to or larger than 34 inches in total length. “The 2019 forecasted total run of large fish is less
than the optimum escapement goal of 3,900 to 6,600 fish and far below the 19862018 average total run of approximately 9,300 large fish,” according to a memo
Chief justice talks cybersecurity, budget in address to Legislature By ALEX MCCARHTY Juneau Empire
Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Joel H. Bolger, center, is escorted to the House of Representatives by Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, left, and Rep. Andi Story, DJuneau, for the annual State of the Judiciary speech at the Capitol on Wednesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
an interview after the speech, Wooliver said the court system has included a little under $1 million for cybersecurity in its capital budget request. Bolger detailed another
technological endeavor that could help defendants. He said there are many people in Alaska who are not getting the legal representation they need, and that a simple and
By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
See KING, page A2
State of the Judiciary Last year in Nome, a court employee clicked on an attachment in an email as they sifted through their inbox. That attachment unleashed a virus into the court’s computer system and shut it down for six days, Alaska Courts System Deputy Director Doug Wooliver said. “If it had been in Anchorage or Fairbanks,” Wooliver said, “it could have spread to the rest of the state.” The hack was contained immediately and didn’t spread, Chief Justice Joel H. Bolger said in an interview Wednesday. Still, the situation was a scare to the court system, and Bolger mentioned it Wednesday in his State of the Judiciary speech to a joint session of the Alaska House of Representatives and Senate. Increasing cybersecurity is one facet of the court system becoming more technologically savvy, Bolger said in his 18-minute address. In
Borough enacts new whistleblower protections
easy-to-understand online tool could help them. This tool, called the Legal Navigator, is an online service that provides people with an interactive way to learn See STATE, page A2
Local provisions for the protection of whistleblowers were passed at Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. Prior borough code did not have a policy to protect whistleblowers, or people who expose potentially illegal or unethical information within an organization. Alaska law provides protections for whistleblowers but allows municipalities to create their own whistleblower policies. The new policy protects borough employees and management to report matters of public concern without fear of retribution. Borough-specific whistleblower protections help to ensure the borough is held to the highest standard in transparency and ethical behavior, according to the ordinance, which was introduced by assembly members Kelly Cooper and Hal Smalley. “It was found that the borough doesn’t have a whistleblower policy and with the current political climate locally and nationally, we thought it was important that the borough is held to the highest standards,” assembly member Brent Hibbert said at Tuesday’s meeting.
See NEW, page A2
‘Willy Wonka’ brought to life by Kenai Performers By JOEY KLECKA Peninsula Clarion
In a world of imagination, the Kenai Performers are bringing Willy Wonka to reality. The Kenai production company is showcasing “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka” using the 50th anniversary musical rendition of the book with eight showings over two weekends. Kenai Performers “Willy Wonka” co-directors Terri Burdick and Donna Shirnberg collaborated with music director Audra Faris on the production, receiving help with musical mind Kent Peterson. Peterson will conduct the orchestra during the play,
Clare Henry (left) plays the role of Charlie, and is joined by (left to right) Rob Lewis, Cheri Johnson, Yvette Tappana and Ken Duff during rehearsal Tuesday at the Renee Henderson Auditorium at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
using original music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.
Shirnberg said that as Kenai Performers’ productions have risen in talent and popu-
larity, the company felt compelled to up its game with a retelling and retooling of the classic children’s novel. “When we were looking at what next comes next, we knew it had to top ‘Shrek’,” Shirnberg said about the previous production. “It had to be something to appeal to children in the cast.” Shirnberg said the play gives a special nod to actor Gene Wilder, the original face of Willy Wonka in the 1971 film, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” “It’s true to Gene Wilder,” Shirnberg said. “It’s a tribute to him. He’s Willy, and he’ll always be Willy.” Shirnberg said the crew wished to bridge the gap
between the 1971 film and current incarnations of the character, which in its most recent revival was brought to life by Johnny Depp in the 2005 film “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The leading role of Charlie Bucket is portrayed by 13-year-old Clare Henry, an eighth-grader at Cook Inlet Academy. Henry said the soft-spoken and honest character is her first as a leading role, but one that she has found a passion for. Henry said her audition went well because her personality matches that of Charlie. “I wasn’t so quiet,” she explained. “It was easy and it was hard in some ways.” See PLAY, page A3
Alaska Natives want a voice in the budget-making process BY BEN HOHENSTATT Capital City Weekly
Proposing a budget is just one step in the budget making process, and Liz Medicine Crow and Kendra Kloster want to make sure Alaska Natives help shape Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget as it takes its ultimate form.
Medicine Crow, President and CEO for First Alaskans Institute, and Kloster, Executive Director for Native Peoples Action, were guest speakers at a Native Issues Forum Wednesday and urged those in attendance to pay attention to proposed budget cuts, be mindful of how communities will be impacted and
be willing to share their stories with state lawmakers. “If this really is just a conversation starter, then let’s not let that be a conversation that’s one sided,” Medicine Crow said. “This is a proposal, and the Legislature has to do the duty of vetting this proposal and hearing from the citizens of this state and that
Cannabis industry expresses uncertainty with new admin By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — Gov. Mike Dunleavy has no plans to change marijuana legalization, a spokesman said Wednesday, even as the Republican administration’s appointments and proposal for a state regulatory board worry some in the legal can-
nabis industry. Spokesman Matt Shuckerow also said that Dunleavy has no desire to push the industry in one direction or the other. Dunleavy has made new appointments to the fivemember Marijuana Control Board while also planning to propose repealing its existence.
His appointment of Vivian Stiver, a marijuana critic, has riled industry members who have cast her as a prohibitionist. Stiver would replace Brandon Emmett, who is one of two industry representatives on the fivemember board. State law allows up to two seats to go to industry representatives See ADMIN, page A3
means we need to really show up. If the plate and the door is open for proposals, let’s put our own bold proposals forward.” Medicine Crow and Kloster did not drill in on one particular topic, but instead provided an overview of the budget’s $1 billion in proposed cuts for the audience
in Juneau’s Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Kloster said with so many areas on the chopping block, it’s important for people to find the ways the proposed budget could affect them and share their story with lawmakers. Both speakers shared ways the proposed budget could See VOICE, page A3
New auto shop opens By BRIAN MAZUREK Peninsula Clarion
A new locally owned Kenai auto shop, Maxie’s Auto and Truck Repair, celebrated its grand opening on Feb. 1. Owner Kris Maxie spoke with the Clarion on Feb. 20 about why he opened the shop and his plans for the business. Maxie has lived on the peninsula for the last 18 years, and his 26 years of
mechanic experience goes all the way back to when he opened his first shop in Bethel at the age of 17. Now he runs his business with the help of his oldest son, Kameron, and his friend and fellow mechanic of 20 years, Tim. Maxie said that the main reason he started this business was to get his son involved and set him up with a good career. Maxie has experience See AUTO, page A3