Peninsula Clarion, February 26, 2015 by Sound Publishing

Trends

‘Play On’

An annual look at the peninsula economy

The play’s the thing for drama troupe

Special section

Arts & Entertainment/B-1

CLARION

Sunny 33/23 More weather on Page A-2

P E N I N S U L A

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Vol. 45, Issue 126

Question Do you agree with the University of Alaska Regents’ decision to raise tuition? n Yes, it’s appropriate given the anticipated budget shortfall. n No, it’s not fair to students.

50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday

Cultivation measure turned down Assembly won’t send commercial marijuana growing ban to voters By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly voted down a proposition that would have asked eligible voters outside of incorporated cities if the commercial cultivation of marijuana should be illegal in the borough’s unincorporated areas. More than 90 people testified on the

measure. Attendees were spilling out of the assembly chamber exits, waiting for their three minutes to speak in support of or opposition to what Assembly President Dale Bagley termed the “main event” at Tuesday’s meeting. Regulations for commercial marijuana cultivation facilities are currently being developed by state officials. Language in the ballot initiative that legalized marijuana for recreational use

allows for municipalities to regulate aspects of manufacturing, testing and sales of the product. Assembly members Kelly Wolf, Blaine Gilman and Stan Welles voted in favor of the measure. A site in Homer was established in assembly member Kelly Cooper’s office so residents could comment on the measure telephonically. Sue McClure said the same courtesy was extended in

Seward, but she did not receive enough interest. Cameron Baxter, a Homer resident, was the first to speak. He said he uses a specific strain of medical marijuana to treat painful spasms. The drug is fast acting, calming the convulsions within 15 minutes, whereas untreated it takes up to two hours, for which he may be bedridden. A commercial facility would

Bear scare

To place your vote and comment, visit our Web site at www. peninsulaclarion. com.

In the news Minority lawmakers push back on education proposal

JUNEAU (AP) — A House subcommittee has proposed deeper cuts to the state education department budget than those put forth by Gov. Bill Walker, prompting objections from the Democratic-led minority. The subcommittee’s recommendations include eliminating state support for the early-childhood Best Beginnings program, cutting funding for a broadband initiative approved by the Legislature last session and a cut equal to the 2.5-percent raises previously approved for department employees. The recommendations, finalized Tuesday night, will go to the House Finance Committee for consideration as it crafts its version of the operating budget. Whatever passes the House would have to be considered by the Senate. Reps. Sam Kito III of Juneau and Dan Ortiz of Ketchikan questioned the rationale behind some of the proposed cuts. Ortiz, a former teacher who is politically unaffiliated, said he strongly objected to adding back $50,000 to a program that provides support for education about minerals while proposing cuts to pre-kindergarten and other programs. Walker had proposed eliminating $100,000 for the Alaska Mineral and Energy Resource Education Fund. Kito, a Democrat, acknowledged the need to make the state’s savings last and to be careful in what the state spends. But he said it’s important that the Legislature focus on education, including early childhood education. If the state doesn’t make that investment early on, it will wind up paying more later, he said.

Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation/World.......... A-5 Sports.....................A-6 Arts........................ B-1 Classifieds............. B-3 Comics................... B-6 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.

See BAN, page A-8

Family has close encounter on Skilak area trail By RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion

Photo courtesy Furie Operating Alaska

The first production platform to be installed in Cook Inlet since the mid-1980s arrived in Kachemak Bay last September. The Furie Operating Alaska platform was completed in Ingleside, Texas, last summer, and began its journey from Corpus Christi to Alaska through the Gulf of Mexico and the Panama Canal on June 4, 2014. It will be installed over the company’s Kitchen Lights Unit No. 3 this year.

Inlet gas estimate increased By TIM BRADNER Morris News Service-Alaska/ Alaska Journal of Commerce

State geologists have now increased the amount of natural gas they believe can be economically produced from known fields in Cook Inlet. The state Division of Oil and Gas concluded, in a recent study, that there may be 440 billion cubic feet more gas in the Inlet’s gas fields than previously estimated. About 1.1 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas reserves were estimated in a 2009 resource assessment by the division, and the new figure is about 1.54 trillion cubic feet of gas, according to Paul Decker, acting director of the state Divi-

sion of Oil and Gas. Decker presented the estimates in a briefing to an energy task force of Commonwealth North, an Anchorage-based business and public policy group. The estimates are derived from data available to the public from a handful of the Inlet’s larger producing gas fields and do not include resources that could be added from three recent gas discoveries where the estimated volumes are still confidential, Decker said. It’s not known, however, whether the new estimates mean there’s enough gas in the Inlet to supply future utility needs, a possible restart of the Agrium fertilizer plant near Kenai and possibly supplying gas to Fairbanks. That will probably take continued exploration and investment in

the producing fields, Decker said. Gas from the North Slope will still be needed someday, he said. The increase in estimated reserves is good news, though, because just a few years ago the regional utilities were seriously worried about depleted supply from the region’s gas fields. Imports of liquefied natural gas were being studied as a short-term solution. What turned things around was the entry of Hilcorp Energy into Cook Inlet and that company’s investment and aggressive redevelopment of the Inlet’s older fields, Decker said. The apparent shortage also stimulated state geologists to reassess what they knew about the Inlet. Both the 2009 resource estimate and See GAS, page A-8

An idyllic hike along the Upper Kenai River Trail ended in a hasty retreat for a group of hikers who encountered a bear. The persistent predator followed them all the way back to their car at the base of the trail. Soldotna man Robert Hughes said he fired several warning shots at the bear, but none produced a noticeable impact and the animal followed his family and a family friend for several minutes as they made their way back down the trail. Hughes said he, his son Michael Hughes, and a friend climbed a ridge at about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday looking for Michael’s wallet, which had been lost earlier. The group left Hughes’ wife Geraldine Hughes at the bottom of the trail as they searched. “It was kind of getting darker up there and we’d been up there for about 10 minutes, wandering around, and I kind of got that feeling that I was being watched. The hair on the back of my neck stood up,” he said. “I told the boys it was time to go.” As the three turned to walk down the trail, Hughes said they See BEAR, page A-8

Prisoner attack results Soldotna council postpones in additional charges By RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion

A fight between three prisoners being transported to court from the Wildwood Pretrial facility resulted in more charges for two of the people involved. According to charging documents, police say Alyssa Espinoza instigated a fight between AJ Duvall and her co-defendant Tyler Lewis after she called Lewis a “rat” and told him he should not talk to the cops or take a deal being offered to him in their case. Espinoza encouraged Duvall to attack Lewis and Duvall head-butted Lewis several times as the three rode in a Kenai Judicial Services van, according

to a police affidavit. Espinoza then thanked Duvall who left Lewis with a bloody laceration above his right eyebrow and bruising on his face and head, according to the affidavit. Espinoza is facing seven felony charges for burglary, theft, first-degree vehicle theft and misconduct involving weapons in a case with Lewis that involved the burglary of a shop off Gas Well Road in Soldotna. Duvall, of Nikiski, was arrested in October after an extensive manhunt by Alaska State Troopers. He had a $3,000 warrant out for his arrest for a parole violation and was charged with fourth-degree misconduct

marijuana ordinance vote By IAN FOLEY Peninsula Clarion

While marijuana is now legal in Alaska, the city of Soldotna is waiting a little longer to clarify some city laws regarding the drug. On Wednesday, the Soldotna City Council postponed the vote on ordinance 2015-004 until March 25. The vote was postponed in order to have all council members be present, as well as have time to hold a work session regarding the ordinance. If passed, the ordinance would outlaw the use of marijuana in public places, as well

See ATTACK, page A-2 C

as inside motorized vehicles including cars, boats and planes. It would also designate the city council as the local regulatory authority. The ordinance also defines “marijuana” to include all parts of the plant of the plant, as well as seeds, oils, extracts and several other products derived from the plant. One of the most contentious parts of the ordinance is its definition of “in public” which is defined as, “in or upon any government-owned property, as well as any place that the public or a substantial group of persons has access.” The ordinance goes on to

list numerous examples of public places ranging from waterways and shorelines to trails and streets. If the city fails to change its definition of public in the future, city law will be guided by the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control Board’s emergency regulatory decision on Tuesday. That regulation defines “in public” to mean “in a place to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access and includes highways, transportation facilities, schools, places of amusement or business, parks, playSee VOTE, page A-2

A-2 Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015

AccuWeather 5-day forecast for Kenai-Soldotna

Barrow 21/8

Today

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Sunshine

Sunny

Snow, then rain in the afternoon

Mostly sunny

Partial sunshine

Hi: 33 Lo: 23

Hi: 34 Lo: 20

Hi: 36 Lo: 12

Hi: 34 Lo: 22

Hi: 34

Lo: 7

The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature® is an exclusive index of the effects of temperature, wind, Sunrise humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, Sunset pressure and elevation on the human body.

10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m.

28 36 39 37

Daylight Length of Day - 10 hrs., 7 min., 49 sec. Daylight gained - 5 min., 34 sec.

Alaska Cities Yesterday Hi/Lo/W

City Adak* Anchorage Barrow Bethel Cold Bay Cordova Delta Junction Denali N. P. Dillingham Dutch Harbor Fairbanks Fort Yukon Glennallen* Gulkana Haines Homer Juneau Ketchikan Kiana King Salmon Klawock Kodiak

Full Mar 5

Today 8:14 a.m. 6:22 p.m.

Last Mar 13

Moonrise Moonset

Today 11:42 a.m. 4:09 a.m.

Yesterday Hi/Lo/W

City

Kotzebue 27/15/c 39/36/c 41/33/r McGrath 26/2/pc 35/24/pc 31/18/s Metlakatla 45/37/r 21/1/sn 21/8/sn Nome 25/21/sn 28/11/pc 33/20/sn North Pole 24/14/pc 40/27/pc 41/34/s Northway 30/11/c 45/28/pc 42/24/s Palmer 29/22/pc 27/22/pc 24/7/c Petersburg 43/34/r 28/12/pc 31/3/s Prudhoe Bay* 18/1/pc 36/26/s 38/23/s Saint Paul 37/33/r 38/36/pc 41/37/pc Seward 40/32/pc 25/8/c 20/3/c Sitka 43/34/r 27/16/pc 19/14/sn Skagway 43/34/c 28/17/pc 26/1/pc Talkeetna 37/13/pc 25/12/sn 22/1/pc Tanana 24/-10/pc 40/33/pc 40/25/s Tok* 26/16/c 41/34/pc 41/20/c Unalakleet 28/16/pc 40/34/r 42/27/s Valdez 40/27/s 45/32/r 47/35/pc Wasilla 34/19/pc 25/14/sn 34/29/sn Whittier 36/32/pc 42/24/s 41/18/pc Willow* 34/21/pc 45/34/r 47/31/pc Yakutat 45/33/c 41/39/sh 45/29/s Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

From Kenai Municipal Airport

Nome 38/31 Unalakleet McGrath 35/24 29/0

First Mar 26 Tomorrow 12:34 p.m. 5:02 a.m.

37/30/sn 29/0/sn 48/37/c 38/31/sn 21/-2/pc 23/-4/s 33/11/s 45/30/pc 27/21/sn 37/32/c 41/21/s 45/32/s 41/26/s 35/13/s 25/9/sn 21/-1/pc 35/24/sn 37/27/s 35/10/s 34/21/pc 32/10/s 44/21/s

City Albany, NY Albuquerque Amarillo Asheville Atlanta Atlantic City Austin Baltimore Billings Birmingham Bismarck Boise Boston Buffalo, NY Casper Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Charlotte, NC Chicago Cheyenne Cincinnati

29/9/pc 57/24/pc 58/25/s 38/24/sn 38/32/sn 39/12/pc 62/34/pc 38/10/pc 38/30/sn 35/30/sn 20/5/sn 55/31/s 35/14/pc 18/12/sn 32/28/sn 44/33/r 38/27/pc 42/30/r 26/10/sn 32/29/sn 36/19/pc

18/2/sf 47/23/c 30/10/sn 40/23/sf 46/28/c 30/16/sn 49/24/pc 33/18/sn 17/3/pc 45/22/pc 6/-11/s 50/32/sh 21/13/sn 13/-4/sn 14/-2/sn 51/32/c 33/13/sf 41/27/c 14/-2/sf 16/3/sn 24/4/sf

Dillingham 38/23

Precipitation

From the Peninsula Clarion in Kenai

24 hours through 4 p.m. yest. 0.00" Month to date ........................... 0.38" Normal month to date ............. 0.80" Year to date .............................. 0.87" Normal year to date .................. 1.76" Record today ................. 0.45" (1992) Record for Feb. ............. 2.80" (1955) Record for year ............ 27.09" (1963) Snowfall 24 hours through 4 p.m. yest. .. 0.0" Month to date .............................. 1.2" Season to date ......................... 15.6"

Juneau 42/27

National Extremes

Kodiak 45/29

Sitka 45/32

(For the 48 contiguous states)

High yesterday Low yesterday

86 at Tamiami, Fla. -28 at Embarrass, Minn.

State Extremes High yesterday Low yesterday

Ketchikan 47/35

48 at Akhiok -10 at Tanana

Today’s Forecast

(Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation)

As snow exits the mid-Atlantic coast, spotty snow will expand over the Midwest today as arctic air arrives. Some snow will fall along the Rockies and High Plains. Rain and snow will invade the Northwest.

