Alaska
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Vol. 49, Issue 236
In the news
Homer man killed in Happy Valley crash A two-vehicle collision near Happy Valley killed a Homer man on Sunday. Authorities pronounced Michael Franklin, 18, dead from his injuries at the scene. His family has been notified. According to Alaska State Trooper spokesperson Ken Marsh, investigating troopers said they believe the crash happened as Franklin drove north near Mile 142 Sterling Highway and his green Subaru crossed into the oncoming lane, hitting a pickup truck driven by 39-year-old Garrett Bowley. Troopers said Barrett tried to avoid hitting the Subaru but could not avoid the impact. According to a press release from Anchor Point Fire and Emergency Medical Services Acting Chief Jon Marsh, EMTs and firefighters arrived at about 4:20 p.m. to find the Subaru engulfed in flames. Thirteen Anchor Point firefighters and EMTs responded with a rescue engine, a tanker, two ambulances and other vehicles. Ninilchik EMS also provided an engine, two ambulances and nine firefighters and EMTs. Initial attack crews knocked down the fire quickly. Medics treated three patients from the truck with non-life threatening injuries and took them to South Peninsula Hospital. A LifeMed helicopter and crew transported a patient with more critical injuries to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. Marsh said troopers did not find any initial indication that drugs or alcohol was involved in the crash. Toxicology tests were done, but results will not be known for about eight weeks. Marsh said no charges have been filed because the apparent at-fault driver, Franklin, died. In a text alert sent at 4:52 p.m., troopers wrote that the highway was temporarily closed near Mile 142 Sterling Highway. In a followup text at 6:32 p.m., troopers wrote that a detour around the collision had opened the highway, about a 1 hour, 40 minute closure. Troopers closed the highway not only so firefighters could put out the fire and EMTs could treat the injured, but so the LifeMed helicopter could land in the road. Reach Michael Armstrong at marmstrong@ homernews.com.
‘Molly of Denali’ debuts July 15 on PBS
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Vote fails to override Dunleavy vetoes But legislators vow the fight over state funding isn’t over. By Ben Hohenstatt Juneau Empire
A veto override vote Wednesday was always going to fail. With only 14 senators and 24 representatives in attendance, there weren’t enough lawmakers at the Capitol Wednesday afternoon to undo Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s over $400 million in budget vetoes. However, while short of 45 votes, legislators opted to hold a symbolic vote that resulted in a 37-1 vote in favor of an override. “We have to push back and say enough is enough,” said Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks. “We have to tell the governor that we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire
Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, speaks against an override vote during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature at the Capitol in Juneau on Wednesday.
take it any more.” That line drew applause from the legislators in the House chambers.
Dunleavy’s vetoes which would result in reduced funding for the University of Alaska, the elimination of the
Alaska State Council on the Arts, cutting school bond debt reimbursement in half among other slashes, were roundly
panned by lawmakers. They attacked from the left, center and right. Andi Story, D-Juneau, was among the lawmakers who compared the vetoes to a man-made natural disaster. “We have a chance to stop this tidal wave of destruction,” Story said. But the critique was bipartisan and bicameral. “I am a true fiscal conservative, and I don’t take criticizing our governor lightly,” said Rep. Natasha von Imhof, R-Anchorage. “Sometimes you have to spend money now to avoid paying much more money later.” She said while $3,000 Alaska Permanent Fund dividends may be good politics, it would be “really, really bad” policy. Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, said the vetoes are See Veto, Page A3
Dipnet fishery has quiet open By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
Alaskans from across the state came to Kenai’s beaches today in hopes of netting some salmon from the mouth of the Kenai River. The Kenai River dipnet fishery opened today, and will run until July 31. Only Alaskans who have lived in state for a year are allowed to participate in the personal use fishery. Wednesday was windy and cloudy, and on the north beach dipnetters jumped with every wave to avoid getting splashed. Eagle River resident Patsy Hardman has been dipnetting in Kenai before, but she doesn’t remember the waters being so rough. “We’ve come out before and the water was way more calm,” Hardman said. “I don’t know if there’s a storm coming.” She said the waves were bringing in loads of debris, which is getting caught in nets. “It’s bringing in a lot of junk,” she said. The cooler temperatures also made it difficult to stay in the water, she said. “I went out for a little bit,” she said. “The guys
Photos by Victoria Petersen / peninsula clarion
Katherine Green catches a flounder while dipnetting in the Kenai River on Wednesday, in Kenai.
are taller than I am, and normally I’m out there with them, but not today because it’s kind of cool. We’ve been so hot in Eagle River, like almost 90
degrees.” In two hours, Hardman said her family had caught two fish. Dipnetting on the Kenai River is a family affair for
many. It’s April Worthington’s first time dipnetting in Kenai. Her family, which includes her husband and six children, traveled from Eilson Air Force Base in
Fairbanks. “Fishing has been OK,” Worthington said. “We’ve only caught a couple, but See dipnet, Page A2
Local lawmakers split Advocates for homeless fear state budget cuts on session location By Victoria Petersen
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After a chaotic day that included a citizen takeover of one special session, and a failed veto override vote at another, lawmakers are still divided on where the special session should be held. On the peninsula, lawmakers are equally split on the issue. Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, and Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Kenai/Soldotna, did not attend either session. Carpenter asserted that the session should be held in Wasilla. Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai/Soldotna, joined the Juneau contingent. Micciche defended the governor’s right to hold session in Wasilla, but said he would support an Anchorage session. “It’s just kind of a mess,” Knopp said. “We’ll get through tomorrow and go
from there to find a path forward.” Gov. Mike Dunleavy last month called a special session in Wasilla after lawmakers were unable to complete their work during a 121-day regular session and a special session held in Juneau. Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, rejected Dunleavy’s call to convene in Wasilla, and called a Juneau special session, which began Monday. Minority Republicans in the House called the move illegal. The Legislature’s top legal advisor has asserted that the governor does not have the constitutional power to compel the Legislature to meet outside the Capitol. There were only 38 lawmakers present in the joint session in Juneau See local, Page A3
By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Organizations working to end homelessness on the Kenai Peninsula are at risk of losing an essential source of funding as a result of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed $440 million cuts to the state budget. Among Dunleavy’s 182 line-item vetoes to the budget is a reduction to the Homelessness Assistance Program, or HAP grant, from $7.9 million to $950,000. The HAP grant is used by organizations across the state to provide emergency and transitional housing, as well as services to prevent homelessness and to rapidly re-house those who have been displaced. According to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s website, HAP grant funds are awarded competitively to agencies
based on need. With a reduction in the grant’s funding by nearly 90%, agencies may soon be competing for scraps. On the Kenai Peninsula, three agencies have traditionally received funding through the HAP grant: The LeeShore Center in Kenai, Love, INC in Soldotna and Haven House in Homer. Love, INC is the largest recipient of the grant and last year received $324,000, which is about 60% of their annual operating budget. Leslie Rohr, executive director of Love, INC, said that with such steep reductions in the grant’s total amount she doesn’t anticipate receiving any funds this year. Without the HAP grant, Rohr said that many of the organization’s services will be eliminated. See cuts, Page A3