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P E N I N S U L A
Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 49, Issue 14
In the news Honduran migrant caravan arrives at Guatemala border OCOTOPEQUE, Honduras — Hundreds of Honduran migrants arrived at the Guatemalan border under a broiling sun Monday hoping to make it to new lives in the United States, far from the poverty and violence of their home nation. Singing the Honduran national anthem, praying and chanting, “Yes, we can,” the caravan estimated at around 1,600-strong insisted they would travel on through Guatemala and Mexico despite the insistence of Guatemalan authorities that the group would not be allowed to pass. “We have rights,” the migrants shouted. Keilin Umana, a 21year-old who is two months pregnant, said she was moved to migrate to save herself and her unborn child after she was threatened with death. “A letter arrived at my house saying I could not stay, that I had to leave, or else they were going to kill me,” said Umana, who is a nurse. “I was in hiding awhile,” she added. “It’s because I have this tattoo on my hand — it’s not a gang thing. Look, it’s the name of my father and mother.” Umana said she had been walking for four days. “We are not criminals — we are migrants,” she said.
California utilities shut off power amid wildfire concerns SAN FRANCISCO — Concerned about downed power lines sparking wildfires, two major California utilities took the rare step of cutting power to customers amid high winds — and another power provider was considering similar action. The move came as strong winds swept California, knocking down trees and power lines. One woman was killed when a tree fell onto her car. In Northern California, Pacific Gas & Electric for the first time began cutting power Sunday night to tens of thousands of customers after the National Weather Service warned of extreme fire danger across the state due to high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation. San Diego Gas & Electric followed suit Monday, turning off power to about 360 customers in foothill areas near Cleveland National Forest, where multiple blazes have scorched large swaths of land in recent years. SDG&E has pre-emptively shut off power to customers in the past, most recently in December when 14,000 customers went without power — many for four days.
Working to unite a community In a place as spread out as peninsula, public transportation presents a challenge By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Peninsula is nearly the size of West Virginia with small towns and unincorporated communities sprinkled throughout. Without a car or other means of transportation, it can be difficult for people to maintain employment, make it to appointments and get to school. That’s why several local entities are working to make it easier for people to get around. One of the newest programs is called BUMPS, or Basic Unified Multi-Path Service. The two-bus public transportation system is run by the Ninilchik Traditional Council. During a community transportation meeting hosted by Change 4 the Kenai, a coaltion working toward uniting the community, on Oct. 9, Ninilchik Village Tribe board director Jamie Leman said that BUMPS ridership is increasing. “We have over 16,000 passenger miles accumulated to date, which really isn’t that much,” Leman said. “There are quite a few riders from Homer who are stepping onboard. It’s a diverse group of people.” Leman said the schedule will remain the same until the tribe can get more funding. Tribal funds and Federal Transit Administration grants have made the program, and its potential growth, possible. The tribe applied for an FTA grant
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A BUMPS bus waits for passengers in the Walmart parking lot Monday in Kenai. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
of $551,000 to build garages, where they can house the buses in the winter months. BUMPS began operations in early 2018, the Clarion previously reported. There are two buses that run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through Ninilchik, Happy Valley, Anchor Point, Homer, Clam Gulch, Kasilof, Soldotna and Kenai. A one-way ticket is $7, and round trip is $10. The route is fixed, with stops in central locations in each commu-
nity, such as the Cheeky Moose in Anchor Point, the Soldotna Fred Meyer and the Kasilof post office. The system is open to the public and is ADA accessible. There are a few other programs available on the peninsula for those who do not have a vehicle. Central Area Rural Transit System, or CARTS, has been providing public transportation on the peninsula since the early 2000s. They do not operate
south of Kasilof, and suspended voucher services in Homer and weekend services on the central peninsula in 2017, the Clarion previously reported. For many on the peninsula, their job is not within walking distance of their home. The average Kenai Peninsula Borough resident who is 16 years old or older has an 18-minute commute, according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey estimates for 2012 to 2016.
The peninsula’s Independent Living Center is also working to help residents have easier access to public transit through a grant-funded voucher program. The Alaska Community Transit for Human Services grant from the Alaska Department of Transportation works to help the elderly and those with mobility issues. In the past, the voucher program has partnered with AAA Alaska Cab, which has a 23-vehicle See BUS, page A2
School board focuses on student safety By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
The number of students being assessed as suicide risks is seeing an uptick in Kenai Peninsula schools During Monday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education work session on school safety, assistant superintendent of instruction John O’Brien presented data regarding students who may be experiencing childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences. As of Monday, 45 students have been given suicide threat assessments this year. O’Brien said last year, the school district received 140 threat assessments, the highest number ever. Also as of Monday morning, there were 60 referrals to the Office of Children’s Services so far this year. “The mental health of our students is very important,” O’Brien said. Clayton Holland of Pupil Services, which works with special education in the district, continued the presentation fo-
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cusing on the topic of bullying. “School climate and culture impacts bullying on students,” Holland said at Monday’s work session. The district uses threat assessments for students who may be of concern. “It could be a direct threat, a threat on social media or some unusual behavior occurring,” Holland said. Holland said a safety tip line is in the works. The line would potentially cover bullying, suicide, threats to facilities and other threats to student safety. Assistant superintendent Dave Jones gave an overview of the district’s emergency plans. “It’s important for people to know and understand our emergency guidelines and processes,” Jones said. He said it’s important for parents to keep contact information current with the school district, in case of an emergency. Last week, three schools in Soldotna went in to stay put mode after a person of concern was roaming the areas near the schools. Unlike a lockdown,
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets to discuss school safety during a work session Monday in Soldotna. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
stay put mode means the unlocked doors in the facility become locked, and a security guard will man the door until there is no longer a threat. The board then discussed the possibility of removing opencampus lunch hours in select schools as an extra security measure. “How secure do you want your buildings?” the district
planning and operations director David May said. “I just want to ensure, before any arbitrary decisions are done, that we include student council input for anything that’s going to change, literally, the culture of many of our schools, especially our high schools,” school board member Mike Illg said. “I don’t think (open-campus
lunches) are necessarily a benefit of being able to come and go. I think it’s part of their development, to make connections, responsibility. There’s a lot more going on with an open-campus than just going out and getting a sandwich.” The board also discussed the possibility of implementing key cards to control who has access to district facilities.
New school board members sworn in By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Newly elected school board members were sworn in during a special Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meeting Monday morning. Greg Madden and Mike Illg, who had previously served on the school board, gave their oath of office. Matthew Morse, who won the District 2 school board seat in Kenai, was not present. Madden won over 15-year school board
incumbent Marty Anderson in a highly contentious four-way race. The school board also welcomed their new student representatives, Tanis Lorring of Soldotna High School and Joseph Yourkoski of Nikiski High School. Lorring was selected as the school board representative. Yourkoski was chosen to represent the Board of Education Information Committee. Both students were selected at the Sept. 11 districtwide student Mike Illg and Greg Madden are sworn in to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday in Soldotna. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion) council meeting.