World Cities Yesterday Today Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W

City Cleveland Columbia, SC Columbus, OH Concord, NH Dallas Dayton Denver Des Moines Detroit Duluth El Paso Fargo Flagstaff Grand Rapids Great Falls Hartford Helena Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Jackson, MS

20/14/sn 41/33/r 33/18/pc 33/9/pc 52/32/i 31/14/pc 40/27/sn 31/23/sn 24/9/pc 10/-4/pc 63/37/pc 9/4/pc 49/13/s 21/6/pc 35/17/sn 36/4/pc 33/32/sn 82/70/pc 50/39/r 33/14/pc 35/31/sn

13/-4/sn 46/31/c 19/0/sf 20/4/pc 37/20/c 18/-1/sf 20/4/sn 9/-7/pc 16/-4/sf 6/-10/pc 56/31/s 4/-15/s 47/20/c 12/-8/pc 21/7/s 22/9/sf 28/8/sn 82/69/pc 56/33/pc 20/-3/sf 46/24/pc

City

Yesterday Today Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W

Jacksonville Kansas City Key West Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Louisville Memphis Miami Midland, TX Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York Norfolk Oklahoma City Omaha Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix

E N I N S U L A

(USPS 438-410) Published daily Sunday through Friday, except Christmas and New Year’s, by: Southeastern Newspapers Corporation P.O. Box 3009, Kenai, AK 99611 Street address: 150 Trading Bay Road, Suite 1, Kenai, AK Phone: (907) 283-7551 Postmaster: Send address changes to the Peninsula Clarion, P.O. Box 3009, Kenai, AK 99611 Periodicals postage paid at Kenai, AK Represented for national advertising by The Papert Companies, Chicago, IL Copyright 2015 Peninsula Clarion A Morris Communications Corp. newspaper

Who to call at the Peninsula Clarion News tip? Question? Main number.............................................................................................. 283-7551 Fax............................................................................................................. 283-3299 News email...................................................................news@peninsulaclarion.com General news Will Morrow, editor ............................................ will.morrow@peninsulaclarion.com Rashah McChesney, city editor.............. rashah.mcchesney@peninsulaclarion.com Jeff Helminiak, sports editor........................... jeff.helminiak@peninsulaclarion.com Fisheries, photographer.............................................................................................. ............................ Rashah McChesney, rashah.mcchesney@peninsulaclarion.com Education, Borough ................. Kelly Sullivan, kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion.com Kenai......................................... Ben Boettger, ben.boettger@peninsulaclarion.com Soldotna................................................. Ian Foley, ian.foley@peninsulaclarion.com Arts and Entertainment................................................ news@peninsulaclarion.com Community, Around the Peninsula............................... news@peninsulaclarion.com Sports............................................ Joey Klecka, joey.klecka@peninsulaclarion.com Page design........ Florence Struempler, florence.struempler@peninsulaclarion.com

Circulation problem? Call 283-3584 If you don’t receive your newspaper by 7 a.m. and you live in the Kenai-Soldotna area, call 283-3584 before 10 a.m. for redelivery of your paper. If you call after 10 a.m., you will be credited for the missed issue. Regular office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday. General circulation questions can be sent via email to circulation@peninsulaclarion.com. The circulation manager is Randi Keaton.

For home delivery Order a six-day-a-week, three-month subscription for $39, a six-month subscription for $73, or a 12-month subscription for $130. Use our easy-pay plan and save on these rates. Call 283-3584 for details. Mail subscription rates are available upon request.

Want to place an ad? Classified: Call 283-7551 and ask for the classified ad department between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email classifieds@peninsulaclarion.com. Display: Call 283-7551 and ask for the display advertising department between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Leslie Talent is the Clarion’s advertising director. She can be reached via email at leslie.talent@peninsulaclarion.com. Contacts for other departments: Business office.................................................................................. Teresa Mullican Production................................................................................................ Geoff Long Online........................................................................................ Vincent Nusunginya

Visit our fishing page! Go to peninsulaclarion.com and look for the Tight Lines link.

twitter.com/pclarion

Kenai/ Soldotna 34/7 Seward 41/21 Homer 41/20

Valdez Kenai/ 37/27 Soldotna Homer

Cold Bay 41/34

CLARION P

High ............................................... 37 Low ................................................ 18 Normal high .................................. 31 Normal low .................................... 12 Record high ....................... 42 (2002) Record low ....................... -29 (1971)

Anchorage 31/18

Bethel 33/20

National Cities Yesterday Today Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W

Fairbanks 20/3

Talkeetna 35/13 Glennallen 26/1

Today Hi/Lo/W

Unalaska 40/36

Almanac Readings through 4 p.m. yesterday

* Indicates estimated temperatures for yesterday Today Hi/Lo/W

Internet: www.gedds.alaska.edu/auroraforecast

Temperature

Tomorrow 8:11 a.m. 6:25 p.m.

New Mar 20

Today’s activity: Low Where: Auroral activity will be low. Weather permitting, low-level displays will be visible overhead from Barrow to Fairbanks and visible low on the northern horizon from as far south as Anchorage and Juneau.

Prudhoe Bay 27/21

Anaktuvuk Pass 18/14

Kotzebue 37/30

Sun and Moon

RealFeel

Aurora Forecast

facebook.com/ peninsulaclarion

Follow the Clarion online. Go to peninsulaclarion.com and look for the Twitter, Facebook and Mobile links for breaking news, headlines and more.

55/47/r 54/24/sh 82/66/pc 72/44/s 34/30/sn 72/51/s 38/20/r 37/27/sn 83/63/pc 63/31/s 19/10/sn 16/9/sn 38/19/sn 50/43/r 37/20/s 41/22/pc 57/25/pc 44/21/i 76/59/c 38/15/pc 72/47/pc

62/42/c 21/1/pc 80/68/pc 67/45/s 38/17/c 71/53/pc 31/11/sf 39/19/c 87/67/pc 40/21/c 12/-1/pc 8/-6/pc 41/18/c 53/36/pc 25/16/sn 34/24/sn 36/15/pc 14/-2/pc 68/53/sh 29/20/sn 76/51/s

Yesterday Today Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W

City

Pittsburgh Portland, ME Portland, OR Rapid City Reno Sacramento Salt Lake City San Antonio San Diego San Francisco Santa Fe Seattle Sioux Falls, SD Spokane Syracuse Tampa Topeka Tucson Tulsa Wash., DC Wichita

33/23/pc 34/13/pc 52/43/sh 33/29/sn 61/27/pc 66/37/s 53/34/pc 67/36/pc 69/53/s 65/49/pc 51/21/pc 50/44/sh 18/16/sn 48/22/pc 24/13/pc 75/59/c 58/22/sh 66/38/s 53/22/pc 42/21/pc 57/21/s

24/4/sn 21/6/pc 55/45/sh 17/-2/pc 56/32/c 70/45/pc 45/32/r 57/31/pc 66/56/pc 66/55/pc 36/14/c 54/43/sh 6/-10/s 45/29/c 13/-5/sf 67/52/sh 23/3/pc 74/44/s 34/13/pc 35/24/sn 29/7/pc

. . . Vote Continued from page A-1

grounds, prisons, and hallways, lobbies, and other portions of apartment houses and hotels not constituting rooms or apartments for actual residence.” Soldotna City Manager Mark Dixson said he wasn’t impressed with the ABC Board’s definition.

. . . Attack Continued from page A-1

involving a controlled substance and resisting arrest. He faced up to six years in prison on the two charges. Community Safety Officers who were escorting the three prisoners heard Espinoza thank

City

Yesterday Hi/Lo/W

Acapulco 91/73/s Athens 64/45/pc Auckland 70/61/s Baghdad 66/53/pc Berlin 45/30/pc Hong Kong 77/68/pc Jerusalem 57/47/pc Johannesburg 76/57/t London 54/41/sh Madrid 57/36/pc Magadan 5/-14/s Mexico City 80/54/s Montreal 23/14/pc Moscow 39/28/pc Paris 46/36/sh Rome 57/50/pc Seoul 52/28/pc Singapore 90/77/pc Sydney 73/68/r Tokyo 52/41/c Vancouver 46/39/r

Today Hi/Lo/W 85/73/s 59/51/sh 76/59/s 68/47/s 47/30/s 75/68/pc 65/51/pc 82/57/t 54/35/r 60/45/pc 4/-23/pc 76/45/s 8/-7/pc 35/26/pc 52/37/sh 60/41/pc 36/23/pc 89/75/t 80/69/t 47/41/r 49/36/pc

70s

10s 80s

20s 90s

30s

40s

100s 110s

Cold Front Warm Front Stationary Front

nership, attended the council meeting to support the ordinance. “I support amending the definition of smoking to include e-cigarettes and vaping devices simply because we don’t know what’s in them,” Olendorff said. “They’re not currently federally regulated.”

Duvall for attacking Lewis, according to the police affidavit, and the van had to return to Wildwood quickly so that the officers could get help dealing with the situation. AJ Duvall faces additional misdemeanor charges of fourth degree assault and disorderly conduct while Espinoza was charged with felony tampering with a witness, misdemeanor

assault, unlawful contact, and disorderly conduct. Fourth degree assault and unlawful contact are class A misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. Disorderly conduct is a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Tampering with a witness is a class C felony which can

result in a prison term of up to five years and a fine up to $50,000. Duvall’s next hearing is Thursday at 10 a.m. in Kenai while Espinoza is set to appear at 4 p.m. on the same day.

Wednesday Stocks

50s 60s

Council members Regina Daniels and Linda Murphy were on excused absences on Wednesday. While one ordinance was postponed, another, ordinance 2015-005 passed 4-0. It amends the definition of “smoking” in an eating establishment to include electronic smoking devices, vaporizer cigarettes and marijuana. Jenny Olendorff, who works for Peninsula Smokefree Part-

JUNEAU (AP) — The legalization of marijuana in Alaska didn’t go as flawlessly as first thought. Anchorage police said in a release that officers issued two citations Tuesday night, but later updated that figure to three. Those came on the first day a new law legalizing the recreational use of marijuana took effect. Smoking pot in public remains illegal. Police say one $100 citation was issued to a man near the downtown bus station, who an officer witnessed smoking from a pipe or bong. Another was issued to an 18-year-old male in downtown Anchorage. He also got a misdemeanor citation for consuming the drug as a minor. A third citation was issued to a 22-year-old woman, who was smoking with the 18-year-old. Police in Fairbanks, Kenai and other communities did not report any violations Wednesday morning.

-10s -0s

“I don’t think that gives our police officers or law enforcement any guidance as to what ‘in public’ means,” Dixson said. The motion to postpone the vote was made by council member Keith Baxter. “We’ve received a lot of public testimony,” Baxter said. “More than we have on most issues. With a third of the council absent tonight, I have reservations voting on it tonight.”

Anchorage police cite 3 for public pot smoking

Company Final Change Agrium Inc...............115.87 +2.10 Alaska Air Group...... 63.44 -0.99 ACS...........................1.70 — Apache Corp............67.83 +0.92 AT&T........................ 34.21 +0.16 Baker Hughes.......... 63.68 +0.65 BP ............................41.91 +0.32 Chevron.................. 108.58 +0.62 ConocoPhillips..........67.53 +0.44 ExxonMobil.............. 89.60 +0.18 1st Natl. Bank AK...1,575.00 — GCI.......................... 14.54 — Halliburton............... 43.68 +0.56 Harley-Davidson...... 63.36 +1.08 Home Depot............116.31 -0.44 McDonald’s.............. 98.66 +3.68 Schlumberger.......... 85.21 -0.10 Tesoro...................... 90.89 +1.11 Walmart................... 83.57 -1.00 Wells Fargo.............. 55.33 -0.04 Gold closed............1,204.52 +4.08 Silver closed............ 16.54 +0.25 C M

Showers T-storms Rain Flurries Snow Ice

Dow Jones avg..... 18,224.57 +15.38 NASDAQ................ 4,967.14 -0.99 S&P 500................ 2,113.86 -1.62 Stock prices provided by the Kenai Peninsula Edward Jones offices.

Oil Prices Tuesday’s prices North Slope crude: $53.09, up from $53.05 on Monday West Texas Int.: $48.58, up from $48.55 on Monday

Reach Ian Foley at Ian.foley@peninsulaclarion.com

Reach Rashah McChesney at rashah.mcchesney@peninsulaclarion.com.

Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015

Obituary GW ‘West’ Westmoreland Longtime Alaskan resident GW “West” Westmoreland, 89, passed after a brief illness on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, in Patagonia, Arizona. A military service and burial will be held at Ft. Richardson in the summer of 2015. West was born June 25, 1925 in Doddridge, Arkansas, to GW Sr. and Polly Westmoreland. In 1943 at the age of 18 West enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, graduating with the l104th Platoon, San Diego, California. After WWII started West was deployed overseas serving in Iwo Jima, Hawaii, Saipan, Guam, and Japan. He fought in the battle of Iwo Jima, Feb. 19, 1945. He was wounded while storming Mt. Suribachi and received the Purple Heart. He was about 100 yards from the flag raising, on that historical day, Feb. 23, 1945. After being honorably discharged West worked at the Red River Arsenal in Texarkana, Texas. He moved to Alaska in 1959, and continued his civil service at the Ammunition Area A, at Ft. Richardson. In 1963 he moved his wife Margie Ann and three sons to Anchorage. After retirement he moved to Arizona. West loved Alaska. He became a snow bird returning in the spring to his summer retreat at Clam Gulch. His family and friends have happy memories of fishing for kings on the Ninilchik and Anchor rivers. We all enjoyed sitting around his camp fire, telling fish stories, and remembering good times. West was a member of the VFW, Elks, Moose, and the Ole Bastard Club. He was preceded in death by his wife Margie Ann, father GW Sr., and mother Polly Westmoreland. He is survived by sons, Robert Westmoreland of Puerto Rico, Jerry (Margie) Westmoreland of Alaska, and Richard (Carlee) Westmoreland of Arizona.

