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CLARION
Sunny 36/14 More weather on Page A-2
P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 44, Issue 152
Question Do you feel the veterans memorial in Leif Hansen Memorial Park in Kenai is appropriate as is? n Yes; or n No.
Friday-Saturday, March 28-29, 2014 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
‘Mobile Mamm’ comes to town
Choosing respect
By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
To place your vote and comment, visit our Web site at www. peninsulaclarion. com. Results and selected comments will be posted each Tuesday in the Clarion, and a new question will be asked. Suggested questions may be submitted online or e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com.
In the news Lawmakers consider adding grizzlies to license plate list
More than 100 rally for an end to domestic violence
MIKE COPPOCK Associated Press M K
By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
JUNEAU, Alaska — The House State Affairs Committee Thursday moved a bill adding the grizzly bear to the list of options people can choose for an Alaska license plate. House Bill 293, sponsored by Republican Rep. Peggy Wilson of Wrangell, gives Alaska residents the option of having the bear on their license plates. The bill calls for a repeat of the bear design used on the 1976 Alaska vehicle tag. Rep. Wes Keller of Wasilla said Alaska vehicle plates are seen as a symbol of state pride and promote the state when vehicles are driven in other parts of the country. The bill also grants specialty plates for current and retired Alaska firefighters who have given five years of service.
Alaska has the highest rate of domestic violence in the country, said Kenai resident Liisa Blizzard, a statistic she described as embarrassing and needing to be addressed. Blizzard, a Kenaitze tribal council member, was one of more than 100 people who came out in support for the 5th annual Choose Respect Awareness walk in Kenai Thursday. Organized by the LeeShore Center in Kenai, the event is part of a statewide initiative started in 2009 by Gov. Sean Parnell. Blizzard said the tribe has an agreement with women’s resource center and have violence against women programs to help victims of domestic abuse. Having the community come together can make victims more comfortable and hopefully reach out for support, she said. “We try to help people become self-sufficient and get out of a bad situation and take care of their kids,” she said. “We stand united together to let people know we will not accept violence in our community.” Sunny spring weather delighted the crowd as a police escort led the walkers down Frontage Road from See MARCH, page A-12 Photos by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion
More than 100 people took to the streets Thursday for the 5th annual Choose Respect awareness walk in support of victims of domestic abuse.
Providence Imaging Center is bringing mammography screening to Soldotna on Saturday. The Mobile Mammography Program — the “mamm van” — will be parked at PIC’s Soldotna location along the Kenai Spur Highway beginning at 9 a.m. “The mobile mamm van will just be parked out in the front parking lot, so it’ll be hard to miss,” Liz Hartvigson, Central Peninsula marketing representative, said. Screening takes about 15 minutes and women should preregister by calling 907-2123151 or 888-458-3151. “There is still opportunity available for people to sign up, and we would love for them to do that,” she said. The mamm van provides screenings for women who are 40 years old or older and due for their annual screenings or are getting mammograms for the first time, Hartvigson said. “If a woman has had breast cancer or has a history of breast cancer where they have had to have what we call a diagnostic breast imaging or breast ultrasound or breast MRI, then this situation doesn’t work for them,” Hartvigson said. Paulette Compton, PIC general manager, said questions about lumps, discharge and family history of breast cancer are asked during the registration process to ensure the woman only needs a screening. PIC tries to provide screening in Soldotna at least twice a year. It was down in November 2013 for the Kenai Peninsula College Community Health See EXAM, page A-12
Inside
‘If such blatant violations of a nation’s borders is left unchecked, the consequences for other nations could be severe.’ ... See pageA-9
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation.................... A-6 World..................... A-8 Sports.....................B-1 Classifieds............ C-3 Comics.................. C-7
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Birch Ridge for sale
Priest at UAF arrested with weapons, drugs FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest who serves the University of Alaska Fairbanks was spotted driving into the oncoming lane of the Parks Highway and charged with driving under the influence, according to Alaska State Troopers. Father Sean P. Thomson, 52, is also charged with misdemeanor weapons and drug counts. Thomson remains a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks, said Ronnie Rosenberg, legal coordinator and director of human resources for the diocese. Thomson has been placed on administrative leave, Rosenberg said. Thomson pleaded not guilty at arraignment. He is free on $5,000 bail. According to a criminal complaint, a trooper on Monday stopped Thomson at Mile 228 Parks Highway near McKinley Village about 134 miles south of Fairbanks. The complaint filed by Trooper Christopher Bitz said the officer noticed a blue pickup speeding at 79 mph in a 65-mph zone. The truck was weaving and had crossed the centerline, Bitz said. Bitz said Thomson seemed disoriented. The officer asked for his vehicle registration and Thomson instead handed him a receipt. Bitz asked if he was carrying any weapons, the complaint said. Thomson reported a .357-caliber handgun in the back seat but not a 9mm pistol he carried in his back pocket, Bitz said. Another pocket revealed a bag with a small quantity of marijuana, Bitz said. See PRIEST, page A-12
By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna City Council postponed voting on an ordinance that would prohibit synthetic drugs, including spice and bath salts, at the public meeting on Wednesday. Since it was introduced at last month’s meeting, the state Legislature has proposed a bill that would make the drugs illegal statewide, said City Manager Mark Dixson. T The Council agreed to wait until the next meeting and hear whether the bill passes in the Senate and House of Representatives. However, before getting down to the action items, the council listened to an unusually lengthy period of public commentary from a group of avid residents, whose size exceeded the rooms’ maximum occuPhoto by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Trukee LeMay, of Kenai, plays the ninth hole July 26, 2013, at pancy. the Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna. Residents are asking the city, for a second time, to purchase the golf course. See GOLF, page A-12 C
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