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CLARION
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P E N I N S U L A
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 294
Question Would you like to see the borough implement limited animal control to address cases of abused or neglected animals? n Yes; or 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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School district picks interim chief Assistant superintendent offered top job By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
Elected officials for local schools have selected a new superintendent — for now. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education unanimously voted to offer the position as interim superintendent to Assistant Superintendent Sean Dusek at its Monday meeting in Homer. The approval allows for board president Joe Arness to offer the job to Dusek and negotiate the terms of the position. The action item was not scheduled prior to the setting of
‘The superintendent position, regardless of the circumstances, is a challenging position, but it’s also very rewarding.’ — Sean Dusek the agenda. “I’m honored that they would consider me for that spot, and I’m really looking forward to meeting with President Arness and going over the particulars,” Dusek said. Dusek’s in-depth knowledge and involvement with the district as well as his certifications
made him a natural choice as interim superintendent beginning Dec. 1, Arness said. The board decided to pursue hiring an interim superintendent, Arness said, because it alleviates the pressure to Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough School District hire someone long-term in Assistant Superintendent Sean Dusek will be offered the the middle of the school year, chance to lead the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District as See SCHOOL, page A-12 interim superintendent.
In the news
Juneau resellers trained on law
Soldotna man dies in vehicle rollover
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A vehicle rollover on Funny River Road this morning resulted in one death. Soldotna police withheld the identity of the victim until all next of kin has been notified. The single-vehicle accident occurred at about 7 a.m. Tuesday when a silver Toyota pickup rolled off the road and crashed through a fence of the Soldotna Airport, said Soldotna Police Chief Peter Mylnarik. The driver was the only occupant in the truck. The driver was traveling from Funny River toward Soldotna on the straight stretch of Funny River Road along the airport when he lost control for unknown reasons, Mylnarik said. No other vehicle was involved and no eyewitnesses saw the accident, he said. Soldotna Police, Alaska State Troopers and Central Emergency Services responded to the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. — Dan Balmer
Dividend amount to be announced Sept. 17 JUNEAU (AP) — Alaskans will find out the size of their Permanent Fund dividends next week. Gov. Sean Parnell is set to announce the amount on Sept. 17 in Anchorage. Dividends are distributed annually to Alaska residents who meet certain requirements, with the amount based on a five-year average of the Alaska Permanent Fund’s investment earnings. Last year, dividend recipients each received $900.
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation/World.......... A-5 Court reports......... A-8 Sports...................A-10 Food...................... B-1 Classifieds............. B-3 Comics................... B-6 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
By KATIE MORITZ Morris News Service-Alaska Juneau Empire
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion
ConocoPhillips employees Dave Knudsen and Dean Hatch work on salvaging building frame boards. The wood will be recycled and used the ABC Pregnancy Care Center’s new location on Frontage Road where they will move into in May 2015, Tuesday in Kenai.
Tear it down to build it up Volunteers help begin remodel for new pregnancy care center By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
With the help of community volunteers, an empty building in Kenai is being reborn. A crew of 12 volunteers from ConocoPhillips brought their hammers and hard hats Tuesday and began interior demolition of the former Red
Cross building on Frontage Road. The building will be the new site of the ABC Pregnancy Care Center. ConocoPhillips LNG Cook Inlet Plant Manager Keith Ferris pledged labor for a crew for the entire week for their annual day of caring in partnership with the Kenai Peninsula United Way.
The volunteers tore down drywall, insulation and removed everything out of the 6,700-square-foot space, including the kitchen sink. Greg Beiser, who works at ConocoPhillips, said they decided to extend their day of caring to however long it takes to help get the building down to the “bare bones” so
an architect can come in and construct a suitable facility for the pregnancy care center. “We donated our labor to get to the point where it’s a clean slate down to the studs,” he said. “(The center) does so much for the community and we wanted to share See BUILD, page A-12
All of Juneau’s secondhand dealers must abide by new city rules beginning Sept. 11 that require them to document valuable items sold to them. Police hope the ordinance cuts down on sales of stolen items by creating a trail of digital breadcrumbs. The Juneau Police Department held a training Monday for store owners affected by the new ordinance. Representatives from five of Juneau’s secondhand stores — including gun shops — attended the training. The ordinance applies to six to 10 stores in Juneau, JPD Lt. Kris Sell said in a previous Empire report. Sell and JPD Sgt. Krag Campbell went over the ordinance with the shop owners, reminding them they will be required to report purchases of precious metals and gems, gold coins and bullion, tools, firearms and electronics valued over $50. The shops must also secure these items for 30 days before selling them so JPD can make sure they are not stolen. Dylan Hammons, who runs a gold-buying business in the Nugget Mall, asked what’s stopping businesses from purchasing used electronics for $49.99 to avoid having to report the purchases to police. “That would probably end See LAW, page A-12
HOPE breaks ground on new recreation center By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion
Underneath dripping-wet, white canopies, with bright orange loaders in the peripheral, more than 100 community members came to celebrate the groundbreaking of HOPE Community Resources Inc.’s new community recreation center on Tuesday. “It’s really more of a foundation-pouring party,” Hope Development Director Jennifer Harrington said with a laugh, standing beside the filled-in groundwork of the soon-to-be 4,500-square-foot center. Construction will continue on through the winter months, regardless of weather and cold, Harrington said. The finish
date is ultimately contingent on when the remaining funding comes in. The $1.5 million project will require $765,000 more to complete, Harrington said. HOPE has two potential grants from Rasmuson Foundation and MJ Murdock Charitable Trust, but the remaining $65,000 will have to come directly from donations from individuals, corporations and foundations. “So far public donations are at about $10,000,” Harrington said. “It has been amazing.” HOPE began fundraising publicly at the beginning of August. The state of Alaska allocated monies, and HOPE spent $300,000 for the first $735,000 that got the project started, Har-
rington said. AK Mental Health Trust also provided a portion of funds. Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre and HOPE’s executive director Stephen Lesko spoke at the groundbreaking Tuesday, Harrington said. Navarre and HOPE’s senior deputy director Michele Girault both donated $1,000 to HOPE for the event, she said. Lesko spoke about the importance of inclusion of community members with disabilities and the importance of providing education and resources to effectively do so. Representatives from Frontier Community Services, Kenai Economic Development See HOPE, page A-12 C
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Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion
Mercedes Norris, Dustin Norris and Venice Norris came to the groundbreaking party for HOPE Community Resources Inc.’s new community recreation center on Tuesday in Soldotna. Dustin Norris helped pour the center’s foundation and Mercedes Norris choses to use HOPE’s resources.