Nageak taken from Capitol by ambulance JUNEAU (AP) — A Barrow state representative was taken by ambulance from the state Capitol. House Speaker Mike Chenault said Rep. Benjamin Nageak wasn’t feeling well Wednesday. Officials felt Nageak should be checked by medical personnel because of his medical history. In 2013, Nageak had stents put in place after doctors found blockages in his heart. Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, who was seated by Nageak, said Nageak was “clearly in pain” as he sat down after speaking to a resolution. Chenault says doctors determined Nageak had a low blood count, not a heart attack. He says Nageak was receiving a transfusion to prevent it from happening again. He’s staying overnight at a Juneau hospital for observation.

Peninsula Clarion death notice and obituary guidelines: C

The Peninsula Clarion strives to report the deaths of all current and former Peninsula residents. Notices should be received within three months of the death. We offer two types of death reports: Pending service/Death notices: Brief notices listing full name, age, date and place of death; and time, date and place of service. These are published at no charge. Obituaries: The Clarion charges a fee to publish obituaries. Obituaries are prepared by families, funeral homes, crematoriums, and are edited by our staff according to newspaper guidelines. Obituaries up to 300 words are charged $50, which includes a one-year online guest book memoriam to on Legacy. com. Obituaries up to 500 words are charged $100, which also includes the one-year online guest book memoriam. Tax is not included. All charges include publication of a black and white photo. Obituaries outside these guidelines are handled by the Clarion advertising department. How to submit: Funeral homes and crematoriums routinely submit completed obituaries to the newspaper. Obituaries may also be submitted directly to the Clarion, online at www.peninsulaclarion.com, or by mail to: Peninsula Clarion, P.O. Box 3009, Kenai, Alaska, 99611. Pre-payment must accompany all submissions not already handled by a funeral home or crematorium. Deadlines: Submissions for Tuesday – Friday editions must be received by 2 p.m. the previous day. Submissions for Sunday and Monday editions must be received by 3 p.m. Friday. We do not process obituaries on Saturdays or Sundays unless submitted by funeral homes or crematoriums. Obituaries are placed on a space-available basis, prioritized by dates of local services. Copyright: All death notices and obituaries become property of the Clarion and may not be republished in any format. For more information, call the Clarion at 907-283-7551.

Around the Peninsula Diabetes group to learn about nutrition guidelines A diabetes support group meeting for adults with diabetes and their families will be held March 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Redoubt Room at Central Peninsula Hospital. The guest speaker will be Ivory Miceli, dietetic intern. She will talk about the recently updated nutrition guidelines. Please call 714-4726 if you have any questions or plan to attend.

Kenai Historical Society to meet in Nikiski

A-3

ily communication; behavior changes; positive discipline; and challenging behaviors, with activities and care for children and teens. The cost is $35.00 per family. To register call 907-2529082.

Community invited to Redoubt winter carnival Redoubt Elementary School’s third annual Winter Carnival is Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the school on West Redoubt Ave. in Soldotna. This fundraiser is open to the community. There will be games for the kids, a silent auction and raffles for adults. Enjoy an afternoon of fun, food and prizes. Money raised will be used to purchase outdoor PE equipment for Redoubt students. Volunteers are needed; please call the school office if you would like to help with this event.

The Kenai Historical Society will meet on Sunday at 2:30 at the Nikiski Senior Center. Speaker for the meeting will be Cinderella’s Closet opening soon Shauna Thornton talking about early homsteading on the PenCinderella’s Closet will be open March 24, 26, and 31 from insula. A van will be provided for those needing a ride. It will leave the Kenai visitors Center at 1:30. Space is limited. For 2:30-5:30 p.m. in the theater dressing rooms at Soldotna High more information call June Harris at 283-1946 or e-mail ke- School. Look for the pink signs! This is a program to assist local ladies in need with free prom dresses, shoes, and accesnaihistory@gmail.com. sories. Cinderella’s Closet has helped 396 ladies in the past 5 years. Last year, the program provided items to 54 local STEMventure Camps planned for spring break students from Soldotna High, Cook Inlet Academy, Skyview The Challenger Center of Alaska in Kenai will host STEM- High, River City Academy, Kenai Central High, Nanwalek, venture Camps during spring break, March 9-13. Camps will Port Graham, Susan B. English (Seldovia), and Nikiski High. include: Grades K-3 — Rocketry, Robotics, Simple Machines, It is housed at SoHi, but is open to any peninsula high school Ice Cream Engineering, StarLab, and more; Grades 4-6 — Cli- students. Cinderella’s Closet is still taking donations of prom mate Change, Careers in Science, Thermal Engineering, Forc- dresses, shoes, and accessories. These can be dropped off to es and Motion, Team Building, and more. Registration is now the main office at Soldotna High School between 8 a.m.-3 open. Interested in an all-inclusive overnight option? Please p.m. contact the Challenger Center for additional details. Connections and I.D.E.A approved vendors. Contact: summer.lazen- Have a photogenic pet? by@akchallenger.org or 907-283-2000. Send the Clarion a picture

Parenting workshops available Alaska Christian Ministries and South Central Parenting will offer Practical Positive Parenting weekly workshops from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays from March 3-April 21, with additional sessions April 28-May 21, at Peninsula Christian Center, 161 Farnsworth Boulevard in Soldotna. Workshops include family dinner and group study of family needs such as: child development; character development; communication challenges; fam-

Community Calendar Today 8 a.m. • Alcoholics Anonymous As Bill Sees It Group, 11312 Kenai Spur Highway Unit 71 (Old Carrs Mall). Call 398-9440. 8:30 a.m. • TOPS AK No. 220 Kasilof weigh-in at CES Station 6, 58260 Sterling Highway. Meeting starts at 9 a.m. Call 262-7319 or 2523436. 10 a.m. • TOPS AK No. 164 Soldotna weigh-in at First Baptist Church, 159 S. Binkley. Meeting starts at 11 a.m. Call 262-7339. • Narcotics Anonymous PJ Meeting, 11312 Kenai Spur Highway, Unit 71, Kenai. Noon • Alcoholics Anonymous recovery group at 11312 Kenai Spur Highway Suite 71 in the old Carrs Mall in Kenai. Call 262-1917. 5:30 p.m. • Free Seated Zumba Gold at the Kenai Senior Center. New participants, active older adults, and chair-bound or limited mobility participants are encouraged. 6 p.m. • Family Story Time (PreK and up) at the Soldotna Public Library in the Children’s Area. Bring the whole family out to listen to stories and sing songs. Younger and older siblings are always welcome with adult supervision. Call 262-4227.

Pet photos run on the Pets page every Tuesday. They can be color or black and white and may include people. Limit one photo per household. They may be e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com, dropped off at the Kenai office or mailed to the Clarion at P.O. Box 3009, Kenai, 99611. A brief explanation of the photo, the pet’s and owner’s names, owner’s address and phone number must be included. Photos with an address written on the back will be returned. For more information, call 907-335-1251.

• AA Step Sisters women’s meeting at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, O’Neill Hall, 222 W. Redoubt, Soldotna. Call 262-2304. • TOPS AK 20, Soldotna, weigh-in at Christ Lutheran Church, 128 North Soldotna Avenue, Soldotna. Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Call 262-1557. • Celebrate Recovery, Midnight Son Seventh-day Adventist church on the corner of Swires Rd. and Kenai Spur Hwy in Kenai. Dinner is at 6 p.m.; Recovery Lesson at 6:30 p.m.; Open Share groups at 7:15 p.m. Email rking4@mac.com or call 260-3292. 7 p.m. • Narcotics Anonymous Support Group “Dopeless Hope Fiends,” 11312 Kenai Spur Highway, Unit 71, Kenai. • Square dance group at Ninilchik Senior Center. • Alcoholics Anonymous “Unity Men’s Group” meets downstairs the Salvation Army building in Soldotna. 8 p.m. • AA Attitude of Gratitude at URS Club, 405 Overland Drive. Call 283-3777. • AA North Roaders Group at North Star Methodist Church, Mile 25.5 Kenai Spur Highway. Call 242-9477. • Alcoholics Anonymous Ninichick support group at United Methodist Church, 15811 Sterling Highway, Ninilchik. Call 907-567-3574. The Community Calendar lists recurring events and meetings of local organizations. To have your event listed, email organization name, day or days of meeting, time of meeting, place, and a contact phone number to news@peninsulaclarion.com.

Hawaii lawmakers seek Jones Act exemption LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers again are urging the federal government to exempt the islands, along with Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam, from a provision in a maritime law that is designed to protect the U.S. shipping industry but that some blame for steep shipping costs in markets outside the mainland. Hawaii state Sen. Samuel Slom and Rep. Sam Kong have introduced resolutions asking Congress for the exemption, the Garden Island reported. A section of the Jones Act of 1920 requires ships that move cargo between two American ports be built in the United States, and manned and pri-

marily owned by U.S. citizens. Lawmakers want to waive the requirement that the vessels be built domestically, an exemption they have sought in the past. In a news release, Hawaii lawmakers noted the provision’s “restrictive impact on the market for shipping goods to Hawaii.” “The Jones Act was originally meant to protect the shipping industry and maritime trade, but almost a century has gone by and it’s easy to see that the law does not serve its original purpose,” Slom said in the release issued Tuesday. “Today, the effect of the Jones Act is that people in Hawaii, Alaska,

Puerto Rico and Guam pay significantly more than the rest of the country for everyday necessities.” After lawmakers made a similar push last year, the American Maritime Partnership, a coalition that represents vessel owners and operators, unions, equipment yards and vendors, said the Jones Act is critical for economic and security reasons. U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona had introduced legislation to repeal the domesticbuilding provision of the law. It was intended to be added as a rider to legislation vetoed Tuesday by President Barack Obama that would have forced construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The rider and other unrelated amendments never made it into the Keystone legislation, according to Hawaii Shippers’ Council president Michael Hansen, who praised the efforts of Hawaii lawmakers to support merchants that ship cargo. “We are interested in a com-

petitive environment among the ocean carriers that provides good service levels at a reasonable freight cost,” Hansen said.

A-4 Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015

Opinion

CLARION P

E N I N S U L A

Serving the Kenai Peninsula since 1970 VITTO KLEINSCHMIDT Publisher

WILL MORROW �� Editor Teresa Mullican............... Controller/Human Resources Director LESLIE TALENT................................................... Advertising Director GEOFF LONG.................................................... Production Manager VINCENT NUSUNGINYA.................................... New Media Director Daryl Palmer.................................... IT and Composition Director RANDI KEATON................................................. Circulation Manager A Morris Communications Corp. Newspaper

What Others Say

Veto shows an isolated president White House aides are whispering that

President Barack Obama’s veto of the Keystone XL pipeline authorization bill signals a new phase of his presidency, and we suppose they’re right. He’ll finish out his tenure as a Howard Hughes-like penthouse recluse who is ever more withdrawn from the political and economic center. The legislation to build the Keystone XL pipeline that Obama rejected Tuesday enjoys a broad bipartisan consensus, including support from nine Senate Democrats and 28 in the House. Business, labor unions, most consumers, and ally and trading partner Canada are also in favor of this $8 billion infrastructure project, which will create jobs, strengthen North American energy security and increase prosperity. Obama is refusing these benefits to bow to the environmental-left fringe that opposes all carbon energy. The reason he gave in a quiet veto message to Congress_no speech, no cameras_was that the bill “cuts short thorough consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest.” The Keystone has been in regulatory limbo for about 2,300 days in perhaps the most extensive permitting review in the history of American government. Aside from his green billionaire friends, we suspect Obama also wanted to frustrate what happens to be an incidental Republican priority: The House is 11 votes and the Senate merely four votes short of the two-thirds majority necessary for an override. The Washington press corps is all but filing profiles of Obama’s veto pen (a Cross Townsend roller-ball) and explaining that his wall of vetoes against anything that comes out of Congress is his “strategy” for the next two years. The better way of putting it is that Obama will leave office increasingly isolated, obstructionist and partisan. — Wall Street Journal, Feb. 24

Quotable

Yes, liberals are less patriotic

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani instantly became the most notorious man in America when he said at a conservative dinner in Manhattan that President Barack Obama doesn’t love America. He gamely tried to defend the remark for a few days before issuing a semi-mea culpa in The Wall Street Journal regretting his “bluntness” and saying that he “didn’t intend to question President Obama’s motives or the content of his heart.” That was probably the inevitable endpoint once the words came out of his mouth, since it is an unwritten rule of American public life that only liberals are allowed to call their adversaries “unpatriotic.” Rudy Giuliani isn’t Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid, who have both unloosed the “un-American” bomb on conservative opponents without any risk of getting hounded from polite society. The reaction to Giuliani’s comment was so harsh, in part because he referred to Obama’s upbringing. This was taken as a sign that — in the wince-inducing argot of people constantly inventing a new vocabulary for their grievances — he was “othering” Obama, or playing to dark fears about the president’s past. Cue the wailing and gnashing of teeth. But no “othering” is necessary. To be less patriotic than the average American doesn’t require any elaborate backstory or exotic beliefs — it is, as a matter of fact, a standard characteristic of the typical American liberal. The survey data are

championing of marginalized groups, before stipulating that “there is a problem with this left: it is unpatriotic. In the name of ‘the politics of difference,’ it refuses to rejoice in the country it inhabits. It repudiates the idea of a national identity, and the emotion of national pride.” Edmund Burke famously said that “to make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely.” For the left, America is lovely to the extent it corresponds to a progressive vision of a European-style welfare state that leads from behind in international affairs and pounds its chest less about its own greatness and exceptionalism. The America it can feel proud of exists not in actuality, but in prospect, as a vessel for a distinct ideological vision. Needless to say, it is hard to pursue this project while simultaneously feeling what George Orwell, in his definition of patriotism, called “devotion to a particular place and particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world.” None of this means that questioning any particular politician’s patriotism will ever be considered in bounds — it smacks of questioning motives that are ultimately unknowable. But if Giuliani had stood up before that room of conservatives and said that liberals don’t feel about this country the way we do, he would have been on unassailable ground, and had the data to prove it. Rich Lowry can be reached via e-mail: comments.lowry@nationalreview.com.

