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Vol. 49, Issue 237
In the news Trooper recruits hit the streets This week, 15 recruits for the Alaska State Troopers and one Alaska Wildlife Trooper recruit hit the streets of several Alaska communities to begin their Field Training Evaluation Program (FTEP), according to a Wednesday release from the Department of Public Safety. Over the course of the program, which lasts about 13 weeks, the recruits will work with troopers in Fairbanks, Soldotna, Palmer and the Mat-Su Valley and develop the skills needed to perform law enforcement functions independently. “For the past few years, the Alaska State and Wildlife Troopers have struggled with vacancies,” DPS Commissioner Amanda Price said in the press release. “We are extremely excited to welcome these 15 trooper recruits into FTEP and are eager for them to put what they learned at the academy to use as they serve Alaskans.” Trooper recruits Jacob Barker, Trenton Harris and Alexander LeClair will be in Soldotna for their field training, while six recruits each went to Fairbanks and Soldotna. The Wildlife Trooper recruit will be stationed in Palmer. To participate in the Field Training Evaluation Program, the recruits had to complete 16 weeks of basic training at the trooper academy in Sitka. The troopers then had an additional two weeks of training — known as Trooper Basic — before moving to their individual posts to received more specific training in areas such as fish and wildlife investigations, boating safety, survival, commercial fisheries enforcement, critical stress management, shotgun training and search and rescue.
Holiday DUIs down from 2018 The Department of Public Safety released statistics on Thursday from its high-visibility DUI enforcement campaign, which occurred from July 3 through July 8. According the release, troopers across the state arrested 10 motorists on misdemeanor DUI charges and one motorist on felony DUI charges. These numbers are down from last year, which had 21 misdemeanor and three felony arrests during the same period. Four drivers were See DUI, Page A2
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Legislature still short on override votes With some lawmakers in Wasilla, others in Juneau give impassioned speeches against Dunleavy’s vetoes of budget bills. By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
Thirty-nine state senators and representatives met at the Alaska Capitol in Juneau Thursday to hold a largely symbolic debate over Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s vetoes that would cut over $400 million from the state’s budget. Without the 45 votes needed to override the governor’s vetoes due a contingent of lawmakers hosting a dueling session in Wasilla, legislators in Juneau were left giving impassioned speeches condemning the governor’s vetoes and urging
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire
Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, (left) leans in to listen to Rep. Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, during a Joint Session of Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Thursday to debate and vote on an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes. The vote didn’t take place.
their colleagues in Wasilla to join them. Debate over where
authority lies to set a location for a special session has been very contentious and
has left the Legislature, and the public, deeply divided. Only one additional
legislator has arrived in Juneau since Wednesday, Sen. David Wilson, Republican from Wasilla. The politicians in Juneau of all political stripes had strong words for the governor and the legislators still in Wasilla, at times accusatory, at others, attempting to reconcile. “I hold no malice to my colleagues,” said Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, though he said the cuts made by Dunleavy’s vetoes would cause “destruction” of the state, saying, “we must change course.” Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, was less generous. “My constituents have had their constitutional rights stripped by a group of dissidents,” he said. He gestured to the empty seats of the missing legislators and accused them of trying See votes, Page A3
Soldotna, Kenai OK shelter contract By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
the way our legislators and members of the audience remained calm and maintained decorum while facing yesterday’s attempted hostile takeover of an official government meeting.” Messages left with police and Cottle’s office weren’t immediately returned. The encounter happened in Wasilla, where 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin served two terms as mayor from
The Kenai Animal Shelter will officially be taking on animals from both Kenai and Soldotna, after the July 3 Kenai City Council voted unanimously in support of a contract that provides animal shelter services for the city of Soldotna. “I’m confident it will work fine and be advantageous for both cities,” Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander said during the meeting. The contract between the two cities will last a year and stipulates that the city of Soldotna will pay $42,000 to Kenai for the care of 150 animals, which is about the number of animals the city has taken in years past. Any additional animals coming from Soldotna will result in a $284 fee. The city’s animal shelters care for all impounded animals, coordinate medical visits and provide education in the community about animal-related health and safety issues.
