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Vol. 49, Issue 240
In the news
Body of missing fisherman found ANCHORAGE — The Alaska state medical examiner says a body recovered from the Susitna River was that of a missing 76-year-old Kentucky fisherman. William “Bill” Hartlage of Louisville disappeared last month while fly fishing. A family member on June 27 told Alaska State Troopers that Hartlage left to fish at the mouth of Willow Creek, which dumps into the Susitna, and did not return. Two boat crews and a helicopter launched a search that night. A ground search followed the next day. A boater on July 9 found Hartlage’s partially submerged body about 1 mile upstream of Deshka Landing. State troopers recovered the body.
Red hot
Grannie Annie remembers 1969 fire
Twins bust out the brooms on Palmer
FOOD / A6
SPORTS / A8
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Index Local . . . . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . A4 Nation . . . . . . . . . A5 Food . . . . . . . . . . A6 Sports . . . . . . . . . A8 Classifieds . . . . . . A11 Comics . . . . . . . . A13
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Fire, smoke, business don’t mix Cooper Landing businesses deal with impacts of the Swan Lake Fire. By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
Smoke from the Swan Lake Fire — which was ignited by lightning June 5 and has grown to over 100,000
acres — has had an effect on several communities in the Southcentral area, from Anchorage to Homer. In the small town of Cooper Landing, winds have blown the fire’s smoke into its valley, affecting the community’s local tourism industry. Yvette Galbraith, an administrator with the Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce, said there has been a quite an impact on Cooper Landing because
of the smoke. She said many businesses had cancellations and many patrons tried to reschedule for later dates. No businesses closed down, and everyone stayed open, she noted. “From my understanding unless you had respiratory issues, many were able to still go out and do their activities, just at an adjusted level or time of day,” she said. She said it was tough having the area
be portrayed as constantly smoky. “So when the weather broke or mornings or afternoons were clearer, folks missed out enjoying the Landing,” she said. Galbraith said only heavy windstorms impact trips, but business still operate in rain or smoke. “Skies are clear now, and it is See business, Page A14
Swan Lake Fire growth stalls, little growth expected as control lines are established By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
The Swan Lake Fire experienced another day of minimal growth on Tuesday, and little growth is expected for the next 48 hours along the
Chickaloon, Thurman and Mystery Creek drainages. Personnel from the Eastern Area Type 2 Incident Management Team assumed command and crews continued to work along the fire’s eastern flank, according to the latest
update. Crews are using the natural features and existing trails in the area to establish control lines that will curb eastward spread. The western perimeter of the fire also remains in check due the wetlands and completed control lines in the area. Despite
scattered rain showers over the weekend, extremely dry conditions make mop-up efforts in burned areas a challenge. The latest measurement of the See fire, Page A14
Galvin announces bid to unseat Rep. Young
Head of US Forest Service visits Tongass Forest JUNEAU — The head of the U.S. Forest Service visited Alaska’s Tongass National Forest to investigate timber sales and related issues, a report said. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski hosted Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen during the July 6-7 visit, CoastAlaska reported Monday. Christiansen stopped in Wrangell, Ketchikan and Prince Wales Island as part of a flying visit with Alaska’s senior senator. The meetings were not publicized in advance. Murkowski questioned Christiansen about the service’s Southeast Alaska timber sales during budget hearings in May and the women agreed to tour the area together. Christiansen told Murkowski the issue was a challenge and she was willing to visit Alaska to “roll up our sleeves and really look at this.” The forest service did not receive any bids in a sale of Tongass old growth timber that ended in June. The federal delegation spoke with industry representatives and supporters in Wrangell about a Trump administration effort to craft an exemption from the 2001 Roadless Rule that would allow logging in more undeveloped parts of the Tongass. The forest service is
Moody
By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion
From left, Terry Carter, Dave Unruh, and Dan Gregory smile for the camera at Fire Station #2 during the Nikiski Fire Department’s 50th anniversary celebration Monday in Nikiski. Carter has been the front desk receptionist for the department for 30 years. Unruh is a retired captain and was the second person employed by the department, and Gregory was fire chief from 2000 to 2005.