Labor chief: Unions to push on wages in 2016 By BILL BARROW Associated Press

“He’s looking at this as showing he still can be king of the hill, ATLANTA — Politicians of all ideolobecause we don’t have the votes to override.” — Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma on a gies have failed American workers in an bill President Barack Obama vetoed that would have era of rising corporate profits and declining approved of the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. wages, the nation’s top labor leader said Monday, vowing to pressure candidates “You can’t pull out ... while shelling is coming down on running for president in 2016 to address the issue. you.” “That’s the stick we’ll use to measure — Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin on the claim every candidate,” said AFL-CIO President that Ukraine hasn’t started withdrawing its artillery from the front line against Russian-backed separatists. Richard Trumka. The nation’s largest association of “They believe they’re going to a place where they will be em- workers is meeting in Atlanta this week powered and come of age. There is a real sense of sisterly ad- to work on its strategy for the upcoming venture, an idealistic view of what you’re going to get into and a campaign. The leader of the 12.5-million member organization said higher wages sense of camaraderie.” — Ross Frenett, a researcher at the London-based can be a “unifying progressive value,” but Institute for Strategic Dialogue, on why some acknowledged unions are struggling to teens leave Europe to join terrorists. connect with voters skeptical of the benefits of organized labor. As an example, he cited the success of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican presidential contender who curtailed bargaining rights for public employees in E-mail: his state. news@peninsulaclarion.com Walker survived a subsequent recall atWrite: Fax: tempt and then won re-election, and lawPeninsula Clarion 907-283-3299 makers in Wisconsin are now pushing to P.O. Box 3009 Questions? Call: pass right-to-work legislation that would Kenai, AK 99611 907-283-7551 limit the organizing power of private-sec-

Letters to the Editor:

The Peninsula Clarion welcomes letters and attempts to publish all those received, subject to a few guidelines: n All letters must include the writer’s name, phone number and address. n Letters are limited to 500 words and may be edited to fit available space. Letters are run in the order they are received. n Letters addressed specifically to another person will not be printed. n Letters that, in the editor’s judgment, are libelous will not be printed. n The editor also may exclude letters that are untimely or irrelevant to the public interest. n Short, topical poetry should be submitted to Poet’s Corner and will not be printed on the Opinion page. n Submissions from other publications will not be printed. n Applause letters should recognize public-spirited service and contributions. Personal thank-you notes will not be published.

clear: There is a patriotism differential between the right and the left. Which doesn’t mean that liberals don’t love the country in their own fashion, but their love is not reflected in oldfashioned pride in Rich Lowry country. A Pew Research survey last year found that 46 percent of “steadfast conservatives” believed that the U.S. stands above all other countries; only 11 percent of “solid liberals” believed the same. Seventy-two percent of steadfast conservatives said they often feel proud to be an American; only 40 percent of solid liberals said they do. Gallup headlined its write-up of a 2010 survey “One in Three Americans ‘Extremely Patriotic’: Republicans, conservatives, and seniors most likely to say so.” According to Gallup, 52 percent of Republicans and 48 percent of conservatives called themselves extremely patriotic; only 20 percent of Democrats and 19 percent of liberals did. As a general matter, patriotic sentiment becomes more attenuated the further left you go. The late distinguished philosopher Richard Rorty, hardly a McCarthyite, once wrote a New York Times op-ed titled “The Unpatriotic Academy.” He praised the left on campus for its

Letters to the Editor tor unions. “Elections have consequences,” Trumka said. “The economy is nothing but a set of rules that make the winners and losers. Those rules are made by the people we elect. We should elect people who change the rules.” Trumka said AFL-CIO plans to sponsor “wage summits” in the four early-voting states: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. The organization also wants to focus on what Trumka called political “divisiveness” that he said drives many Americans to vote against their economic interests. That approach generally aligns with a Democratic National Committee analysis, released Saturday, of the party’s 2014 losses. It concluded the party has failed to communicate its core values, particularly to working-class white voters. “If you want to talk to the working people ... tell them how you’re going to make their lives better,” Trumka said. Trumka said labor has a “good relationship” with former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the favorite for the Democratic nomination should she run as expected.

Classic Doonesbury, 1981

“She’ll get a chance to make that case,” Trumka said. “I’m not going to make it for her or against her.” This week’s AFL-CIO meeting comes amid a long decline in organized labor’s influence. According to a 2014 study from the Pew Research Center, the percentage of all American wage and salary workers who belonged to a union declined from 20 percent in 1983 to 11 percent in 2013. The peak came in 1954, at 34.8 percent. Trumka described priorities for 2016 that put his organization partly at odds with both major parties. He emphasized the AFL-CIO’s opposition to President Barack Obama’s effort to win “fast-track” authority to negotiate trade deals, saying the “undemocratic, unpatriotic” proposal would lead to lower wages in the U.S. because of increased overseas competition. He also repeated AFL-CIO’s endorsement of a broad overhaul of the country’s immigration system that many Republicans oppose. Trumka said the current system floods the market with the cheap labor of workers who are living in the country illegally. “Employers use that to lower wages for everyone,” he said. Integrating more workers into the marketplace legally, he said, “not only is the morally right thing to do. It’s the economically right thing to do.”

By GARRY TRUDEAU

Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015

Nation & World 70-vehicle pileup in snowy Maine BY PATRICK WHITTLE Associated Press

ETNA, Maine — More than 70 vehicles got tangled up in a series of chain-reaction pileups Wednesday along a snowy stretch of Interstate 95 in Maine, injuring at least 17 people, state police said. The pileups in Etna, near Bangor, happened at about 7:30 a.m. and involved several cars, a school bus and a tractortrailer, state police spokesman Steve McCausland said. He said some of the injuries were serious. Emergency personnel climbed on top of cars to reach motorists stuck in the middle of the jumble of vehicles. McCausland said one veteran trooper described the site as a “giant pile of metal.” State police said the crash was the biggest in Maine in more than 15 years. Rhonda Kent, an occupational therapist from Saint Albans, said her car was sideswiped amid the pileup, which sent cars and trucks spinning. Kent, who was not injured, said a logging truck came dangerously close to hitting her and spun off into a ditch. “It was almost surreal, something you see in the movies,” Kent said. Both northbound lanes on a 30-mile stretch of highway

were closed for five hours, and drivers were told to take other exits to avoid the area. One northbound lane reopened around 12:30 p.m.; the other opened several hours later. Two hospitals reported taking in 17 patients, some in serious condition. One person at the scene of the crash had a heart attack and some people suffered broken bones, police said. Two students and two adults on the bus were shaken up but not injured. Police said the main crash involved more than 25 vehicles, and there were a series of other wrecks leading up to the crash site. Some of the crashes involved two or three vehicles, and then other vehicles went off the road to avoid hitting them. State Police Lt. Sean Hashey said he was “absolutely shocked that we don’t have any fatalities.” He said the crashes were likely the result of poor visibility, slippery roads and speed but cautioned that reconstructing exactly how the events unfolded could be impossible. “We’ll never know exactly who hit who,” Hashey said. “It was just such a mess of vehicles.” At a travel stop in nearby Newburgh, people involved in the crash gathered to give statements to police and wait to see their wrecked vehicles. Some

PANJSHIR VALLEY, Afghanistan — Avalanches caused by a heavy winter snow killed at least 124 people in northeastern Afghanistan, an emergency official said Wednesday, as rescuers clawed through debris with their hands to save those buried beneath. The avalanches buried homes across four northeast provinces, killing those beneath, said Mohammad Aslam Syas, the deputy director of the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority. The province worst hit appeared to be Panjshir province, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of the capital, Kabul, where the avalanches destroyed or damaged around 100 homes, Syas said. The acting governor of Panjshir, Abdul Rahman Kabiri, said rescuers used their bare hands and shovels in an effort to reach survivors. Rescue teams had been dispatched to the af-

fected areas and casualties were expected to rise, Syas said. The heavy snowstorms, which began early Tuesday, hampered rescue efforts. Snow fall from the storm was nearly 1-meter (3-feet) deep in places and fallen trees blocked roads in the Panjshir Valley. Gen. Abdul Aziz Ghirat, the provincial police chief of Panjshir, said the death toll from the avalanches was expected to rise when rescue attempts resumed at sunrise Thursday. Avalanches in the valley’s Dara district affected up to 600 families, according to people trying to reach the area to assist in rescue efforts. “People there have told me that two of my relatives have been killed and eight others are still under the snow,” said an Afghan who goes by the single name Sharafudin. “My son and I are trying to get through to see if we can help find their bodies. But it will take us at least three or four hours to get there because of the snow and the road is very narrow, so we have to walk, the car can’t get

AP Photo/Maine State Police and Maine Emergency Management, Stephen McCausland

In this photo emergency personnel respond to a multi-vehicle pileup along Interstate 95 in Etna, Maine, about 20 miles west of Bangor, Wednesday. State police spokesman Steve McCausland said the pileup happened early Wednesday in heavy snow and involved many cars, a school bus and a semitrailer. No fatalities were immediately reported but McCausland said some of the injuries were serious.

were keeping warm in a parked school bus. Workers at the truck stop reported seeing more than a dozen ambulances try to access the highway from a nearby ramp. Rose Butts, a hotel housekeeper from Plymouth, said she swerved to miss part of the accident and hit a snow bank. She and a friend were not injured but waited in her car for five hours for help. “We’re thankful that we’re both alive and both OK,” she said.

Dylan Carroll, a Plymouth auto mechanic, said he swerved and hit a snow bank before a garbage truck spun out, tapped his car and blocked him. He was not injured. “I thought it was going to be much worse than it was,” Carroll said. There was at least an inch of snow on the ground at the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service. Snow was forecast to fall throughout the day with total accumulations of 5 to 9 inches.

through.” He spoke at the mouth of the valley, where traffic moved at a crawl. “We’ve had no help yet from the authorities, no medicines, no machinery to open the roads so we can get to the buried houses,” Sharafudin said. Another man stuck on the highway trying to reach Dara told The Associated Press that many bodies remained in houses buried beneath feet of snow. “We are so concerned about our relatives who are just stuck there,” said the man named Abu Muslim. Large parts of Afghanistan have been covered in snow as a major storm interrupted an otherwise mild and dry winter. Authorities in Parwan province closed the strategic Salang Tunnel, which links the north and south of the country, over avalanche fears. Power cables traversing the tunnel have been damaged, cutting power to much of Kabul since earlier this week. In a statement, President Ashraf Ghani said he was

“saddened by news of the avalanches and flooding across the country.” He said he had ordered urgent assessments of the extent of damage and offered his condolences to the families of the dead. Temperatures have plummeted across the country, though the snow was expected to start melting in the Panjshir Valley and much of the mountainous northwest of the Hindu Kush range in coming days, according to forecasts. Afghanistan has suffered through some three decades of war since the Soviet invasion in 1979. But natural disasters such as landslides, floods and avalanches have taken a toll on a country with little infrastructure or development outside of its major cities. In May, a massive landslide killed anywhere from 250 to 2,700 people, authorities said at the time. Another landslide in 2012 killed 71 people. Authorities were not able to recover the vast majority of bodies and ended up declaring the site a massive grave.

US-Israel quarrel intensifies over Netanyahu speech By JULIE PACE and LAURIE KELLMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Trading barbs, the U.S. and Israel escalated their increasingly public spat Wednesday over Benjamin Netanyahu’s GOP-engineered congressional speech next week, with the Israeli prime minister accusing world powers of rolling over to allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons. Secretary of State John Kerry openly questioned Netanyahu’s judgment on the issue. The comments injected new tension into an already strained relationship between the close allies ahead of Netanyahu’s address to Congress next Tuesday. More Democratic lawmakers announced they would skip the speech, which was orchestrated by GOP leaders without the Obama administration’s knowledge. Netanyahu hopes his speech will strengthen opposition to a potential nuclear deal with Iran, President Barack Obama’s signature foreign policy objective. U.S. and Iranian officials reported progress in negotiations this week on a deal that would clamp down on Tehran’s nuclear activities for at least 10 years but then slowly ease restrictions. Netanyahu lashed out at the U.S. and other usual staunch allies of Israel.

