Peninsula Clarion, November 16, 2014

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Missed Columnist reflects on old friend, care needed Community/C-1

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State Nikiski volleyball battles at tourney Sports/B-1

CLARION P E N I N S U L A

NOVEMBER 16, 2014 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Vol. 45, Issue 40

50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday

Governor’s race goes to Walker

Landing zone

By RACHEL D’ORO Associated Press

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ANCHORAGE — Independent candidate Bill Walker has won the Alaska governor’s race, following an aggressive challenge to Republican Gov. Sean Parnell that included joining campaigns with a Democratic rival. “I am beyond myself with excitement,” Walker said Friday evening. “It has been a long, long journey with a whole lot of Alaskans at my side.” Walker grabbed a slim lead on election night, but the race was too close to call while absentee and questioned voters were counted this week. Walker won Friday when it became evident that Parnell could not overcome Walker’s lead. Walker stopped short of an outright claim of victory, saying he wants to study districts where thousands of remaining ballots remain uncounted.

Photos by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion

Top, Brooke Marcotte, Kenai PRL Logistics facility coordinator, plays the victim during an emergency drill at the new PRL Logistics facility at Kenai Landing on Friday in Kenai. Above, Marcotte is loaded into a LifeMed Alaska helicopter during the drill. The drill involved Alaska LNG, Kenai fire, Central Emergency Services and LifeMed Alaska crews coordinating a rescue using the facility’s new helipad.

New helipad benefits area emergency responders By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion

Since work began 14 months ago on the PRL Logistics Inc. facility at Kenai Landing, CEO Ron Hyde has strived to be a good neighbor in the community. With the recent completion of a heliport on the property, Kenai’s south beach area now has an emergency access point to provide quick medical transport. On Friday, Hyde invited first responders from Kenai police and fire departments, Central Emergency Services and representatives from Hilcorp, AK LNG and XTO Energy for the first helicopter night landing and a patient package demonstra-

‘Hopefully we never need it. If we do we know it’s here.’ — Tommy Carver, Kenai fire marshal tion with LifeMed Alaska. “We want to earn our place as a good citizen of Kenai,” Hyde said. “We want to let our industry, local government and residents know there are life-saving capabilities we can contribute should there be some emergency out here.”

Flight warning issued for Pavlof Volcano By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press

The National Weather Service on Saturday warned airplanes to avoid airspace near an erupting Alaska volcano as it spewed ash 30,000 feet above sea level. Winds were blowing ash from Pavlof Volcano to the west and southwest. Pavlof began erupting, pushing lava out from a vent near its summit, on Wednesday. On Friday, the ash cloud reached 16,000 feet. The eruption intensified at 6 a.m. Saturday, sending the ash cloud higher, said Dave Schneider, a geophysicist at Alaska Volcano Observatory. It’s not clear how long this eruption will last, Schneider said. Pavlof’s eruptions may last for weeks or months with varying levels of intensity, he

said. Pavlof is Alaska’s most active volcano and is located about 625 miles southwest of Anchorage. It’s had more than 40 recorded eruptions, including earlier this year and last year. It also lies along popular international air routes connecting Europe, North America and Asia. The eruption has had little effect on people on the ground. The closest community, Cold Bay, is 40 miles away. Observers there reported seeing dark snow on the surface of the volcano Wednesday, indicating an eruption had started. There have been some small avalanches of hot rock down the north flank of the volcano. These may produce local mud flows to the north, but scientists say they would likely be minor.

The Federal Aviation Association has inspected the pad, classified as a private heliport facility. Hyde said he went the extra mile with features that exceed FAA standards for helicopter operations. The 100-by-100-foot pad is heated, painted and lighted and has a nearby pilothouse equipped with radio communication and high speed internet. Tim Nixon, director of flight operations with LifeMed Alaska, said the pad is beautiful. “We are excited to use it one day, except that means its somebody else’s bad day,” he said. Hyde said he took time and care into

Inside today Showers? 44/36 For complete weather, see page A-12

Obituaries..................... A-3 Opinion......................... A-4 Alaska........................... A-5 Nation........................... A-6 World............................ A-8 Police/courts............... A-10 Sports........................... B-1 Community................... C-1 Dear Abby..................... C-2 Crossword..................... C-2 Horoscope.................... C-2 Classifieds................... C-3 Mini Page.................... C-10 TV...................... Clarion TV Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.

