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P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 49, Issue 177
In the news Governor adds Whittier to disaster declaration ANCHORAGE — Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has amended a state disaster declaration to add an area that includes the town of Whittier. The Anchorage Daily News reports the Republican governor amended the declaration last week so the area can get assistance for the damage caused by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake last year. The area was left out of former Gov. Bill Walker’s declaration from the Nov. 30 quake that shook Southcentral Alaska. Dunleavy said in a letter to lawmakers that the state has identified $507,000 in potentially eligible repairs in the town. The quake damaged critical utility infrastructure, docks, harbor parking areas and the breakwater protecting the boat harbor. Whittier city manager Jim Hunt says the damage estimate is conservative.
Bethel city council introduces ordinance to pay its members BETHEL — An Alaska city council has introduced a measure to begin paying council members for their previously uncompensated service. KYUK-AM reported Thursday that the Bethel City Council discussed an ordinance proposal to pay its members $100 for every regular council meeting, $25 for each special city council meeting and water and sewer subsidies up to several hundred dollars per month. The council in western Alaska will vote on the ordinance May 14 and a public vote will be held before it takes effect, although the council can pass an “advisory vote” overriding the public vote. — Associated Press
Correction The article “‘Rosie’ Makes Home Debut at SoHi” printed in the April 18 edition of the Peninsula Clarion contained an error. The plane researched by “Rosie” playwright Nathan Erfurth was not a B-52 Bomber, as reported, but a B-17F “Flying Fortress.” The Clarion regrets the error.
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PFD talks begin in House, Senate By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
After putting serious discussions off for the first 100 days of session, legislators are diving into Alaska Permanent Fund dividend talks this week. The House State Affairs Committee debated multiple proposals about the permanent fund and the dividend Thursday afternoon, including Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed constitutional amendment. The amendment (House Joint Resolution 6), which Dunleavy introduced Feb. 20, would require any changes to the PFD formula to be approved by a statewide vote. Thursday’s hearing was the first hearing in the committee for the bills and proposed amendments, and the committee will pick them up again next week. At a future hearing (or hearings), there will be an opportunity
Soldotna library receives donation By KAT SORENSEN Peninsula Clarion
Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, questions Angela Rodell, Chief Executive Officer of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, during a House State Affairs Committee meeting about House Bill 139 at the Capitol on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
for public testimony. Dates for that will be set later. Members of the committee also heard House Bill
132 from Rep. Adam Wool, D-Fairbanks, that would tie the PFD amount closer to the state’s oil and gas rev-
enue. If the price or volume of oil production increases, the bill states, so does the See PFD, page A3
The Soldotna Library Friends have donated $3,100 to the Joyce K. Carver Memorial Soldotna Public Library for the purchase of supplies and to support library programming. “Library staff are very grateful for the hard work and support of the Soldotna Library Friends, and for the contributions of our community donors,” said Soldotna Librarian Rachel Nash in a letter to the Soldotna City Council outlining the donation. The donation will be split up for several different uses: $1,400 will be used to promote and support the 2019 summer reading program; $1,000 will be used to supSee FRIENDS, page A3
K-Selo gets 2-year extension on grant By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Efforts to build a new school in Kachemak-Selo are still going strong, and a two-year extension on a state grant gives the borough more
time to find additional funds for their match. Last year, the Legislature enacted a bill allowing Department of Education and Early Development construction grant recipients to request an extension of up to
seven years. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly passed an ordinance at their Jan. 23 meeting asking for an extension on the $10 million state grant for a new school. Brenda Ahlberg, com-
munity and fiscal projects manager, said the borough requested a seven-year extension, but received only a two-year extension, making the deadline for the grant June 29, 2021. This means the borough has two more
Nikiski students ‘Seize the Day’ By JOEY KLECKA Peninsula Clarion
A diverse cast will put on a two-week production of the musical “Newsies” at Nikiski High School. The show, which is being produced in partnership with Triumvirate Theatre, will feature actors and actresses from around the peninsula, a handful of performers from the Mat-Su Valley, and special appearance by interim Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent John O’Brien. O’Brien plays a “relatively small part” as the mayor of New York City, Triumvirate President Joe Rizzo said. “About a month ago, we called and asked him to do this,” Rizzo explained. “Then, literally, it must’ve been three or four days later when he was announced as the (interim superintendent).” Rizzo is the show’s pro-
years to find around $5 million to fulfill the 35% match required of the grant. K-Selo has been in need of a new school for nearly 10 years. In 2011, the village petitioned the school See K-SELO, page A15
Prescription drug takeback this weekend By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
guest directors. Based on the 1899 newsboy strike demanding fair
As part of a nationwide effort to combat opioid and prescription drug abuse, a local coalition of community members and law enforcement agencies is hosting an event on Saturday to dispose of unused and expired medication. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., people can drop off their unused prescriptions at the Soldotna police station as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, hosted locally by Change 4 the Kenai. Anyone who drops off their unused prescriptions on Saturday will receive a $5 gift card to Fellers Coffee Wagon in Soldotna and be entered to win a $25 gift to Fred
See NEWS page A15
See DRUG, page A2
The cast of “Newsies” sings during rehearsal Wednesday at the Nikiski High School auditorium. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
ducer, and in his 20th year in the Nikiski High theater program, has seen a lot on stage. This time, Rizzo is welcom-
ing a collection of theater talent from Wasilla and Palmer, including Collin Christiansen and Beau Hagerty as
Peninsula educators recognized Senators optimistic they can finish session on time as BP Teachers of Excellence By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Several Kenai Peninsula educators were recognized for their excellence at a statewide banquet in Anchorage on Wednesday. Wendy Todd of Paul Banks Elementary in Homer, Jennifer Hornung of Nikiski Middle/High School in Nikiski and Julie Doepken of William H. Seward Elementary School in Seward received the BP Teachers of Excellence award. Thirteen teachers across the state were
See AWARD, page A3
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Sean Dusek stands next to BP Teachers of Excellence honorees, Wendy Todd, Julie Doepken, Martha Fleming and Jennifer Hornung at the BP Teachers of Excellence reception in Anchorage on Wednesday. (Photo courtsey of BP Teachers of Excellence.)
As the end of Legislative session approaches, lawmakers expressed differing views on whether the job will get done, and get done right, in time. Sen. Bert Stedman, the co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters Thursday morning that he was confident that the Legislature can get a budget to Gov. Mike Dunleavy and a robust package of crime bills done, all by the 121st day of session on May 15. The constitutional limit for sessions is 121
days, but the governor or Legislature can call a special session of up to 30 days. Thursday was the 101st day of session. Stedman, R-Sitka, said the budget will likely hit the Senate floor sometime next week. He said many aspects of the Senate’s current proposal are similar to the House proposal that rejected many of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed cuts. “My conversations with him are pretty direct, frankly,” Stedman said of talking with Dunleavy. “I expressed to him that there’s no way See END, page A2