“It appears that they have given up on that commitment and are accepting that Iran will gradually, within a few years, will develop capabilities to produce material for many nuclear weapons,” he said in Israel. “They might accept this but I am not willing to accept this,” he said in remarks delivered

Around the World Representatives grill Kerry on aspects of Iran nuclear negotiations

Afghan avalanches kill at least 124 people BY AMIR SHAH and RAHIM FAIEZ Associated Press

A-5

in Hebrew and translated. “I respect the White House, I respect the president of the United States, but in such a fateful matter that can determine if we exist or not, it is my duty to do everything to prevent this great danger to the state of Israel.” Kerry, testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, dismissed

Netanyahu’s worries. He argued that a 2013 interim agreement with Iran that the prime minister also opposed had in fact made Israel safer by freezing key aspects of the Islamic republic’s nuclear program. “He may have a judgment that just may not be correct here,” Kerry said.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry played defense Wednesday on Capitol Hill, fielding dozens of questions from lawmakers worried about what Iran could get in a deal being negotiated to block its ability to make an atomic weapon. California Republican Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Kerry at a hearing that members of the panel have serious concerns about the direction of the more than 1-year-old talks, which are at a critical juncture. Negotiators are rushing to try to meet a March 31 deadline for a framework agreement between Iran and the U.S. and five other world powers. “I’m hearing less about dismantlement and more about the performance of Iran’s nuclear program,” Royce told Kerry. “That’s particularly disturbing when you consider that international inspectors report that Iran has still not revealed its past bomb work.” New York Rep. Elliot Engel, the ranking Democrat on the committee, expressed skepticism too. Engel noted news stories claiming that negotiators are willing to ease limits on Iran’s enrichment production during the later years of an accord in order to bridge the differences between the two sides over how long an agreement should last.

Senate on track to fund Homeland Security without immigration limit; House uncertain WASHINGTON — Three days before a partial Homeland Security shutdown, lawmakers cleared the way Wednesday for Senate passage of legislation to fund the agency without immigration-related provisions opposed by President Barack Obama. Approval in the Senate would send the issue to the House, where some conservatives derided the plan as a surrender to the White House. Other Republicans predicted it would clear, but Speaker John Boehner declined to say if he would put it to a vote. “I’m waiting for the Senate to act. The House has done their job,” he said at a news conference where he repeatedly sidestepped questions about his plans. Increasingly, though, it appeared the only alternative to House acceptance of the Senate measure — or perhaps a short-term funding bill — was the partial shutdown of a federal department with major anti-terrorism responsibilities — and the likelihood the GOP would shoulder whatever political blame resulted. The developments in Congress unfolded as Obama met at the White House with immigration activists before departing for a speech in Florida, where more than 23 percent of the population is of Hispanic descent. One person attending the meeting, Frank Sharry quoted Obama as saying Republicans were engaging in “kabuki” to appease conservatives who adamantly oppose presidential directives that would allow more than 4 million immigrants to remain in the country without threat of deportation even though they came to the country illegally.

2 appear in NY court on charges they plotted to go to Syria to join Islamic State group NEW YORK — Two men accused of plotting to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group and wage war against the U.S. have appeared in federal court in New York City. Akhror Saidakhmetov (AWK’-rohr SAH’-dahk-meh-tof) and Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev (ahb-DEWR’-ahl-suhl hah-SAHN’-oh-vich jur-AH’-boh-ehv) were ordered held without bail Wednesday on charges of attempt and conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization. Federal agents say 19-year-old Saidakhmetov was arrested after midnight at Kennedy Airport while attempting to board a flight to Istanbul and then head to Syria. The 24-year-old Juraboev was arrested in Brooklyn. Saidakhmetov’s attorney, Adam Perlmutter, said his client would plead not guilty and was a “young, innocent kid.” Juraboev’s attorney didn’t comment. A third suspect accused of supporting the plan appeared in federal court in Florida and was also held without bail.

Trayvon Martin’s mother says Justice Department let killer get away with murder MIAMI — The mother of Trayvon Martin says she’s disappointed that federal prosecutors decided not to charge a neighborhood watch volunteer with a hate crime for killing her son three years ago. Speaking with The Associated Press on Wednesday before the third anniversary of her 17-year-old son’s death, Sybrina Fulton says she still believes George Zimmerman got away with murder. — The Associated Press

A-6 Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015

Sports

Lions get rid of Bush on day of releases ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions released running back Reggie Bush on Wednesday, halfway through the four-year deal he signed as a free agent before the 2013 season. Bush started 23 games for the Lions. He rushed for 1,006 yards in 2013, but this past season he had only 76 carries for 297 yards while slowed by injuries. Bush, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 draft, turns 30 next week. The Lions acquired Bush to provide some offensive balance for a team that had a dynamic passing game with quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson. There were times when Bush flashed some of the speed and elusiveness that made him a star at Southern California and an exciting addition to the New Orleans Saints during his first few NFL seasons. But he played in only 11 games this season, his fewest since 2010.

Bush battled ankle and back problems last season, and 28-year-old Joique Bell emerged as the team’s top rusher. Bell ran for 860 yards on 223 carries, both career highs. Bush did finish third on the Lions with 40 catches in 2014, trailing only Johnson and fellow receiver Golden Tate. The Saints picked Bush amid plenty of fanfare in 2006, and he played five seasons for them, helping New Orleans win a Super Bowl before he was traded to Miami in 2011. After two productive seasons on the ground for the Dolphins, Bush signed with Detroit as a free agent. In nine NFL seasons, Bush has started 94 games and has 1,266 carries for 5,465 yards and 35 touchdowns. He’s caught 466 passes for 3,489 yards and 18 TDs. A dangerous player on special teams early in his career, Bush has not

Mavs suspend Rondo from play By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA — The Dallas Mavericks suspended Rajon Rondo for their game Wednesday night in Atlanta for conduct detrimental to the team, a day after the point guard had a heated exchange on the court with coach Rick Carlisle and was benched. Carlisle said he must communicate better with Rondo. “The incident last night was born in large part from poor communication between him and I,” Carlisle said before Dallas’ 104-87 loss. “That’s on both of us. We had a long talk about the situation today and we both agreed we need to communicate more frequently and we need to work on the solution of making his stint as a Dallas Maverick the most successful one possible.” Rondo came out with 8:10 left in the third quarter of Dallas’ 9992 home victory over Toronto. He was bringing the ball up the court when Carlisle angrily shouted for a timeout and exchanged words with Rondo from several feet away as the player headed to the bench. The Mavericks were trailing by nine when Rondo was pulled and rallied with backups Devin Harris and J.J. Barea running the offense along with leading scorer Monta Ellis, who sometimes handles the ball. Carlisle said Rondo will return as a starter for the Mavericks’ next game against Brooklyn on Saturday. “It’s one game. He’ll serve it tonight,” Carlisle said. “We’ll be off tomorrow. He’ll practice Friday and he’ll be back in the starting

lineup on Saturday. The events of last night are now in the past and we’ve got to move forward. “I need to say this very clearly: He’s an extremely important part of our team. Our efforts to get to the highest possible level largely hinge on ... playing well with him. He needs to play well with us and we need to play well with him. It’s a two-way street.” Carlisle said the suspension was “an organizational decision.” The suspension left the Mavericks with only 11 players against the Hawks. Center Tyson Chandler was held out with a hip contusion and forward Amare Stoudemire was rested with the team playing on back-to-back days. Forward Chandler Parsons was held out with a left ankle injury. Acquired in a trade with Boston in December to try to improve the playoff outlook for the Mavericks in the difficult Western Conference, Rondo hasn’t had an easy transition. The four-time All-Star who won a title with the Celtics in 2008 was on the bench in the final minutes of a four-point loss to Chicago about a month after the trade and said afterward he didn’t have a problem with Carlisle’s decision. Dallas’ offense has sunk from the top of the league to fourth in points per game since he arrived. “For us to get where we want to get ... his abilities have to be utilized by us the best possible way,” Carlisle said. “That’s in large part my responsibility and I do not dodge that. And a lot of that starts with great communication with him. I’m always working on being a better communicator and we talked about it today.”

Penguins avoid sweep to Caps By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Sidney Crosby scored his 20th goal of the season, Evgeni Malkin added three assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins held on to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Wednesday night, averting a sweep of the season series. Patric Hornqvist, Brandon Sutter and Chris Kunitz also had goals for Pittsburgh, which has won three straight and leads Washington by three points for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Crosby and Malkin both earned their first points of the season against Washington, which won the first three meetings by a combined score of 10-1. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 21 shots, including Joel Ward’s breakaway attempt in the second period. Alex Ovechkin’s power play tally, his NHL-leading 39th goal of the season, made it 4-3 with 3:34 left. John Carlson and Troy Brouwer both had a goal and an assist for the Capitals. Jason Chimera had two assists, and Braden Holtby made 22 saves.

FLAMES 3, DEVILS 1 NEWARK, N.J. — Sean Monahan scored a power-play goal 35 seconds into the third period and Calgary beat New Jersey to move into a Western Conference wildcard spot. Curtis Glencross scored late in the second period to tie it, T.J. Brodie added a short-handed, emptynet goal in the final minute, and Karri Ramo made 26 saves as the Flames snapped a three-game losing streak. Calgary moved one point ahead of idle Minnesota in the playoff race.

SENATORS 3, DUCKS 0 ANAHEIM, Calif. — Andrew Hammond made 25 saves to earn his first NHL shutout in his third career start, and Erik Condra, Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris scored to lift Ottawa over Anaheim. Hammond, who got the chance to play because of injuries to Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner, has backstopped the Senators to three straight victories. He has stopped 88 of 91 shots. It is Ottawa’s first three-game winning streak since a four-game run following a season-opening loss at Nashville.

returned a kickoff or punt since the 1,118 tackles, tops in the franchise since 1975. He appeared in 142 out 2011 season. of a 144 possible regular-season games with 136 starts since being Packers release Hawk drafted in the first round in 2006 out MILWAUKEE (AP) — Linebacker of Ohio State. A.J. Hawk had a hunch after Green But Hawk lost playing time in the Bay’s season ended that he might be second half of this past season as looking for a new team. Green Bay tried to shore up its run deSo he wasn’t surprised after the fense. Packers released him Wednesday folGreen Bay has also released vetlowing nine years with the only club eran inside linebacker Brad Jones this he has played with in the NFL. offseason. The Packers’ defense imHawk is not bitter, either. proved after giving outside linebacker “I wasn’t taken by surprise. I kind Clay Matthews more snaps in the midof had a feeling it might happen,” dle and alongside Sam Barrington. Hawk said on a podcast he released “A.J. is a consummate Packer and Wednesday after the team made the we are grateful for all that he has givmove. “The Packers actually let me en and how he represented the orgaknow. ... They’ve stayed awesome nization over the past nine seasons,” throughout this whole process, been general manager Ted Thompson said super classy.” in a statement. He called Hawk a “duHawk, a respected locker room rable and consistent contributor” to presence, leaves Green Bay with the team’s success.

Hawk agreed to a pay cut two years ago after the Packers restructured his deal. He was scheduled to be paid $3.6 million in 2015 with an $800,000 roster bonus in 2015.

Ravens cut Jones OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Jacoby Jones was cut Tuesday by the Baltimore Ravens. The wide receiver and kicker returner was a major contributor to the Ravens’ Super Bowl championship. The 30-year-old Jones played three seasons with Baltimore after a fiveyear run with Houston. Jones’ most memorable plays with the Ravens both occurred in the 2012 postseason. He caught a 70-yard touchdown throw from Joe Flacco to force overtime against Denver and a returned a kickoff 108 yards to spark a Super Bowl win over San Francisco.

Kentucky rolls to 28th win Wildcats top Mississippi State to remain undefeated for year By The Associated Press

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Top-ranked Kentucky fought off a slow start to cruise to a 74-56 victory over Mississippi State on Wednesday night to keep its undefeated season on track. Trey Lyles scored a career-high 18 points and Aaron Harrison added 16 for Kentucky (28-0, 15-0 Southeastern Conference), which is the last remaining undefeated team in the country. Its 28 straight wins are the most in a single season in program history. The Wildcats had to work a little for this one, leading just 41-37 with 15:10 remaining. But they responded with an avalanche of points down the stretch — punctuated by a thunderous dunk by Karl-Anthony Towns — to turn the contest into another convincing blowout. Mississippi State (12-16, 5-10) has lost eight in a row to the Wildcats. Fred Thomas led the Bulldogs with 14 points. No. 2 VIRGINIA 70, WAKE FOREST 34 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Anthony Gill scored 11 points and Virginia routed Wake Forest for its seventh straight win. Darion Atkins added 10 points to help the short-handed Cavaliers (26-1, 14-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) score their most points since they beat Miami 89-80 in double overtime on Jan. 3. The ACC leaders shot 50 percent, led by 38 and held Wake Forest to 15 points in the first half and a season-worst 22 percent shooting. Dinos Mitoglou had 10 points for the Demon Deacons (12-16, 4-11), who took their

most lopsided loss of the year.

No. 4 DUKE 91, VIRGINIA 86 BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Jahlil Okafor scored a career-best 30 points, including four in overtime, and Duke beat Virginia Tech for the Blue Devils’ eighth straight victory. Okafor also grabbed nine rebounds and showed no ill effects of the sprained left ankle that caused him to miss the Blue Devils’ last game. Quinn Cook added 26 points and Justise Winslow had 15 for Duke (253, 12-3 Atlantic Coast Conference). Jalen Hudson scored a career-high 23 points for Virginia Tech (10-18, 2-13), but missed a layup in the final seconds of regulation that could have given the Hokies their first victory against a ranked team in more than two years.

