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Vol. 49, Issue 200
State
Homer theater starts summer season
Area teams ready to chase crowns
Arts/A8
Sports/A6
58/41 More weather on Page A2
W of 1 inner Awa 0* 201 Exc rds f 8 o e Rep llence r in or ti * Ala n ska g ! Pres s
CLARION P E N I N S U L A
Club
Thursday, May 23, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
$1 newsstands daily/$1.50 Sunday
Borough Assembly moves to boost KPC funding
School district employees approve strike A week after contract negotiations with the school district hit a standstill, peninsula educators and staff have voted to strike. In a Facebook post published Wednesday night, the Kenai Peninsula Education Association reported that more than 75% of certified staff voted “yes” on a walkout. For over a year, contract negotiations between the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and the Kenai Peninsula Education Association and Kenai Peninsula Educational Support Association have snagged on the rising cost of health care. A previous agreement effective through June 2018 remains in use for employees without contracts. In its Facebook post, the Education Association said that the bargaining team will continue to negotiate with the school district. Employees and the associations will choose a strategic time to start the strike, according to a presentation posted on the Education Association’s Facebook page on Sunday. The association will hold meetings over the summer to prepare employees on how to strike successfully. The associations are required to give the district a 72-hour notice ahead of any strike. District employees cannot be fired for participating in a legal strike. — Staff
Jury convicts 2 in 2018 robbery of credit union ANCHORAGE — A jury has convicted two men of robbing an Anchorage credit union. Thirty-year-old John Pierce and 46-year-old Michael Wayne Moore were convicted Tuesday in federal court of robbing a Credit Union One branch in March 2018. They face up to 25 years in prison and another seven years for brandishing guns during a robbery. Prosecutors say Pierce entered the credit union on Eureka Street near 36th Avenue wearing a mask and carrying a handgun and a black gym bag. He walked out with about $15,000. — Associated Press
Index Local................A3 Opinion........... A4 Sports..............A6 Arts..................A8 Classifieds.... A10 Comics.......... A12 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
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By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
The class of 2019 listens to the choir perform during the Kenai Central High School 2019 graduation in Kenai on Tuesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Onward and upward Kenai Central High School grads begin new adventures By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
For Kenai Central High School’s graduating class of 2019, going above and beyond was practically
par for the course. In this year’s graduating class, six seniors earned the title of valedictorian. Maria Salzetti, Damien Redder, Dominik Efta, Vi-
talia Strait, Sarah Foutty and Kyaran Matturro all shared the honor — and the podium — during the graduation ceremony on Tuesday night at the Kenai Central High School’s
Renee C. Henderson Auditorium. During her speech, Strait talked about overcoming difficulties large and small both in high See KCHS, page A5
A close-knit class bids farewell River City Academy graduates 12 students By JOEY KLECKA Peninsula Clarion
The class of 2019 from River City Academy in Soldotna may be small, but ask any of the dozen graduates about their schooling and they’ll respond that less is more. The graduating class of 12 from River City Academy turned their tassels to the right and received their diplomas in a ceremony Tuesday evening at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, opening the next chapter of their lives. With such a small, but close-knit, graduating class, the amount of personal face time spent
See CITY, page A5
River City Academy valedictorian Steven Hunter Smith (front) awaits the presentation of diplomas Tuesday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly passed an amendment to the FY 2020 budget to increase funding for Kenai Peninsula College at Tuesday night’s meeting. Mayor Charlie Pierce’s proposed budget includes $800,000 for the Kenai Peninsula College, a $17,755 decrease from the FY 2019 budget. The reduced allocation diverges from the formula that has been used in the past to calculate funding for the college. Since 1992, the borough has provided KPC with over $12 million via a 1/10th mill rate assessed on property values, according to a March resolution from the borough supporting the Kenai Peninsula College. Assembly member Hal Smalley introduced the amendment asking that the post-secondary budget be increased to the 1/10th mill rate — from $800,000 to $847,186 — after members of the community provided testimony about the importance of funding the college. “We’ve heard this evening of the benefit of that funding that goes to KPC — Homer campus as well as the extension site in Seward,” Smalley said. Cheryl Siemers, Kenai Peninsula College’s assistant director for academic affairs, spoke in support of increasing the post-secondary budget to meet the 1/10th mill rate. “Your dollars help us See KPC, page A2
Ninilchik graduates reflect on small school experience By Megan Pacer Homer News
In a short but sweet ceremony Tuesday night, four teenagers walked across the stage and into the next phase of their lives at Ninilchik School. Valedictorian Tala Hadro, salutatorian Garrett Koch, Isabella Koch and Jacob Shell all had good things to say about growing up in a small town and learning in a small school. They felt the more personal relationship with teachers and the deep sense of community there were important and valuable. Hadro was sure to sneak in one last “dad joke” during her speech before her high school career ended. She reminded the graduates that, no matter what they do and where they go, they will always have a home in Ninilchik — somewhere to go for
dress was given by Josh Demlow, a teacher and coach. After watching a slideshow that showed the students as they progressed from childhood, the graduates handed out flowers to special members of the audience who have helped them along the way: parents, teachers and friends. Hadro will spend the summer working at the Ninilchik Fairgrounds thrift store before heading to University of Alaska Anchorage to complete her bachelor’s degree in nursing. “I’m super excited for it,” she said. Hadro grew up in Fairbanks for most of her life. Isabella Koch helps Garrett Koch perfect the finishing touches before they walk into “So having the change their graduation ceremony Tuesday at Ninilchik School in Ninilchik. They are two of from a really big school to a four total Ninilchik graduates this year. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News) small school where I could classmates that their best while flipping over his piece be more one-on-one with help and safe haven. During his own speech, days are not behind them, of paper during the speech: teachers, and just meet some Garrett Koch reflected on but ahead. “There’s always a back of the most diverse students He shared one impor- side.” the ups and downs of high (was good),” she said. See SMALL, page A5 school, but reminded his tant life lesson he’s learned The commencement ad-