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Fish on!
Monster
Peninsula fishing season under way
Godzilla returns with a vengeance
Tight Lines/A-10
Arts & Entertainment/B-1
CLARION
Sunny 61/38 More weather on Page A-2
P E N I N S U L A
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 199
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
K-Beach asks for action on flood issue
Question Are you planning to do any traveling this summer? n Yes, we’ll be visiting other places in Alaska; n Yes, we’ll be traveling Outside; n No, there’s no reason to leave the Kenai Peninsula in the summertime.
By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
To place your vote and comment, visit our Web site at www. peninsulaclarion. com.
In the news Tyonek fire consumes three structures
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Firefighters have determined the 1,500-acre Tyonek fire had consumed, officials reported on Wednesday. The fire destroyed a cabin and two outbuildings, fire spokesman Pete Buist said. It had not reached the Beluga power station, which burns natural gas and provides power to Anchorage. “It’s an issue, but it’s not imminent,” he said. The fire moved south Tuesday had prompted a short evacuation of Tyonek. Winds dropped, residents returned to Tyonek and the fire became more active in the north toward Beluga, where just 20 people live. Three 20-person ground crews concentrated efforts on the north end, assisted by air tankers dropping retardant and three helicopters dropping buckets of water, Buist said. The Nikiski Fire Department worked on creating “defensible space” around cabins and a compressor station, Buist said. Far to the north in interior Alaska, 16 smokejumpers worked to protect buildings from a fire east of the Dalton Highway at the Yukon River Bridge. Structures west of the highway, including a restaurant and cabins, could be in the fire’s path if it crosses the highway. The fire Wednesday afternoon was a mile or two from the highway and the tranAlaska pipeline. It was burning west and could cross over the pipeline and reach the highway Wednesday night, Buist said. Wildfires have crossed the metal pipeline in the past, he said, without causing major damage. — The Associated Press
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Business................ A-5 Nation/World.......... A-6 Sports.....................A-8 Tight Lines........... A-10 Arts........................ B-1 Classifieds............. B-3 Comics................... B-6 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion
The sky above Kasilof glowed orange Wednesday as the Funny River Fire continued to burn a more than 10-mile strip of land stretching from Funny River Road in Soldotna down to Tustumena Lake. Firefighters estimate that more than 44,423 acres have been burned in the blaze.
Fire doubles to 44,000 acres By DAN BALMER and RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion
It has been three days since the first report of a five acre wildfire on a horse trail off of Funny River Road. The blaze had consumed more than 44,000 acres as of Wednesday — more than doubling in size in the span of 24 hours. As the wildfire spreads, it has burned an area more than 10 miles long and 6 miles wide — nearly twice the size of Manhattan Island — in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Firefighters, emergency services and hotshot crews from all over the United States and Canada are maneu-
vering into position to continue battling the blaze. A small crew of about 48 Wednesday should burgeon to more than 100 by Thursday according to Alaska Department of Natural Resources — Division of Forestry officials. Brad Nelson, health and safety officer for Central Emergency Services said he learned the wildfire had reached 44,000 acres in size after a briefing at a command center in Skyview High School Wednesday at 6 p.m. The vast majority of the fire is burning to the east further into the Refuge, he said. “(The fire) did exactly what we were
hoping for,” he said. The fire is not currently threatening any structures and at its closest point to the Sterling Highway is burning nearly four miles away, Nelson said. That area is close to Mile 103 near Slikok Creek. While no evacuations have been ordered, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency Management office sent out robo-calls to certain residents to provide information. People living along the Sterling Highway, from Sterling to Homer have reported thick clouds of smoke and ash covering cities, homes and the highway as the See FIRE, page A-7
A discussion about high groundwater issues flooded the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting Tuesday night. Public comment about nonagenda topics sparked a conversation about the affects of the October 2013 flooding on Kalifornsky Beach Road. Three K-Beach area residents attended the meeting asking for action to alleviate problems that are still ongoing from the event. David Yragui said he built Buoy Street about 10 years ago to borough specifications. He said the water is still backed up on the street. And the groundwater in the area is full with no way to get out. He said he hired a hydrologist and was permitted to do some ditching, which drained “massive quantities” of water. “But as it stands right now, Buoy Street still isn’t fixed,” he said. Toby Burke, who has lived on Buoy Street for eight years, said the street has had drainage issues as long as he has lived there. He said crews have done “Band-Aid” fixes throughout the years, but in October, he and his family were almost flooded out. “We’re just looking for basic, functioning roads that are up to standard and that includes See ACTION, page A-7
Peninsula schools celebrate last day By KAYLEE OSOWSKI, RASHAH McCHESNEY and KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion
As smoke from the fire burning south of Soldotna filled the sky Wednesday, smiles and laughter from students ready for summer brightened the halls, classrooms and playgrounds of area schools.
