Assange
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Wikileaks founder arrested at embassy
Kenai Central sweeps Nikiski
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CLARION
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P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 49, Issue 165
In the news Dunleavy replaces resigning human rights commission members JUNEAU — Gov. Mike Dunleavy wants to immediately replace two members of the state human rights commission who announced plans to resign. Commission chairman Brandon Nakasato and vice-chair Freddie Olin IV announced plans to resign May 1. Nakasato said his decision was related to the uproar involving the commission’s executive director, Marti Buscaglia, who last month complained on social media about a “Black Rifles Matter” sticker she saw on a truck in the building’s parking lot and believed to be racist. Buscaglia was suspended for 15 days, starting Monday, and said she’d resign when the suspension is over. Olin said he was resigning for unrelated personal reasons. Dunleavy appointed Cynthia Erickson and A. Debbie Fullenwider to the seats. His office said the appointments were effective Wednesday. Both are subject to legislative approval.
New Mexico climber dies in fall on mountain ANCHORAGE — A New Mexico man died in a fall from a mountain east of Alaska’s largest city. Alaska State Troopers say 25-year-old Daniel Dresher died Wednesday on Goat Mountain near Eklutna Lake. His hometown was not immediately available. Troopers say Dresher’s climbing partner reported he had fallen. The second climber attempted to descend to reach Dresher and lost phone contact. The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center based at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson launched a helicopter and a rescue crew to help search and found the climbers. Troopers say Dresher fell about 500 feet and was killed. The helicopter crew recovered his body. — Associated Press
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House passes budget, rejects large cuts By The Associated Press
The Alaska House on Thursday passed a state operating budget rejecting the level of cuts proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, sending it to the Senate for further
work. Cuts were made to areas like the university system, ferry system and Medicaid though lawmakers were told the state has flexibility to make some additional Med-
icaid cuts. Minority House Republicans unsuccessfully sought continued debate on proposed amendments, including some they said dealt with Alaska Permanent Fund divi-
dends. This year’s dividend will be closely watched amid the broader budget debate, with Dunleavy calling for a full payout and lawmakers weighing smaller checks to
afford government services. House Finance Committee Co-chair Neal Foster said the dividend will be dealt with later. House Minority memSee CUTS, page A3
Dinner and a show? Triumvirate serves up a fishing-themed ‘Rocky’ parody By JOEY KLECKA Peninsula Clarion
Triumvirate Theatre’s annual Dinner Theatre and Art Auction wraps up this weekend with shows on Friday and Saturday night at Mykel’s Restaurant in Soldotna. This year’s show, “Sockeye Balboa,” is a parody on the classic “Rocky” Balboa boxing films that actor Sylvester Stallone made famous throughout the 1970s and ‘80s. “Sockeye” organizer and writer Chris Jenness said that the Triumvirate dinner theater began as a way to help keep the company’s finances afloat through the summer months, when the local theater scene isn’t as hot as the weather. Now in its 14th year, the annual dinner theater is typically the final per-
Shaylon Cochran acts out a scene during Triumvirate’s dinner theatre production of “Sockeye Balboa” Friday, April 5, 2019, at Mykel’s Restaurant in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
formance of the spring season (although Jenness noted there are a few more
productions coming soon). The first year Triumvirate put on a dinner theater
routine, Jenness said they raised around $8,000 — to their pleasant surprise.
