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1 to 3 inches 37/25 More weather on Page A-2
P E N I N S U L A
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 45, Issue 54
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
Land swap on hold
Question Did you go shopping during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend? n Yes, we hit the Black Friday sales; n Yes, we shopped at some local small businesses; n Yes, we visited craft fairs/bazaars; n All or a combination of the above; n No.
Borough to verify if parcel is adequate for K-Beach flood mitigation
To place your vote and comment, visit our Web site at www. peninsulaclarion. com.
By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
In the news Pregnant woman involved in car crash
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Snowy conditions attributed to a car crash on the Kenai Spur Highway Monday that sent a pregnant woman in the hospital. Kenai Police and Fire departments responded to a two-vehicle accident, which occurred at about 2:30 p.m. at the intersection in front of the Kenai Visitor’s and Cultural Center. A 27-year-old woman was driving a white Buick southbound on the Spur Highway through the intersection at Main Street Loop when a 2004 silver Subaru, driven by a 27-yearold man, struck the Buick on the driver’s side, said Kenai Police Sgt. Scott McBride. The woman suffered minor injuries and was transported to Central Peninsula Hospital, said Kenai Fire Chief Jeff Tucker. The driver of the Subaru was turning left at the light when he collided with the woman in the Buick who had the right of way, McBride said. “The snow made the white car hard to see,” McBride said. “Take extra time to scrape ice off the windows. Slow down and expect ice on the road. Winter has arrived.” Afternoon snowfall that accumulated up to two inches and warm conditions made the roads slick, Tucker said. The National Weather Service has issued a freezing rain advisory through 9 a.m. Tuesday for the western Kenai Peninsula. Tucker said drivers should slow down, make sure their lights are on and drive carefully. — Dan Balmer
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Business................ A-5 Nation/World.......... A-6 Sports.....................A-8 Classifieds........... A-11 Comics................. A-14 Pet Tails............... A-15 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
AP Photo/Becky Bohrer
Bill Walker, center, is sworn in as Alaska’s new governor as Alaska Supreme Court Justice Daniel Winfree, left, administers the oath of office on Monday in Juneau, Alaska. Also pictured at right is Walker’s wife, Donna. The Bible on which Walker took his oath has been in his family since the 1800s, according to his spokeswoman.
Walker takes office
New governor promises Medicaid expansion By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — In his first speech after taking office, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker said his administration would begin work immediately to expand Medicaid in the state. Walker took the oath of office Monday in Juneau — becoming the state’s first governor not affiliated with a political party — on a Bible that his spokeswoman said had been in his family since the 1800s. He was sworn in, surrounded by family and by Alaska Supreme Court Justice Daniel Winfree, who joked at the end: “You may now kiss the bride.” And Walker did, leaning over to kiss first lady Donna Walker. During a whirlwind day that also included receptions,
AP Photo/The Juneau Empire, Michael Penn
The Ati-Atihan Dancers of Juneau perform at the end of the inauguration ceremony for Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallot in Centennial Hall in Juneau Monday.
Walker held a brief first news conference, announcing Valerie Davidson as health commissioner, Sam Cotten as acting Fish and Game commissioner and Marty Ruther-
ford as a deputy Natural Resources commissioner. His picture hung alongside those of Alaska’s former governors in the third-floor hallway of the state Capitol.
