Peninsula Clarion, February 16, 2015

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Traveler

Stars

Students learn global awareness

West beats East in New York game

Schools /A-9

Sports/A-7

CLARION

Rain and Snow 44/31 More weather on Page A-2

P E N I N S U L A

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Vol. 45, Issue 117

Question Do you agree with the governor’s plan to expand Medicaid? n Yes n No 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.

50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday

Glaves steps down

Comparing notes Local woodworkers work together to improve their craft

Soldotna Chamber to receive new leader By IAN FOLEY Peninsula Clarion

In the news Teams withdraw from Yukon Quest C

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FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Three more teams have withdrawn from the grueling Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports Cody Strathe of Ester and Joar Liefseth Ulsom, who trains in Willow, scratched Saturday at Eagle. Ulsom reached Eagle in fourth place with eight dogs. He says two dogs were nursing minor injuries. He made another 20 miles down the trail but decided was it would not be responsible to push on to Circle. Strathe reached Eagle in seventh place. He left with 10 dogs but only one leader that was willing to run up front. He says his dogs were physically strong but mentally tired and he returned to Eagle. Magnus Feren Kaltenborn, who was running last, scratched in Dawson City. Ten teams have scratched and 16 remain.

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion

Top: Al Janonis stands next to three birch bowls he carved on an electric lathe during the “3 Guys, No Wood” workshop on Saturday. Middle: Lee Halstead (right) examines the thin, translucent bowl of a birch goblet carved by Sterling Rasmussen (left) at a Kenai Peninsula Woodturner’s meeting at the “3 Guys, No Wood” workshop on Saturday. Bottom: Rasumussen teaches Halstead how to turn a birch goblet on an electric lathe at a Kenai Peninsula Woodturner’s meeting at the “3 Guys, No Wood” workshop on Saturday.

Considering steps to protect kids Lawmakers mull sexual abuse prevention training By STEPHANIE SHOR Morris News Service-Alaska/ Juneau Empire

Index Local ..................... A-3 Opinion.................. A-4 Nation.................... A-5 World..................... A-5 Sports.....................A-7 Schools ................. A-9 Classifieds........... A-11 Comics................. A-14

Sexual assault prevention took the spotlight at the Capitol last week as legislators heard testimony from child sexual abuse survivors. If passed this session, HB23, better known as Erin’s Law, would introduce students from kindergarten through high school to a curriculum of sexu-

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ence. But the education Holthouse received as a child growing up in Anchorage didn’t prepare him for what happened when he was seven years old. Holthouse didn’t know how to explain what happened when a neighbor’s son raped him in 1978. Holthouse’s parents taught him about words like “safe touch” and “unsafe touch,” “safe secrets” and “unsafe secrets,” when he was 10. By

then, it was three years too late. The assailant was an older boy, a high school basketball star, and was idolized by Holthouse until the assault. It wasn’t until 2004, when Holthouse was a grown man, that he shared his confession in an article for a weekly newspaper. He had considered seeking revenge on his assailant. He even considered murder. Just when he was at his lowSee ABUSE, page A-6

See GLAVES, page A-6

Legislature to work through Monday holiday By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press

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al abuse prevention training. Investigative journalist and filmmaker David Holthouse spoke at the Capitol on Thursday and Friday to share his own story of sexual abuse. “I remember learning what to do in an earthquake and things started falling from the ceiling — you get under your desk. I remember learning what to do if I caught on fire — stop drop and roll,” Holthouse said during a Friday press confer-

After nearly a dozen years of running the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, executive director Michelle Glaves is moving on. Tami Murray, the current Visitor Center and Events Coordinator will take over for Glaves later this month. While Glaves is calling it quits at the chamber, she isn’t planning on retiring from work altogether. Instead, she plans on pursuing her other passion – real estate. “I’ve been interested in real estate for a long time,” Glaves said. Glaves said that being in charge of the Soldotna Chamber has been a rewarding experience. Because the Soldotna Chamber and Visitor Center works closely with businesses, tourism industries and the community, all the chamber employees need to be versatile, Glaves said. “It’s such a diverse job,” Glaves said. “We’re here for the businesses and the community as well. We have to wear a lot of hats.” Glaves said the hardest part of moving on is no longer being able to work with so many community members on a dayto-day basis. “We get to touch so many aspects of the community at large,” Glaves said. While leaving will be emotionally difficult, Glaves said she’s leaving the chamber in good hands with Murray. “She’s a great asset to have,” Glaves said. Murray, who has worked for the visitor center for over four years, was chosen over more than 30 candidates in a nationwide search. She said she believes her experience working with people from the community will make her successful in her new position. “I’m pretty confident,” Murray said. “We have a great staff.” Johna Beech, who before becoming president of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce worked under Glaves, said she learned a lot from her Soldotna counterpart.

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Alaska Legislature isn’t pausing for the holiday Monday. The docket in Juneau includes House subcommittee meetings devoted to two pieces of Gov. Bill Walker’s budget that have garnered attention — Medicaid expansion and a proposal to eliminate community jail contracts. Meanwhile, about 1,000

miles away, in Kotzebue, a contingent of House and Senate lawmakers is expected to meet with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. Here are three things to watch this week: —MEETING JEWELL: A group of lawmakers is scheduled to be in Kotzebue for an Alaska Federation of Natives leadership gathering and meeting with Jewell. Those going hope to impress upon Jewell the impact that federal deci-

sions have on Alaskans. Besides attending the leadership meeting, Jewell plans to tour Kivalina to discuss the effects of climate change on the coastal communities, the Interior Department said in a release. Lawmakers sought out the meeting with Jewell after President Barack Obama said he would ask Congress to designate most of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, including its potentially oil-rich coastal C

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plain, as wilderness, putting it off limits to development. House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, said legislators would be kidding themselves if they thought the meeting would result in an immediate aboutface by the Obama administration on the issue. But Chenault said it’s important to further the communication with the administration and to show “we’re concerned about the future of our state and the future of our people and

their ability to continue to live and thrive here.” Federal lands comprise about two-thirds of the state. Alaska relies heavily on oil revenues to pay for state government and wants to see more oil being produced in the state. Senate President Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, said he and others going planned to be cordial but blunt and direct. Obama’s proposal was met by resolutions in the Legislature See PAUSE, page A-6


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