“We figured out it was a way to get ourselves through the summer, which is always a rough time for theater,” he said. “We thought we should try dinner theater, and it would be funny to do a fishing parody.” Jenness said his wife Carla usually writes out the script, but this year he took over production duties — what with his knowledge of the Rocky films. Jenness said the story line doesn’t follow one Rocky story, but rather ropes in many scenes and themes from all the movies. Piecing together a comedy that injects bits of local and statewide flavor is a task that he enjoys, and the production incorporates jabs at Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget, Soldotna’s annexation plans and a few Nikiski jokes. Jenness said See SHOW, page A2
Residents question mayor’s absence from assembly By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Residents hoping to address Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce about proposed budget cuts were disappointed last week when the mayor failed to show at the April 2 borough assembly meeting. “I wanted to address the mayor,” Casey Eberle from Anchor Point said at the meeting. “He motivated me to be here today.” “I hope the mayor is listening online somewhere,” Matt Fischer, a teacher in the school district for the last 17 years, said at the meeting.
testimony that was heard today,” Bagley said at the meeting. “We sat through it and we’re going to have to make decisions and I really think the mayor should have been here for it. I don’t think you should schedule vacations during budget time.” When asked for comment, the mayor’s office said Pierce would not be in until the week of April 15. Chief of Staff James Baisden said he preferred not to Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at a Kenai Peninsula Bor- discuss in a public forum ough meeting on Jan. 8. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Pen- when or where elected officials are, why they are gone insula Clarion) or for how long. Assembly Vice Presi- tioned the mayor’s absence. “My main concern is for dent Dale Bagley, a former “I am really not happy the safety of our elected borough mayor, also ques- that he’s not here for the members, their homes, and
for the families,” Baisden said in an email. “This was a trip planned months in advance, and should not be an issue no more than if you or I were to go on a trip during Spring Break.” During the meeting, which included nearly three hours of public comment, citizens spoke up in opposition to the governor’s proposed cuts and called for the borough and the mayor to take a stand against them. “Our mayor says that we better embrace these appalling cuts, and I can’t help but think ‘I’m an American and we fight for what we believe, and I have to stand See MAYOR, page A2
Former supervisors give different takes on Price By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — Two former supervisors of Amanda Price, Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s pick to lead the state Department of Public Safety, offered drastically different views Thursday of
her work ethic and whether she should be confirmed for the job. Price was an adviser to former Gov. Bill Walker, and Scott Kendall was a chief of staff to Walker near the end of Price’s tenure. He told a House committee Price suffered from chronic
absenteeism. He said she left when he told her she could resign or be fired. Marcia Davis, who was a deputy chief of staff to Walker, strongly defended Price, painting her as a hardworker who wasn’t tied to a desk. Davis said she had meet-
ings with Price three to four times a week and didn’t observe chronic absenteeism during the two years they worked together. Price is among the Dunleavy appointees whose position is subject to legislative confirmation. The Legislature has yet to meet
in joint session to vote on his picks. Price didn’t attend Thursday’s confirmation hearing. Kendall cast himself as a reluctant witness, having previously said he would be willing to testify without a subpoena if Price waived See PRICE, page A3
Knopp talks budget, House plans Alaska man sentenced
for stealing mammoth tusk
By BRIAN MAZUREK Peninsula Clarion
The Alaska House of Representatives on Thursday passed their version of the state’s budget for fiscal year 2020. The House budget includes a reduction in spending of about $200 million, which is significantly less than the spending cuts of $1.6 billion proposed by Governor Dunleavy. The Clarion spoke with Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Soldotna, after the vote to discuss how the House budget See KNOPP, page A3
By DAN JOLING Associated Press
Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, and Rep. Dave Talerico, RHealy, sit next to each other after Knopp voted not to confirm Talerico as Speaker of the House. (Alex McCarthy/Juneau Empire)
ANCHORAGE — An Alaska man who stole a fossilized woolly mammoth tusk and sliced it into pieces for resale will serve nearly three years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason on Thursday sentenced Martin Elze, 52, to 33 months for the theft of the 5.5 foot tusk from a small Bureau of Land Management museum
in Anchorage. Gleason also ordered Elze to pay $8,385.82 in restitution to the Campbell Creek Science Center. Elze in December pleaded guilty to one count of removal of a paleontological resource. An accomplice, Gary Lynn Boyd, pleaded guilty in January and will be sentenced May 15. The woolly mammoth is Alaska’s official state fossil. The intact tusk was See TUSK, page A3