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P E N I N S U L A
Thursday, December 20, 2018 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 49, Issue 70
In the news Woman sentenced for distribution of fentanyl in prison JUNEAU — The U.S. attorney’s office says an Anchorage woman has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for distributing fentanyl to other inmates while in prison. The office says Dorothy Elizabeth Lantz was sentenced Wednesday to 40 months in prison and three years of supervised release. She had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of a controlled substance. Lantz was accused of distributing fentanyl to three inmates after being transferred to Hiland Mountain Correctional Center following an alleged probation violation. Over two days in October 2017, four inmates overdosed after taking fentanyl, including one who overdosed twice. All four inmates survived. The U.S. attorney’s office the investigation showed Lantz traded the drugs for commissary items.
Search continues for couple on snowmobiles missing in Mat-Su ANCHORAGE — A search will resume Wednesday for a couple missing on snowmobiles in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Anchorage television station KTUU reports LaVerne and Van Pettigen planned an afternoon ride Friday out of Big Lake. Family members became concerned when the couple missed an appointment Sunday and a flight Monday. The couple has a condominium in Big Lake. Neighbors found personal items inside and the couple’s two cars outside. Their snowmobiles were gone. LaTisha Pettigen says she spoke to her father by phone Friday and her mother left a voice message Sunday morning. Pettigen says her parents are experienced riders and know the trails around Big Lake. Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center have searched. Big Lake Trails Inc., a nonprofit trail advocacy group, planned another search Wednesday. —Associated Press
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Speaking for those who can’t Sitka woman testifies in DC about missing, murdered Alaska Native women By ALEX MCCARTHY Juneau Empire
When she got to the names of the victims, Patricia Alexander’s voice began to break. Alexander, the co-chair of the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s (CCTHITA) Violence Against Women Task Force, was testifying before the U.S. Senate Commitee on Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. The committee was holding a hearing specifically about missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native women. Alexander, who was one of three women testifying, first thanked the senators for allowing her to speak. Then she began naming Alaska Native women in Southeast who have died in unsolved circumstances in just the past two and a half years. The emotion hung heavily in her voice as she read their names. Jade Williams, 19, of Kake. Francile Turpin, 37, of Klawock. See DC, page A8
Amber Crotty from Window Rock, Ariz., left, a delegate of the Navajo Nation Council, and Patricia Alexander of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, right, exchange words of encouragement to each other before testifying as the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds a hearing to examine concerns about investigations into the deaths and disappearance of Native American women, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday. (AP Photo | J. Scott Applewhite)
Kenai, Soldotna awarded for bike friendliness By JOEY KLECKA Peninsula Clarion
Kenai and Soldotna were both recently awarded bronzelevel status by the League of American Bicyclists for meeting standards set by its Bicycle Friendly Community Program. The two peninsula communities are now two of only 464 nationwide that have been given the status of a bicyclefriendly community, and join three other Alaskan towns that have been recognized. Juneau also holds a bronze-level status, while Anchorage and Sitka have both been granted silverlevel status. In 2018, 80 new and renewing applicants sent in submissions, with 61 of those being given a status award. With a population of 4,333, Soldotna is the fourth-smallest community to be recognized on the
Catriona Reynolds finishes off a victory in the 10-mile bike at the Mouth to Mouth Wild Run and Ride on Monday, May 28, 2018, at the Kenai beach. On Reynolds’ tail is Sky Carver. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
most recent list, which was re- for not only the cycling comleased in the organization’s fall munity, but the local economy 2018 conclusion. as well. The recognition is a big deal “It’s about getting the mo-
mentum to make biking safer, which increases businesses to have a volume of customers come in,” said Matt Pyhala, owner and chiropractor at Alaska Advanced Care Chiropractic. “They’ve shown that communities which are bike friendly, the businesses thrive.” Pyhala is part of Bike In Kenai and Soldotna (BIK&S), a community cycling advocacy group, which Pyhala referred to as a “bit of a grassroots” group. Members of BIK&S worked diligently with local businesses and organizations to piece together a road map of cycling in Kenai and Soldotna. Founded in 1880, the League of American Bicyclists advocates for safer roads and promotes a mode of transportation that is beneficial as a lifelong activity. The league, which promotepoc a vision of “a nation See BIKE, page A3