No. 10 N. IOWA 78, EVANSVILLE 57 CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Deon Mitchell scored 17 points and Northern Iowa beat Evansville, setting up a showdown with Wichita State for the Missouri Valley title. Paul Jesperson added 11 points for the Panthers (27-2, 16-1 MVC), who are tied with the Shockers atop the conference. The two teams will meet Saturday in Wichita for the regular season championship and the top spot in the league tournament.

No. 11 WICHITA STATE 63, INDIANA STATE 53 TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — Darius Carter had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead Wichita State to a win over Indiana State. Fred VanVleet added 15 points while Tekele Cotton scored 12 in a win that saw

AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

Kentucky guard Andrew Harrison (5) shoots against Mississippi State guard Fred Thomas (1) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday in Starkville, Miss. Kentucky won 74-56. Wichita State score 30 points in shot 14 of 26 from 3-point range, the paint. becoming the first team other than Kansas to win in Ames since 2012. No. 19 BAYLOR 79, No. 12 Baylor hit five straight 3s late IOWA STATE 70 in the second half, the last two by AMES, Iowa (AP) — Taurean Prince, to take a 72-66 lead with Prince scored 20 points and Bay- 4:41 left. The Bears held Iowa lor upset Iowa State on the road State to just four points in the final 6:26. for its third straight win. The Bears (21-7, 9-6 Big 12) See BALL, page A-7

Garnett returns home in victorious fashion By The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Kevin Garnett made an emotional return to Minnesota with an earsplitting reception and his Timberwolves overcame a jittery start to beat the Washington Wizards 97-77 on Wednesday night. Garnett, the face of the franchise who was reacquired in a trade from Brooklyn last week, had five points on 2-for7 shooting with eight rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes in his first game for the Timberwolves since 2007. Kevin Martin scored 28 points and Andrew Wiggins had 19 for the Wolves, who trailed by 15 early after Garnett’s stirring reintroduction. Marcin Gortat had nine points and 15 rebounds for the Wizards, who have lost five in a row and 10 of their last 12. John Wall had five points on 2-for10 shooting and 10 assists, and Paul Pierce missed the game with a bruised knee. Nikola Pekovic had 15 points C

and 13 rebounds for Minnesota, but the night belonged to KG, the charismatic superstar who put this woebegone franchise on the map during 12 brilliant seasons before getting traded to Boston in 2007. HEAT 93, MAGIC 90, OT ORLANDO, Fla. — Luol Deng had 21 points, Dwyane Wade added 18 and Miami rallied to beat Orlando. Hassan Whiteside added 15 points and 13 rebounds. The Heat have won three of four since losing Chris Bosh for the season with a blood clot in his lung. The Magic squandered an eightpoint lead with less than a minute play in the fourth quarter, allowing the Heat to send the game to extra time.

ROCKETS 110, CLIPPERS 105 HOUSTON — James Harden had 21 points, Corey Brewer scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and the Houston Rockets snapped a six-game skid

to Los Angeles. It’s Houston’s first victory over Los Angeles since March 30, 2013, and just the second win in the past 13 meetings with the Clippers. The Rockets opened the fourth quarter with a 15-1 run to take a 99-86 lead. With the second unit in, Brewer starred in that stretch, scoring 10 points, with two 3-pointers.

HAWKS 104, MAVERICKS 87 ATLANTA — Dennis Schroder had 17 points, Atlanta took the lead with a 13-0 run in the third quarter and went on beat Dallas, with the Mavericks playing without suspended guard Rajon Rondo. The Mavericks suspended Rondo before the game for conduct detrimental to the team. Rondo had a heated exchange on the court with coach Rick Carlisle in the third quarter Tuesday night against Toronto.

points and Charlotte beat Chicago after the Bulls learned Derrick Rose will have yet another knee surgery. Al Jefferson added 16 points to help the Hornets snap a five-game losing streak.

KINGS 102, GRIZZLIES 90 SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Rudy Gay scored 28 points, DeMarcus Cousins added 16 points and nine rebounds and Sacramento beat Memphis. Cousins overcame foul trouble — and a confrontation with Grizzlies big man Zach Randolph — to lead Sacramento’s 10-0 spurt to start the fourth quarter. He added six assists in just 24 minutes before fouling out. The Kings improved to 2-1 since George Karl took over as coach.

SUNS 110, NUGGETS 96

DENVER — Brandon Knight hit two key late 3-pointers and had HORNETS 98, BULLS 86 19 points to help Phoenix snap a CHICAGO — Michael Kidd- five-game losing streak. Eric Bledsoe added 18 points Gilchrist had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Mo Williams scored 17 See NBA, page A-7

Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015

Scoreboard

Sports Briefs Wood scratches, Davis duo still in Nome While most of this year’s Iron Dog field was taking a long layover in Nome — the unofficial halfway point of the race — Ashley Wood was seeing her race come to an end short of the finish line. Wood, a 27-year-old who was born and raised in Soldotna, scratched out of the race Wednesday morning along with rookie teammate Rachel Kidwell when the pair encountered trouble just outside of Koyuk. According to reports, Wood and Kidwell hit an ice shelf, which resulted in a broken suspension piece and a hole in the bulkhead on one of their Polaris machines. The two were attempting to become only the second all-female team to complete the 2,031-mile Iron Dog, which is considered the toughest snowmachine race in the world. That record will have to wait another year. The rest of the remaining competitors were arriving in Nome throughout the night. Race leaders Scott Faeo and Eric Quam pulled into Nome at 6:21 p.m. Tuesday, and were followed by 21 other teams for the next 20 hours. 55-year-old Soldotna race veteran Scott Davis remained in second place after experiencing a crash Tuesday evening just outside of White Mountain. Davis pulled into Nome just 17 minutes after Faeo and Quam. According to reports, Davis was well enough to continue and finish the ride to Nome. Davis is teamed with Anchorage veteran Aaron Bartel, and is hunting for a record eighth Iron Dog victory. Cory Davis, the 26-year-old son of Scott Davis, also remains in Nome in the position he entered Tuesday night, sixth place. Davis is paired up with fellow X Games competitor Ryan Simons of Alberta, Canada.

Hamilton meets for disciplinary issue ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton is meeting with Major League Baseball officials about a disciplinary issue. Angels spokesman Tim Mead confirmed the Los Angeles Times’ initial report Wednesday that Hamilton went to New York to meet with baseball officials. The team declined to give any more specific information. Hamilton hasn’t reported to spring training in Arizona after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder earlier this month. He is expected to be out until after the regular season begins. Hamilton also has a well-chronicled history of drug addiction and alcohol abuse, leading to previous suspensions.

. . . Ball Continued from page A-6

RICHMOND 67, No. 22 VCU 63, 2 OT

(16-12, 9-6 Atlantic 10). Kendall Anthony added 13 points and T.J. Cline had 11, including a tying layup with 2 seconds left in the first overtime.

No. 23 BUTLER 73, MARQUETTE 52

basketball NBA Standings EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Toronto 37 20 Brooklyn 23 32 Boston 22 33 Philadelphia 12 45 New York 10 46 Southeast Division Atlanta 45 12 Washington 33 25 Miami 25 31 Charlotte 23 32 Orlando 19 40 Central Division Cleveland 36 22 Chicago 36 22 Milwaukee 32 25 Detroit 23 34 Indiana 23 34

Pct GB .649 — .418 13 .400 14 .211 25 .179 26½ .789 — .569 12½ .446 19½ .418 21 .322 27 .621 — .621 — .561 3½ .404 12½ .404 12½

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division Memphis 41 15 Houston 39 18 Dallas 39 21 San Antonio 34 23 New Orleans 30 27 Northwest Division Portland 37 19 Oklahoma City 32 25 Utah 21 35 Denver 20 37 Minnesota 13 43 Pacific Division Golden State 44 10 L.A. Clippers 37 21 Phoenix 30 28 Sacramento 20 35 L.A. Lakers 15 41

naventure 46 Hartford 63, Maine 60 Hofstra 73, Coll. of Charleston 40 Holy Cross 63, Loyola (Md.) 60 Lehigh 84, Bucknell 65 Saint Joseph’s 82, UMass 71 Stony Brook 75, Mass.-Lowell 60 Vermont 64, New Hampshire 49 SOUTH Duke 91, Virginia Tech 86, OT Georgia 76, Mississippi 72 Kentucky 74, Mississippi St. 56 Miami 81, Florida St. 77 North Florida 76, Florida Gulf Coast 62 Richmond 67, VCU 63, 2OT SC-Upstate 70, Lipscomb 47 Savannah St. 58, Bethune-Cookman 49 Stetson 70, Jacksonville 67 UConn 60, East Carolina 49 UNC Wilmington 74, James Madison 54 Virginia 70, Wake Forest 34 William & Mary 65, Towson 50 MIDWEST

.732 — .684 2½ .650 4 .596 7½ .526 11½ .661 — .561 5½ .375 16 .351 17½ .232 24 .815 — .638 9 .517 16 .364 24½ .268 30

Wednesday’s Games Miami 93, Orlando 90, OT Atlanta 104, Dallas 87 Boston 115, New York 94 New Orleans 102, Brooklyn 96 Charlotte 98, Chicago 86 Milwaukee 104, Philadelphia 88 Minnesota 97, Washington 77 Houston 110, L.A. Clippers 105 Phoenix 110, Denver 96 L.A. Lakers 100, Utah 97 Sacramento 102, Memphis 90 Portland 111, San Antonio 95 Thursday’s Games Golden State at Cleveland, 4 p.m. Oklahoma City at Phoenix, 6:30 p.m. All Times AST

Men’s College Scores EAST Albany (NY) 67, UMBC 49 American U. 68, Navy 49 Boston U. 63, Army 57 Colgate 95, Lafayette 83 Davidson 60, Rhode Island 59 Duquesne 79, Saint Louis 66 Fordham 63, La Salle 48 George Washington 69, St. Bo-

Baylor 79, Iowa St. 70 Butler 73, Marquette 52 Cincinnati 83, UCF 60 Dayton 76, George Mason 63 Denver 66, South Dakota 48 Detroit 63, Valparaiso 60 Illinois St. 73, S. Illinois 56 Iowa 68, Illinois 60 Loyola of Chicago 80, Drake 75, OT Missouri St. 80, Bradley 77, 3OT N. Illinois 84, Toledo 82 N. Iowa 68, Evansville 57 Northwestern 72, Indiana 65 Oakland 82, Youngstown St. 71 Wichita St. 63, Indiana St. 53 SOUTHWEST TCU 71, Texas Tech 54 Tulsa 76, Tulane 55 FAR WEST Air Force 75, Nevada 70 Colorado St. 72, San Jose St. 56 Fresno St. 64, Wyoming 59 Oregon 80, California 69 UCLA 88, Washington 66 Washington St. 70, Southern Cal 66

Women’s College Scores EAST American U. 41, Navy 29 Army 64, Boston U. 50 Bucknell 69, Lehigh 61 Colgate 49, Lafayette 36 Holy Cross 65, Loyola (Md.) 37 La Salle 66, St. Bonaventure 53 Sacred Heart 66, Fairleigh Dickinson 65 Saint Joseph’s 60, Duquesne 49 SOUTH Belmont 84, E. Kentucky 70 Florida Gulf Coast 56, North Florida 24 Fordham 79, George Mason 55

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Terry Allen had a key block and two free throws in the closing seconds of the second overtime to help Richmond beat Virginia Commonwealth. ShawnDre’ Jones scored 22 points and Allen had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Spiders

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kellen Dunham scored 22 points and Kameron Woods added 14 to lead Butler to a win over Marquette. The Bulldogs (20-8, 10-5 Big East) rebounded from their worst loss of the season by winning their 20th game of the season for the By ANDREW SELIGMAN 20th time in school history.

. . . NBA

20 straight points in the second that Derrick Rose will have half.

K Continued from page A-6

for the Suns, who had six players score in double figures as they ended a seven-game road skid. The Suns grabbed 65 rebounds, most in the NBA this season.

PELICANS 102, NETS 96 NEW ORLEANS — Quincy Pondexter scored a career-high 25 points and New Orleans beat Brooklyn for its third straight victory. Pondexter surpassed his previous high of 22 points by hitting his fourth 3-pointer of the game with 49.9 seconds left. Tyreke Evans had 15 points and 11 assists to help the Pelicans win with All-Star Anthony Davis missing his second straight game because of a shoulder injury.

