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CLARION P E N I N S U L A
JANUARY 25, 2015 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 45, Issue 98
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
Gov. looks at dip into savings
In pursuit of pollock
Walker says he’s bothered by the budget By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
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Photos by Molly Dischner/For the Peninsula Clarion
Above: Gregory Bosick helps haul in a purse seine on the Sea Prince on January 11, while fishing for pollock in Kachemak Bay as part of an experimental fishery. Top: Kasilof fisherman Rob Nelson drives the Sea Prince just outside of Homer in Kachemak Bay. Nelson has a commissioner’s permit to participate in the experimental pollock fishery this winter. For a slideshow of pollock fishing in the Cook Inlet, visit www.peninsulaclarion.com By Molly Dischner For the Clarion
Despite more than thirty years of fishing around Alaska, Kasilof fisherman Rob Nelson had never let out a net hoping to catch pollock before December. But the long-time seiner has been learning how to catch the groundfish
in Kachemak Bay as part of an experimental fishery this winter. In most of Alaska, pollock are caught by trawlers. But Nelson and other fishermen are hoping that seines could provide a way to safely catch the fish, without worrying about bycatch. Seining is “one of the better methods to release anything undesirable that you do catch,” he said, because fish
are alive until they’re hauled on deck. Each day of fishing is a learning experience, he said January 11 while making his fifth pollock trip since the experimental fishery opened December 1. “It’s a big learning experience for everyone, really,” he said. Even finding the fish can be a challenge. During the winter, fish seem to
slide back into deep areas. In the summer, they’re often in shallower waters and near the beaches. “With salmon you see them jump, and herring sort of school,” he said. But there’s no indication of where pollock are, he said. Time of day and tide seem to influence the pollock, he said. See POLLOCK, page A-2
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Even with the budget cuts proposed by Gov. Bill Walker for next year, the state will still face the potential of having to draw on $3.3 billion from its savings, his budget director said Friday. Pat Pitney said the state needs to reduce its budget responsibly and not rush into cuts that could be devastating. “This is step one,” Pitney told the House Finance Committee, saying the cuts proposed are less than a quarter of the 25 percent target that Walker asked departments to look at over a four-year period. Alaska faces projected deficits of at least $3.5 billion this year and next amid the plunge in oil prices. It is seen as virtually impossible for cuts alone to fill those gaps. In a State of the Budget speech Thursday night, Walker proposed cutting $550 million in unrestricted general spending next year. He called for looking at what the right size of government should be, with an eye toward future agency cuts and greater creativity in how the state delivers services. Walker suggested privatizing services, but he said Friday that he raised that idea more as an option to consider rather than having anything specific in mind. The governor also said he has asked Revenue Commissioner Randall Hoffbeck to look at different types of investment possibilities, but Hoffbeck said there are just ideas being discussed right now. See BUDGET, page A-5
Kenai considers ending Kenai prepares for its library commission personal-use marijuana Group has no quorum, rejects or stalls new members Police chief presents on issues with implementation By BEN BOETTGER Peninsula Clarion
After the success of the Kenai Public Library’s 2011 expansion project, during which the library moved into the building it currently occupies, the seven members of the city’s library commission felt a loss
of purpose, said library director Mary Jo Joiner. “Most of the sitting commissioners felt like once we had built the building, that’s what they had been working for,” Joiner said. Since June 2013, the library commission has lost four of those seven members, leaving it
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unable to reach a quorum — the number of members required to be present at a meeting in order to vote on decisions. According to Joiner, the departing commission members said there was “a lack of real challenges,” and that “the work of the commission has been diminished, as evidenced by the successful completion of the recent library expansion project.” Joiner said that when the commission was unable to find replacements for the departing members, it began meeting quarterly, rather than monthly. The lack of issues to discuss was just as detrimental as a lack of members. “What it’s down to is reviewing policies,” Joiner said. “Not necessarily because we need to, but because it’s something we can do. At this point, we’ve reviewed all the policies we have. See LIBRARY, page A-5
view — to get us to a novice lev- cal control is important, with el, they stressed — of the impacts regard to certain things,” Sanof legalization in Colorado.” dahl said. “We learned about how loWhen possession and priSee KENAI, page A-5 vate use of marijuana becomes legal, Kenai authorities hope to be prepared for the change. Lawmakers want pot law fast-tracked Ballot measure 2, the law legalBy MOLLY DISCHNER izing the drug, will become efAssociated Press fective on Feb. 24. According to Kenai city JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska lawmakers hope to fast track attorney Scott Bloom, many a bill that would decriminalize marijuana, but legalization questions remain to be decided advocates disagree with the way legislators propose going by Kenai before the new state about it. marijuana laws go into effect. The Senate Judiciary Committee introduced a bill Friday Bloom and Kenai police chief that would decriminalize marijuana in certain situations and Gus Sandahl presented an create new laws regarding the drug. outline of these issues at the Advocates, however, question the way that the bill proWednesday meeting of the Keposes accomplishing that. It would repeal the section of a nai City Council. voter initiative passed in November that permits personal Sandahl began the marijuause, replacing it with language that provides a defense in na discussion with a report on court if someone is prosecuted for possession. his attendance of a marijuana In a statement, Tim Hinterberger from the Campaign to law conference held in Denver, Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, said the proposed change Colorado by the Colorado Asis not in line with what voters approved. sociation of Chiefs of Police. Sandahl said that the conferSee LAWS, page A-2 ence “gave a comprehensive By BEN BOETTGER Peninsula Clarion
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