Bolton
Drop it
Ex-national security adviser summoned to testify
Prep hockey season gets going tonight
News / A13
Sports / A5
CLARION
44/37 More weather, Page A2
W of 1 inner Awa0* 201 Exc rds fo 8 e r Rep llence i o n rt * Ala ska P i n g ! res
P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 50, Issue 23
Thursday, October 31, 2019 • Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Frightful
s Clu
b
$1 newsstands daily/$1.50 Sunday
National report: Alaska students falling short By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
Alaska’s fourth and eighth graders scored below the national average in both reading and math, according to national test results released Wednesday. The National Assessment for Educational Progress, also known as “the Nation’s report card,” is a snapshot of American educational achievement. The test is taken every
two years by a sample of fourth and eighth graders across the country. The assessment is focused on gauging achievement levels in reading and math. The National Assessment for Educational Progress is the only test seeking to track long-term student achievement nationally. For the second year in a row, Alaska fourth graders placed last in the nation for reading scores, with an average score of 204. Last year, Alaska’s score was higher, at 207.
The average score for the nation was 219. In eighth grade reading, Alaska placed third to last, ahead of New Mexico and District of Columbia. In math, Alaskan fourth and eighth graders placed within the lowest-scoring 10 states. In fourth grade math, Alaska was fifth from last, and only ahead of West Virginia, Louisiana, New Mexico and Alabama. Only a quarter of Alaska students in fourth grade performed at or
above a proficient level in reading, and 33% of fourth graders in Alaska performed at or above a proficient level in math. Only 23% of eighth graders performed at or above a proficient level in reading, and 29% of eighth graders performed at or above a proficient level in math. Female fourth graders tested for reading in Alaska had an average score higher than male students by 8 points. Alaska female eighth graders tested for reading had a higher
Thieves strip home of wire, cause $3,500 damage
Man charged in shooting death of his brother ANCHORAGE — A 36-year-old Southwest Alaska man has been charged with seconddegree murder and manslaughter in the shooting death of his brother. Hank Aguchak is charged in the death of 35-year-old Edward Aguchak. Hank Aguchak is represented by the public defender’s office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning Alaska State Troopers on Oct. 20 were notified of the shooting. Edward Aguchak died a day later. Hank Aguchak was detained by village police officers and transported by troopers to the YukonKuskokwim Correctional Center in Bethel. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday. Scammon Bay is a village of 600 on the bank of the Kun River about 1 mile from the Bering Sea. See news, Page A3
Index Local . . . . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . A4 Sports . . . . . . . . . A5 Arts . . . . . . . . . . A7 Nation . . . . . . . . . A8 World . . . . . . . . . A8 Classifieds . . . . . . . A9 TV Guide . . . . . . . A11 Comics . . . . . . . . A12 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
See report, Page A2
Police still searching for missing woman
In the news
WASILLA — Alaska State Troopers are seeking witnesses to the theft of wire at a new Wasilla home. Troopers on Tuesday afternoon responded to a burglary at the new home on Ridge Line Drive. Investigators say thieves stripped the new home of about $500 worth of wire and caused $3,500 in damage. Troopers urged people with information to call them or contact the area Crime Stoppers organization.
