C
M
Y
K
After
Wrestle
Leftovers can make for hearty dishes
Kards make it four Spruills in a row
Food/B-1
Sports/A-10
CLARION
Clear 31/13 More weather on Page A-2
P E N I N S U L A
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 45, Issue 49
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
Walker names four more to staff
Question What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food? n Turkey n Stuffing n Potatoes n Vegetables n Pie n Leftovers 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 No snow means no Alyeska skiing on Thanksgiving C
M
Y
K
ANCHORAGE (AP) — Southcentral Alaska’s balmy temperatures mean the state’s busiest downhill ski area will not make its traditional Thanksgiving opening. KTUU-TV reports a lack of snow will keep slopes at Alyeska Resort closed this week. Resort officials say temperatures have been so high, they can’t even make snow. Mountain services manager Brian Burnett says snow makers usually crank up Nov. 1. He says the mountain needs temperatures in the mid-20s to start but it hasn’t been cold enough. Burnett says that when temperatures drop, it will take crews a couple of days to get the mountain ready for skiing.
Inside ‘Mike Brown is an emblem (of a movement). This country is at its boiling point.’ ... See page A-6
Index Obituary................. A-3 Opinion.................. A-4 Court reports......... A-5 Nation.................... A-6 World..................... 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.
been director since 2005, said she was surprised to win the award. “I was humbled and honored to be recognized,” she said. “I’m not one to toot my own horn but it shows the hard work and effort this department has put into projects.” Parra said the latest project, the Nikiski Community Playground, was recognized as a “world class” facility and the envy of many communities around the state. Michael Bork, presidentelect for the Alaska Recreation and Park Association, nominated Parra for the professional
ANCHORAGE (AP) — Alaska’s incoming attorney general vows his first order of business will be reviewing both the status of the lawsuit that overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage and a National Guard scandal that rocked the previous administration. Gov.-elect Bill Walker on Tuesday announced four appointments to the top ranks of state government, including Craig Richards as the state’s attorney general. Walker takes office on Monday after defeating Gov. Sean Parnell in the November election. A U.S. District Court judge overturned the state’s ban on gay marriage in October, and the Parnell administration has spent more than $100,000 on unsuccessful appeals. On the campaign trail, Walker said Parnell’s decision to fight the lawsuit, officially known as Hamby v. Parnell, was an unwise use of public money. However, after he won the election, he said he would evaluate the case. “I am honored by this appointment and will begin reviewing Hamby v. Parnell as well as the National Guard investigation as soon as that information is made available to my office,” Richards said in a statement. His appointment must be approved by lawmakers. A federal report found widespread problems in the Alaska National Guard, including sexual abuse and fraud, and suggested a series of steps to correct problems. Parnell sought
See NORTH, page A-12
See WALKER, page A-12
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion
Stone soup
Students in primary grade teacher Jennifer Hubbard’s class listen to a modern version of the folktale “Stone Soup” on Tuesday, which the school traditionally cooks every year before Thanksgiving at Soldotna Montessori in Soldotna.
North Pen Rec earns honors Playground project, director recognized by statewide board By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
The sounds of children laughing and playing at the Nikiski Community Playground are music to Rachel Parra’s ears. In recognition for her leadership as director of the North Peninsula Recreation Service Area (NPRSA), the Kenai Peninsula Borough presented Parra with a commending resolution Tuesday at the borough assembly meeting. The NPRSA received two awards at the Alaska Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference in Septem-
‘Playgrounds are an essential part of the community. They’re what drives people to live in a community and are just as important as a school, church or industry.’ — Rachel Parra, North Peninsula Recreation director ber in Fairbanks. Parra received the “Professional Award,” the highest recognition the state association can bestow. The Nikiski Community Playground project received the other award for “Facility Excellence.” The Facility Excellence
award recognizes significant new projects that have reflected the most positive changes in the community, according to the Alaska Recreation and Park Association website. Parra, who has worked for the NPRSA since 1998 and has
Think safety in the kitchen for Thanksgiving By IAN FOLEY Peninsula Clarion
While Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and friends, it’s also important to be aware of the dangers that can arise during the holiday season. Linda Tannehill, a Health, Home and Family Agent for the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension
Service, stresses the importance of food safety during the holidays. “It’s such a concentrated time of people being together and there are a lot of distractions and lots going on with people trying to prepare food and trying to keep it safe at the same time,” said Tannehill. Tannehill worries that some people might undercook their holiday meals, which could
cause illness. She says poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees to be safe. “It’s a concern and we’re trying to promote people getting a thermometer to make sure the food is safe, because if poultry is undercooked it could cause foodborne illness,” said Tannehill. To encourage the use of food thermometers, the Cooperative
Extension Service is having a drawing for a free food thermometer, as well as providing quizzes regarding various food temperatures. When determining if meat and poultry is cooked well enough, Tannehill says people should refrain from using the “eyeball” test, because the color of food isn’t a safe way to know if food is cooked properly. According to the
USDA, one in four hamburgers turn brown before it is safe to eat. Tannehill also recommends that people not wash meat and poultry before cooking. She says that the bacteria from the meat and poultry could splash on to other nearby surfaces, including kitchen utensils. After Thanksgiving meals, people want to relax and be See DINNER, page A-12
Former teacher arraigned Legislator plans to tackle attack ads
By RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion
With a courtroom audience that included representatives from the school district, board of education and family of the alleged victim, accused rapist and former teacher Jeremy Anderson appeared in Kenai Superior Court in person, for the first time since his attempted suicide when allegations surfaced in May. Anderson, 37, sat chained to a row of other in-custody cases being heard by Judge Carl Bauman on Tuesday. He was clean cut, took the time to smile and nod at several in the audience See CASE, page A-12
By KATIE MORITZ Morris News Service-Alaska/ Juneau Empire
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion
Jeremy Anderson walks out of a Kenai courtroom Tuesday. C
M
Y
K
There were two surprises in the state’s general election guide this year: a missing profile for Independent candidate for governor Bill Walker, and an Alaska Republican Party ad attacking Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska. The Division of Elections quickly copped to the Walker omission and released a supplemental guide including the candidate, who won the
election by a small margin. But Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, wants to make sure an attack ad never again appears in the pages of a state publication. Gara announced in a statement Tuesday that he will pre-file legislation that would eliminate language in state statute that allows political parties to submit material for the state’s election pamphlet. Currently, parties can pay $600 per page to include whatever they want up See ADS, page A-5