See assault, Page A3
See shelter, Page A2
Rochelle Adams
Bert Cottle (in the orange shirt) is seen grabbing the arm of Alaska Native activist Haliehana Stepetin while Stepetin was trying to take part in a sit-in at a legislators meeting in Wasilla on Wednesday.
Native activist alleges assault by Wasilla mayor By Rachel D’Oro Associated PRess
ANCHORAGE — An Alaska Native activist said Thursday that she was assaulted by the mayor of Wasilla as protesters took over a seating area intended for lawmakers during a contentious session of the Alaska Legislature that’s gathering in two cities. Haliehana Stepetin filed a citizen’s complaint with Wasilla police Thursday, naming Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle, along with House
Minority spokesman Zach Freeman. She also plans to seek a public apology from Cottle. The 27-year-old Anchorage woman alleges Cottle and Freeman grabbed her arm without her permission Wednesday as she attempted to take an empty seat at the gathering of Republicans in Wasilla. In a video that captured the incident, Cottle can be seen gripping her arm for at least five seconds, while Freeman let go after two seconds.
“I felt like I was in a vulnerable place,” Stepetin said. “And I still feel like I’m in a really vulnerable place.” Freeman told The Associated Press in a phone interview that he believes the incident has been blown out of proportion. He called the encounter a reaction. “In the moment, no one knew if the individuals were planning to harm members of the Legislature,” Freeman said in a written statement subsquently emailed to the AP. “I was impressed with
Rock’n the Ranch returns with 16 hours of musical acts By Joey Klecka Peninsula Clarion
Within a span of three years, the sober-living home of Nuk’it’un has not only given men a place to rehab their lives, but the organization’s board members have also created one of the must-see, must-hear music festivals on the peninsula. For two straight nights, Rock’n The Ranch at the Rusty Ravin will bring in a slew of popular musical acts for 16 hours of music Friday and Saturday at Mile 12.5 on Kalifornsky Beach Road. Organizers say there will be plenty of signs along the way, but festivalgoers should turn down Equestrian Ave., located about 3.5 miles south of the K-Beach/Bridge
Access intersection. The event will feature free parking and camping for all ticket holders, but pets are not allowed at the venue. Nuk’it’un, a Dena’ina word meaning “New moon,” sober-living home for men was opened in June 2016, just months after the first meeting to create such a place came together. Nuk’it’un board members Valerie Anderson and Ravin Swan are two of the original creators of Nuk’it’un, and said the idea behind the nonprofit was born out of necessity and passion. Swan said the idea was born to help educate and provide for community members dealing with drug addiction. “It was all a brainstorm of us sitting See ranch, Page A3
Wildfire containment line near Sterling is completed By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
The control line along the southwest corner of the Swan Lake Fire has been completed and will remain for years to come, according to a Thursday update from the Northwest 13 Incident Management Team. The line now runs from the Sterling Highway along the East Fork of the Moose River into the wetland areas along the south and west side of the fire. According to the update, this will prevent the fire from moving farther west toward Sterling. As of the latest update Thursday, the fire is 100,027 acres and is 24% contained. Along the Skyline and Fuller Lakes Trails, firefighters continue to remove
flammable brush and understory vegetation ahead of the fire. These operations are meant to reduce the chance of the fire spreading east along the Sterling Highway corridor. Crews are also clearing vegetation around public use cabins near Resurrection Pass Trail to reduce the chance of fire spread in the future. Personnel will also be working in the Cooper Landing area to assess properties for any potential structure protection that will be needed. Residents are encouraged to take this opportunity to speak with fire personnel about making their properties more fire-resistant. Partly cloudy conditions and cooler temperatures have slowed the See fire, Page A3