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CLARION P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 44, Issue 297
SEPTEMBER 14, 2014 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
KPB seeks advice from voters By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
Sharing
Culture protecting Salmon
Two propositions on the Oct. 7 regular election ballot will gauge local opinion on two Kenai Peninsula Borough issues. Proposition A asks voters who live outside of cities to consider whether the borough should exercise limited animal control powers and if it should charge a property tax to pay for those services. Proposition B asks all borough voters if elections should be held by mail. While voter approval of either proposition will not lead to implementation, whether the voters approve or disapprove of the proposals will be used as a public recommendation to the borough assembly. See PROPS, page A-5
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Photos by Rashah McChesney/ Peninsula Clarion
Top: Russian delegates on an exchange trip to Alaska, with the Oregon-based Wild Salmon Center, listen to Ricky Gease, executive director of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association, talk about salmon management and habitat Wednesday in Soldotna. Left: (left) Evgeny Demidov, of Sakhalin, listens to Father Thomas Andrew, of Kenai, as Leila Loder, of Oregon, translates during a visit to the Holy Assumption of Mary Russian Church Orthodox church inKenai. Right: (left) Viktor Zoloutkhin, of Kamchatka, Margarita Panchenko, of Kamchatka, and Maksim Ageev, of Sakhalin, head down the dock at The Pillars boat launch Thursday in Soldotna. The group headed on a guided fishing trip with Fishology Alaska.
By RASHAH MCCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion
Even as political relations between the United States and Russia devolve, scientists, activists, conservationists and fishermen between the two countries push for further protections of the two country’s shared resources — including Pacific salmon. Six Russians spent a week in traveling between Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, learning about streamlined salmon management and sportfishing conservation practices through a cultural exchange program hosted by the Oregon-based non-governmental organization, or NGO, Wild Salmon Center.
On the web:
For more photos from the trip visit peninsulaclarioncom
See VISIT, page A-2
Inside today Rain 59/48 For complete weather, see page A-10
Opinion......................... A-4 Nation........................... A-6 World............................ A-8 Sports........................... B-1 Community................... C-1 Weddings...................... C-1 Crossword..................... C-2 Horoscope.................... C-2 Classifieds................... C-3 Mini Page .....................C-9 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
Doing the dirty work Sterling farmer digs deep to open an organic grocery store By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion
Musty warmth carries the sour odor of fresh manure inside Sackett Family Farms Organic Produce second greenhouse. The sharp smell is distracting. Glenn Sackett, owner of the small organic produce stand in Sterling, said the stench was actually fish fertilizer- not cow manure- which he uses to feed more than 1,000 plants with weekly. In the adjoining greenhouse, 800 towering, tangled vines wound around wooden stakes fruiting yellow, orange and green tomatoes; the area smells of fresh dirt and water.
Sackett is nearing the end of his second year growing organic produce on the Kenai Peninsula. His two-greenhouse and one-outdoor-garden operation has been generating a harvest since early spring. “Everything you see now has had a lot of tender, loving care,” Sackkett said, gesturing to his rows of tomatoes that range from cherry-size to bulging, one-pounders. He has grown a strain of open pollinated, heirloom tomatoes for 30 years. Sackett has owned Sackett’s Kenai Grill in Cooper Landing for 17-years and recently turned over daily operations to his son. Now he is working on opening the first organic grocery store in
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion
Glenn Sackett, owner of Sackett Family Farms’ Organic Produce located in Sterling, has 800 tomato plants he is in the process of harvesting, Friday, in Sterling.
the Central Kenai Peninsula.
Preparing the plot “I was a farmer and a beeC
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keeper in a past life,” Sackett said. “Before I was a restaurateur.” See STORE, page A-2
2 more charged with paying for sex By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Police Department has charged two more men for paying for sex at a Kenai massage business, bringing the total number of alleged “Johns” to seven. Jordan C. Fischer, 31, of Kenai and Daniel E. Tol, 25, of Chugiak were each charged with one count of engaging in prostitution. According to a press release from Kenai Police Wednesday, Fischer and Tol paid for sex during a Dec. 2012 to the Gifted Hands Massage business that was located on Attla Way in Kenai. Fischer was issued a court summons on Sept. 4. Tol was issued a court summons Sept. 8. Both men are scheduled to be arraigned in Kenai District Court on Oct. 14. Pat E. Hill, 59, of Sterling, Justin J. Morris, 29, of Kenai, Jason D. Moore, 34, of Kenai, Michael W. Dimmick, 72, of Kenai and Dan L. Brown, 34, of Kasilof were also charged for paying for sex. Engaging in prostitution is a Class A misdemeanor and each defendant faces a maximum 90 days in jail and fine of up to $2,000, if convicted. Kenai police Chief Gus Sandahl declined to comment on how the investigation led to charging the seven men or if any others would be charged. Kenai District Attorney Scot Leaders could not be reached for comment. Kenai police began the investigation in 2012 after receiving a tip about an online advertisement from a Kenai massage parlor that solicited an “erotic See SEX, page A-2