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CLARION
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P E N I N S U L A
MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 172
Question Do you agree with the school district’s decision to reinstate funding for the Skyview pool? n Yes; or n No. 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.
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
Work continues on last day of session By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — On the last scheduled day of the legislative session, state lawmakers were still trying to finish writing the capital budget on Sunday. While the budget is typically one of the last major pieces of legislation in play, the House Finance Committee was waiting to put its final touches on it, pending an agreement on additional education funding.
Co-chairman Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, told the committee Sunday afternoon that when a bill rewrite came back before the panel, it would include an additional $10 million for the Susitna-Watana hydro-project, providing a total of $20 million for the dam project. That’s about half of what Gov. Sean Parnell requested for this year and next and $10 million more than the Senate included. Some lawmakers have questioned additional funding
for the proposed south-central Alaska mega-project, given the state is also pursuing a major natural gas pipeline project. The draft bill released late Saturday night included Senate-proposed funding intended to complete the state library, archives and museum building in Juneau and an engineering building at the University of Alaska Anchorage. It also stuck with the Senate’s proposed approach for a new $245 million power plant at the University of
Working into the night The Legislature was still deliberating as the Clarion went to press on Sunday. Updates will be posted at www.peninsulaclarion.com. Alaska Fairbanks — a mix of state funds and $157.5 million in anticipated bond revenue. Part of the bonding is expected to come through the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority. A companion bill that would raise the borrowing
By SHANNON HAUGLAND Daily Sitka Sentinel
Legislature approves advancing gas line project
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— The Associated Press
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion
A chocolate lab mix puppy looks through the cage Friday at the Kenai Animal Shelter in Kenai.
Pet projects By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
Two separate community service projects in Kenai and Nikiski have a couple things in common; both ideas originated from students and were directed to help make a positive impact in the lives of pets.
Pet protection
Inside
“It feels good not to be persecuted anymore.’
See BUDGET, page A-10
Sitka Tribe awarded grant
In the news
JUNEAU — The Alaska Legislature has passed a bill setting the state’s participation in a major liquefied natural gas project. The House voted 36-4 on the measure Sunday. The Senate later voted 16-4 to agree to the House changes. SB138, from Gov. Sean Parnell, would set state participation at about 25 percent in a project also being pursued TransCanada, the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., and the North Slope’s major players. It would allow the project to move to a stage of preliminary engineering and design and cost refinement. It also would allow the state to negotiate projectenabling contracts that would be brought back to lawmakers for consideration. Some supporters expressed cautious optimism that this would lead to a long hopedfor project. Critics questioned if this was the best deal for the state.
limit of the authority passed the House unanimously Sunday. The draft retained language that the University of Alaska implement a utility surcharge
Two sophomores at Nikiski High School raised $1,500 to buy 20 emergency pet oxygen mask kits and donated them to the Nikiski and Kenai Fire Departments. Cousins Marguerite and Evangeline Cox
presented 12 kits to the Nikiski Fire Department at their board meeting April 16. Marguerite and Evangeline Cox wanted to ensure first responders were prepared with life-saving equipment for everyone in a household – pets included, said Denise Cox, Evangeline’s mother. After doing a little research, the cousins found an organization that sells oxygen mask kits intended for pets. The two girls contacted all the fire stations in the central peninsula about the pet masks and raised money through bake sales in Nikiski at the craft fair and M&M MarSee PET, page A-10
Photo courtesy Denise Cox
Marguerite and Evangeline Cox pose with Nikiski Fire Chief James Baisden at the Nikiski Fire Board meeting on April 16. The two girls, sophomores at Nikiski High School, donated 12 pet oxygen masks to the Nikiski department and seven to the Kenai Fire Department.
SITKA — Sitka Tribe of Alaska is one of 30 recipients of the 2014 W.K. Kellogg Foundation grants for family engagement projects, the foundation announced Thursday. The STA grant is for $250,000 over three years for a project called “Wooch.een Yei Jigaxtoonei: Working Together to Increase Family Engagement.” STA’s application was among 1,000 received by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “With the goal of closing the academic and opportunity gap between Native and non-Native students, Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s ‘Wooch. een Yei Jigaxtoonei: Working Together’ project will engage Native parents and families in their children’s education through the development of community-based Tlingit language and culture-based programming,” the Kellogg news release said. STA was among 30 organizations from 18 states to share in the $13.7 million in Kellogg grants. STA Tribal Council Chairman Michael Baines said the council voted 6-0 at Wednesday night’s meeting to accept the grant award. Voting in favor were Baines, Rachel Moreno, Harvey Kitka, Mike Miller, Lillian Feldpausch and Ben Miyasato. Baines said he was pleased the council accepted the grant award. “Education and Tlingit language and culture have long been one of our highest priorities of the council,” Baines See GRANT, page A-2
... See page A-6
Soldotna Walk for Autism back with a bang Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation.................... A-6 World..................... A-7 Sports.....................A-8 Schools...................B-1 Classifieds............. B-3 Comics................... B-6 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion
Not much walking actually happened during this year’s Soldotna Walk for Autism fundraiser. Running, bouncing and yoga were more common movements exerted by attendees on Saturday at Soldotna Middle School. In the corner of the “quiet” themed gym, Kate Swaby held the hand of her son Owen as they went through a few poses during a yoga demonstration. Without much warning Owen would twist from his mothers grip, bolt across the gym and jump on a machine with pedals that simulated walking up stairs. “If I have my flips flops, it’s a problem,” Swaby said smiling. “I have a hard time catching him.” Owen’s father Keith looked on un-
fazed. Seconds later Swaby coaxed him back onto the mat to tryout a few more positions. Swaby said Owen, who is autistic and cannot verbally communicate, tends to have trouble in crowded areas and working with groups of strangers. She said Owen becomes over stimulated in public. When he’s playing, bending and crouching are easy tasks, but when asked to do a certain move, he freezes up, Swaby said. Practicing yoga may help him improve control over his movements, she said. Two hours into the autism walk, Owen was still willing to participate in the activities, Swaby said. Owen often has a hard time focusing for periods that long, she said, but having activities run by volunteers who know See WALK, page A-10 C
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Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion
Emma Updike, Tonja Updike and Ellyce Woodward work at a craft table during the Soldotna Walk for Autism Saturday at Soldotna Middle School.