average score than male students by 11 points. Male eighth graders in Alaska tested for math had average scores higher than their female counterparts by 5 points. Eighth graders had lower scores in both reading and in math compared to their scores during the last national assessment in 2017. Fourth graders had a lower score in reading compared to the 2017 scores, but
By Michael Armstrong Homer News
for residents who are 21 and older. Call the Cannery Lodge at 907-261-9499 to learn more. At Brew@602, residents will have the opportunity to ride the Ghost Train, which is described as “like a haunted house, only on the train!” The Soldotna coffee shop will host two trips on their Ghost Train Thursday night: one G-rated trip for the whole family from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and a second one from 7-9 p.m. rated PG-13. Admission is $3 per person or $15 for groups of six. Admission includes a goodie bag, and the full espresso and waffle bar will be available for purchase. A portion of the night’s proceeds will be donated to the Kenai Animal Shelter. Brew@602 is located at 43540 Whistle Hill Loop in Soldotna, and residents can call 907-598-3764 for more information. The Kenai Senior Center will be holding an indoor trick-or-treating event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The
Nearly two weeks after she went missing on Oct. 17, Homer Police remain actively searching for Anesha “Duffy” Murnane. Murnane, 38, disappeared after leaving her Main Street apartment for an appointment at the SVT Health & Wellness clinic on East End Road. Police consider the search for Murnane their main focus. “We have an incredible team right now that has put a lot of work and effort into this,” said Lt. Ryan Browning. “We’re all working together.” After pursuing numerous leads and interviewing hundreds of people, police are still no closer to finding her. “It’s a needle in a mass of massive haystacks,” Browning said. Murnane was wearing a blue jacket, light-blue shirt and blue jeans the last time she was seen. She is almost 6 feet tall, weighs about 160 pounds and has shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes. She carried a purse or bag with a shoulder strap and carried her wallet, cell phone and identification. Police said she does not drive or own a vehicle and got around by walking. Homer Police and Alaska State Troopers issued a Silver Alert two weeks ago for Murnane. Anyone with information on her whereabouts can call Homer Police at 907-235-3150 or the Silver Alert hotline at 855-SILVR99 or 855-7458799. A Silver Alert is for an adult considered a vulnerable person. The last verified sighting of Murnane on Oct. 17 comes from a security camera image that shows her at 12:13 p.m. Oct. 17 leaving her apartment at Maintree Supportive Housing, the
See trick or treat, Page A3
See missing, Page A13
Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion
“Sir” James Adcox (left) leads Silas Barnes, Manoah Barnes and Nehemiah Barnes through the Literary Haunted House at the Kenai Community Library on Wednesday.
Ghosts, ghouls and goblins Where to go on the peninsula for Halloween By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Peninsula residents young and old will be donning their masks and makeup tonight to celebrate Halloween. For those who might be interested in doing more than trick-or-treating around the neighborhood — or would just prefer to do their trick-or-treating indoors — here is a list of some of the holiday events happening around the community. The Kenai Community Library will be hosting their 4th annual “Literary Haunted House” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Kids of all ages are invited to take a free “nottoo-scary” tour and learn about some of the most infamous monsters and villains around, from Dracula to the Mad Hatter to the Joker. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Call 907-283-4378 for more information. The Kenai Performers will be hosting their “Shriek Mystique!”
Halloween Walkthrough Fundraiser at their theater behind the Subway on 44045 Kalifornsky Beach Road. From 6:30. p.m. to 9 p.m., families can enjoy interactive games, tableau actors and selfie booths. The event is free for adults, $3 for one child, $5 for two children, and $10 for four or more children. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and there will be free coffee for parents. For more information call 907-352-6808. The Cannery Lodge at 2101 Bowpicker Lane in Kenai will be hosting their first annual Halloween Party. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. residents of all ages are invited to the lodge for games, trick-or-treating, door prizes and food including “mummy dogs” and a taco bar. Entry and games are free, and food is $6 per child, $10 per adult or $35 for a family of five. After 6 p.m., the lodge will host an adult-only Halloween Bash featuring a costume contest, door prizes and “spooky cocktails”
President tweets his support of Dunleavy By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
President Donald Trump tweeted his support of Gov. Mike Dunleavy Wednesday morning. Calling Dunleavy “his friend,” the president said the governor is being treated “very unfairly” by Democrats in regards to the Recall Dunleavy campaign. “He is doing an unbelievable job and filling every one of his promises,” Trump said in his tweet. “Now they are trying to Recall him because his agenda is the Economy, Jobs and protecting our Military, 2nd Amendment, Energy and so many other
President Trump’s tweet Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019.
things the Democrats don’t care about.” At the end of his second tweet in support of the governor, Trump included a link to the Stand Tall with Mike campaign, a fundraising site to combat the Recall Dunleavy campaign. The Recall campaign began on
Aug. 1, in response to “Governor Dunleavy’s sudden, severe, and sometimes illegal budget cuts (that) have caused tremendous harm to Alaska and Alaskans,” according to an open letter from the campaign. In July, Dunleavy announced over $400 million in cuts to the state budget to try to balance the budget, setting off a wave of protests statewide. Ultimately the governor cut $650 million in state spending causing significant budget issues for state services like the Alaska Marine Highway System and the University of Alaska. The campaign started during a tumultuous special legislative
session which saw significant in-fighting between not just Democrats and Republicans, but within the Alaska Republican Party itself. In the tweet, Trump says the Democrats are trying to remove the governor from office but the Recall Campaign says on its website it is a nonpartisan organization. Former Republican state senator from Anchorage, Arliss Sturgulewski, is a Recall Dunleavy campaign co-chair, according to the group’s website. Dunleavy has been appearing on media outside of Alaska recently, including Fox News and Breitbart. See tweet, Page A3