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Vol. 49, Issue 2019
In the news Southwest man held on suspicion of attempted murder ANCHORAGE — A 30-year-old southwest Alaska man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and firing a gun twice at a household member. Alaska State Troopers on Sunday arrested Don White of Nunapitchuk on a boat on the Johnson River outside the village northwest of Bethel. He was held without bail at the Bethel jail and was not allowed to receive a phone call Monday morning. Troopers on Sunday took a call of an intoxicated man firing shots and threatening to kill household members. Bethel troopers flew to Nunapitchuk, and as they approached White’s house, spotted him in a boat. The pursued and boarded the boat. He’s charged with attempted murder, assault, weapons misconduct, boating under the influence of alcohol and possession of alcohol in a dry village.
4 seek victim status to review Carnival pollution settlement MIAMI — Four people who say they were harmed by pollution from Carnival Corp. cruise ships are seeking status as victims with rights to review a recent settlement. Three Alaskans and one Bahamian have asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to grant them status under the federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act. A Miami federal judge earlier this month rejected their claim before approving a settlement between Carnival and the Justice Department that included a $20 million penalty. Carnival’s CEO admitted in court the world’s largest cruise line had violated probation terms from a 2016 criminal settlement over pollution that included a $40 million fine. The four people who filed Monday’s appeal say they should have the right to review and participate in this newest settlement, which they consider flawed. — Associated Press
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Satanic invocation sparks online petition By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
An online petition to rid “Satanic invocations” at Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meetings has gathered more than 25,000 signatures. The petition comes before Iris Fontana — a member of the Satanic Temple and the prevailing plaintiff of a lawsuit against the Kenai Peninsula Borough regarding its invocation policy — is scheduled to offer an invocation at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting. Carrie Henson — founder of the Last Fron-
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly hold a religious invocation during the Oct. 9, 2018, assembly meeting in Soldotna. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
tier Freethinkers, a local nonprofit educational organization promoting
“progressive philosophy of life without theism” — is urging the organization’s
membership to offer Fontana, also a member of the Freethinkers, support during her Tuesday invocation. “We’re trying to get members and supporters to be there to support her,” Henson said. Assembly member Willy Dunne said he first heard of the petition when a constituent emailed him June 2. Dunne said he asked Assembly President Wayne Ogle to request law enforcement presence at Tuesday’s meeting. Monday, he confirmed Soldotna police will be present at the meeting. The petition urges the
What to do with rhubarb? Rhubarb-Palooza to show how to get creative with the summer favorite By ViCTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
The start of summer always brings fresh rhubarb to the home gardens of many Alaskans. The perennial stalk grows wild all over the state, making it relatively easy to get hands on the tart, but versatile produce. Rhubarb can be harvested throughout the first half of summer, when desired, according to information packets from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension. To harvest simply pull the stalks out from the base, using a twisting motion. The leaves aren’t safe to eat, so cut those off and wash the stalks. Stalks can vary in length and width, but generally four stalks can yield about 2 cups of diced rhubarb. Freshly harvested rhubarb can be refrigerated for several days, but any
assembly to cancel the upcoming Satanic invocation. It is unclear who started the petition, but the petition is being hosted by Return to Order, a special campaign of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property — an organization for Catholic Americans concerned with “moral crisis.” “How could a public institution which is meant to uphold the common good allow a representative of Satanic principles?” the petition reads. “Are immorality, corruption, and vice See ONLINE, page A2
Cool, wet conditions allow progress on Swan Lake Fire By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
A rhubard crumble is photographed on June 1 in Anchorage. Rhubarb pairs well with sweet fruit like strawberries. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
longer and it needs to be preserved through freezing, drying or canning
methods, according to the cooperative extension. The stalks, which
look similar to large celery stalks, pair well with See HOW, page A3
Cloudy, wet weather over the weekend allowed firefighters to make progress in slowing the growth of the 12,782acre Swan lake Fire near Sterling, according to a press release from the Alaska Division of Forestry. Monday afternoon winds were expected to test fire lines, and sporadic showers were not predicted to produce wetting rain, according to the release. The fire will transition to an incoming Type 2, bringing more personnel onto the incident management team. The team will continue strategizing as warmer, drier days are expected to continue, the release said. Fire lines near the community of Sterling were See FIRE, page A3
Former Arizona lawmaker gets 45 years in murder case By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
Mark De Simone, who was found guilty of murder in the 2016 shooting death of Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales, was sentenced Monday to serve 45 years in prison. On May 10, 2018, a Juneau jury found De Simone, who is currently 56, guilty of first-degree murder. Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip M. Pallenberg handed down the sentence in an emotional court hearing Monday as Rosales’ friends and family watched with tears in their eyes. Pallenberg’s full sentence was
Gonzalez said at the hearing and to media members afterward that she didn’t care much about what sentence De Simone received. “Even if he got 100 (years), my life is not going to change,” Gonzalez said. “Sixty-five, 45 years is nothing compared to the pain that I have every day.” De Simone did not speak during his two-and-a-halfweek trial in 2018 but spoke briefly at Monday’s sentencing hearing. He reMark De Simone enters the courtroom Monday for his ferred to the incident as an sentencing hearing. (Alex McCarthy/Juneau Empire) “accident” but said that just because something is an acfor 65 years in prison with ther the maximum nor the cident doesn’t mean he’s not to blame. 20 years suspended, saying minumum sentence. “The fault and the rethat this case deserved neiRosales’ widow Maria
Court: Alaska sex offender registry violates rights FAIRBANKS (AP) — Alaska’s sex offender registry violates offenders’ due process rights because it provides no means for them to demonstrate that they are not a threat to public safety, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday. The court in a 3-2 decision ruled offenders must be given an opportunity to prove they are rehabilitated, the Fairbanks Daily NewsMiner reported.
The case involves a man convicted of aggravated sexual battery in 2000 in Virginia. He was required to register in Virginia as a sex offender. The man moved to Alaska in January 2003 and registered as a sex offender. The Department of Public Safety informed him he had to register each January and the man did so for 2004 and 2005. In 2005, the department
informed him had to register quarterly for life if he kept living in Alaska. The department noted that his Virginia conviction had the same elements as first-degree sexual assault in Alaska, which requires quarterly registration. The man ceased registering. In 2007, he was convicted of failure to register as a sex offender. The man sued in 2016, See COURT, page A3
sponsibility are mine and mine alone,” De Simone said. During the hearing Gonzalez asked repeatedly, as she did at De Simone’s arraignment, why De Simone pulled the trigger. “This has taken over my life,” Gonzalez said through tears. “I just want to end with this already. I don’t know how many years he’s going to get but that’s not going to bring my husband back.” De Simone nodded his head slightly as Gonzalez spoke but he did not respond. De Simone was a memSee 45, page A2
Anchorage airport may raise fees for pilots and businesses ANCHORAGE (AP) — Rates and fees at Anchorage’s city-owned airport may increase soon, officials said. Merrill Field airport plans to request that the city raise rates on leases, parking and airplane fuel paid by businesses and pilots, The Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday. The 90-year-old facility also plans to charge for services previously
provided at no cost such as document preparation, said Ralph Gibbs, who became the airport manager in September 2018. The airport has spent more than it has made for about four years to complete federally subsidized improvement projects, while a savings account from a land exchange has been depleted, officials said. The airport has proSee FEES, page A3