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Vol. 50, Issue 62
In the news
Long pursuit of stolen vehicle leads to arrest HOMER — An Alaska woman suspected of driving a stolen vehicle was arrested after a long pursuit on the Sterling Highway, Alaska State Troopers said. Officers on Monday pursued Katrina Wheeler, 28, of Homer, from Anchor Point to Kasilof, a distance of 50 miles, troopers said. Wheeler was jailed on one count of felony eluding and misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and driving with a suspended license. Online court documents do not list her attorney. The incident began when Homer police called troopers and requested help in finding a stolen vehicle. Police had received information that the vehicle had been seen in nearby Anchor Point, troopers said in a dispatch. Troopers spotted the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop but the driver took off, troopers said. Troopers in Kasilof used spike strips to disable the suspect vehicle’s tires at a gas station. A 28-year-old man traveling with Wheeler was arrested on a charge of riding in a stolen vehicle and violating conditions of release. Four warrants also had been issued for his arrest. The vehicle was returned to its owner.
Police: Man shopped, donated change after robbery ANCHORAGE — An Alaska man robbed a credit union and then went shopping and dropped spare change in a donation bucket, authorities said. Michael B. Jensen, 34, faces a federal bank robbery charge for taking $947 from the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union in Anchorage Friday, The Anchorage Daily News reported. Jensen demanded money in a note given to a credit union teller, federal charge documents filed Monday said. A weapon was not displayed during the robbery, FBI spokesman Steve Forrest said in an See news, Page A2
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Wednesday, December 18, 2019 • Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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Unofficial results: Sprague wins mayor’s race By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
Pete Sprague is the new mayor of Soldotna, according to unofficial election results from the city of Soldotna. Both Sprague and Charlene Tautfest were running in the city’s special election to fill the mayor’s seat, which was left vacant after the Sept. 10 death of Mayor John Nels Anderson. “I’m very pleased with the results,” Sprague said Tuesday night. “I think experience was a big factor.” Tautfest sent her congratulations to Sprague Tuesday night, and said the
city is in great hands. “This was a learning experience,” Tautfest said. “It was my first time doing anything like this. I wanted to see what the process Pete was all about.” Sprague Sprague said he was disappointed in the turnout. A little more than 200 people showed up to the polls Tuesday. Sprague garnered 155 votes, and 66 were cast for Tautfest, with one writein vote. Absentee ballots have yet to be counted. “It’s a tough time of year for a special
“It’s a tough time of year for a special election.” Pete Sprague, on the low turnout of Tuesday’s special election Charlene Tautfest
election,” Sprague said. Sprague said he hopes to see Tautfest stay active in local government. “She was a good candidate,” he said. “She’s motivated.” This will be Sprague’s second term as mayor. He served the city before in 2015 through 2017. Sprague also served on the Kenai Peninsula
Borough Assembly from 1998 to 2010, on the Soldotna City Council from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2011 to 2015. Sprague will serve the city until the next regular election in October 2020, which is when Anderson’s term as mayor would have ended. In the October 2020 election there will be another mayoral race.
Flu season is in full swing By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion
Members of the Emergency Cold-Weather Shelter Workgroup meet Tuesday at the Independent Living Center in Kalifornsky.
Zoning and building codes next step in shelter project By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Fresh off a weekend of training volunteers, the peninsula residents hoping to start an emergency shelter on the peninsula are now looking to city and borough officials to confirm that the participating churches are up to code. The Shelter Development Workgroup met on Tuesday at the Independent Living Center in Kalifornsky to discuss their progress. During the discussion it was clear that the next step would require involvement from local government officials. The group hopes to start an emergency cold-weather shelter on the Kenai Peninsula that would
provide homeless families a warm place to sleep and meals on nights when the temperature in Kenai drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The plan involves support from local churches, with each participating church assigned a day of the week for which they would need to provide the shelter. Love, INC’s executive director Leslie Rohr said on Tuesday that six churches have currently signed up: Soldotna United Methodist Church, Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna, Kenai United Methodist Church, Peninsula Grace Church, North Star United Methodist Church and Star of the North Lutheran Church. Now that six of the seven days of the week are covered, the work
group wants to ensure that operating an emergency shelter out of a church does not run into any zoning or building code issues with either the Kenai Peninsula Borough or the cities of Kenai and Soldotna. John Czarnezki, director of planning and economic development for the City of Soldotna, attended Tuesday’s meeting and said when it comes to potential zoning issues, the churches within Soldotna City limits are in the clear. All of the churches within Soldotna are located within an “institutional” zoning district, Czarnezki said, and other permitted uses inside institutional zones See shelter, Page A3
After 38 cases of Influenza B were confirmed by the Alaska State Virology Laboratory last week, public health officials have declared flu season officially in full swing. Public health nurse Therese Titus said on Tuesday that last week’s report from the Virology Laboratory represented the winter’s first significant jump from week to week in the number of confirmed cases. “Typically once we see that first spike of the season, the numbers tend to stay that high until around March or April,” Titus said. Titus said that it’s not too late for people to get a flu shot, and that receiving the flu shot is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the virus. “Wash your hands often, cover your cough, and stay home when you’re sick,” Titus said. “But most importantly get your flu shot, if you can.” Flu shots are available at the Public Health Center by appointment Monday through Friday for individuals aged 29 and younger. Most pharmacies will also provide flu shots, Titus said, and some providers now offer a nasal spray as an alternative to the shot that is effective for individuals aged 49 and younger. The common symptoms of the flu include a high fever that can last three to four days, headaches, bodily aches and pains, and extreme exhaustion, Titus said. The flu can last for up to three weeks depending on the person and the severity of the case. For more information, call the Kenai Public Health Center at 907-335-3400 or visit the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Influenza resource page.
Trump decries ‘vicious crusade’ of impeachment By Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick Associated Press
WASHINGTON — On the eve of almost-certain impeachment, President Donald Trump fired off a furious letter Tuesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denouncing the “vicious crusade” against him, while Democrats amassed the votes they needed and Republicans looked ahead, vowing to defend Trump at next month’s Senate trial. Trump, who would be just the third U.S. president to be impeached, acknowledged he was powerless to stop Wednesday’s vote. He appeared to intend his lengthy, accusatory message less for Pelosi than for the broad audience of citizens — including 2020 voters — watching history
unfolding on Capitol Hill. He accused the Democrats of acting out of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” still smarting from their 2016 election losses. “You are the ones bringing pain and suffering to our Republic for your own selfish, personal political and partisan gain.” Portraying himself as a blameless victim, as he often does, Trump compared the impeachment inquiry to the “Salem Witch Trials.” Asked later if he bore any responsibility for the proceedings, he said, “No, I don’t think any. Zero, to put it mildly.” Pelosi, who warned earlier this year against pursuing a strictly partisan impeachment, nonetheless has the numbers to approve it. According to a tally compiled by The Associated See trump, Page A11
Patrick Semansky / Associated Press
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. (left) and House Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., attend a House Rules Committee hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill on the impeachment against President Donald Trump.