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P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 49, Issue 1
Monday, October 1, 2018 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Hunter critically injured after being hit by shot bear, boulders A hunter was nearly killed Saturday when a bear shot during a hunting trip rolled from a ridge onto him. William McCormick, 28, of Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson, was airlifted to an Anchorage hospital with life-threatening injuries Saturday, according to an Alaska State Troopers dispatch. McCormick and a partner were hunting near Carter Lake when the pair shot a bear from a ridge. The bear rolled down the slope, dislodging boulders in the process, according to troopers. McCormick was hit by the bear and rocks. The other hunter was uninjured. Alaska State Troopers, Bear Creek Fire Department, Moose Pass Volunteer Fire Department, and LifeMed all responded to the scene, troopers reported. McCormick was carried to a helicopter and taken to Anchorage Providence Hospital with life-threatening injuries. — Staff
Fisherman reported missing in Bering Sea SEATTLE — The Coast Guard is investigating after a man was reported missing from a fishing boat in the Bering Sea near St. Matthew Island in Alaska. The Seattle Times reports the worker was last seen Thursday on the Seattlebased Clipper Seafoods vessel, which was fishing, processing and freezing Alaska cod. The Coast Guard searched for 24 hours but suspended the search Friday afternoon. At the time the water was about 50 degrees and winds were 15 miles per hour. The Clipper Epic can hold about 60,000 pounds of frozen seafood and up to 25 crew members. Clipper Seafoods operations manager Tommy Little says most of the company’s vessels are from Seattle. He says the last time a crew member was reported missing from a Clipper Seafoods vessel was in 2002. — Associated Press
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Marathoners treated to autumn colors By JEFF HELMINIAK Peninsula Clarion
As one of the best mountain runners and backcountry racers Alaska has to offer, it’s not surprising that Palmer’s Christy Marvin has found herself momentarily lost in quite a few races. What is surprising is that Marvin can now add Sunday’s Kenai River Marathon to that list. Despite getting confused about the course for a few minutes, Marvin ran away with the women’s title on a glorious autumn afternoon, finishing the 26.2-mile course that loops from Kenai to Soldotna and back in 3 hours, 4 minutes and 49 seconds. Anchorage’s Sara Bryan was in second at 3:37:37. The 5K, half marathon and marathon, which drew 220 runners plus 10 relay teams with four slots apiece, also saw Homer’s Pedro Ochoa repeat as the men’s marathon winner, Soldotna’s Dan McIntosh take the men’s half marathon and Eagle River’s Victoria Oxetenko take the women’s half marathon. Marvin has done it all on the Alaska trail running scene, winning the last four Crow Pass Crossings, a 22-mile backcountry run; winning the Equinox Marathon in Fairbanks a Nikiski’s Frieda Tuttle leads Soldotna’s Maria Dammeyer down Beaver Loop Road during the half marathon of the Kenai River record five times and holding Marathon on Sunday. Tuttle was the 18th woman across the finish line, while Dammeyer was 19th. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/ See RUN, page A6 Peninsula Clarion)
Smokefree law takes effect Monday By MICHAEL ARMSTRONG Homer News
As of today, workers and customers of Alaska businesses who smoke or vape will have to take it outside — at least 10 feet away. A law passed by the Alaska Legislature last spring and signed into law in June by Gov. Bill Walker takes effect Monday. With a few exceptions, all smoking, including vaping or e-cigarettes, is prohibited in places where people shop, eat, drink and work. The law also limits smoking 10- to 20-feet from entrances or a set distance away from intakes for ventilation systems. Under the new law, smoking is prohibited in any enclosed space in these areas: r "O FOUFSUBJONFOU WFOVF PS sports arena; r 0O B CVT UBYJDBC GFSSZ PS other vehicle used for public transportation; r "U B QVCMJD USBOTJU EFQPU bus shelter or airport terminal; r "U B SFUBJM TUPSF PS TIPQping center; r "U B QMBDF PG HPWFSONFOU
or public assembly operated by the state or a muncipality; r *O BO PGà DF CVJMEJOH PGfice, hotel, motel, restaurant and bar; r *O B DPNNPO BSFB PG BO apartment building or multifamily dwelling; r *O B QMBDF PG FNQMPZNFOU including a vehicle; r "U B QVCMJD PS QSJWBUF FEVcational facility; r "U B IFBMUI DBSF GBDJMJUZ including residential units; r *O B CVJMEJOH PS IPNF VTFE to provide child care, even if children aren’t present; r 0O B WFTTFM PQFSBUJOH BT B shore-based fisheries business; r 0VUEPPST XJUIJO GFFU of playground equipment at a public or private school or public park where children are present; r 0VUEPPST BU B QMBDF PG employment or health-care facility that has declared the entire campus or grounds to be smoke-free; r 0VUEPPST XJUIJO GFFU PG an entrance to a bar or restaurant; and r 0VUEPPST XJUIJO GFFU PG an entrance, open window or
In a photo provided by the office of the governor, Gov. Bill Walker signs Senate Bill 63, a statewide public smoking ban, on Tuesday, July 17 at the Lucky Wishbone restaurant in Anchorage. (Courtesy photo)
heating or ventilation system intake. However, smoking is allowed at a retail tobacco or
e-cigarette store in a building into other businesses. Smoking that is freestanding or, if at- also is allowed in a stand-alone tached to another building, shelter if food or drink is not does not allow smoke to travel See SMOKE, page A2
Fire conference wraps up in Kenai ‘Puttin’ on the Glitz’ By JOEY KLECKA Peninsula Clarion
Friday night saw the culmination of a weeklong study in firefighting techniques, and the event brought in the big names. The Alaska Fire Conference closing banquet, held at the Old Kenai Mall, capped the weeklong event with a flourish, inviting the state’s top chiefs and professional firefighting workers to a lavish dinner that included Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, who
addressed the audience. The proceeds went to benefit the family of Levi Doss, a Nikiski firefighter and paramedic who is battling brain cancer. Alaska Fire Chiefs Association President Jeff Tucker praised the support and turnout of the state’s biggest fire conference. “This is the culmination of a great week,� Tucker said. “And Gov. Walker was nice enough to join us.� Tucker, who has been Kenai fire chief for four and a half years and has more than
37 total years of firefighting experience, said that more than 225 firefighters showed up for the weeklong event. Forty seven different vendors coming out to support the happening, making for about 350 total people involved in the event. “This is a night we recognize the folks here in Alaska,� Tucker said. Tucker said this is third time in the past 15 years the conference had been held in Kenai, with the most recent See FIRE, page A2
fundraiser set for Saturday By JOEY KLECKA Peninsula Clarion
The “Puttin’ on the Glitz� theme for Saturday night’s Beer and Wine Experience in Kenai isn’t just for show. The Kenai Chamber of Commerce expects the event to live up to the name. The 34th annual Beer and Wine Experience has been hosted in Kenai every year since 1985, and the 2018 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting according to Kenai Chamber President Johna Beech, who said the eve-
ning is expected to “Puttin’ on the Glitz� theme. “It’s a great fundraiser,� Beech said in a Friday interview. “And it’s going to be a great party.� Beech said the event is held to help cover operating costs for the chamber, which puts on a plethora of community affairs and outreach programs each year. The Beer and Wine Experience will open its doors 5:30 p.m. Saturday and will run to 10 p.m. at the Kenai Center, site of the former Carrs/Safeway. The entry See GLITZ, page A2