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Vol. 49, Issue 229
Racing
Trump, Kim meet at Korea DMZ
Stock cars sling dirt at Twin Cities
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Sports/A6
CLARION
71/53 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
P E N I N S U L A
Tuesday, July 2, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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Emergency fire order issued for Chugach National Forest
In the news Several Skilak campgrounds reopened Several recreation sites in the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area reopened Monday, due to a reduction in risk posed by the Swan Lake Fire. Lower Ohmer Campground, Upper Skilak Lake Campground and Lower Skilak Campground are all reopened. The Upper Ohmer Lake Cabin and both the Upper and Lower Ohmer Lakes are also reopened. Fire danger is still high and visitors need to be cautious.
High river conditions expected on Kenai and Sixmile River High water conditions are expected across Alaska and on the western Kenai Peninsula, according to a special weather statement from the National Weather Service. The warning includes the Kenai River Sixmile River and the communities of Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, Cooper Landing, Whittier, Seward and Moose Pass. Water levels are expected to continue or rise into action stage and bank-full conditions through the weekend. No significant impacts are expected along any of the rivers, the advisory said. Other rivers receiving a high water warning include the Matanuska, Skwentna, Klutina and Talkeetna River. Eagle River, near Anchorage, is experienced elevated water conditions. Those attempting to cross the river should prepare for high, swift water, according to the advisory. — Victoria Petersen
Human remains found on Pioneer Peak Trail in Mat-Su Borough PALMER — Alaska State Troopers say human remains have been found along a popular hiking trail in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. A hiker on Saturday found the remains on the Pioneer Peak Trail. Troopers launched recovery efforts. The remains were sent to the state medical to make a positive identification. — Associated Press
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Partly sunny
By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, speaks with the Kobuk Valley Type 2 Hand Crew along the East Fork Moose River on Monday. (Courtesy photo)
Dunleavy tours fire scene as blaze grows By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Gov. Mike Dunleavy visited the Kenai Peninsula Monday to meet with fire crews and personnel battling the Swan Lake Fire north of Sterling. Dunleavy met with the in-
cident commander, state and federal officials and on-scene fire crews, and attended a status meeting at the incident command in Sterling, spokesman Matt Shuckerow said in an email. Shuckerow said Dunleavy focused on learning about the fire, hearing more about
the state and federal response efforts, and thanking those working to contain the blaze. As of Monday, the Swan Lake Fire had grown to more than 70,330 acres, or around 110 square miles, according to a Monday update from the Alaska Incident Management Team.
The fire is slowly moving northeast. Nearly 500 personnel are making progress on the fire, with about 15% of it contained. Warm and dry weather is testing fire lines, as well as dry black spruce. Fire con-
See FIRE, page A3
The Chugach National Forest has issued an emergency fire order for the Kenai Peninsula area, according to a press release from the Chugach National Forest Supervisor office. The restrictions apply to building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including charcoal, on the Chugach National Forest, with the exception of the Nellie Juan/College Fiord Wilderness Study Area and the Cordova Ranger District, the release said. The emergency order went into effect Monday and will continue until the See ORDER, page A3
UA begins sending furlough notices to staff By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — Furlough notices were being sent Monday to about 2,500 University of Alaska staff, part of the fallout of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of $130 million for the sys-
tem. University system President Jim Johnsen last week said the cut, if it stands, would be devastating. The veto is on top of a $5 million reduction authorized by lawmakers, and Johnsen said it follows a series of cuts in recent years.
The notices, warning of 10 furlough days, were being sent Monday, said Monique Musick, a spokeswoman for the university system. Johnsen also said the system is instituting hiring, travel and contract freezes. Johnsen, in a letter to
the university community, said the cut was targeted at the campuses in Anchorage and Fairbanks and statewide administration. He has asked university supporters to contact lawmakers and urge them to override the veto, which would require 45 of the
Legislature’s 60 members. Absent an override, Johnsen said he will prepare for consideration by the Board of Regents a declaration that would allow the university “to more rapidly discontinue programs and academic units, and to start See UA, page A2
Kenai Joe’s Taphouse opens in Old Town By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Kenai River Brewing’s newest project, Kenai Joe’s Taphouse, had a soft opening Monday. The bar is being housed in the old Kenai Joe’s bar, the peninsula’s oldest watering hole. Kenai Joe’s opened in 1935, and Kenai River Brewing Company owner, Doug Hogue, is keeping the name alive. “We really appreciated that history and wanted to keep the spirit of it,” Hogue said. Earlier this year, Hogue bought the historic Kenai Joe’s bar in Kenai’s Old Town. Joe Gilman, Colton Hertog and Kara McCormick of Kenai River Brewing own the bar’s liquor license.
See JOE, page A2
Kenai Joe’s Taphouse serves its first patrons under new ownership on Monday in Old Town Kenai. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Melted Alaska sea ice alarms coastal residents, scientists ANCHORAGE (AP) — Sea ice along northern Alaska disappeared far earlier than normal this spring, alarming coastal residents who rely on wildlife and fish. Ice melted as a result of exceptionally warm ocean temperatures, the Anchorage Daily News reported. The early melting has been “crazy,” said Janet Mitchell of Kivalina. Hunters from her family in early June traveled more than 50 miles by
boat to find bearded seals on sea ice. Bearded seals in the past could be hunted just outside the village but sea ice had receded far to the north. “We didn’t know if we’d have our winter food,” she said. “That was scary.” The hunters ran out of gas after harvesting eight seals and a walrus. They were able to call other residents to deliver fuel, Mitchell said. Rick Thoman, a climatologist with the Alaska
Center for Climate Assessment & Policy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, posted on social media last week that the northern Bering and southern Chukchi seas are “baking.” Sea surface temperatures last week were as high as 9 degrees above the 1981-2010 average, reaching into the lower 60s, he said, with effects on the climate system, food web, communities and commerce. KotzeSee ICE, page A3
Borough to consider shifting chief admin duties to manager By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
An ordinance being introduced at Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting will consider a manager plan of government, which would move the position of chief administrator for the borough from the mayor to a borough manager. Sponsored by assembly members Hal Smalley and Kelly Cooper, the ordinance would allow the assembly to appoint a borough manager through
a majority vote. In a June 20 memo from Cooper and Smalley to the assembly, they said the mayor would still be elected area wide, but would no longer be the chief administrator. “The mayor would serve as chair of the assembly, still be able to participate in assembly discussions, may vote on assembly actions in the case of a tie and may veto assembly actions,” the memo states. The memo says the See ADMIN, page A3