Alcohol office recommends state fair lose liquor license JUNEAU (AP) — Alcohol regulators will consider a recommendation to reject the renewal of the Alaska State Fair’s liquor license — a move that fair officials said would be “devastating” and could lead to higher ticket prices. The state Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office made the recommendation, aiming to crack down on longtime recreational site licenses that might not be used as intended under state law, the Anchorage Daily News reported this week. The fair would need to “greatly increase” admission prices if it loses its ability to sell beer and wine, said Stephen Brown, president of the fair board. In the past, legislative auditors have faulted the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for issuing recreational site licenses to events like the fair. Under state law, recreational site licenses allow beer and wine to be served at locations that host “baseball games, car races, hockey games, dog sled racing events, or curling matches.” The board has previously stretched the legal definition to grant licenses for ski areas. The fair has held a recreational site license since 1981. The board approved a recreational site license renewal for Arctic Valley Ski Area in August, going against the recommendation of the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office. Two months later, the board voted against a recreational site license for Eaglecrest Ski Area. The board has delayed consideration of the fair’s liquor license until February. While discussing the fair’s license this week, board chairman Bob Klein suggested the state Legislature might need an incentive because it has been reluctant to fix problematic alcohol legislation. “There is some merit in holding this license hostage,” Klein said.
Trump pulling all US troops from Syria President declares victory over the Islamic State, contradicting own experts By LOLITA C. BALDOR, ROBERT BURNS and MATTHEW LEE Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is pulling all 2,000 U.S. troops out of Syria, officials announced Wednesday as the president suddenly declared victory over
the Islamic State, contradicting his own experts’ assessments and sparking surprise and outrage from his party’s lawmakers who called his action rash and dangerous. The U.S. began airstrikes in Syria in 2014, and ground troops moved in the following year to battle the Islamic State,
or ISIS, and train Syrian rebels in a country torn apart by civil war. Trump abruptly declared their mission accomplished in a tweet. “We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency,” he said as Vice President Mike Pence met with top
Holiday escape is a cabin away By KAT SORENSEN Peninsula Clarion
As the holidays near, stress levels rise. From last-minute shopping to cleaning the house for guests, the holiday to-do list can seem neverending. This year, counteract the stress and use up those last few vacation days by heading to one of the many cabins located on or around the Kenai Peninsula. The cabins offer the bare Romig Cabin, seen here in November 2017, is located off of essentials with bunk beds and Resurrection Trail on Juneau Lake. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/ See CABIN, page A8 Peninsula Clarion)
leaders at the Pentagon. U.S. officials said many details of the troop withdrawal had not yet been finalized, but they expect American forces to be out by mid-January. Later Wednesday, Trump posted a video on Twitter in which he said is “heartbreaking” to have to write letters and
make calls to the loved ones of those killed in battle. “Now it’s time for our troops to come back home,” he said. A senior administration official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said Trump made the decision based on his belief that U.S.
See SYRIA, page A5
St. Paul Island works to keep air service after airline sale ANCHORAGE (AP) — Residents of a remote western Alaska island are concerned about a possible lapse in air service after PenAir was purchased by another airline. PenAir provided regular flights to St. Paul Island in the Bering Sea, but the company filed for bankruptcy and Ravn Alaska agreed to buy it earlier this year, KTVA-TV reported this week. “Once the asset sale of PenAir is complete it is uncertain if flights to St. Paul will con-
tinue,” said Missy Roberts, a spokeswoman for PenAir. “As we receive further information we will inform our customers and the community of St. Paul.” The sale is expected to close this week. The uncertainty has locals like Larry Nutter worried. “My major concern is the quality of life for the people on the island,” Nutter, who manages the only grocery store in the largely Aleut community,
See SALE, page A8