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CLARION
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P E N I N S U L A
TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2014 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 233
Question Do you think municipal officials should be exempt from state financial disclosure rules in favor of local ordinances? n Yes 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.
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Kenai eyes nicer ice City considers upgrades for facility By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
Kenai resident Dan Sexton laced up his skates and stepped onto the ice for a Monday afternoon glide at the ConocoPhillips Kenai Multipurpose Facility in Kenai. Red Line Sports and the Kenai River Brown Bears are sponsoring Summer Ice at the Kenai rink with instructors teaching skating sessions for a variety of ages and skill levels from June to September. Public skating is open during the week
from 1- 2:30 p.m. Sexton said he comes to the rink three times a week to make a few laps for exercise. With the entire rink to himself, he glides along the boards and leans forward with one arm swinging to propel him. Speed skating is a great workout, he said. With the summer sun peering through the building opening, not many people think to go skating, but the ice is in good condition, he said. “This is the best kept secret in town,” Sexton said. “Where else can you skate on ice and
still have mosquitoes buzzing around?” While the multipurpose facility is utilized for youth hockey leagues and public skating, Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Bob Frates said the building, located on the Kenai Spur Highway next to the Challenger Learning Center and Kenai Central High School, has the potential to accommodate more user groups and be an even greater asset to the community. At Wednesday’s meeting See ICE, page A-8
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion
Kenai resident Dan Sexton takes a lap during a free skating time at the ConocoPhillips Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility Monday. A resolution to allocate funds for the design of permanent locker rooms for the facility is on the city council agenda for Wednesday’s meeting.
Tea party group may not endorse in Alaska
In the news Begich, Young split on Hobby Lobby decision
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JUNEAU (AP) — Sen. Mark Begich says he disagrees with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that found that some companies with religious objections can avoid the contraceptives requirement in President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. The Democrat says bosses “should not be able to prevent access to family planning and birth control for Alaska women.” He called the decision out-of-touch. A divided court on Monday found forcing companies to pay for methods of women’s contraception they object to violates the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Republican Rep. Don Young praised the decision as a win for religious freedom. A spokesman for the third member of Alaska’s congressional delegation, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, said she was in rural Alaska and unavailable for comment.
Inside ‘The unique chance to put the peace plan into practice was not realized. This happened because of the criminal actions of the fighters.’ ... See page A-5
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation/World.......... A-5 Sports.....................A-6 Classifieds............. A-9 Comics................. A-13 Pet Tails............... A-14 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — A national tea party group that heavily backed Republican Joe Miller’s campaign four years ago has not decided whether to endorse anyone in this year’s Republican U.S. Senate primary. Sal Russo, co-founder and chief strategist for the Tea Party Express, told The Associated Press on Monday that the philosophical contrast between the candidates is “not as dramatic” as it was in 2010. “They’re all pretty much running on a conservative platPhoto by Kelly Sullivan/Peninsula Clarion form,” he said. Miller was the group’s choice in the 2010 GOP primary beNathan Byrd held his first community benefit boot camp Saturday at the Kenai Recreation Center. The camp will be held cause it saw a clear contrast beonce a month. The cost to participate is three cans of food to be donated to the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. tween him and the incumbent, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, he said. The group saw Murkowski as part of the problem in Washington and endorsed Miller, who upset her in the primary. Miller wound up losing the contentious general election to Murkowski, who mounted a write-in campaign to keep her job. By KAYLEE OSOWSKI prey 15 years ago to look at the Miller is running again this Peninsula Clarion genetics of the fish. He is now year and is one of three promiworking in coordination with nent Republicans in the race. The others are with Lt. Gov. King salmon, large fish the Alaska Department of Fish Mead Treadwell and former swimming in small schools, and Game on the study. He said lampreys, which state Natural Resources Comlook like a delicious dinner to missioner Dan Sullivan. lampreys waiting near the bot- have existed for 250 million years, can be found in every They are seeking to replace tom of the Kenai River. Democrat Mark Begich, a firstThe lamprey, a parasitic, eel- river system in Alaska and they term senator up for re-election. like fish, feeds on kings, sock- feed on halibut, cod, herring, Republicans see the seat as key eye salmon and other fish leav- whales — just about anything. “That’s what makes (lamPhoto by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion to their efforts to win back coning wounds that can become infected. Myke Bon, a fisheries preys) so successful is their Pictured is a mounted Pacific lamprey owned by Myke Bon, trol of the Senate. Russo said his group finds biologist, is studying the effects food sources,” Bon said. “They a fisheries biologist, who is studying the effects of lampreys can feed on so many things so on fish stocks on the Kenai Peninsula. Bon has been studying this year’s top GOP contenders of the lamprey on salmon. Bon began studying the lamSee LAMPREY, page A-8 lampreys for 15 years. See ENDORSE, page A-8
Body work
Once bitten: Biologist studies lampreys Research looks at effects of lampreys on salmon species
New Alaska Railroad bridge close to completion FAIRBANKS (AP) — Alaska’s newest, longest bridge is almost complete but its immediate future is uncertain because the Alaska Railroad lacks funds to connect it to Fort Greely. Mark Peterburs, project director for the Tanana River Northern Rail Extension, said the 3,300-foot bridge will be completed on time and under its $156 million budget. “I’m feeling a little sad that it’s coming to an end,” he told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. “Mostly probably because
it’s been pretty successful — if it was a disaster, I’d probably be happy to put it behind me.” The bridge is key part of a four-phase project to connect military training grounds near Delta Junction to Fairbanks by rail. The Department of Defense contributed $104 million and the state kicked in $84 million, which paid for environmental studies, bridge design and construction. Work began in August 2011. Dump trucks delivered 410,000 tons of fill material.
‘We’d like to say we delivered a project on time and on budget.’ — Mark Peterburs, project director The bridge’s 19 piers required 12,000 yards of concrete. The bridge was declared 94 percent complete last week and much of the remaining work will be hauling off gravel and steel. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 5. C
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Other phases of the project are less certain. The next phase would build about 13 miles of railroad track. After that would come work to extend the rail to training ranges near Fort Greely. Funding for those phases is not in hand,
railroad spokeswoman Stephenie Wheeler said by email. The projected cost is $100 million to $150 million. “Obtaining funding is a challenge due to the ongoing federal sequester and state budget issues,” Wheeler said. The completed bridge may an incentive for state and federal lawmakers to fund for the rest of the project, Peterburs said. “We’d like to say we delivered a project on time and on budget,” Peterburs said. “We hope that says something.”