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CLARION
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P E N I N S U L A
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 253
Question Do you agree with barbless hook catchand-release restrictions for Kenai River king salmon? 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.
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Judge: Setnet ban initiative OK Lt. governor’s decision overturned; proponents allowed to move forward By MOLLY DISCHNER Morris News Service-Alaska Alaska Journal of Commerce
ANCHORAGE — Voters could to be asked to decide whether to ban setnets in certain parts of Alaska under a court decision made Wednesday. The Alaska Fisheries Conservation Alliance, or AFCA,
filed a ballot initiative petition in November seeking to ask voters whether to ban setnets in urban parts of the state, which would primarily impact Upper Cook Inlet setnetters. Anchorage Superior Court Judge Catherine Easter overturned Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell’s decision not to certify the proposed ballot initia-
tive in a Wednesday ruling and ordered the lieutenant governor to certify the initiative and allow proponents to continue the process toward getting the question on the 2016 ballot. Treadwell struck down the initiative in January based on a state Department of Law opinion asserting that it would be a prohibited appropriation.
AFCA appealed, and during oral argument, attorney Matt Singer said that organization believed the initiative is not an appropriation, and that the public’s right to weigh in on fish and wildlife management using the ballot initiative process should be interpreted broadly, with the appropriations limitation interpreted narrowly.
Arguments set in challenge to gay marriage ban
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Sonar estimates Estimated late-run kings in the Kenai River: n Tuesday: 463 n So far: 7,306 Estimated Kenai River reds: n Tuesday: 44,241 n So far: 541,401 Russian River reds weir count: n Tuesday: 180 n So far: 2,051 Estimated Kasilof River reds: n Tuesday: 8,310 n So far: 356,903
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Business................ A-5 Nation/World.......... A-6 Sports.....................A-8 Tight Lines........... A-10 Arts........................ B-1 Classifieds............. B-4 Comics................... B-8 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
See RULING, page A-7
Bed tax to go to voters
In the news
JUNEAU (AP) — Arguments are scheduled for October in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Alaska’s ban on same-sex marriage. Five same-sex couples, four married outside of Alaska and one unmarried couple, sued to overturn the ban in May. Alaska voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1998 defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The state, in its response, said Alaska isn’t required to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. State attorneys also argue that Alaska, as a sovereign state, has the right to define and regulate marriage. The case is being heard by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess. The Oct. 10 arguments are set against the backdrop of judges in other states striking down bans similar to Alaska’s as unconstitutional. A number of those decisions are being appealed.
Upper Cook Inlet setnetters target sockeye salmon for commercial harvest. Their permits also allow to them to target other salmon species, including kings, that swim into the nets. Eliminating setnetters in Cook Inlet would likely result in increased catch for in-river sport fishermen, personal-use
Assembly may debate measure again By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
Photo by Kaylee Osowski
Nikiski Fire Department firefighters continue to work an Aleutian Court home in Nikiski Wednesday after a fire consumed it. When crews arrived at about 6 p.m., the fire had fully involved the home, Nikiski Fire Department information officer Bud Sexton said. The sole occupant of the home was out of the structure when crews arrived, and the fire was quickly extinguished, he said. The department responded with one engine, two tankers, one rescue vehicle, one ambulance and about 10 personnel, according to on-scene personnel. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Sexton said he was unable to release the name of the occupant at the time of inquiry. The American Red Cross has been contacted to assist the victim.
By-mail voting sent to fall ballot By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
Voters this Oct. 7 will have the opportunity to advise local public servants whether the Kenai Peninsula Borough should hold elections by mail. The borough assembly at its Tuesday meeting passed a resolution to ask voters to provide the body with their input on the issue. At its July 1 meeting, the assembly considered and failed the resolution for the advisory vote, sponsored by assembly member Dale Bagley, and the ordinance for the assembly to
enact vote-by-mail elections, sponsored by assembly member Bill Smith. Both gave notice of reconsideration to consider the votes at the following meeting. “This is a very major change in the way the borough in the future might be conducting its elections doing by-mail,” Bagley said. “And I’d like to hear what the people have to say, and I also think it’s part of an educational process so they know that we’re looking at doing this.” While Smith sponsored the ordinance, which introduced the concept of by-mail elections
the assembly, he said Tuesday he was supportive of the resolution. Following the passage of the resolution, Smith’s ordinance was postponed to January 2015. Assembly members Kelly Wolf, Mako Haggerty and Wayne Ogle voted against putting the advisory question on the ballot. Smith originally introduced vote-by-mail to the assembly in the hope that by-mail elections would increase voter turnout. Last year the borough saw about 21 percent voter turnout. He previously said he initial-
ly thought vote-by-mail elections would save the borough money. However, according to a fiscal note prepared by Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship, voting by mail will cost more money — $57,420 for mayoral elections and $23,090 for nonmayoral elections. If the borough does hold elections by mail, citizens can still vote in person at absentee voting sites. Of the 28 precincts within the borough, six are currently absentee-by-mail only. Kaylee Osowski can be reached at kaylee.osowski@ peninsulaclarion.com.
With a 5-4 vote, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly passed an ordinance at its Tuesday meeting to ask voters on the Oct. 7 ballot if a boroughwide bed tax should be implemented. But that could change. After Assembly President Hal Smalley announced the ordinance passed, with assembly members Kelly Wolf, Mako Haggerty, Charlie Pierce and Wayne Ogle voting against the ordinance, Wolf gave notice of reconsideration of the vote. At the Aug. 5 assembly meeting, if a member moves for reconsideration of the action, the body votes to reconsider and five members vote against the ordinance, the proposition will not appear on the ballot. However, if the assembly denies reconsideration or votes again on the ordinance and still passes it, voters will consider whether or not guests at hotels, motels, cabins, lodges and bed and breakfasts across the peninsula will pay a bed tax. Felicia Keith-Jones, owner of High Mark Distillery in Sterling, spoke in favor of the bed tax. See BED, page A-7
Therapy dogs highlighted at Central Peninsula Hospital By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion
With chocolate eyes Bandit, a 6-year-old border collie and blue heeler mix stared eagerly up at his owner, Lynn Whitmer, Wednesday in the lobby of the Central Peninsula Hospital. Returning the gaze, Whitmer pulled back her right hand, as Bandit attempted to playfully tap it with his dark nose. Whitmer and Bandit spent an hour in the hospital lobby to put help highlight the ongoing Animal Assisted Therapy program at the hospital, said program coordinator Kathy East. The pair have been partners for the past five years in Animal
Assisted Therapy programs at schools and hospitals in Alaska and Wyoming. Once a year East puts together a showcase of the animals and their trainers in the CPH volunteer-driven program to meet the staff and patients frequenting the facility. She said letting the patients know they have the option, and making staff aware of the program is important. CPH is run off of the Planetree model, which views animals as a method of healing, East said. The certified dogs are brought to meet patients at their request, and will spend an hour sitting and interacting in their rooms.
Each animal must be trained and certified through the national non-profit Pet Partners, East said. A certification must be renewed every two years. East said she has heard of cats, birds, guinea pigs, rabbits and even a mini horse being certified as therapy animals. At Central Peninsula Hospital only dogs are currently in the program, she said. Standards for certification include temperament, physical condition, health and ability to remain undisturbed, according to petpartners.org. The animal Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion must be able to obey commands such as sitting, staying Kathy East brought her certified therapy animal named Ben and dropping an object. Age to the annual showcase of Animal Assisted Therapy animals, See DOGS, page A-7 Wednesday at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna. C
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