Schools
Again
What’s happening this week
Patriots stifle Rams to take Super Bowl
Schools/A5
Sports/A7
CLARION
Snow 31/24 More weather on Page A2
P E N I N S U L A
Monday, February 4, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 49, Issue 107
Medevac service resumes after Guardian plane went missing last week
In the news Alaska State Troopers arrest coach suspected of smoking pot ANCHORAGE— The coach of a girls’ basketball team from a rural Alaska village was arrested on suspicion of smoking marijuana between games at a tournament. Alaska State Troopers say 23-year-old Kaylena Charlie of Minto was arrested Thursday in Nenana. Online court records Friday did not list the case and it was not known whether Charlie had retained an attorney. She remained jailed Friday morning in Fairbanks. Troopers say an officer contacted Charlie and a male friend smoking at the front door of the Nenana School, which was hosting an eight-team tournament. Troopers say “No Smoking” signs were posted at the door and Charlie was smoking between games. She was arrested with 20-year-old Lethearen Jimmie. Both were transported 60 miles north to Fairbanks and held without bail.
Alaska town approves observance of daylight saving time KETCHIKAN — Residents of a small town in southeast Alaska have voted for the community to observe daylight saving time. The Ketchikan Daily News reports the Metlakatla Indian Community Council authorized the time change last month for the town of about 1,500 people on Annette Island. Residents approved the change that aligns the local time to the state time zone in a special election in December. The state merged its four time zones into one in 1983, but Metlakatla Mayor Karl Cook says the community decided to keep its time the same. Cook says the time difference has recently presented problems to some residents in “keeping track of what time it was here, what time it was in Ketchikan and stuff like that.” — Associated Press
Index Local ...............A3 Opinion .......... A4 Schools ...........A5 Nation .............A6 Sports .............A7 Classifieds ..... A9 Comics......... A11 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
$1 newsstands daily/$1.50 Sunday
By MOLLIE BARNES Juneau Empire
Girl Powder Nate Mole competes in the drag race Sunday at the Ski for Women at Tsalteshi Trails. See story and photos Sports A7. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Guardian Flight has begun the process of resuming medical air transport service in Alaska after service was halted when a plane went missing near Kake last Tuesday. “As we continue to search for the plane (and) its crew, we know our friends would want us to resume helping others when they need it the most,” said Randy Lyman, Guardian Flight senior vice president of operations, in a press release. “We thank everyone sincerely for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult period.” The resumption of services will not happen all at once across the eight Alaska base locations, but will be phased in as appropriate when the base crew members are ready. The Coast Guard announced Thursday that
it suspended its search for the plane, according to a Coast Guard news release. The search was suspended at 5:30 p.m. after searchers looked for 63 hours over an area of 240 square nautical miles, according to the release. While the search for survivors by the Coast Guard might have ceased, Lyman said Guardian Flight will continue the search independently to reunite the lost crew with their families. He said they are organizing aerial surveys of the coastline and a SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) search of the ocean near the last reported position of the missing aircraft. The company will also be looking for the flight recorder, otherwise known as the “black box,” for ultimate use by the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation.
Dunleavy’s candidate screening under scrutiny By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — Newly elected Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s process for screening candidates for government work is under scrutiny after three people picked for prominent positions quit or declined roles, two after offensive social media posts came to light and one after questions were raised about his work history. Dunleavy’s choice for Department of Administration commissioner — a Cabinet-level job — was accused of lying to lawmakers about his business experience. A man picked for a policy role in that department,
In this Jan. 8 file photo, Alaska Department of Administration Commissioner Jonathan Quick, second from right, speaks with Revenue Commissioner Bruce Tangeman, right, before the start of a cabinet meeting at the state Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
which provides administrative services to Alaska state
agencies, posted lewd comments about Democratic
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris on Facebook, among other remarks. And a University of Alaska Board of Regents nominee shared derogatory tweets about former first lady Michelle Obama and two Muslim congresswomen. Some nominees picked to lead major departments or serve on boards have been “found wanting,” Democratic state Sen. Donny Olson said. Dunleavy spokesman Matt Shuckerow defended the selection process for Dunleavy’s team as “thorough, thoughtful and deliberate.” Applicants for boards and commissions can apply online, where they’re
asked for information such as training and education, potential conflicts of interest and criminal history within the past 10 years. However, Shuckerow didn’t respond to questions on who is handling vetting for Dunleavy, how the administration is vetting appointees for boards and Cabinet-level jobs and if social media feeds are taken into account. Shuckerow earlier said the administration doesn’t generally discuss hiring practices and personnel matters. Jonathan Quick resigned as Department of Administration commissioner after an owner of a Seattle-area coffee chain and frozen yogurt business said some See GOV, page A12
Budget head known for cutting with ‘hatchet, not a scalpel’ By KEVIN BAIRD Juneau Empire
New Office of Management and Budget Director Donna Arduin is known for slashing state budgets and hailed by some as a budget wizard. One reason Gov. Mike Dunleavy brought her
on to his team is to help him with the task of cutting an estimated $1.6 billion from the operating budget. Last week, Dunleavy introduced Senate Bill 39, a supplemental budget bill that proposed cutting $20 million from the education budget, and now some leg-
islators say they’re are on high alert. SB 39 irked legislators and school officials around the state because the proposed $20 million cut specifically targets a bipartisan budget deal made in May 2018. The $20 million was distributed to the state’s 53 school districts and the
Southeast mayor pleads guilty to soliciting prostitution KETCHIKAN (AP) — A mayor in southeast Alaska received a 10-day suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution. Klawock Mayor Lawrence Armour pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge Wednesday in court on Prince of Wales Island, the Ketchikan Daily News reported. The 36-year-old may-
or electronically sent $400 to a woman on New Year’s Day, asking her to come to his residence for sex, according to court documents. Craig police obtained a copy of their communication on Facebook Messenger. “The person took the money and just kept the money,” Ketchikan District Attorney Timothy McGillicuddy told the
court. “There was no follow-through conduct that happened here.” When questioned earlier this month, Armour told police he asked for sexual favors and made the payment, according to the documents. “The defendant was remorseful and indicated that he had been drinking prior to the Facebook inSee MAYOR page A2
Mt. Edgecumbe school in Sitka. Sen. Donny Olson, DGolovin, said Dunleavy made education a campaign issue and because of that, Olson believes Arduin’s work does not completely reflect Dunleavy’s intentions. Olson said he be-
lieves Dunleavy has a full plate and doesn’t have time to micromanage Arduin. “I don’t necessarily blame the governor for doing that,” Olson said about SB 39 during a Thursday news conference. “I think the OMB director’s the one See CUT, page A12
Anchorage hatchery looks to boost low king forecasts ANCHORAGE (AP) — A hatchery at Ship Creek in Anchorage has had to look elsewhere for king salmon eggs to make up for expected shortages. Anchorage television station KTUU reports Ship Creek is usually the primary source of eggs for programs at the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. But the number of kings was significantly down in the latest return. Hatchery manager Gary
George says his team collected stock from other sources to make up the shortfall. Salmon forecasts this year have led to the issuance of several restrictions for kings in northern Cook Inlet. The hatchery, however, is still expected to introduce 1.3 million salmon to Alaska waterways this year. The hatchery is located just north of the busiest part of Ship Creek, a popular urban fishing spot.