See HELI, page A-2

Parnell’s campaign spokesman, Luke Miller, said Friday evening that the campaign was reviewing the returns and he had no immediate further comment. Walker, an attorney and former mayor of Valdez, is the first candidate unaffiliated with a party to be elected governor since statehood. Walker’s mentor, Wally Hickel, served a term as governor with the Alaskan Independence Party, a recognized third-party in the state, before going back to the GOP. Walker, who finished second to Parnell in the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary, bypassed this year’s primary by gathering signatures to support an outside run. But Walker didn’t change his party affiliation from Republican to undeclared until forming a “unity ticket” on the November ballot with Democrat Byron Mallott as the candidate for lieutenant governor. See RACE, page A-5

State sells stake in Endeavour By ELWOOD BREHMER Morris News Service-Alaska/ Alaska Journal of Commerce

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority sold its stake in Kenai Offshore Ventures for $25.6 million and the Endeavour jack-up rig is on its way out of Cook Inlet, the authority announced Nov. 14. Ezion Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiary Teras Investments approached AIDEA to purchase its share of Kenai Offshore Ventures after the joint-venture company was unable to secure long-term work for the Endeavour in the Inlet. “The Endeavour helped spur a renaissance of exploration in Cook Inlet, and was key in the discovery of a major oil and gas find in the Cosmopolitan unit. The rig’s presence in Alaska

promoted significant job creation and economic activity in Cook Inlet,” AIDEA Executive Director Ted Leonard said in a release. The sale price includes the original investment and a remaining dividend due to the authority, according to spokesman Karsten Rodvik. With just more than $4 million of dividends in 2013 and 2014, AIDEA will clear about $5 million when the sale closes on Jan. 31, 2015, Rodvik wrote in an email. AIDEA bought into Kenai Offshore Ventures as a preferred investor for $23.6 million in 2011. The state development authority is a self-supporting enterprise that pays an annual dividend to the State of Alaska. See RIG, page A-2

PCHS offers classes for health insurance signups By RASHAH MCCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion

With the second open enrollment period for the Affordable Health Care Act underway, Alaskans will have another opportunity to sign up for insurance through Alaska’s online marketplace. But, navigating the world of copays, doctors, hospitals, coinsurance and deductibles can be confusing for some and Soldotna-based Peninsula Community Health Services of Alaska is offering classes for those who are interested, mandated to sign up or uncertain about the available health insurance options. During the bi-weekly Tuesday meetings, PCHS Certified Application Counselors Tina Wegener and Kelly Whitmore are available for an open-house style class from 7-9 p.m. at C

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Health insurance sign-up class offered Peninsula Community Health Services will provide access to affordable insurance via: Affordable Care Act, Denali Care, Medicare and VA Enrollment. This is a free service. This is an open house style class. Fully qualified staff will be on site to help answer questions. For more information call 260-3691. Services are available from 7-9 p.m. at Soldotna Prep (formerly SMS) on the following dates: — November 18 — December 2 — December 16 the Soldotna Prep (formerly Soldotna Middle School), 426 W. Redoubt Ave., in Soldotna, to discuss health care options and guide applicants through the process of finding access to health insurance in Alaska. In addition to the Affordable Care Act marketplace, Wegener said the two also guide people through Denali Care, Medicare and Veterans

Administration benefits that may be available. “There’s a fear factor that’s a part of insurance and especially for people who haven’t had insurance before, there’s a huge fear factor,” Wegener said. “Even people who already have insurance, they’re wondering, ‘How is this going to affect me with the insurance that I have, See HELP, page A-2


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