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CLARION
Vol. 49, Issue 248
In the news
Kenai Public Health to host measles clinic Wednesday Kenai Public Health will be holding a walk-in measles clinic offering the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine at no cost on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The clinic is being held in response to a recent case of measles that was identified in Soldotna. The clinic is open to all ages. Anyone interested can call the Kenai Public Health Center at 907-335-3400. The Kenai Public Health Clinic is located at 630 Barnacle Way, Suite A in Kenai. — Brian Mazurek
W of 1 inner Awa0* 201 Exc rds fo 8 e r Rep llence i n * Ala o r t i n ska P g! res
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Sunday, July 28, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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House to meet on Monday for crucial vote House and state hold their breath for crucial vote By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
Having voted through the three bills to restore funding to the government and allocate an Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, the House of Representatives is recessed until Monday,
when a crucial, potentially final, vote will take place. House Speaker Bryce Edgmon’s office sent out a press release Thursday evening saying that the House would vote to rescind its previous action on the capital budget bill. The House was one vote shy of passing it on July 22, but the speaker’s office said in a press release that they were confident that a 30th vote would be obtained before the
end of the month, either from a legislator who was not present or from someone who had previously voted against the bill. Friday morning the House finished its work on HB 2003, the bill which would allocate $1,600 for a PFD. When the House moved to adjourn until Monday, Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, raised an objection. “People are tired of us wast-
Always making progress Soldotna celebrates its past, present and future
Woman dies trying to reach famed bus from ‘Into the Wild’ FAIRBANKS — A newlywed woman from Belarus who was swept away by a river in Alaska was trying to reach an abandoned bus made famous by the book and film “Into the Wild.” Veramika Maikamava, 24, and her husband, Piotr Markielau, also 24, on Thursday were heading for the bus where hiker Christopher McCandless met his death in 1992, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported. The bus has been the source of multiple rescues since it was made famous, first by Jon Krakauer’s book published in 1996 and then by Sean Penn’s 2007 film. Both chronicled the life and death of McCandless, who hiked into the Alaska wilderness with little food and equipment and spent the summer living in the bus. McCandless was found dead in the bus almost four months later. Markielau called troopers in Fairbanks late Thursday to report his wife’s death during a hike, Alaska State Troopers said. The couple was trying to cross the Teklanika River along the Stampede Trail near Healy when the woman was swept under water, the troopers said. The river was flowing high and fast because of recent rains. Markielau reported he was able to pull his wife out of the water a short distance away downriver, but she had died by then, the troopers said. The body has been recovered. In June 2013, three hikers were rescued by a passing See news, Page A3
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b
ing their money,” she said. If there was work to be done, it should be done, Wilson said, citing the expenses many legislators incur while in Juneau. Edgmon, I-Dillingham, said he does not usually reply to comments on the floor, but that this vote was, “crucial to the future of Alaska,” and that it was necessary to allow time for evSee vote, Page A2
Alaska plan to partner with Chinese on gas line scrapped ANCHORAGE (AP) — Former Gov. Bill Walker’s push to work with partners in China to advance a major liquefied natural gas project in Alaska has been scrapped. Walker’s successor, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, is taking a different approach, reports the Alaska Journal of Commerce. Joe Dubler, interim president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., recently testified before a state legislative committee. He said the corporation, which has been working on the state’s behalf to advance a project that would bring North Slope gas See LNG, Page A3
Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion
A volunteer from the Soldotna Shriners hands out candy during Soldotna’s Progress Day Parade in Soldotna, Saturday.
By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
In between some morning and afternoon rain showers, hundreds of people crowded the streets of Soldotna for the annual Progress Days Parade. Whether it was the Nikiski Firefighters, the Kaknu Kruzers or the local Shriners, dozens of businesses and organizations from around the peninsula made their way down Marydale Avenue and Binkley Street in their custom floats and classic cars while entertaining the onlookers and handing out candy. The intermittent rain ended up being a benefit for some resourceful kids who overturned their open umbrellas and used them as catchalls for the candy thrown their way. The parade ended at around noon at the Borough Assembly Building, but that was just the beginning of the day’s festivities. From there,
everyone headed to Soldotna Creek Park to enjoy live music and entertainment, food from local vendors and crafts from local artisans. Part of the entertainment included a performance from the dance companies of Forever Dance studio in Soldotna set to tunes from “Mary Poppins Returns.” Elizabeth and Steve Godsoe have been coming to Soldotna’s Progress Day parades for more than 10 years, and for the last two they have brought their son Oliver to enjoy the day as well. Elizabeth said that their favorite part of the day was all the different food that vendors offered, from reindeer hot dogs to bowls of stir-fry. Judging by the sauce on Oliver’s shirt and his smile while chowing down on some wings, it’s safe to say he agreed with his mom. “Now I know why I packed three outfits for him,” Elizabeth said. Anna Loehr and her mom,
Billie, are longtime attendees of Progress Days — Billie has been coming for about 40 years and Anna a little over 20. Billie said she could remember the days when the parade traveled down the Spur Highway rather than Marydale and Binkley, and commented on how the recent addition of the festivities at Soldotna Creek Park have helped the attendance grow in recent years. The McVey boys, Ryan, Carter, Ben and Gary are all fairly new to the area and to parades in general — Saturday was their first time seeing a parade in person rather than just on TV. When asked what their favorite part of the parade was, each had a different answer. “My favorite was the bright red convertible,” Ryan said. “I really liked the horses,” Carter said. “We got a lot of candy,” Ben said. “It was better than Halloween!”
Gun believed to be connected to Kenai double homicide found KENAI (AP) — Kenai police searching a river have recovered a gun believed to be connected to the shooting deaths of a woman and her daughter. Police searched the Kenai River with a Nikiski dive team Thursday, radio station KSRM reported Friday. The handgun found is consistent with what authorities were searching for, Kenai Police Chief Dave Ross said. The gun will be sent to the state crime lab for analysis, he said. Masonn Byrd is charged with two counts of first-degree See gun, Page A3
Barbecue celebrates Soldotna’s early homesteaders and pioneers By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Dozens of people came out to the Soldotna Homestead Museum to celebrate and honor Soldotna’s early pioneers and homesteaders, including Al Hershberger — who was named the grand marshal of the Soldotna Progress Days Parade. Hershberger was also presented with a proclamation from the city of Soldotna, which proclaimed Progress Days weekend as Al Hershberger Appreciation Weekend. During the presentation, Hershberger said he was at a loss for words. After the ceremony, folks were invited to a free barbecue dinner and encouraged to explore the cabins that make up the Soldotna Homestead Museum. “(Getting honored) felt good, but
it was kind of humbling, you know?” Hershberger said. Carroll Brookman, the docent at the museum, said she appreciates events that celebrate Soldotna’s early settlers. Brookman’s family came down to the peninsula from Anchorage in 1958, when Brookman was 15 years old. They homesteaded land that was about 8 miles from town. “Actually, I was outraged,” Brookman said. “I was a 15-year-old girl. My parents were moving me somewhere with no telephone. I was not happy.” As soon as Brookman graduated high school she moved back to Anchorage, and then in 2001, she came back to the homestead to be with her mother. Now, she lives on her parents’ original homestead. See BBQ, Page A3
Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion
Al Hershberger was honored at the Soldotna Progress Days Pioneer Barbecue and Meet and Greet, with a proclamation from the city of Soldotna, announcing the weekend be Al Hershberger Appreciation Weekend, Friday, in Soldotna.