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Vol. 49, Issue 293
In the news
Drought downgraded, more rain needed The extreme drought in the northwest corner of the Kenai Peninsula has been downgraded to a severe drought in this week’s updated map from the U.S. Drought Monitor. The map and data, which is updated every Thursday, shows the rest of the Kenai Peninsula was also downgraded from a severe drought to a moderate drought. Since Sept. 10, the drought on the peninsula has been waning, due to a recent wet weather trend. The past week has brought 1 to 3 inches of rain over much of the drought areas in the state, and the sevenday rainfall on the Kenai Peninsula totaled as much as 3.92 inches. More rain is needed to end the drought, though, the summary said. Kenai has had an abnormally dry summer. Between June 1 and Aug. 31, the city of Kenai received 1.73 inches of rainfall, according to the National Weather Service office in Anchorage. As of Thursday afternoon, the Kenai area had received 3.69 inches of rain in September, according to data from the National Weather Service, which is slightly above the September monthly average for the area of 3.43 inches of precipitation during the whole month. In Kenai, there’s a chance of rain on Sunday and Monday, the National Weather Service is forecasting.
Opening of 2 pot businesses delayed BETHEL — Sponsored protests could stop two Alaska cannabis companies from opening despite having approved licenses, city officials said. The state Marijuana Control Board recently approved licenses for two marijuana stores, but Bethel City Council has delayed the businesses’ openings citing city code violations, KYUK-AM reported Thursday. Bethel Mayor Fred Watson has sponsored conditional licenses protests for Alaska Grown Cannabis and Kusko Kush both located about 400 See news, Page A3
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Nearly every Alaskan will get $1,606 oil check By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
ANCHORAGE — Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration announced Friday that nearly every Alaskan will receive $1,606 in this year’s oil wealth check and reminded people that it could have been much bigger. Dunleavy’s pick to fill an open state Senate seat could make that happen. Dunleavy said he has appointed Rep. Josh Revak, an Anchorage Republican, to the open Senate seat. The move still needs confirmation by Senate Republicans, which is not
assured. Dunleavy campaigned last year on the prospect of a larger dividend in line with a longstanding calculation that has not been followed since 2016. The Department of Revenue said if the formula had been followed this year, the check amount would have been $2,910. Some lawmakers said the state could afford such a payout and others countered it is unsustainable and at odds with a law that seeks to limit what can be taken from the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund for government expenses and dividends. The divide led to prolonged and
contentious legislative sessions that at one point this year had lawmakers meeting in two different cities. Lawmakers ultimately settled on the smaller dividend amount by cobbling together a mix of dollars that included Alaska Permanent Fund earnings and savings. State Sen. Chris Birch, an Anchorage Republican, advocated for the smaller check. When he died suddenly in August, Dunleavy appointed state Rep. Laddie Shaw to fill the vacancy. Senate Republicans on Sept. 19 rejected Shaw, who favors the higher check. Senate President Cathy Giessel of
Anchorage said at the time that Birch had displayed strong leadership on reforming the dividend and protecting the Alaska Permanent Fund. Giessel said Birch “proudly took the issue directly to voters during the recent election.” “The duty of the Senate is to confirm a replacement … with deference to the views of the late Senator Birch and, most importantly, those of all the people in the district he served,” she said. Like Shaw, Revak favours the bigger check. See check, Page A2
Putting addiction on the run Change 4 the Kenai hosts Stomp Out Stigma Color Run By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Peninsula residents gathered at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday to stomp out the stigma of addiction — one step at a time. Change 4 the Kenai — a local coalition dedicated to substance abuse prevention in the community through advocacy and education — hosted their third annual Stomp Out Stigma Color Run at noon on Saturday. “We’re working to stomp out the stigma of addiction and bring awareness to the community that everyone matters, and that people dealing with addiction shouldn’t feel ashamed to come and get services or seek help,” Project Coordinator Shari Conner said on Saturday. “Which is what happens when people are perceived as being a ‘junkie’ or something that’s very negative instead of looking at addiction as a disease.” The “color” part of the color run came in the form of powdered chalk that volunteers threw onto passersby while they completed a 5K loop at their own leisure. Conner said that there’s no underlying meaning behind the colors — they’re just fun. In between the color stations were pink flamingos to guide the participants along the loop, which used the same route as the Kenai River Festival run through the Mullen Homestead and Swiftwater Park. Runners and walkers who registered for the event were given free T-shirts that had the Change 4 the Kenai logo on the front but were
Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion
Participants in the 2019 Stomp Out Stigma Color Run make their way through a haze of pink chalk at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday.
otherwise left white — perfect for getting covered in colored chalk. Kathy and Don Cross moved to Soldotna last year and said they heard about the event and thought it would be a good way to spend their Saturday. Kathy works in health care and said that, coming from Virginia,
one of the first things they noticed was the prevalence of addiction in community. “We’d stop at a rest area coming down through Turnagain Arm, and there would be needles all over the rest area,” Cross said. “And it amazes me the ages of people that are addicted. When we lived in Virginia
I assumed addiction was basically a younger person’s thing, but here I’ve seen people dealing with it in their 70s and 80s. It’s sad.” Lisa Hutchens came to the event from Kasilof and is in recovery from her own struggles with addiction. See run, Page A2
Stand-up comedy brings laughs for worthy cause By Joey Klecka Peninsula Clarion
Customers got a few laughs and helped a worthy cause Friday night at The Catch restaurant and lounge in Soldotna during “Comedy at The Catch.” Comedians took to the stage to raise money for the Central Peninsula Special Olympics nonprofit, an organization that aids athletes with physical and mental disabilities. Mat Plant of Power Plant Productions hosted the event, adding another successful endeavor to his eight-year-old company. Friday night’s entertainment was the fifth comedy show that Power Plant Productions has hosted, with the first one in Anchorage and others taking place in Homer, Wasilla and Soldotna. Plant said Friday’s show raised more than $500 for the Central Peninsula Special Olympics. Plant has previously put on shows and fundraising events that cater to the pro wrestling crowd, including “The Fight Before Christmas,” a popular holiday event that has featured wrestling, boxing,
Joey Klecka / Peninsula Clarion
Stand-up comedian Fred Koski performs his act Friday, during “Comedy at The Catch” at The Catch restaurant in Soldotna.
MMA and WWE matches. Plant has put on the shows for three years running, and said his wrestlingthemed shows won’t be ending any time soon. But now the businessman is
branching out to other forms of entertainment, with comedy and dancing on the list. Plant was one of the four stand-up comedians who performed Friday night, and said his love for comedy can be traced
to his childhood. “My act is based on my very overprotective mother,” he said. “I told her I was going to get on stage (and) tell everyone how overprotective she is. I love her … (so) last January in Homer, I did a 20-minute skit on stage and loved it.” Plant said his performance inspired the idea to gather as much local comedic talent and to use his company to put on shows. That’s how he found Fred Koski, John LaPlante and Nikki Stein, all of whom graced the stage at The Catch. Special Olympics organizer Tina Strayhorn said the program has worked with Power Plant Productions before and the two groups have stayed in touch. Strayhorn said the costs of equipment, transportation and training for the Special Olympics athletes quickly pile up, so any proceeds brought in from local fundraisers are welcome. Plus, it makes for a fun time for all. “This helps keep us in mind and in the community,” Strayhorn said. See comedy, Page A2