‘Always ready, proud to serve’ Nikiski Fire Department celebrates 50 years By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
On Monday night, the community of Nikiski came together at Fire Station #2 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Nikiski Fire Department. Within the first two hours of the event close to a hundred people had stopped by, and visitors were invited to tour the station, play games with fire hoses, view a slideshow of historic photos and hear stories from some of the personnel who have come and gone over the years. For some, it was an opportunity to look back in time and see how the department has grown throughout its history. For the current and former firefighters who attended, it was a family reunion, as former chiefs got to know the newest volunteers and old crew members reminisced over
hotdogs and hamburgers about long nights at the station. Since 1969, Nikiski firefighters have responded to emergencies of all kinds, from cannery fires to searchand-rescue diving operations. With a service area of around 6,000 square miles, the department is responsible for protecting the oil platforms out on the Cook Inlet and the remote communities of Tyonek and Beluga across the water. These days, the department boasts state-of-the-art engines, tankers and ambulances, but it wasn’t always that way. When the department first started, thenmayor George Navarre hired Chester Davis from Anchorage to be the first chief of the North Kenai Fire Service Area. Davis brought Dave Unruh along with him to be his second-incommand, and the two became the first paid firefighters in the area. Unruh, now a retired captain, still
lives in the area and spoke to Senior EMS Captain Harrison Deveer leading up to the 50th anniversary to share his story about the department’s founding. In video testimonials recorded by Deveer for the event, Unruh said that at the time, the station had one truck that could barely make it over 30 miles per hour. Unruh recalled that one of the volunteer firefighters told him that in order to reach 40 or 50 miles per hour, they often had to dump some of the water out of the tanker. Some of the people who had lived in the area were reluctant to have a fire department at all, and called it a waste of money, Unruh said. The budget for the department back then was about $70,000, which included the salaries of Unruh and Davis. At the time, Unruh said he See ready, Page A2
Peninsula Clarion
In addition to featuring a slate of melodies, the weekly Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series offers a number of other entertainment perks. Tonight, the early festivities include an hour of lawn activities featuring Nikiski rock drummer Kyle Baltus, a dance production and a cornhole competition. And that’s just the evening’s warm-up.
The feature musician this week is Boston artist Milo Matthews, with Alaskan band Hot Mess playing the opening act. Soldotna Chamber Executive Director Shanon Davis said Baltus will join Rosemary Pilatti to conduct a “Whack a Bucket” crash course in drumming for younger listeners, and will provide buckets and drumsticks for a workshop beginning at 5 p.m. After a short workshop, Baltus will then pull some of the more advanced drummers out and teach
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‘Racist’ tweets by Trump condemned By Alan Fram and Darlene Superville Associated Press
a little more on the finer mechanics of playing drums. The cornhole competition is sponsored by Edwards Jones Investments and will allow the kids to play from 5 to 6 p.m. Adults will get their chance from 6 p.m. on, with the winner of a best-of-10 throws competition winning a prize at the end of the night. Around 5:45 p.m., the peninsula program Diamond Dance Project
WASHINGTON — In a remarkable political repudiation, the Democraticled U.S. House voted Tuesday night to condemn President Donald Trump’s “racist comments” against four congresswomen Inside of color, despite protestations by ■■ Opponents rue Trump’s Repubas Trump’s new lican congressioasylum rules go nal allies and his into effect. Page own insistence A5 he hasn’t “a racist bone in my body.” Two days after Trump tweeted that four Democratic freshmen should “go back” to their home countries — though all are citizens and three were born in the U.S.A. — Democrats
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Soldotna concert series heats up By Joey Klecka
Alyse Galvin has announced her campaign to unseat incumbent Don Young in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020. Galvin ran against Young in 2018 but lost in the general election. Following a decision by the state Supreme Court, Galvin, an Independent, was able to challenge Democrats Alyse Galvin in that party’s primary and ultimately ran on the Democratic ticket. Galvin has announced her campaign as an Independent again, but has not said whether she intends to run in the Democratic primary again. “Amid persistent partisan gridlock on the state and federal level, Galvin will also focus her candidacy on better government, demanding that our representatives actually work for the people they serve,” a press release announcing her candidacy on Tuesday said. Young, a Republican, has been