Crash
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Vol. 49, Issue 214
In the news Alaska Air National Guard rescues hunter attacked by bear
Helicopter slams NYC skyscraper
Oilers end road trip with Chinooks
Nation/A5
Sports/A7
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Budget headed to governor’s desk PFD payout amount remains unsettled By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
When Darren Henry and his wife, Jessica, considered purchasing Trinity Greenhouse from the longtime owners, they had no background in horticulture, besides a love of personal gardening and keeping a well-manicured lawn. Now, in the greenhouse’s 43rd year in business and the Henrys’ second season as the owners, they’re continuing to grow the business. Darren Henry grew up on the peninsula and was family friends with the previous greenhouse owners. In 2016, they brought him on as a full-time employee to learn the ropes. “It was to make sure I understood what I was getting myself into, because it’s a big job and a handful to run this business,” he said. “We decided it was a
Index
Club
Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Alaska Army National Guard soldier dies in Copper River
— Associated Press
W of 1 inner Awa 0* 201 Exc rds f 8 o e Rep llence r i or ti * Ala n n ska Pres g! s
CLARION The Alaska Legislature approved the smallest state budget in more than a decade, and there’s still a chance that the governor could ask lawmakers to take more from it. By a unanimous vote of the Alaska Senate on Monday, the Legislature’s budget went to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s desk for final approval. Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, told media members Monday that he expects the governor will sign off on the budget as a whole, but could use his veto power to reject portions of the budget. The state must finalize a budget by the end of the fiscal year June 30 to avoid a government shutdown July 1. The $4.4 billion budget is $190 million lower than last year’s budget, accord-
Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, speaks against a resolution to have a combined House/ Senate committee to study a permanent fund dividend solution at the Capitol on Monday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
ing to a release from the Senate Majority. That’s about a billion dollars less than Dunleavy’s proposed cuts.
Among the major cuts is a sizable one to the Alaska Marine Highway System — about a $40 million reduction that
will cut service down this winter. The budget also cuts more than $100 million from the Department See DESK, page A2
By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Jessica Henry points to one of the many flower baskets made at Trinity Greenhouse, which are some of the business’s bestsellers, on Monday, June 3, near Kenai. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
good fit for us.” In early 2018, the Henrys took ownership of
the business. Darren said the two have made a few changes to the greenhouse.
Customers can now pay with credit cards. In an efSee GREEN, page A3
Heightened bacteria levels found at Kenai Beach of Environmental Conservation issued a warning Thursday about Kenai North Beach, The Anchorage Daily News reported Saturday. Samples taken June 4 showed elevated levels of
enterococci bacteria and fecal coliform, officials said. The agency warned against swimming at the beach until the advisory is lifted, and encouraged beachgoers to rinse off with
Kenai Fjords celebrates renovated visitor center By KAT SORENSEN Peninsula Clarion
Encompassing more than 600,000 acres, the Kenai Fjords National Park covers a lot of land, ice and sea. The latest renovations to the park’s visitor center near the Seward harbor promises to bring the beauty of the vast park closer to home. “The park is such a dynamic place with wildlife, glaciers, landscapes and a deep cultural story,” said Kenai Fjords National Park Chief of Interpretation and Education Shauna Potocky. “There is a lot to be amazed and inspired by.”
Wildfires sparked by lightning being ‘closely monitored’ By VICTORIA PETERSN Peninsula Clarion
Local greenhouse grows with new owners
KENAI (AP) — Heightened, potentially dangerous amounts of bacteria have been detected on a Kenai beach, state environmental officials said. The Alaska Department
Partly cloudy 64/48 More weather on Page A2
P E N I N S U L A
ANCHORAGE — A bear attacked and injured a hunter near Galena. The hunter and was flown to a hospital by the Alaska Air National Guard. The guard in a release says soldiers responded Monday at the request of Alaska State Troopers. The Rescue Coordination Center dispatched a helicopter and fixedwing HC-130 aircraft that carried a Guardian Angel rescue team. Alaska Rescue Coordination Center deputy director Maj. Andrew Williams says the team parachuted from the HC130 and hiked to the injured person. Williams says blood and plasma provided by Providence Alaska Medical Center was critical to the rescue. The victim was flown to Galena, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, and finally, Providence Hospital.
GLENNALLEN — A 35-year-old Alaska Army National Guard soldier from Fort Greely died when he fell into the Copper River while dipnetting for salmon. Alaska State Troopers say the body of Sgt. 1st Class Russell Hepler was recovered. Alaska Army National Guard officials say Hepler was a full-time soldier in the 49th Missile Defense Battalion’s military police company at Fort Greely. Troopers in Glennallen took a call shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday that Hepler had fallen into the river, known for its fast current, cold water and silty composition. The river annually attracts hundreds of fishermen seeking sockeye and king salmon with longhandle dipnets. Hepler’s body was recovered by fishermen in a boat. Before joining the Alaska Army National Guard, Hepler was in the Florida Army National Guard from 2001 to 2004.
Hit it
Kenai Fjords National Park Ranger Griffin Plush leads a tour Saturday at the visitor center reopening in Seward. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
On Saturday, the park celebrated the grand opening of the visitor’s center and years of work that
went into renovating the Fourth Avenue building with a ribbon-cutting cerSee FJORD, page A3
clean, fresh water if they are exposed to marine water. Exposure can cause stomach aches, diarrhea and ear, eye and skin infections. The most likely source of See BEACH, page A2
Lightning from two days of thunderstorms last week sparked eight fires on the Kenai Peninsula, with six of them active on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge lands, a Monday press release from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, said. The Coal Creek Fire is burning northwest of Tustumena Lake and is nearly 14 acres in size. It started burning Friday where the Funny River burn is. The release said the fire is 40% contained with progress being made on the ground. The Swan Lake Fire moved south on Sunday, growing to 1,746 acres in size, and is being closely monitored. It’s burning near the 2017 East Fork Fire. The East Fork Fire scar, Sterling Fuel Break and natural barriers provide numerous fuel breaks between the fire and local communities and the Sterling Highway, the press release said. Smoke can be expected and visible from eastern Soldotna, Sterling and possibly the Anchorage hillsides. Use caution when driving on affected roads, especially in the vicinity of Mile 68 and eastward on the Sterling Highway. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is collaborating with the Division of Forestry and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge during the wildfire season to support structural response, evacuation and reentry, communications and public information coordination, according to a Monday press release from the borough. Residents can find the most updated information at kpboem.com, akfireinfo.com and on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Facebook page. The Division of Forestry Public Information Office can be reached at 907-260-4262
Police charge 3 additional people in woman’s killing ANCHORAGE (AP) — Police have arrested and charged three additional people in the killing of an Anchorage woman, authorities said. Caleb Leyland, 19, and two juveniles have been charged in connection with the June 2 death of 19-year-old Cynthia Hoffman, The Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday. Denali Brehmer, 18, and 16-year-old Kayden McIntosh were previously charged with first-degree murder, police said. Leyland, who told police he provided Brehmer and McIntosh with a vehicle, faces charges of firstdegree murder and first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, authorities said.
Leyland also told officers that he, McIntosh, Brehmer and the male and female juveniles agreed to kill Hoffman near Thunderbird Falls in the Chugiak area, 27 miles northeast of Anchorage. The male juvenile said McIntosh and Brehmer came to his house June 2 and told him they “had shot Hoffman and killed her,” police said. Investigators found Hoffman’s body June 4 in the Eklutna River where Brehmer told authorities the killing occurred after they told Hoffman they were going for a hike. Hoffman’s feet were duct taped together, police records said. See CHARGE, page A3