CELTICS 115, KNICKS 94 BOSTON — Evan Turner had his first career triple-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and Boston pulled away with

A-7

N. Kentucky 68, Kennesaw St. 61 SC-Upstate 76, Lipscomb 67 Stetson 73, Jacksonville 67 Tennessee St. 75, Morehead St. 74 VCU 66, Davidson 63 MIDWEST Akron 54, Kent St. 53 Cleveland St. 77, Valparaiso 70 E. Michigan 56, Ball St. 41 Ill.-Chicago 72, Milwaukee 70 Kansas St. 55, Kansas 48 Miami (Ohio) 59, Bowling Green 51 Michigan St. 67, Illinois 65 N. Illinois 69, Cent. Michigan 62 Ohio 78, Buffalo 70 SIU-Edwardsville 78, SE Missouri 67 Toledo 67, W. Michigan 57 UT-Martin 63, E. Illinois 60

Calgary 61 33 24 4 70 174 158 San Jose 61 30 23 8 68 171 174 Arizona 61 20 34 7 47 134 206 Edmonton 62 18 34 10 46 142 206 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Wednesday’s Games Calgary 3, New Jersey 1 Pittsburgh 4, Washington 3 Ottawa 3, Anaheim 0 Thursday’s Games Vancouver at Buffalo, 3 p.m. Arizona at N.Y. Rangers, 3 p.m. Montreal at Columbus, 3 p.m. Philadelphia at Toronto, 3:30 p.m. Chicago at Florida, 3:30 p.m. St. Louis at Winnipeg, 4 p.m. Minnesota at Nashville, 4:30 p.m. Ottawa at Los Angeles, 6:30 p.m. Detroit at San Jose, 6:30 p.m. All Times AST

SOUTHWEST Abilene Christian 68, Houston Baptist 53 Oklahoma 68, Baylor 64 Temple 55, SMU 39 Texas 59, Oklahoma St. 42 FAR WEST Colorado St. 85, San Jose St. 76 Fresno St. 67, Wyoming 50 Nevada 74, Air Force 42 New Mexico 63, Boise St. 50 UNLV 69, Utah St. 61

hockey NHL Standings EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Montreal 60 39 16 5 83 162 133 Tampa Bay 62 37 19 6 80 203 167 Detroit 59 33 15 11 77 173 154 Boston 60 29 22 9 67 158 158 Florida 60 26 21 13 65 145 169 Ottawa 58 25 23 10 60 166 161 Toronto 60 24 31 5 53 167 183 Buffalo 61 18 38 5 41 114 204 Metropolitan Division N.Y. Islanders 62 40 20 2 82 200 173 N.Y. Rangers 59 37 16 6 80 186 145 Pittsburgh 61 35 17 9 79 176 152 Washington 62 33 19 10 76 184 156 Philadelphia 61 26 24 11 63 162 178 New Jersey 61 25 27 9 59 137 161 Columbus 59 26 29 4 56 155 184 Carolina 59 22 30 7 51 134 159

WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division Nashville 61 St. Louis 60 Chicago 61 Winnipeg 62 Minnesota 60 Dallas 61 Colorado 61 Pacific Division Anaheim 62 Vancouver 60 Los Angeles 59

41 13 7 38 18 4 36 20 5 31 20 11 31 22 7 27 25 9 26 24 11

89 186 143 80 188 151 77 180 146 73 173 168 69 169 158 63 191 202 63 161 175

38 17 7 83 182 174 35 22 3 73 171 156 29 18 12 70 162 152

Transactions BASEBALL American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES С Agreed to terms with SS Everth Cabrera on a one-year contract. Designated OF Alex Hassan for assignment. KANSAS CITY ROYALS С Agreed to terms with C Erik Kratz, INFs Cheslor Cuthbert and Ryan Jackson, OFs Lane Adams and Jorge Bonifacio, RHPs Aaron Brooks and Michael Mariot and LHPs Brandon Finnegan, Brian Flynn and John Lamb on one-year contracts. National League LOS ANGELES DODGERS С Agreed to terms with RHP Chad Gaudin on a minor league contract. BASKETBALL National Basketball Association DALLAS MAVERICKS С Suspended G Rajon Rondo one game for conduct detrimental to the team. FOOTBALL National Football League ATLANTA FALCONS С Signed PK Matt Bryant to a contract extension. BALTIMORE RAVENS С Terminated the contract of WR/KR Jacoby Jones. CHICAGO BEARS С Signed CB Demontre Hurst to a two-year contract extension. DETROIT LIONS С Released RB Reggie Bush. GREEN BAY PACKERS С Released LB A.J. Hawk. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS С Named Fitz Ollison senior director of football communications. NEW YORK GIANTS С Released RB Peyton Hillis. WASHINGTON REDSKINS С

Signed WR Nick Williams. HOCKEY National Hockey League NHL С Fined Buffalo G Michal Neuvirth $2,000 for diving/embellishment. ARIZONA COYOTES С Recalled F Henrik Samuelsson from Portland (AHL). Assigned F Jordan Martinook to Portland. CAROLINA HURRICANES С Traded F Jiri Tlusty to Winnipeg for a conditional 2015 sixth-round draft pick and a 2016 third-round draft pick. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS С Recalled F Teuvo Teravainen from Rockford (AHL). Assigned D Trevor van Riemsdyk to Rockford. Placed F Patrick Kane on injured reserve. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS С Recalled G Oscar Dansk from Springfield (AHL). Assigned G Anton Forsberg to Springfield. FLORIDA PANTHERS С Assigned F Steven Hodges from San Antonio (AHL) to Cincinnati (ECHL). LOS ANGELES KINGS С Signed F Kyle Clifford to a five-year contract extension. Traded D Ronald McKeown and a first-round draft pick to Carolina for D Andrej Sekera. MINNESOTA WILD С Named Matthew Hulsizer vice chairman of the board of directors. Announced Philip Falcone is vacating his minority ownership stake. MONTREAL CANADIENS С Reassigned D Dalton Thrower from Brampton (ECHL) to Hamilton (AHL). NEW YORK RANGERS С Reassigned F Oscar Lindberg to Hartford (AHL). ST. LOUIS BLUES С Assigned F Niklas Lundstrom from Chicago (AHL) to Alaska (ECHL). TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING С Assigned D Artem Sergeev from Syracuse (AHL) to Florida (ECHL). TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS С Traded F Daniel Winnick to Pittsburgh for F Zach Sill, a 2015 fourth-round draft pick and a 2016 second-round pick. WINNIPEG JETS С Placed F Blake Wheeler on injured reserve. SOCCER Major League Soccer D.C. UNITED С Signed G Travis Worra. SPORTING KANSAS CITY С Signed F James Ansu Rogers. COLLEGE BAYLOR С Announced RB Silas Nacita is no longer on the football team. ARKANSAS С Named Jemal Singleton running backs coach and special teams coordinator.

Rose-less Bulls get on with life AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO — The news

BUCKS 104, 76ERS 88 MILWAUKEE — John Henson scored 21 points, Michael CarterWilliams had seven points and eight assists in his Milwaukee debut, and the Bucks built a big early lead against the point guard’s former Philadelphia teammates.

LAKERS 100, JAZZ 97 SALT LAKE CITY — Jordan Clarkson scored a career-high 22 points and Los Angeles erased a double-digit deficit in a comeback victory over Utah. The Lakers used a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to take their first lead at 90-88.

TRAIL BLAZERS 111, SPURS 95 PORTLAND, Ore. — Wesley Matthews scored 31 points, LaMarcus Aldridge had 11 points and 13 rebounds, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the slumping San Antonio Spurs for their first victory since the All-Star break.

knee surgery again hit the Chicago Bulls and their fans hard and left them in a familiar spot — trying to get by without their star point guard. The torn meniscus in his right knee was announced Tuesday night, another tough twist for a franchise, a star, his sponsors and a fanbase that thought the Bulls were entering another golden era just a few years ago, with the Chicago product leading the renaissance. Instead, he’s having surgery on his right knee for the second straight year — on the heels of a season he missed entirely following a torn left ACL. “It’s so unfair,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “The guy’s been through so much. Any time you have surgery, it’s tough. This will hopefully be much, much shorter than the other one. But the big thing is our concern for him first as a person.” Rose’s rise from growing up in a tough Chicago neighborhood to stardom with his home-

town team is well-documented. He has a maximum contract with the Bulls and a huge marketing deal with Adidas. But in some ways, this era is feeling like a big tease for the Bulls and their fans. Instead of celebrating a championship for the first time since the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen era, they have suffered through close calls and long waits while Rose recovers. It wasn’t what the Bulls envisioned after taking him with the first pick in the 2008 draft. He went from Rookie of the Year to All-Star to MVP in his first three seasons, becoming the youngest player to win that award in 2011 while leading Chicago to 62 wins and the Eastern Conference finals. But the feel-good story took a drastic turn the following season when Rose crumpled to the court with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the playoff opener. The topseeded Bulls bowed out in the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers. Rose sat out the 2012-13 season, and his long-awaited comeback last season ended at

10 games. “I’m still shocked,” Kirk Hinrich said. “I didn’t have any idea he had an injury like that (Tuesday) at practice. I just feel for him. You can’t imagine what he’s gone through these last three years. Just when it seems like he was hitting his stride and playing great and it

kind of felt like he had put it behind him, for this to happen is just devastating.” Thibodeau said Wednesday it’s not clear when the injury happened or when team physician Dr. Brian Cole will perform the surgery. The coach wasn’t sure how long Rose will be out, either.

A-8 Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015

. . . Bear Continued from page A-1

kept hearing something moving in the branches and he told the boys to catch up with Geraldine at the bottom of the trail. “I turned around and there was that bear, just kind of 30 yards from us,” he said. “I told the boys to hurry up and get down the hill and I turned back and it was probably 15 feet closer and a little bit behind a tree. All I could see was the back half. It was pretty good sized.” Hughes said he wasn’t sure if it was a brown or black bear — though the group found a fresh brown bear track during their retreat. He was armed but loath to shoot the animal. He said he carries a .40 caliber gun “to make noise” and a .44 caliber magnum as a “last resort.” “We generally carry a shot-

. . . Ban Continued from page A-1

gun as well as a .44 but ... we weren’t really thinking that we were going to see something,” he said. After sending the boys away, Hughes said he shot a few rounds toward the bear. “It just stopped and stood there,” he said. “I fired a few more rounds ... checked to make sure the boys were down, changed my mag and put a fresh clip in. The boys were down the hill, so I started going down. I didn’t think much of it, I figured he’d stay up there.” But, the bear persisted. “I walked up the gravel bar and told my wife we needed to go. I didn’t tell the boys there was a bear up there,” he said. “We got up the first hill and there are some rocks you’ve got to climb up and over. We got to the top of the first pile and said, ‘We’ll rest here.’ My son’s friend said, ‘There’s something in the woods.’ You could hear it, but you couldn’t see it. We could see the little trees moving.”

Hughes said the family joked about a Pepe Le Pew bear — a persistently amorous Warner Brothers cartoon character — before they continued down the trail. “We got down to where the alders grow kind of close in and there was one big brown bear track right in the middle of the trail. I’ve got a (size 14) boot and it was wider than my boot is long. You could see all of the claws and we king of ogled at that when the brush started making a bunch of noise probably 30 feet in. I was like, good grief. We continued along.” He said the bear followed about 30 feet behind the group the whole way to the parking lot — though Hughes stopped and fired more rounds down the trail. Hughes said he wasn’t surprised to encounter the bear. The unseasonably warm temperatures and available food may have drawn it out, he said. The family hikes that trail two or three times a month during

the winter and had an encounter with an aggressive brown bear a few years ago, he said. The family assumed that the bear was hungry — which is a reasonable assumption, said Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Jeff Selinger. “If you’ve slept, even for three months, you’d wake up and get your body up and running again and you’d probably be hungry,” he said. While the vast majority of bears are likely still sleeping this time of year, Selinger said Fish and Game has gotten reports of bear sightings during every month of the year. “Bears will come out of their dens for various reasons and some of them really don’t den a whole lot,” he said. A bear that didn’t get enough to eat during the summer might be out during the winter because the animal needs a high fat reserve to make it through the denning period, Selinger said.

this,” Pierce said. Assembly member Brent Johnson said he had a hard time “telling people they can’t vote on it (the proposition).” Gilman said he was going to vote in favor of the ordinance because the Kenai Peninsula needs less drugs and alcohol altogether. He said if the voters defeat the ban, he would help properly regulate the facilities. Welles said one of his concerns about the facilities was their potential impact on youth in the community. He said he has spoken with a woman whose daughter suffered from “marijuana poisoning,” and didn’t want others to experience the same effects. Mako Haggerty said he had a traumatic experience during his childhood when his father received a overly harsh punishment for possession. “To be honest, when I walked in the room tonight I knew I would be voting against the ordinance,” Haggerty said. Haggerty said he had been waiting for legalization for nearly five decades.

