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P E N I N S U L A
Monday, February 25, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 49, Issue 125
In the news Ferry system halts fall sales amid uncertain future JUNEAU — The Alaska state ferry system has stopped selling tickets past September amid uncertainty over its future. CoastAlaska reports Gov. Mike Dunleavy is proposing a budget cut that would effectively shut down the system. Joshua Bowen is mayor of the southeast Alaska community of Angoon and says everyone there relies on the ferry. Angoon has no airport or barge service, and its passengers and goods come in by a twice-weekly ferry or by floatplane. Dunleavy is trying to eliminate a projected $1.6 billion state budget deficit without new taxes and without reducing the annual check Alaskans receive from the state’s oil-wealth fund. He is proposing that a consultant look at privatization. Legislators have raised concerns with ending service.
Troopers arrest Fairbanks man suspected in crash, shooting FAIRBANKS — A 34-year-old Fairbanks driver suspected of crashing into a car and firing shots at the vehicle has been arrested. Alaska State Troopers say Tucker Holmgren was held on suspicion of weapons misconduct, assault, felony driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test. Fairbanks Troopers just before midnight Thursday took a call that a man had crashed his pickup into a car carrying a family with four juveniles on a rural road east of Fairbanks. Troopers say the suspect then fired a gun at the car. Troopers accompanied by Fairbanks and North Pole police responded and arrested Holmgren. He was jailed at Fairbanks Correctional Center.
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Unions to push back against ferry cuts By KEVIN BAIRD Juneau Empire
The Alaska Marine Highway System could be facing up to 253 union job losses under Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget, according to Robb Arnold, a member of the Inland Boatman’s Union. The IBU is one of three unions that work with the ferry system. That job reduction would include 100 jobs in Juneau and 81 in Ketchikan, Arnold said. Arnold said he and other union members learned that this during a meeting with Department of Trans-
Robb Arnold, chief purser on the Alaska Marine Highway’s Malaspina ferry, talks about the proposed cuts to the ferry system on Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
budget for fiscal 2020. The ferry system may only operate seasonally instead of year-round. AMHS union advocates are gearing up to push back. The AFL-CIO, a union which represents many state employees, is hosting a rally at the Alaska State Capitol steps next week. Arnold said he and other IBU members have been invited to participate, along with members of the other two ship-side unions: the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots, and the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial As-
Sullivan: 90-day comment period for Pebble mine review inadequate By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said a 90-day comment period is inadequate for a draft environmental review of a large portation officials last ing a $97 million cut — 75 copper and gold mine near week. percent of its budget — unthe headwaters of a major See FERRY, page A2 The ferry system is fac- der Dunleavy’s proposed Alaska fishery. “It’s a very legitimate request from my perspective to have more time to do the due diligence on a project of this size,” the Republican Sullivan told reporters Thursday, noting he would likely make a formal request for additional time. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday released the draft that lays out development alternatives for the proposed Pebble Mine in southwest Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, including a no-development option. For years, the project has been the subject of heated debate and, at times, litigation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said the Bristol Bay watershed supports the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world. Sandy Kearns and two of her animal companions, Daisy May and Lily Sue, are photoCritics of the project graphed Wednesday at Winter’s Grace Guidance Center in Soldotna. (Photo by Brian called the corps’ review Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion) rushed and superficial. Tom Collier, CEO of the journaling to meditation to sions. Kearns also has four that are central parts of her Pebble Limited Partnership, animal care into her ses- dogs, a cat, and two horses See GRACE page A2 which wants to develop the mine, said the partnership sees “no significant environmental challenges that would preclude the project from getting a permit.” Before the draft’s release, the leaders of several organizations had asked the corps to consider at least a 270-day comment period. Meanwhile, Sullivan also said he supports President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, calling the situation a crisis. He said two avenues cited by the White House would involve use of funds from a federal asset forfeiture fund and U.S. Defense Department anti-drug efforts. He said he had been working with White House “at senior levels, saying, (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion) See 90, page A3
A little bit of Grace
Local guidance center offers alternative approach to grief counseling By BRIAN MAZUREK Peninsula Clarion
Sandy Kearns is a grief counselor on the Kenai peninsula with a unique approach to helping people deal with the loss of a loved one. Kearns and her husband Dan Musgrove built Winter’s Grace Guidance Center as an alternative to traditional therapy options, with Kearns using her 26 years of experience as a grief counselor and her own personal experiences with loss to develop her model. At Winter’s Grace, people are welcomed into Kearns’s home as a guest rather than a client. Kearns works with individuals or families and incorporates activities ranging from
Tsunami Bowl challenges Alaska students By KAT SORENSEN Peninsula Clarion
The Seward Starfish competed in the 22nd annual Alaska Regional National Ocean Bowl, known as the Alaska Tsunami Bowl, over the weeked. The University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Oceans Sciences hosted 16 teams from across Alaska at Seward High School from Feb. 2124, testing their knowledge of ocean science against one another. The winning team, from Ketchikan, will travel to Washington D.C. to compete at a national level.
— Associated Press
Southern peninsula legislators react to gov’s budget Index Local................A3 Opinion........... A4 Schools............A6 Sports..............A7 Classifieds...... A8 Comics............ A9
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By MICHAEL ARMSTRONG Homer News
A proposed state budget from Gov. Mike Dunleavy brought both concern and praise from two lower Kenai Peninsula legislators. “It’s pretty shocking,” said Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, in a phone interview on Monday. “… It’s pretty depressing now. We’ll go through it line by line.” Stevens said Dunleavy’s budget drew criticism throughout the Senate. “There isn’t anybody at this point who says ‘We approve that total budget,’” he said. In a statement released through the House Repub-
“I am committed to stay true to my word and support balancing the budget, repealing SB91 and restoring the Permanent Fund Dividend,” she wrote. “These are the topics upon which I was elected, and I plan to stay committed to these things while working openmindedly with my colleagues to achieve a budget that will benefit the State of Alaska.” Vance said Dunleavy’s Rep. David Talerico, R-Healy, speaks during a press budget broke new ground. “Last week, Alaska conference with Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, left, and Governor Michael J. DunRepColleen Sullivan-Leonard, R-Wasilla, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. (Michael Penn/Juneau Em- leavy proposed (a) FY20 budget that, for the first pire) time in memory, balances licans, Rep. Sarah Vance, “great attention and a thor- state expenses with revR-Homer, said that while ough review,” she agrees enue,” she wrote. That’s not quite accuDunleavy’s budget requires with it on principle.
rate. During periods of high oil prices in the mid 2000s, former Gov. Sarah Palin proposed and the Legislature passed budgets fully paid for with oil and gas revenues and that put money into earnings reserves. In an initial analysis of the budget, Steven’s chief of staff, Doug Letch, noted these impacts locally: • Kindergarten through 12th grade funding would fall by $320 million, from $1.66 billion to $1.34 billion, with the biggest cut in the foundation formula, from $1.2 billion to $942 million. • The state contribution to the University of Alaska budget would drop 44 perSee GOV, page A3