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Angling
Golf
Sockeye, trout open on the Russian river
PGA pro teaches at Birch Ridge course
Tightlines/A-12
Sports/A-9
CLARION P E N I N S U L A
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 217
Question How do you deal with mosquitoes? n Bug dope, bug candles, bug coils n Lots of swatting n Just keep moving n Live and let live n Stay inside and lock the windows 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.
Naqantugheduł: The tide is coming back in
Photo by Rashah McChesney/ Peninsula Clarion
Yvonne Waskey, 19, works on a beaded keychain for the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s grand opening ceremony celebrating the Dena’ina Wellness Center Tuesday April 15, 2014 at the Kenai Peninsula College, Kenai River Campus in Soldotna.
Kenaitze Indian Tribe invites hosts three-day ceremony to celebrate Dena’ina Wellness Center By RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion
For decades, the Kenaitze Indian tribe has dreamed of operating a state-of-the-art healthcare and wellness facility; one that would house primary medical care, dental and physical therapy alongside traditional healing, food preparation and talk-therapy rooms. Now, the 52,000 squarefoot, two-story structure in Old Town Kenai will be open to all as tribal members invite the public to three days of grand opening celebrations beginning Thursday and running through Saturday as the tribe celebrates with music, art, culture, prayer,
Outside
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50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
Schedule of Events Grand Opening Ceremony today at 5 p.m. Tribe will host blessings, word of thanks, music, dancing, food and a cloth ceremony to honor the tribe’s supporters. Cultural Night Friday at 5p.m. Dancers and drummers from around the state will join Kenaitze performers in a night of culture that will feature the unveiling of a sculptural installation by Kenaitze artist Joel Isaak. Potluck meal will be served. Potluck at the Net Saturday at 3 p.m. Please join in the family fun and activities and fun at the Kenaitze Indian Tibe’s Educational fishery site at the end of the Cannery Road. A potluck meal will be served; side dishes and desserts are welcome.
See TRIBE, page A-8
Small wildfire near Anchor Point
Showers 57/44 For more weather, see page A-2
Sonar estimates
By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
Estimated early-run kings in the Kenai River: n Monday: 321 n So far: 2,248 Estimated Russian River reds: n Tuesday: 519 n So far: 1,426
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/Peninsula Clarion
Inside ‘They’re also encumbered by a collection of outlandish potential candidates. It’s no wonder that the party chairman wants to limit the number of debates. That’s a way to avoid the clown show that was such an embarrassment last time around. ’ ... See page A-4
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Business................A-5 Nation.................... A-6 World..................... A-7 Sports.....................A-9 Tightlines..............A-12 Classifieds............. B-3 Comics................... B-7 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
Making the rounds The first of three roundabouts designed to ease traffic snarls on Binkley Street opened Wednesday in Soldotna.
Relatives of missing family stay positive By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
When Kenai resident Dennis Gifford heard his niece Rebecca Adams, two daughters and boyfriend were reported missing he went out into the woods near their North Kenai residence and yelled out their names. Despite the swarm of mosquitoes that pestered Dennis Gifford and his daughter Audre Gifford they were determined to find them. It has been two weeks since the family last talked to Rebecca Adams. The last phone conversation with her sister Lanell Adams, happened around Memorial Day weekend. Lanell
Adams flew up from Washington State to aid the search, which has expanded every day with no trace of the family of four or the family dog. Gifford said the more the family tries to piece clues together it is still a mystery. “We have talked about it for hours trying to think what clues…anything leading up to them leaving,” he said. “We just can’t understand. It doesn’t make any sense.” Along with 22-year-old Rebecca Adams are her two daughters Michelle Hundley, 5, and Jaracca Hundley, 3, and Adams’ boyfriend Brandon Jividen, 37. What started with a few fam-
ily members has grown to a community wide search effort in the surrounding ground area from their apartment on California Avenue. The Kenai Police Department has organized the search with the assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, search and rescue teams, the Kenai and Nikiski Fire Departments, Kenai Peninsula Borough volunteer teams and the National Guard stationed in Kenai. Investigators have used ribbons on trees to mark searched areas and have taken advantage of long hours of daylight. Dennis Gifford said he has been hanging posters from Cooper See MISSING, page A-8
Rebecca Adams
Brandon Jividen
Jaracca Hundley
Michelle Hundley
Fire crews in about an hour contained a one-acre wildfire that started in yard close to a home in the village of Nikolaevsk, 10 miles east of Anchor Point Wednesday. Andy Alexandrou, a spokesperson with the Division of Forestry, said a quick response from 19 firefighters with the Anchor Point Volunteer Fire Department and Kachemak Bay Fire Department saved the structure. The Division of Forestry dispatched 3 engines and the helicopter to the fire on Tomski Avenue at 3 p.m. and contained it at 4:18 p.m. A total of 32 firefighters worked to put out the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation but Alexandrou said it was human caused. On Tuesday the Division of Forestry lifted the burn suspension. Alexandrou said despite rain in the forecast Thursday, people need to obtain a permit before burning debris and to use caution and exercise safe practices. Alexandrou said the Funny River Horse Trail wildfire is over 196,618 acres and remains at 60 percent containment. The Type 3 Incident Management Team is led by Incident Commander Tim Soliday and staSee FIRE, page A-8
CIFF files appeal in Cook Inlet fisheries lawsuit By MOLLY DISCHNER Morris News Service-Alaska Alaska Journal of Commerce
ANCHORAGE — The Cook Inlet Fisherman’s Fund is appealing a court decision that upheld the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s 2013 man-
agement of Cook Inlet salmon fisheries. The fisherman’s fund, or CIFF, filed an appeal with the Alaska Supreme Court June 10, according to CIFF attorney Bruce Weyhrauch. Next, the record in the case must be prepared, and a tran-
script of the proceedings provided to the court, and then CIFF can file its opening brief. CIFF sued the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in July 2013, asserting that fisheries managers did not follow Cook Inlet salmon management plans appropriately that year C
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and caused harm to commercial fishermen. After hearing oral argument May 29, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Andrew Guidi granted the state’s motion for summary judgment on June 2. He wrote in his final decision that there was no evidence that ADFG had “exceed-
ed its authority in executing the emergency plan promulgated by the Alaska Board of Fisheries. Specifically, the Fund has failed to articulate any concrete way in which the Department overstepped its management authority other than the claim See COURT, page A-8