The swearing in ceremony for Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott was held at Centennial Hall in a packed ballroom that included current and former state lawmakers and Alaskans from across the state. Alaska Airlines added an additional flight to Juneau, which is accessible only by air or water, for the inauguration. Among those on stage were former Gov. Sean Parnell, who lost to Walker in last month’s election; Parnell’s wife, Sandy, and Parnell’s lieutenant governor, Mead Treadwell. Walker thanked the Parnells for helping to make the transition as smooth as possible. An attorney perhaps best known for his support of an all-Alaska natural gas pipeline, Walker finished second to Parnell in the 2010 gubernatorial primary. He ran this See WALKER, page A-10
Efforts to mitigate flooding in the Kalifornsky Beach area have been put on hold while the Kenai Peninsula Borough reevaluates a proposed land exchange with property owners to construct a drainage easement. The borough assembly postponed an ordinance that would have authorized a property exchange with Paula and Timothy Keohane for their 4.3-acre property at Karluk Avenue for a 1.84-acre parcel at Mile 12.1 Kalifornsky Beach Road. The purpose of the swap was to make the Keohane property a permanent drainage asset for the Karluk Avenue ditch system, according to a memo to the borough assembly by Borough Land Management Officer Marcus Mueller. As part of the proposal, the borough would have reserved the “Government” land classification on the 1.84-acre parcel on the bluff, which is used as a drainage outlet into the Cook Inlet. A drainage easement with a width of 60 feet at the KBeach right of way line diverging to a width of 100 feet at the top of the bluff would be constructed on the southern portion of the parcel. Borough Chief of Staff Paul Ostrander recommended the assembly postpone until the Jan. 20, 2015 meeting, which would allow administration enough time to have an engineer to decide if half of the 1.84-acre See FLOOD, page A-10
Fish waste disposal system earns patent By IAN FOLEY Peninsula Clarion
Fishing has always been a favorite pastime of Alaskans, and now, thanks to a former Kenai Peninsula resident, it can be done more safely. Alexandra West, a 2007 Skyview High School graduate who is now an engineerin-training for PND Engineers Inc. in Anchorage, has recently been awarded a patent for a de-
vice that prevents bears from being attracted to fishing sites, according to a press release supplied by PND. The device, which was successfully patented this past September, helps anglers dispose of fish carcasses in a safe manner while fishing in Alaska’s rivers. Bears are often attracted to the scent of fish carcasses, a potentially dangerous situation for people if they happen to be nearby.
According to its website, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game recommends the Stop, Chop Alexandra West and Throw method, which involves anglers cutting up fish remains and throwing them into fast moving current,
or simply removing the whole fish from the site. West designed a hydro-powered grinder that floats in the water and is connected to the riverbank. Anglers would push the fish remains down a slide connecting the fillet table to the grinder. The device would not only reduce human-bear interactions, according to West, but also resupply the river with marine nutrients. “People could fillet their
catch and toss the remainder of the fish down the slide to be ground up into tiny pieces and discharged back into the stream,” West said in the press release. “This grinder system could eventually benefit the fishing community and waterways in Alaska and other areas with abundant fisheries by removing unnecessary attractants to bears and keeping the important marine nutrients from our See PATENT, page A-10
Walker names health, Fish and Game commissioners By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker on Monday announced Valerie Davidson as the new state health commissioner, calling her knowledgeable and passionate about expanding Medicaid in Alaska. The announcement came during a news conference
shortly after Walker was sworn in as governor. Other appointments announced Monday include Sam Cotten, a former state legislator, as acting Fish and Game commissioner and Marty Rutherford as a deputy Natural Resources commissioner. Walker campaigned on expanding Medicaid coverage, something his predecessor, Re-
publican Sean Parnell, resisted despite broad-based support, citing cost concerns. During his inaugural address, Walker said he would immediately “begin the wheels in motion” to accepting expanded Medicaid, drawing cheers from the audience. In states that have opted for expansion, the federal government is expected to cover the cost through 2016 and C
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the bulk of the cost indefinitely, with the states contributing. He told reporters that Davidson’s appointment was a big first step toward Alaska accepting expanded Medicaid coverage. He said the administration would move as aggressively as possible in expanding coverage. Davidson has long been involved in Native health issues
and most recently served as senior director of legal and intergovernmental affairs for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. She said Medicaid expansion would improve access to health care for more than 40,000 Alaskans. Walker previously named his picks for attorney general See PICKS, page A-10