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Modern New trends to freshen up the home this spring Homes/C1
Sunday
Wallyball Friendly competition comes to Kenai Community/C2
CLARION P E N I N S U L A
March 10, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 49, Issue 136
$1 newsstands daily/$1.50 Sunday
Escape route vote delayed
Iditarod Peninsula mushers’ progress as of 8 p.m. Sunday: 6. Mitch Seavey, Seward, out of Eagle Island 15. Travis Beals, Seward, out of Eagle Island 30. Sarah Stokey, Seward, out of Grayling 40. Ryan Santiago, Sterling, in Shageluk
Borough postpones state road swap ordinance By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Find more Iditarod coverage on Page B1.
In the news Earthquake hits Fairbanks FAIRBANKS (AP) — The Alaska Earthquake Center says a small quake has hit the central part of the state. The center says the magnitude 3.7 earthquake hit an area 18 miles (29 kilometers) south of Fairbanks, the state’s second-largest city, at 2:39 p.m. Saturday. The earthquake had a depth of 13 miles (21 kilometers,) The center says the earthquake was felt in Fairbanks, North Pole, Fort Wainwright, and Eielson Air Force Base. There are no reports of damage.
Juneau officials reject Norwegian’s free cruise offer Juneau officials have rejected an offer by Norwegian Cruise Line to send the city manager and mayor on a free cruise. The Juneau Assembly this week voted to turn down the invitation, and it rejected an amendment to have the city pay for the cruise, KTOO Public Media reported. The cruise line invited leaders from port communities along the West Coast in order to bring attention to the Norwegian Joy’s first U.S. voyage next month, according to the city. — Juneau Empire
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March Madness Soldotna basketball supporters cheer for the SoHi girls team in Saturday’s Northern Lights Conference tournament final against the Wasilla Warriors. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion) Read more on Sports/B1
An ordinance authorizing the borough to enter into an agreement, allowing for the sale and exchange of certain public roads, with the state Department of Transportation was postponed at last Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. Several roads would be given to the borough in exSee ROAD, page A2
Peninsula offers spring break fun close to home By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Spring in Alaska means longer days and warmer temperatures. Next week is spring break, and for folks staying in-state, there’s still plenty of fun to be had on the peninsula. While tourist season and the midnight sun is still a ways away, a trip to Seward for a whale watching cruise is in the realm of possibility for next week. Major Marine tours in Seward opens March 9 with cruises around Resurrection Bay. Kick-off summer camping season with a stay at a public-use cabin. On the Kenai Peninsula, there are dozens of cabins located on state and federal lands. Many cabins are easily accessed, while some are more remote and may require the assistance of a bush plane to water taxi for
added adventure. Reservations for cabins maintained by the state’s Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation can be made on dnr.alaska.gov. Reservations for cabins on the Kenai Wildlife Refuge can be made on recreation. gov or by calling 1-877444-6777. For people looking to spend their time off in the outdoors, snowshoeing offers a great way to explore the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge will be hosting two winter snowshoe walks at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and at 12:30 p.m. on Friday. The walks are for anyone interested in getting outside and no experience will be necessary. The walks will be guided. Interested explorers can bring their own snowshoes or reserve them at the Refuge by calling 907-2602820. The walks will begin at the visitor center and last
Romig Cabin, a public-use cabin on Juneau Lake, is seen here in November 2017. The cabin can be rented online at recreation.gov and can be accesed by hiking, biking, skiing and horseback. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
for one to two hours. The Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward will be open every day over spring break from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $24.95 for adults and $12.95 for children and can be purchased
at the SeaLife Center. The aquarium has a variety of exhibits, including a touch tank where visitors can be hands-on with local sea creatures. Families traveling north can stop by the Alaska
Wildlife Conservation Center to see Alaska animals like reindeer, bears, wolves, foxes, porcupines, musk ox and more. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last entry at 5 p.m.
Dunleavy headed to oil conference Caring for the Kenai Governor hopes to promote state’s resources
By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
By ALEX McCARTHY Juneau Empire
Gov. Mike Dunleavy said Friday that he doesn’t travel out of state often, but he’s willing to make an exception if he can potentially help Alaska’s economy. Next week, Dunleavy is heading to a major oil conference called CERA (which stands for Cambridge Energy Research Associates) Week, he announced in a press conference Friday. There, he and other high-ranking state officials will meet with oil executives, experts and government officials to stoke interest in Alaska’s oil fields. “This is where Alaska should be,” Dunleavy said. “At this table.” Dunleavy said the conference, which takes place in Houston, will allow him to discuss Alaska’s oil fields, pipeline, proximity to Asia and other aspects of the state’s potential to
selects top projects
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during an interview with the Juneau Empire at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 26. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire)
still be a power in the oil world. “We were once the supergiant in this part of the world and we want to let folks know that we still have tremendous opportunities in Alaska,” Dunleavy said. “This is part of my
thrust to make Alaska open for business. Oil certainly is a bedrock, a cornerstone of our economy and I think this is a real opportunity.” This will be Dunleavy’s second out-of-state trip while in office, as he went See GOV, page A2
The top 12 finalists were chosen for the 29th annual Caring for the Kenai competition. This year over 400 students applied for the competition, which is open to all students within the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. Applicants were asked to answer the contest’s prompt of “What can I do, invent, or create to better care for the environment on the Kenai Peninsula, or to help improve the area’s preparedness for a natural disaster?” The 12 students were chosen by eight community judges on March 6 at an allday event at the Kenai River Center. One of the eight judges is former Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Dr. Donna Peterson, who said she was excited by the new ideas and the students’ incorporation of technology.
“I come to something like this today and say, ‘Wow. We’ve got great kids, great teachers, and great schools.’ Let’s keep it happening,” Peterson said in a press release. “The real world part is that you’re going to get a job because of the way you speak, the way you influence others, the way you show your knowledge; that’s what this is all about. The idea that we can sit here after many, many years and still be wowed by new ideas, that’s amazing. That’s great. Good teaching.” Students chosen in the top 12 represent Cook Inlet Academy, Kenai Central High, Homer High, Ninilchik School, Seward High, Soldotna Prep and one home-schooled student. The students’ names have not been released. The project idea names are Worms are Sexy; Promote our Pollinators; R.I.S.E. U.P; The Trails Initiative; Beach Clean Up with Magnetic Sweeper; Nice Ice See CFK, page A2