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CLARION
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P E N I N S U L A
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 310
Question Have you ever needed assistance to feed your family? n Yes, extended family or friends helped me out; n Yes, I received help from a non-profit or public agency; 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 Cox given more time to file appellate brief C
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FAIRBANKS — Convicted militia leader Schaeffer Cox has been given more time to file an appeal brief with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Cox was convicted in 2012 of nine federal charges, including conspiracy to kill federal law enforcement officers. He was sentenced in January 2013 to serve nearly 26 years in prison and gave his notice of appeal shortly thereafter. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports that Cox had a rocky relationship with his initial appellate attorney. He was allowed to get a new attorney in May. The delay, granted last week, gives Cox and his attorney until Dec. 29 to file their opening briefs. Prosecutors will have until Jan. 28 to respond. — The Associated Press
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Fall classic 219 run in Kenai River Marathon
By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
The streak of sunny days for the Kenai River Marathon continued Sunday as runners from across the country praised the pleasant fall weather that made for ideal race conditions. “It seems to be a beautiful day every year on race day,” said Kenai resident James Tangaro, who finished fourth in the men’s half marathon. “The views of the fall and the colorful leaves are amazing. When you get on Beaver Loop Road you can set a good fast pace.” The ninth annual Kenai River Marathon attracted 219 participants with four race options, a 5 K run, 13-mile half marathon, 26.2-mile marathon or a relay of four that runs the full marathon as a team. Each race started and finished at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center in Kenai. Peter Svenning from Palm City, Florida, won the marathon with a time of 3 hours, 29 minutes and 2 seconds. Svenning, who was in Anchorage on a business trip, said he decided to come down for the race on the spur of the moment. He said the weather was comfortable compared to running in the Florida heat. “The first 15 miles wasn’t too bad then I got a little tired,” he said. “This is a great temperature for running and the course was beautiful. I was able to keep up a good tempo. I’m glad I came down and got a good workout.” Whitney Bennett, from Anchorage, placed second overall in the marathon nearly five minutes behind Svenning for first in the female division. Bennett,
Photos by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion
Above: Lanie Hughes, of Soldotna, dressed as a cow, and Dawn Murray, dressed as a pirate, hold up signs encouraging runners in the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday on Bridge Access Road in Kenai. Below: DeeDee Jonrowe, of Willow, runs across the David Douthit Veterans Memorial Bridge in Soldotna during the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday.
in her first trip to Kenai, finished her second marathon. She said she shaved 10 minutes off her previous best and averaged an 8-minute mile. Her running coach, Michelle Baxter, from Anchorage, won the women’s Kenai River Marathon last year and encouraged her to try the race. “My plan was to start slow and then scoot up,” Bennett said. “At mile 20 it was a little painful and I slowed down quite a bit, but I made it through. This is a beautiful little town. It makes me want to live here.” The course begins with a run through Old Town Kenai, which gives runners a See RUN, page A-10
Restoration in the works for Healy sign By KRIS CAPPS Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
HEALY — The “Welcome To Healy” sign is looking for a little love — and it may finally have found some. The Denali Chamber of Commerce has agreed to manage fundraising to restore the Healy sign, which is badly in need of renovation. Local businesses and community members are encouraged to donate to the project by mailing a donation to Denali Chamber of Commerce,
‘The sign has become an iconic source of pride for residents and is used widely to promote local businesses.’ — Sonja Schmidt, sign restoration project overseer Re: Healy Sign, P.O. Box 437, Healy, AK 99743. The colorful flowered sign, at the Healy intersection, has been there for about 11 years. It was the culmination of a yearlong high school service learn-
ing class. Former Alaska State Teacher of the Year Sonja Schmidt taught the class and oversaw the project, done entirely by students. “Students first conducted a
needs assessment, then ran a design contest, learned about sign design, took field trips to the Vital Signs studio during planning and construction of the sign,” Schmidt said. Students also “worked with the Denali Borough and the state of Alaska to get permits for the sign, ran a fundraising campaign and helped with grant writing.” Students raised about $4,000. When the sign arrived, several local businesses donated their time and equipment to in-
stall the posts. Students then installed the sign under guidance of the Denali Borough School District maintenance supervisor. “The sign has become an iconic source of pride for residents and is used widely to promote local businesses,” Schmidt said. Photos of the sign regularly appear on websites and tourist brochures. The students who made it happen just celebrated their 10year class reunion and accordSee SIGN, page A-10
Pro-pot group announces support from some parents JUNEAU (AP) — A group supporting the legalization of recreational use of marijuana in Alaska has announced what it calls a statewide coalition of moms and dads supporting the initiative. The coalition was announced last week as part of an online ad launch by the Campaign to
Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol aimed at educating parents “about the benefits of regulating marijuana to keep it away from teens.” The list of supporters includes Juneau Assembly member Jesse Kiehl and former state House Majority Leader Kyle Johansen.
Kiehl told KTOO that he would rather see public safety dollars spent on preventing domestic violence or on cracking down on drugs such as heroin. In August, Police Chief Bryce Johnson told the Juneau Chamber of Commerce enforcement of driving under the influence laws could be a chal-
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lenge if the initiative passes. Johnson also expressed concern that marijuana-related DUI cases could increase. A group opposing the initiative, “Big Marijuana. Big Mistake,” said a number of organizations across the state, including the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police, Alas-
ka Conference of Mayors and Alaska Academy of Family Physicians, also are against the measure. Voters will decide in November whether to legalize and regulate the recreational use of marijuana for those 21 years of age and older. See POT, page A-10