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Singletrack trail added to Tsalteshi
Calmer approach works for Sandlin
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Sports/B-1
CLARION
Partly sunny 70/48 More weather on Page A-2
P E N I N S U L A
Friday-Saturday, July 4-5 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 236
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
AK VA has staffing issues, says official
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.
In the news Fort Wainright fined for EPA violation
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Army garrison in Fairbanks will pay nearly $160,000 to government regulators after being found in violation of an act designed to protect groundwater. Fort Wainwright will pay the Environmental Protect Agency after the garrison didn’t test for suspect leaks in underground tanks. The government says 19 of the 20 tanks holding liquids like gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, oil and antifreeze were out of compliance. Some tanks hold up to 30,000 gallons. The settlement comes after EPA inspections of the tanks in 2012 and 2013. No actual leaks were reported, but base officials wouldn’t have known if one occurred because there was no follow-up on tank-monitoring reports. EPA officials both the Fairbanks and Fort Wainwright drinking water supplies could have been at risk.
Sonar estimates Estimated early-run kings in the Kenai River: n Wednesday: 151 n So far: 299 Estimated Kenai River reds: n Wednesday: 9,240 n So far: 19,632
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation.................... A-6 World..................... A-8 Sports.....................B-1 Classifieds............ C-3 Comics.................. C-7
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BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion
Trail blazing Tinker Anderson drives a paver while Richie DiCarlo and Aarron Settje work to keep a pre-asphalt leveling material even on a new portion of a bicycle trail running along Kalifornsky Beach Road on Thursday in Kenai. NorthStar Paving and Construction plans to lay asphalt next week.
Borough considers animal control By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
ber Brent Johnson to pose two advisory questions to voters: — Should the borough exercise limited animal control powers in unincorporated areas? — And should properties outside of cities pay a mill rate of 0.002 to pay for domestic animal rescue and care services?
Voters on Oct. 7 will be asked to advise the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly whether the borough should exercise animal control practices. At recent meetings, citizens have voiced concerns about abused and neglected animals Tim Colbath, who runs in unincorporated areas. At its Tuesday meeting, the Alaska’s Extended Life Aniassembly passed a resolution mal Sanctuary in Nikiski and sponsored by assembly mem- has been advocating for a solu-
tion for borough-wide animal neglect and abuse for about 16 years, said he is “tickled pink” that the issue will be on the ballot. Even though Colbath has been advocating for a program for years, he said his non-profit sanctuary won’t necessarily be the agency chosen to contract with the borough to enforce animal protection, if a program is enacted. But he plans to help raise awareness of the ballot proposition and educate voters
about what the program would be designed to do leading up to Election Day. He said while the question that will be posed to voters calls the program animal control, it doesn’t include animal licensing, registration and leash or confinement laws. “All it does is address the existing state statues for the minimum standards of care and where necessary help the people,” he said. See VOTERS, page A-12
Sockeye surge Fish and Game loosens restrictions on sport anglers, dipnetters on the Kasilof River By RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion
They’ve tried bringing the drift fleet closer to the Kasilof, the commercial setnet fishery was opened early, and now managers are adding newly liberalized personal-use dipnetters and sport anglers to the mix in
While an ordinance to amend personnel regulations for the City of Kenai was postponed for the second consecutive meeting, the council voted to include protections against sexual orientation based discrimination. Kenai City Manager Rick Koch asked that the council postpone the ordinance until Kenai City Attorney Scott Bloom returned from vacation as he had questions on language revisions to the employee handbook. Council member
See AK VA, page A-5
Gulls killed to clear Kenai runway
an attempt to slow the rush of Kasilof-bound sockeye salmon. While it is unclear how strong the final escapement will be, By DAN BALMER Alaska Department of Fish and Peninsula Clarion Game biologists said the fish were continuing show up in After 16 years of living 700 Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney large numbers in the 17-mile In this July 2013 file photo, personal-use dipnetters fish near feet away from the Kenai Muglacial river. nicipal Airport runway, Les and See FISH, page A-12 the mouth of the Kasilof River. Susan Bradley have become accustomed to the sound of planes taking off. But a different sound has the couple concerned – gunshots. Shotgun blasts early in the morning intended to keep seagulls off the runway has disturbed the Bradley’s sleep Terry Bookey made an amend- with the amendment, several visions are made at a later date. at their home on Float Plane ment to add sexual orientation spoke against making any kind “If we aren’t going to dis- Road. The Bradley’s voiced their to the list of equal opportunity of amendment to the ordinance criminate against (an individuemployers. that needed revision. al’s) sex, (gender) then sexual concern to Kenai City Council “Sexual orientation is not a Council member Tim Na- orientation belongs in there as at Wednesday’s meeting and asked it to consider a quieter mandatory protected clause for varre said he was ready to vote well,” Marquis said. discrimination and it should the ordinance down altogether Bookey said the fact that the and more humane alternative. “We’re not cranks; we are be,” he said. “I don’t think and wait for the city manager city was updating discriminaanybody working for the city to bring back a clean ordinance tion clauses in its employee just squawking,” Les Bradley should be in fear of position after working with the city at- handbook he felt it was the ap- said. “Our concern is for the or harassment based on sexual torney. Council member Brian propriate time to be proactive. birds themselves and the noise preferences. They should be Gabriel said no amendments “This is a chance for this is rather bothersome.” Mary Bondurant, Kenai Mufree to live their lives.” should be made without the at- body here to make a point Bookey said he is not aware torney present. where their position is on a nicipal Airport manager, said of any discrimination among Vice Mayor Ryan Marquis very important social topic,” he the airport has seen heavy gull activity in June and didn’t recity staff and didn’t mean to said Bookey’s amendment sim- said. imply that it was an issue. ply adds sexual orientation to The amendment passed 4-3 ally know why. She said it’s possible the While none of the other the ordinance and didn’t need with no votes from Mayor Pat council members disagreed to be discussed again when reSee REGS, page A-12 See GULLS, page A-12
Sexual orientation protection added to list of possible changes in Kenai regs By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
JUNEAU, Alaska — The chief of staff for the Alaska Veterans Affairs Health Care System said Thursday that recruitment of doctors and nurses is one of the biggest challenges the system faces. Cynthia Joe said this challenge isn’t exclusive to the VA in Alaska. But Alaska has no medical school, and while there are nursing programs, hospitals and clinics are often trying to pull from the same pool of candidates. Joe said the VA has been working to fill two vacant health-care provider positions at the VA’s Wasilla clinic and been relying on contract physicians and the Southcentral Foundation to help with patients. The VA is also recruiting for two primary care physicians at the clinic in Fairbanks, with the second provider about to leave, she said. At full strength, that facility would have three primary care physicians. The VA has added recruitment incentives, including offering to pay for moves and help with student loan costs, Joe said.
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