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Vol. 49, Issue 186
In the news Sitka jury convicts Klawock man of first-degree murder SITKA — A 30-yearold man from a Southeast Alaska village has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend. The Sitka Sentinel reports Albert Macasaet of Klawock was convicted Friday in Sitka in the July 31, 2016, strangulation death of 27-yearold Judylee Guthrie, the mother of his two children. Klawock is on Prince of Wales Island. On the day of Guthrie’s death, the couple had been drinking with friends in Craig. Macasaet the next day reported Guthrie missing. Later that day, he told Craig police he had found Guthrie’s body. An investigation determined she had been hit in the face and strangled with the cord of her hooded sweat shirt. Jurors were told that Macasaet twice previously had strangled Guthrie. He will be sentenced Sept. 9 in Klawock.
Bill would allow tribal regalia at certain public events JUNEAU — State agencies, cities, the University of Alaska and school districts could not bar individuals from wearing tribal regalia or carrying objects of traditional cultural significance at public events under a bill introduced in the Alaska House. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky, a Bethel Democrat. The measure, introduced Monday, comes after school district administrators in Anchorage approved changes to allow graduates there to wear traditional tribal regalia and objects of cultural significance at graduation ceremonies. The bill describes public event as an awards or graduation ceremony, public meeting or another event held or sponsored by a state agency, municipality or school district or the University of Alaska.
Soccer
US sends aircraft carrier to Mideast
Kenai Central sweeps Soldotna
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CLARION Tuesday, May 7, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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Pierce vetoes $2.5 million for schools By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce vetoed supplemental funding of nearly $2.5 million for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Monday. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly passed an ordinance April 16 increasing the fiscal year 2019 funds to the school district by $2,423,955. The ordinance passed 5-4. Pierce issued a memo Monday to residents explaining his reasoning, citing future fiscal uncertainty at the state level. “It can be argued that See VETO, page A3
Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at a Kenai Peninsula Borough meeting in this Jan. 8 file photo. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill could delay new school construction By Ben Hohenstatt Juneau Empire
The state probably won’t help cities pay off new school construction debt any time soon. The Senate Finance Committee Monday morning discussed House Bill 106, which would extend a moratorium on the state reimbursing municipalities for school construction bonds to 2025. Previously, the state stopped covering part of new school bonds in 2015. That moratorium would expire July 1, 2020 unless it is extended. Juneau school officials said the bill — sponsored by Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole — could be a negative for the district. “My first blush is that the city owns our facilities, and whenever we delay work on our facilities, it costs us more money down the road,” Juneau School District Super-
Sen. Natasha von Imhof, R-Anchorage, chairs the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Monday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
intendent Bridget Weiss told the Empire in an interview. “Anything left
unattended for 10 years, that is not going to bode well for our school dis-
trict.” Juneau City Manager See BILL, page A2
USDA census shows growth in agriculture By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Today may be a good day to buy local. In an executive proclamation issued last month, Gov. Mike Dunleavy
named May 7 as Alaska Agriculture Day, and encouraged residents “to support local agriculture by seeking out and purchasing products produced and grown in Alaska.” “Agriculture has an
integral role in the successes to every civilization and was instrumental to the settlement of Alaska,” the proclamation reads. “From early Russian trading posts to the settlers of the Tanana Valley, Alaskan
frontiersman have seen the potential for agriculture and development in Alaskan communities.” Alaska Agriculture Day was first celebrated in 2007. See USDA, page A2
Prominent Anchorage pastor steps down ANCHORAGE (AP) — An Anchorage minister whose influence extended beyond the pulpit into Alaska politics has stepped down. The Rev. Jerry Prevo gave a farewell sermon
Sunday at Anchorage Baptist Temple after 47 years, the Anchorage Daily News reported . “It’s the Lord’s timing,” said Prevo, 74. Prevo’s farewell service drew thousands of people.
Three rows of elected officials joined him onstage. They included Gov. Mike Dunleavy, former Gov. Sarah Palin, former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, U.S. Rep. Don Young and Alaska Attorney General Kevin
Clarkson, who is recovering from a heart attack. The church has $21 million in reserves and assets valued at $85 million, said Franklin Graham, a pastor and son of the late evangeSee STEPS, page A3
Hundreds show up to tour new Alaska-class ferry Local................A3 Opinion........... A4 Nation..............A5 Sports..............A6 Classifieds...... A8 Comics.......... A10 Police............. A11 Pets...............A12 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
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Index
Showers
By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
It’s been a strange few weeks for Capt. Michael Schlechter. Schlechter, who served on the F/V Fairweather for 15 years, steered the Fairweather on its final voyage in Alaska last month and piloted the new Alaska-class Ferry Tazlina up and down Lynn Canal last week. “It’s been weird because I was the last captain on the Fairweather,” Schlechter said. “I took it down to Ketchikan, locked the door behind me and left, and then came over here and
Alaska Marine Highway System or Department of Transportation and Public Facilities employees meeting people and answering questions. Many of the new crew members were crew members on the Fairweather, Schlechter said. The Alaska-class ferry — which is the first of two — was constructed in Alaska by Alaskans, which was a source of pride for many on board. One of those Capt. Michael Schlechter, right, speaks with members was Sen. Bert Stedman, Rof the public on the ferry Tazlina on Sunday. (Alex Mc- Sitka, who was one of the Carthy/Juneau Empire) driving forces in getting started the reverse process about 800 people walked the funding for the ferry. through the new ferry as He said he was impressed here.” The door to the Tazlina part of an open house. by the workmanship on was wide open Sunday, and Schlechter was one of many See TOUR, page A3
Dunleavy asks lawmakers not to ‘water’ down crime bill JUNEAU (AP) — Gov. Mike Dunleavy says a crime bill that emerged from a key House committee addresses major public safety concerns flagged by his administration and urged lawmakers to not “water” it down. He says the bill, which advanced from the House Finance Committee Monday, currently is acceptable. It could be amended when it reaches the House floor. But Dunleavy asked lawmakers to not dilute its effect. John Skidmore, director of the Department of Law’s criminal division, told the committee Saturday the bill effectively repeals and replaces elements of a sprawling criminal justice overhaul that were seen as problematic. The measure, among other things, increases penalties and sentencing ranges. Crime is one of the big issues lawmakers want to address in this session’s waning days.
Two charged in Soldotna auto shop car theft By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Two people from Kenai have been charged with stealing a 2007 Chrysler Sebring from the parking lot of Alyeska Tire in Soldotna, according to an affidavit filed at the Kenai Courthouse on Friday. Christian Athey, 22, allegedly drove to Alyeska Tire in a black Honda CRV on May 1 and dropped off Karli Bell, 19. Bell then drove away in the Sebring, which she did not own and that she did not have permission to drive, according to the affidavit. The scene was captured by surveillance footage from Alyeska Tire. Soldotna State Troopers received a call on May 2 from an employee at Alyeska Tire reporting that the Chrysler had been stolen out of the parking lot. The employee told troopers that the vehicle had been dropped off at the tire store a week before and that the keys had been left in the vehicle. Soldotna Police received information that the CRV was seen driving on the Kenai Spur Highway. Kenai Police located the CRV and identified Athey as the driver. Athey allegedly admitted that he drove Bell to the automotive shop on the night in question, and that Bell told him that she needed to pick up the SeSee THEFT, page A3