Y
THE
Wading Columnist recalls summers of innocent fun and swimming pools
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Sunday
Football Soldotna wins state title; Nikiski loses Sports/B-1
Community/C-1
CLARION P E N I N S U L A
OCTOBER 19, 2014 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 45, Issue 16
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
How to use it
The
rules of the Roundabout
By KELLY SULLIVAN/Peninsula Clarion
A
fter months of shifting detours Binkley Street is completely open. Drivers can turn off the Sterling Highway onto South Binkley Street and commute to the intersection of North Binkley Street and Marydale Avenue without interruption for the
first time since late May. “There are no more planned closures or detours this season,” said Soldotna City Engineer Kyle Kornelis. “It might take some time for everybody to become accustomed to the roundabouts, which is normal.” The Binkley Street Improvement
project was the first comprehensive rehabilitation to the road in three decades. The installation of three mini-roundabouts was included in the project for the busiest intersections- Wilson Lane, Redoubt Avenue and Marydale Avenue. Traffic analysis showed the out-
lets were near capacity, and with the population and tourism projected to increase in the city, wait times were expected to only get worse. The project was carried out in three phases, and the roundabouts were by far the most controversial aspect. See ROUND, page A-2
M K
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Slowly approach the intersection
2
Adhere to the YIELD signs
3
Stop if necessary
4
Yield to traffic on the left
5
Enter if the way is clear
6
Use turn signal after passing the street before your exit
7
Watch for pedestrians and bicyclists at crosswalks
8
Left turns can be made by driving around the island
9
Oversized vehicles can drive over the island
Information compiled by the City of Soldotna
Successful first fill-the-boot for Kenai firefighters
Kenai man arrested on drug charges By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
A Kenai man was arrested on two drugs charges Wednesday after Alaska State Troopers investigated a report of a suspicious motor home. Troopers with the crime suppression detail received a tip of a GMC motor home where troopers had recovered stolen property in the past. The motor home was stopped on Birch Street near the intersection with Third Avenue in Kenai, according to a trooper dispatch. Thomas Dorman, 48, was arrested for misconduct involvSee DRUGS, page A-2
Today’s Clarion Obituaries..................... A-3 Opinion......................... A-4 Alaska........................... A-5 Nation........................... A-6 World........................... B-1 Cops/courts.................. A-8 Sports........................... B-1 Community................... D-1 Weddings...................... C-1 Dear Abby..................... D-2 Crossword..................... D-2 Horoscope.................... C-2 Classifieds................... D-3 Mini Page...................... D-9 TV...................... Clarion TV
Partly cloudy 44/33 For complete weather, see page A-12 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
Group brings in more than $7,600 for muscular dystrophy By RASHAH MCCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion
Justin Horton had the better spot for soliciting donations along the Kenai Spur Highway, but Abe Porter had a secret weapon. As the two firefighters hustled up and down the intersection of the highway and Bridge Access Road in Kenai, Porter’s 2-year-old daughter, Eden played with the over-sized firefighting hat her dad had given to her — it matched the tiny black and green striped firefighting outfit she wore and many passersby stopped, grinned and dug out their wallets to toss a few Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion dollars into Porter’s boot. Kenai Firefighter Abe Porter holds his daughter Eden Porter, “We’re on kind of the slow 2, as the two collect donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Asside of the street,” he said as sociation during a one-day fill-the-boot campaign Friday in KeEden sat happily on his shoulnai. C
M
ders, occasionally reaching into cars to take money from friendly strangers. A crew of several off-duty firefighters with the Kenai Firefighters Association launched the Kenai Fire Department’s first fill-the-boot campaign. They spent four hours Friday waving their fire boots in the air, soliciting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. It paid off. They raised just over $7,688 for the association. Kenai Fire Chief Jeff Tucker said the campaign was held later in the year than what is typical for fire departments. “Typically, it’s Labor Day weekend,” he said. “But, the logistics of doing it properly and hosting the fire conference was See BOOT, page A-2