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P E N I N S U L A
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 49, Issue 156
In the news Authorities investigate trooperinvolved shooting ANCHORAGE — Authorities are investigating a trooper-involved shooting that left a 25-year-old Fairbanks man dead. Alaska State Troopers say Kevin Ray McEnulty was shot Sunday night in Fairbanks after he brandished a firearm. Troopers and officers from Fairbanks and the University of Alaska Fairbanks police departments had responded to a call about shots being fired on Loftus Drive. Troopers say the suspect had left the area in a vehicle by the time authorities responded. Troopers say the vehicle was found soon after in a nearby Geist Road parking lot, where McEnulty was shot. Troopers say he died at the scene. No officers were injured. Troopers say the name of the officer or officers involved will be released 72 hours after the shooting.
2 dead after ATVs crash through Kuskokwim river ANCHORAGE — Alaska State Troopers say responders have recovered the bodies of two people who died after their all-terrain vehicles broke through the ice on the Kuskokwim River. Trooper spokesman Tim DeSpain says the bodies were recovered Sunday. But he adds that responders decided to wait overnight to bring them back to Bethel because of darkness, thin ice and a lack of resources after three survivors were transported from the scene. DeSpain says plans were underway to transport the bodies Monday afternoon to Bethel. The names of the two deceased people were not immediately released. The two were among five people traveling on the two ATVs that crashed through the ice. Troopers took a call about the accident Sunday night. Three people made it out of the river and were transported to Bethel Hospital for treatment of hypothermia. — Associated Press
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School district passes budget By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District passed a “status quo” budget at Monday night’s board meeting, and has asked the borough for the full funding of $52 million. The school district passed a total general fund revenue budget of $145,387,469, which includes the $52 million in local funding plus state funding. Last April, the preliminary budget passed by the school board allocated more than $142 million in general fund revenue across the district. On a state level, the district has been operating under the assump-
Kenai council looks to support funding for KPC, Wildwood By KAT SORENSEN Peninsula Clarion
Members of the community attend the Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board meeting on Monday in Soldotna. The board passed a $145 million budget during the meeting. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
tion of flat funding from the base student allocation of nearly $6,000 per student from the Foun-
dation Funding Formula, totaling just under $80 million in state funding. The district would
face a loss of more than $22 million if Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget passes.
The Kenai City Council will look at two resolutions Wednesday night that ask them to support local entities in the face of state budget cuts. The resolutions on the docket ask the Kenai City Council to show support for the Kenai Peninsula ColSee COUNCIL, page A3
School board to interview superintendent candidates By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Two candidates will be interviewed for the position of superintendent by the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education Thursday, a press
release said. The board will interview Mr. John Pothast, the current director of elementary and secondary education for the district, and Dr. Christine Ermold, current director of human resources and professional development
for the district. The school board worked with the Association of Alaska School Boards to facilitate the search. The search drew in three candidates, however, Dr. Ken Haptonstall withdrew his application on Sunday, the
release said. Pothast has a bachelor’s degree in “secondary education: English and communications” from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and a master’s degree in “educational leadership” from Northern Arizona Universi-
ty, according to his resume. Pothast has been an English teacher at Kenai Peninsula College since 2016. He served as the principal of Skyview High School from 1999 to 2005, the principal of Redoubt Elementary See BOARD, page A2
Scientists detail Pebble Mine concerns Soldotna
to have outdoor basketball court this summer
By MOLLIE BARNES Juneau Empire
Representatives have been grappling with the a proposal to develop a mine near Bristol Bay. As a part of the wider discussion, the House Resources committee heard Monday from a group of scientists and advocates who disagree with the Pebble Mine project, which proposes developing the Pebble copper- gold-molybdenum porphyry deposit (Pebble Deposit) in southwest Alaska as an open-pit mine, with associated infrastructure. A group of scientists See MINE, page A2
By KAT SORENSEN Peninsula Clarion
Gayla Hoseth, 2nd Chief of Curyung Tribal Council and Director of Natural Resources at Bristol Bay Native Association, left, Norman Van Vactor, CEO of the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, center, and former Alaska legislator Rick Halford, present at a press conference against the Pebble Mine project on Monday in Juneau. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
Bill would help immersion school teachers By MOLLIE BARNES Juneau Empire
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it easier for non-native English speakers to get their teaching certificates in Alaska. The House Education
committee held a hearing Monday to discuss House Bill 24, a bill regarding teaching in languages other than English. They took public testimony about the bill, which would allow the department to issue a limited teacher
certificate, valid only in the area of expertise for which it is issued, to a person to teach Alaska Native culture, military science, vocational or technical education or any subject if the language of instruction is not English. “We aren’t just looking
for individuals who are fluent in Spanish, we are looking for teachers who … can really develop these programs,” said Katherine Gardner from the Matanuska-Susitna School District on the phone. “What HB 24 does for us is See BILL, page A3
Construction has started on an outdoor basketball court in Soldotna Creek Park. The project was approved as part of the city’s Five Year Capital Plan along with $55,000 in funds from the city’s general fund. The court will be located between the playground and restrooms and will address two needs, according to the city. The court will improve overall park safety and give the youth more recreational opportunities. According to Soldotna’s Parks and Recreation Director Andrew Carmichael, the court will be completed by early summer.
Home Show kicks off this Saturday Human rights commission makes no decision on director over rifle sticker The Kenai Peninsula By BRIAN MAZUREK Peninsula Clarion
Builder’s Association is gearing up for its 40th annual Home Show, which takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Kirsten Raye, executive officer for KPBA, said that this year’s event is set to be the biggest one yet. For the first time in the event’s history, the upper mezzanine of the sports complex will be used to accommodate the more than 120 booths that will be present. The Home Show is organized every year by KPBA with the help of sponsors such as Spenard Builder’s Supply
By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
Peninsula Residents attend the annual KPBA Home Show at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in this undated photo. (Courtesy of Kirsten Raye)
and other KPBA members. It is billed as the biggest trade show on the Kenai Peninsula, and vendors in every area of homebuilding will
have booths displaying their latest products and services. Besides vendor booths, visitors can expect door prizes, a See HOME, page A3
JUNEAU — Members of Alaska’s human rights commission reached no decision Monday on the fate of their embattled executive director, who faced criticism for questioning as racist a “Black Rifles Matter” sticker on a truck in the commission’s parking lot. Chairman Brandon Nakasato said the commission was unable to reach a decision based on its discussion during an extended execu-
tive session. He said members would try to meet again soon, perhaps yet this week. He confirmed the meeting in Anchorage was related to an investigation requested by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Nakasato said he expected any decision made by the commission to be done publicly. Dunleavy sought an investigation after commission executive director Marti Buscaglia last month posted on the commission’s Facebook page a picture of a “Black Rifles Matter” stickSee RIFLE, page A11