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Finale
Fighting continues despite pledges
Oilers wrap up 2014 ABL season
World/A-6
Sports/A-7
CLARION
Sunny 63/50 More weather on Page A-2
P E N I N S U L A
MONDAY, JULY 28, 2014 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 256
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
Question Do you agree with barbless hook catchand-release restrictions for Kenai River king salmon? n Yes n No
On guard
To place your vote and comment, visit our Web site at www. peninsulaclarion. com.
In the news Village opposes mining road
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ALLAKAKET (AP) — After another year of abysmal king salmon runs, with rain-swollen rivers making it nearly impossible to catch chum or silvers and with decades of declining moose and caribou populations, many residents of Allakaket are bristling at the prospect of a 200-mile industrial road running through their hunting and fishing grounds. The village is opposing a multimillion-dollar mining road that would have 15 major river crossings, including over the Alatna River, where Allakaket residents fish. The proposed road would span from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska, The Fairbanks News-Miner reportedSunday. The road is being championed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority and by Canada-based NovaCopper, which wants to mine what it estimates to be hundreds of millions of tons of copper, zinc and lead in the area. The road wouldn’t be opened to the public, and mining vehicles would pay a toll. Its cost is estimated between $190 million and $300 million.
Sonar estimates Estimated early-run kings in the Kenai River: n Thursday: 942 n So far: 8,965 Estimated Kenai River reds: n Saturday: 32,013 n So far: 678,562 Russian River reds weir count: n Saturday: 368 n So far: 3,311 Estimated Kasilof River reds: n Saturday: 5,194 n So far: 386,704 — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
Lifeguard training intense, rigorous
Valerie Campbell, 58, was doing homework at her Aleutian Court home in Nikiski when her generator backfired Wednesday night and set the house on fire. By the time Nikiski Fire Department responders arrived, at about 6 p.m., the house was fully engulfed in flames and Campbell was outside. She lost everything. “It’s done,” she said about her home. “There’s nothing that can be done.” Her schoolwork for her online University of Alaska Anchorage courses, her furniture, her house wares, her laptop, all her clothes except what she was wearing, and two of her best friends — her dogs — were lost to the fire. She had to put her third dog, Shiloh, up for adoption.
By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion
As the temperatures rise, and daylight extends into evening central Kenai Peninsula residents flock to their local aquatic facilities to enjoy some summer fun with family and friends. In the summer months the Nikiski Pool’s lifeguard program doubles training courses to ensure swimmers in the 210,000-gallon basin remain safe and secure.
See FIRE, page A-5
Anglers report bigger halibut
The basics Of the 15 full-time and parttime Nikiski pool lifeguarding staff, each are American Red Cross certified, said Pool Supervisor Nigel Lariccia. The qualification process is rigorous, he said. Candidates must first pass a Training Aquatic Professionals screening before they are even allowed to take the lifeguard training course, Lariccia said. He has trained lifeguards for more than a decade. “Typically there is someone in each water class that can’t do it,” Lariccia said. Swimming skills and endurance are tested through three evaluation activities, starting with swimming 300 yards continuously in a front crawl stroke and breaststroke, according to the program criteria. The applicant must also be able to dive up to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object, and tread water for two minutes without using their hands. Once approved, a 28-hour training course and job interview must be completed, according to the criteria. Finally each lifeguard must be CPR certified. Nikiski High School student Micheal Hollinger said the position isn’t static. After three working as junior lifeguard, he is now qualified to work as a
By MOLLY DISCHNER Morris News Service-Alaska Alaska Journal of Commerce
Top: A Nikiski lifeguard sweatshirt sits on the side of the pool during a training class June 30 at the Nikiski Pool. Lifeguards undergo a rigorous training program. Above: Gracee Braun lays patiently as Landon Lightfoot practices strapping her into a water rescue stretcher. Left: Landon Lightfoot jumps into the Nikiski pool during a training scenario. Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion
See GUARD, page A-5
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation/World.......... A-6 Sports.....................A-7 Classifieds............. A-9 Comics................. A-12 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
Nikiski woman loses home to fire
Charter anglers throughout Alaska are experiencing strong halibut fishing, with large fish landed in several of the state’s derbies, although commercial reports have been more mixed. Seward’s derby was won on the final day — June 30 — with a 312.2-pound fish caught by Oleg Gozobohenno from Moscow, Russia. That’s larger than the winners from the last three years. A 211-pound fish took the lead in 2013, a 196.6-pounder won in 2012 and a 247-pound fish won in 2011. Gozobohenno was fishing on Andy Mezirow’s CrackerJack Voyageur. Mezirow wrote in an email that fishing has generally been strong out of Seward this summer, with the lead changing hands several times and more See FISH, page A-5
Governor opens up about faith, politics, pot By MATT WOOLBRIGHT Morris News Service/Juneau Empire
Editor’s note: This is the first article in a two-part series detailing Republican Gov. Sean Parnell in his roles as an Alaska resident, governor and candidate for office. Part one is focused on Sean Parnell the person. Republican Gov. Sean Parnell is seeking re-election this
fall, but governor wasn’t the only office he seriously considered running for this year. Sitting in the library of the Governor’s Mansion on a sunny afternoon last week, Parnell said he spent the much of the first half of 2013 considering a run for Democratic Sen. Mark Begich’s seat in Washington after party officials first approached him in late 2012. “I was heavily recruited to run for the U.S. Senate this
time, but I really felt I had a job to complete here,” Parnell said, noting that calls urging him to run came fairly regularly for months until he ultimately decided on a re-election bid instead. He postponed making a decision until late in the spring of 2013 so he could focus on the Legislature as it worked on his oil tax overhaul, SB21. After his hallmark legislation passed and the 2013 session adjourned, C
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Parnell announced he would be seeking a second gubernatorial term — ending any speculation he might challenge Begich in 2014. “I really felt the stability and certainty of direction that I provided for the last five years is something that Alaskans deserve to continue,” he said, noting that his running could have meant a new senator and a new governor. Considering all the factors,
he ultimately came to the conclusion that “Alaska would be better off with me and our administration continuing to work at moving Alaska on the right track,” he said. Still, the governor stopped far short of ruling out a run in the future. “I believe I can have more positive impacts for Alaskans as governor than I could as one of 100 senators — at this time See PARNELL, page A-5