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Vol. 49, Issue 190
In the news Problem bear shot in Anchorage; resident wounds Kodiak bear ANCHORAGE — Brown bears emerging from winter dens have caused problems in two Alaska communities. The Anchorage Daily News reports state biologists shot and killed a brown bear in the foothills above Anchorage. Alaska Department of Fish and Game spokesman Ken Marsh says the animal tried to enter a chicken pen and showed no fear of people. The Kodiak Daily Mirror reports wildlife officials are trying to track down a bear that was shot and wounded Tuesday night after it broke a screen door at a home in the foothills of Pillar Mountain. Kodiak police earlier Tuesday fired nonlethal rounds to drive the bear away from the city’s west side. A bear last month killed a resident’s dog. The owner says it’s the same bear but officials have not confirmed a connection.
Funeral held for 2 victims who died in village jail fire BETHEL — Two residents of the tiny southwest Alaska village of Napakiak who died in a jail fire have been laid to rest. People filled the Napakiak Moravian church on Wednesday for the funerals of Becca White and Isaiah Parka, who were described as best friends, soft-spoken and frequently together. Alaska’s Energy Desk reports the two were picked up for allegedly driving a four-wheeler while intoxicated on April 27. The jail fire broke out that night. The cause of the blaze, which also left a guard badly burned, remains under investigation. The community cleared away the charred remnants of the jail and placed two small, white crosses where they died. White was 24 and had a 3-year-old daughter. Parka was 22. — Associated Press
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‘We get what we pay for’ Residents react to mayor’s veto of education funding By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
The public comment period at Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting was dominated by resident reactions to Mayor Charlie Pierce’s veto for supplemental funding for the school district. Impassioned testimony from residents who both opposed and supported the veto filled the allotted public testimony time during the meeting. Several people spoke in
support of the veto, but the majority of public comment opposed the veto, which was released Monday. First to testify during public comment time, Christine Hutchinson from Kenai said she was in support of the mayor and his veto. “I understand, without doing a headcount myself, enrollment numbers have dropped over the years,” Hutchinson said. “They have not increased … I am supportive of limiting the funding, just because funding
might be there. I also feel we don’t need to just keep growing, growing government.” Soldotna resident Fred Sturman said he was also in support of the veto because he doesn’t want to see any new taxes implemented to pay for increased education funding. “I am in favor of the mayor’s veto and his budget and everything,” Sturman said. “We don’t need any more new taxes. We need cuts.” Duane Bannock of Kenai said he supported the may-
or’s veto because no circumstances have warranted the supplemental funding. “There has been no unforeseen emergency since you passed the district’s budget,” Bannock said. “Nothing has changed. Nothing new has come in forms of new revenue or expenses.” Several school teachers and employees spoke in opposition to the mayor’s veto, including Patti Truesdell, who teaches in Hope. She raised four children in See VETO, page A2
Borough introduces bed tax ordinance By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
A bed tax was introduced at Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. The 12% bed tax would affect temporary lodging across the borough and be exempt from general sales tax. The tax is estimated to See TAX, page A7
In the business of adventure By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Shop Talk Local Kenai resident Tiffany Brand has decided to start a new guided hiking service on the peninsula, but traversing the local trails is nothing new to her. Brand is starting her company, A Way in the Woods, after years of offering informal advice and leading excursions with her friends, family and associates on the best hikes in the area. Brand’s first tours will start June 1 and will run yearround. Clarion Reporter Brian Mazurek met with Brand and her son on Saturday for an interview and hike on the Vista Trail near the Upper Skilak Lake Campground. During the hike, Brand stopped periodically to point out moose tracks and berries (both edible and
Tiffany Brand adds a photo to her personal collection while hiking the vista trail at the Upper Skilak Lake Campground on Saturday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
poisonous) along the trail. Clarion: So what gave you the idea to start this guided hike service?
Brand: Well, I was encouraged by friends, mostly. I was surprised when they mentioned it. I hadn’t
really thought of it myself. I always thought that someone should. I guess I just needed encouragement
from the people that I’ve spent time doing these sorts of things with to show me that I should be the one to do it. I have a friendly nature and I like talking to people, and it seems that newcomers and visitors end up finding me and asking me these kinds of questions already. So I end up sharing my passions and the information I have about the area. Taking people out became part of it. Friends would ask me to do it and people who just moved here would ask me. So that’s kind of how it came about. Clarion: Did you look into similar businesses that offer these services for inspiration? Brand: Basically, I’m just going on my own experience and what I’ve seen. I’ve lived here over 20 years and I’m always active throughout the whole year. So I’m seeing what folks are enjoying and I was seeing a need. I was seeing a See SHOP, page A2
Debate arises over sex crime loophole By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
Across the country, state legislators are taking aim at a generations-old law that is in almost every state’s statutes: the ability to use marriage as a defense in certain instances of sexual assault and rape. This past week, that debate arose on the floor of the Alaska House as lawmakers made changes to House Bill 49. HB 49 repeals some portions of the controversial criminal justice reform legislation Senate Bill 91, but detractors said it doesn’t go far enough. Specifically, the lack of a repeal for the marriage as a
Carmen Lowry, executive director at Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, speaks at the Capitol on Monday, March 4. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
defense law, outlined in part in Alaska Statute 11.41.432,
exploded as a concern. As the Alaska Department of Law’s
Criminal Director John Skidmore explained to the Senate Finance Committee on Friday, marriage can be used as a defense in cases where a victim is mentally incapable, incapacitated or unaware that a sexual act is being performed. A May 4 Associated Press report stated that the Minnesota Legislature voted earlier that week to eliminate the exemption, and Ohio legislators are working to follow suit. Carmen Lowry, executive director of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, said in an interview Friday that she hopes the Legislature can figure out a way to eliminate the
marriage defense. “We believe that just because you get married, you don’t lose your human rights and your rights as an autonomous being,” Lowry said. “We definitely believe that needs to be changed.” Rep. Sara Rasmussen, R-Anchorage, has been particularly vocal about this issue, and relayed a real-life example during a press conference Thursday morning. The example came from a statewide organization called Standing Together Against Rape (STAR). A woman was on medication after a surgery, Rasmussen detailed, and her husband See CRIME, page A2
LGBTQ equal rights bill unlikely Refurbished welcome to advance any further this year sign back on highway By Ben Hohenstatt Juneau Empire
A bill that would prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ Alaskans is unlikely to make it to the House floor before this legislative session wraps up. House Bill 82, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity expression, was
referred to the House Judiciary Committee late last month, but Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, the bill’s sponsor, said it would be surprising for the bill to get a hearing in the next six days. “The bill won’t die for another 12 months, which means there’s a chance in January,” Josephson said in an interview with the Empire. “I think everyone is pretty worn out at
this point, but in January, you can bet I’ll be giving this thing the full-court press.” The bill’s cosponsors include Reps. Andi Story, D-Juneau; Matt Claman, D-Anchorage; Grier Hopkins, D-Fairbanks; Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage; Zack Fields, D-Anchorage; Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka; and Harriett Drummond, D-AnSee BILL, page A3
By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Drivers heading into the Kenai Peninsula are now greeted by a recently refurbished welcome sign. The sign, which sits at Milepost 75 on the Seward Highway, went under extensive repair in October. The sign has some new features, but retains the same look it’s had for the last 20 years.
At Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting, Mayor Charlie Pierce said the sign is more prepared for weather-related wear and tear. “It looks good,” Pierce said. “I don’t know who selected the paint colors, but it’s a paint that’s certainly specced for the weather.” Pierce said some rock See SIGN, page A3