Packing up At Skyview High School, students spent the last day maneuvering among boxes, pallets, chairs, desks and classrooms turned inside out as staff at the school prepare to move into other buildings in Soldotna.
Skyview will be converted to a middle school during the 2014-15 school year while current students will be sent to Soldotna High School and a new freshmen-only school in Soldotna. “I’m not happy about it,” said sophomore Tralessa Mahan. She and Chris Casares, sophomore, roamed the hallways of Skyview picking up trash and helping teachers move. As Mahan hauled a yellow, wheeled trash can behind her, she jumped up onto a cart that Casares was pulling and the two laughed as they made their way to the school’s elevator, dodging stacks of boxes and other students. “We don’t know where we’re
going to be next year,” Mahan said. “My older brother graduated from here. My dad graduated from here.” Later that day firefighters would be using the emptied school to establish a central command station to combat the Funny River fire.
The last inning Under the clear sky, not yet clouded by wildfire smoke, Junior, Melissa Roza lay sprawled on her stomach watching the annual Senior versus Teacher softball game on the fields behind Nikiski High School. Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion “This year was stressful,” Chris Casares and Tralessa Mahan helped to clean and orgaRoza said. “But it went by fast. nize classrooms for outgoing Skyview High School teachers on See SCHOOL, page A-3 the last day of school Wednesday.
Kenai council debates Last laugh for Class of 2014 legislative process stage, Syverson had been giv- on a memorable senior By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
An ordinance that would have changed how the Kenai City Council and city administration handle the legislative process failed at Tuesday’s meeting. With no public in attendance and gray smoke billowing in the sky outside, the city council spent nearly 90 minutes of discussion on two ordinances sponsored by council member Mike Boyle. The first one would have required all ordinances and resolutions to be sponsored by at least one coun-
cil member. Boyle said because the council is a legislative body, council members should be involved in all city business items from the beginning. “It is the function of council to pass legislation,” he said. “So much has been passed without the council’s name attached, we would remiss in doing our jobs.” While Boyle did not attach a supporting memo to his ordinance, Kenai City Manager Rick Koch sent out a memo to the council in opposition See KENAI, page A-7
By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
The Soldotna High School class of 2014 had one more good-natured prank for their Principal Todd Syverson at their graduation ceremony at the Regional Sports Complex Wednesday. Salutatorian Makayla Wong said the first student to walk up and shake Mr. Syverson’s hand handed him a marble and said, ‘We know you lost your marbles with this class so here are all your marbles back.’ By the time the last graduate crossed the C
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en 95 marbles. “They were having some fun with me,” he said. “They thought it would be a good prank on the principal and I enjoyed it. They were not a stressful class at all. We had a great year and a great sendoff.” The commencement ceremony featured musical performances from Wong and fellow graduate Taylor Walkden and speeches from co-valedictorians Julie Litchfield and Gabrielle Saldivar among other presentations as students reflected
year. Saldivar thanked all her peers and teachers for tolerating her in class and gave sage advice as graduates begin their next chapter in life. “The meaning of success is being happy with who you are,” she said. “None of your best days should be in high school. They should be ahead of you.” Soldotna High History teacher Megan Murphy described the 2014 class as a humorous bunch who loved to laugh and have fun but can See LAUGH, page A-3