. . . Gas

offshore deposit near Anchor Point, and NordAq Energy LLC’s “Shadura” onshore gas discovery on the Kenai Peninsula. Resource estimates by Furie are not public but the production facilities planned by the company, to be installed this summer, will have a capacity to produce 80 million cubic feet of gas per day or 30 billion cubic feet per year, Decker said. Production facilities and wells planned at Cosmopolitan, where installation is hoped to be done in 2016 and 2017, will be capable of handling 22 billion cubic feet of gas per year, he said. Production potential at the Shadura onshore discovery is confidential, but the deposit is within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which means that permitting for development would be complicated. The subsurface mineral rights are held by Cook Inlet Region Inc. but surface production facilities must adhere to regulations of the refuge. “We believe a tremendous amount of new gas can be discovered in the Inlet,” but it will be found in smaller deposits,

Continued from page A-1

make access to the strain called a 2013 update of that assess“Superior Skunk,” much easier. ment included estimates from Beth Carol of Fritz Creek 28 fields that are known in the said, as an aspiring business Inlet, and a more detailed look owner, if cultivation were at three of the larger fields in banned, would put her at a sethe 2013 update. In the 2014 vere disadvantage. update, there was a more de“The Kenai Peninsula should tailed look at four additional be a part of this burgeoning ingas fields, for a total of seven, dustry in Alaska,” she said. of the 28 fields surveyed in Eric Derleth, the first to 2009. speak at the Soldotna location, Meanwhile, there is one said the real problem in the new producing field added in community is drugs an alcohol. the Inlet since 2009. It is the Wolf interrupted Derleth part small onshore Kenai Loop way through his testimony and field that was discovered Bagley reminded the room to and developed by Buccaneer be courteous and respectful of Resources. Buccaneer went each other’s opinions. bankrupt due to unrelated fiJim Nelson of Anchor Point nancial issues but Kenai Loop said the ordinance would be “putis still producing. The field is ting the cart before horse,” and now owned by another comsaid to the assembly, “If you have pany, AIX. a better idea for revenue generaIf the new discoveries are tion, I’d like to hear it now.” developed, additional reserves Following commentary by would be added in Cook Inlet. George Pierce, Wolf asked if Decker said the three new the Kasilof resident understood discoveries include one by the ordinance would only be Furie Operating LLC, at its putting the ban to a vote. Reach Kelly Sullivan at kel- “Kitchen Lights” find in upper “I understood that 100 per- ly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion. Cook Inlet; BlueCrest Energy cent Kelly, but we just voted on com. LLC at the “Cosmopolitan”

Likewise, a bear’s den could be disturbed by seismic activity or human activity around the den. Steve Miller, deputy refuge manager at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, said the encounter was the earliest report of a bear sighting on a trail that refuge personnel had heard this year. He said staff would post a notice at the start of the trail to let other hikers know that a bear had been spotted. For the Hughes family, the encounter was startling in that the bear didn’t seem to be perturbed by the gunfire. “That’s kind of worrying to me,” Hughes said. “If somebody goes up there and has a really good smelling sandwich or something — the bear might come take that sandwich.” While the Kenai Peninsula hasn’t seen it’s typical rush of tourists yet, Hughes said he worried that most people weren’t going out bear-prepared during

‘We believe a tremendous amount of new gas can be discovered in the Inlet,’ but it will be found in smaller deposits. — Paul Decker, Division of Oil and Gas

the late winter and early spring months. “They’re not carrying their pepper spray, they’re not carrying a firearm and they’re hiking because they think it’s safe to go out right now,” he said. “People need to be aware of their surroundings.” Hughes said the family made its way steadily down the trail to avoid escalating the situation. “Bears get tired going up a hill and that first bit of trail is a lot of uphill. Plus, if you run from a hungry bear, if you run from any predator, it’s going to chase you. You don’t want to run, you just kind of back away slow and easy.” While the encounter left the family wary, it won’t stop them from hiking in the future. As for the missing wallet? “It was in the truck,” Hughes said, with a laugh. Reach Rashah McChesney at rashah.mcchesney@peninsulaclarion.com. 115 billion cubic feet of gas yearly including some “associated” gas produced with oil, according to Division of Oil and Gas data. Electric utilities in Southcentral Alaska and Enstar Natural Gas Co., the regional gas utility, consume about 90 billion cubic feet of gas yearly, and the remaining gas is used as fuel on oil and gas production platforms and by Tesoro, which owns a refinery at Nikiski. “The 90 billion cubic feet a year of demand does not include potential gas demand if the Agrium plant were to restart, or if gas were provided to the Donlin Creek mine,” if that gold project were developed, Decker said. It also does not include 4 or 5 billion cubic feet of gas that might be shipped to Fairbanks as liquefied natural gas, which is now being discussed. If other potential demand in the Interior were included, the demand for LNG might reach 8 billion cubic feet per year.

Decker said. “Most of the large structures have been drilled,” in the initial exploration of the Inlet, Decker said. These were the large anticline structures easily seen with the type of 1960s-era two-dimensional seismic exploration imaging technology used when the Inlet was first explored. Modern three-dimensional seismic now in use is capable of spotting smaller structural traps, he said, and more complex stratigraphic reservoirs. To date about eight trillion cubic feet of gas has been proTim Bradner can be reached duced from the Inlet, Decker at tim.bradner@alaskajournal. told Commonwealth North. com. The Inlet produces about

Arts & Entertainment Y

SECTION

M K

Thursday, February 26, 2015

What’s Happening Best Bets n The Kenai Performers’ production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” will run Feb. 27, 28 and March 1 at the Renee C. Henderson auditorium at Kenai Central High School. Friday and Saturday showtimes are 7 p.m.; Sunday matinees start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 general admission and $15 for seniors (62plus), children and students. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Curtain Call Consignment Shop and Charlotte’s Restaurant in Kenai, and River City Books in Soldotna. They are also available at the door. n The Soldotna Drama Troupe presents a dinner theater performance of “Play On!”, a comedy about the hazards of producing a play, by Rick Abbot. Show dates are Feb. 26, 27 and 28 at 6 p.m. Tickets will be $40, and will include a complete Italian dinner with coffee and dessert. The 6 p.m. performance on Feb. 28 will have a silent auction of local services and goods. There will also be a 2 p.m. matinée on Feb. 28. Tickets will be $15. The Soldotna Drama Troupe is comprised of students participating in a Drama trip to London, and all proceeds from this event go toward their trip funds.

First Thursday n The Peninsula Art Guild will host the First Thursday Artists Reception for the March 2015 Biennial Judged Exhibit, 6-8 p.m., March 5 at the Kenai Fine Arts Center, 816 Cook Avenue, Old Town Kenai across from the Oilers Bingo Hall. Call 283-7040, noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday for more information. n There will be a First Thursday Art Evening with Artist Chelline Larson at the Kobuk Kaladi Coffee Shop from 4-6:00 p.m. on March 5. Fabric Media. Refreshments will be served.

Events and Exhibits

C Y

Photos by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion

Cast members of ‘Play On!’ during a rehearsal at the Triumverate North Theatre on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

n The Peninsula Art Guild is ‘calling for artists’ to submit up to two of their own original pieces of artwork by the Feb. 28 deadline for the March 2015 Biennial Judged Art Exhibit at the Kenai Fine Arts Center in Old Town Kenai. For details call 741-8011. Art Center hours are noon-5 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday. n The Kenai Peninsula College Student Art League Exhibit is on display at the Kenai Fine Arts Center throughout the month of February. The Fine Arts Center is at 816 Cook Ave., across from the Oilers’ Bingo Hall in Old Town Kenai and hours are noon-5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. For more information call 283-7040. n The Mezzanine Gallery at Soldotna Animal Hospital is hosting an exhibit of Watercolors by local artist Melinda Hershberger. The exhibit will be on display throughout the month of February and is open to the public weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. n Kenai Performers, in collaboration with Vergine’s Dance Studio, will present “Chassé into Spring,” a fashion show done in dance on March 8 at 1:00 p.m. at Curtain Call Consignment in Kenai. Food and drinks will be provided. Tickets are $12 and are available at Curtain Call Consignment on Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Seating is limited, so please purchase tickets in advance. For more information call Mary at 907-398-2931. n Peninsula Artists in Motion, Maura’s Cafe, and Triumvirate Theatre present P.A.M. Unplugged, two shows, one day only at Triumvirate North, just north of Kenai on the Kenai Spur Highway.. The matinee at 5:00 p.m. is open to all ages and is $8.00/ticket. The evening show will feature desserts and wine/beer and is for ages 21 and over. Evening tickets are $30/each. Tickets are available online at M www.triumviratetheatre.org. K n The Rarefied Light photography exhibition is on display in the Gary Freeburg Gallery at Kenai Peninsula College’s Kenai River Campus. n An art show sponsored by Friends of the Soldotna Library is hanging in the Soldotna Library with the theme of “Alaskan Landscape.” The art will be on display through April 6. Please stop by and drink in the richness of the art. If anyone is interested in purchasing any of the art pieces, the Friends receive a 20 percent commission which is used for library program support. The librarians have contact information for the artists. n The Kenai Community Library will host a series of Family Concerts. These programs are free and open to the entire family. Concerts will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturdays in the Kid Spot at the Kenai Library. The next concert is Feb. 21 with violinist Elise Gelbart, of Anchorage. No tickets are required. For more information, contact Children’s Librarian Amy Pascucci at 283-8210 or visit the Kenai Community Library’s webpage at http://kenailibrary.org/. n Kenai River Council on the Arts and The Peninsula Art Guild are inviting artists to apply for month long Exhibitions in Calendar Years

Soldotna High School Drama Troupe presents comedy By BEN BOETTGER Peninsula Clarion

This weekend Soldotna High School English teacher Sarah Erfurth and a group of eleven students will present four showings of the hour-long comedy Play On! which Erfurth, the director, described as “a play about the difficulties of putting on a play.” “It’s very true to form,” Erfurth said.

“Everybody who’s ever acted in a play knows that the week before a performance, there’s always the sense of a miracle being needed to pull it off... In my experience, despite how hard that last week is, opening night has always gone well. But in this play the miracle never happens, and so we have opening night go terribly.” Play On!, by Rick Abbot, shows two disastrous rehearsals and one disastrous performance of a play-within-a-play, a melo-

dramatic English murder mystery called Murder Most Foul (in which the actors are unsure whether or not a murder actually occurs). The students portray the cast of Murder Most Foul as they struggle to perfect the performance in the four days before its opening, in spite of personal complications, technical failures, and continual script revisions by its author. “It has been uniquely challenging,” ErSee PLAY, page B-2

Most revolutionary year in music was 1965 Bookworm Sez You turned up the volume – again. Surely, the guy in the car next to yours must think you’re weird. There you are, groovin’ to your tunes, seat-dancing, singing along like you were inconcert. Really, is there such a thing as having the music too loud? No. There’s not, so turn up the volume one more time and read “1965: The Most Revolutionary Year in Music” by An-

drew Grant Jackson. As the year 1965 began, more than forty percent of Americans were under twenty years old. Teens emulated their parents then: boys wore short hair, girls wore long skirts. Segregation was common, color TV was new, eighty percent of America was white, and the country’s youth had tasted The Beatles and loved them. Bob Dylan did, too, though John Lennon had once dismissed his music. The Rolling Stones were singing “puppy love” songs, while Barry Gordy

hoped his Supremes might follow in Dean Martin’s footsteps since the “big money” was in nightclubs. Marvin Gaye, meanwhile, wanted to be “singing Cole Porter,” Malcolm X (who would soon be assassinated) met Martin Luther King, and thousands marched to Montgomery . As winter turned to spring, Roger Miller captured six Grammys; Charlie Pride struggled with recording deals in a segregated music industry; and Johnny Cash accidentally, See SEZ, page B-2

See ARTS, page B-2

Poet’s

Corner

Where’s Our Winter? By Bill Lowe, Sterling

Is winter not here yet or did it already come and pass? I know it’s too soon to be thinking ‘bout mowing my grass, but I believe I just saw Jimmy Buffet walk by holding a lime and a long-stem frosted glass? According to my measuring tape and I know it don’t lie; we got about as much snow this winter as we did last July. You may think I’m exaggerating but I’m not, I keep track, ‘cuz I’m “the pusher guy.” I may have been pulling your leg about mowing the lawn, but if the river weren’t iced over, I swear I’d be up before dawn catching some of those Kings, Cohoes and Sockeyes heading up the Kenai to spawn. Please forgive me; I’m not trying to sound intentionally mean, but let the northeast have the most snow they’ve ever seen; the only place I want to be close to a Blizzard is inside the Soldotna Dairy Queen. Poems must include the writer’s name, phone number and address. They should be kept to no more than 300 words. Submission of a poem does not guarantee publication. Poems may be e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion. com, faxed to 283-3299, delivered to the Clarion at 150 Trading Bay Road or mailed to P.O. Box 3009, Kenai, AK 99611.

AP Photo/Fox Searchlight, Atsushi Nishijima

In this image, Michael Keaton portrays Riggan in a scene from “Birdman.” The film had nine Oscar nominations, including best picture and best actor. The 87th Annual Academy Awards took place on Sunday, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

The big win went to the smallest of the Best Picture Nominees “Birdman” 20th Century Fox 119 minutes The Academy Awards were Sunday night. I don’t know if you watched, but needless to say, the show wasn’t all everybody hoped it would be. I can’t remember the last time that the Oscars telecast met expectations. In fact, I’m not sure why anyone has high expectations anymore. Neil Patrick Harris seemed like a no-brainer as host, but, like just about everyone else since the heyday of Billy Crystal, he came off as awkward and a little ill-atease. I think it’s the format of the show

R eeling It In C hris J enness that’s stilted, not the host, necessarily. As usual, there were few surprises as far as the awards go. The Academy Awards comes at the end of a long awards season, so the big winners have pretty much been spoiled by everything from the Actors Guild to the

Golden Globes. I kind of thought “Boyhood” would win more, but all the films it was up against looked to be just as worthy, so it’s no tragedy. This was a year for small, quirky films - good movies, but not the kind that will resonate through the ages. “Grand Budapest Hotel” was my favorite of the nominees, and it won a few, and “American Sniper,” the biggest of the nominees, picked up the expected sound awards but nothing more. The big win of the night went to perhaps the smallest of the Best Picture Nominees, a good movie, but an odd choice for the top prize in my See REEL, page B-2

B-2 Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015

Paris named host city for International Jazz Day 2015 By CHARLES J. GANS Associated Press

NEW YORK — Jazz musicians from around the world will gather this April in Paris for International Jazz Day, an event UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock hopes will bring an uplifting “positive message” to a city still reeling from last month’s terrorist attacks. Hancock and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bok-

ova announced Wednesday that Paris had been selected to be the global host city for the fourth annual International Jazz Day on April 30. Hancock said organizers initially considered Paris as the host city to celebrate its legendary place in jazz history, dating back nearly a century to World War I when African-American troops brought the music to France. But the deadly January attacks on the French satirical

. . . Arts Continued from page B-1

2016 and 2017 at the Kenai Fine Arts Center in Old Town Kenai. Artists applying for solo, shared or group shows, please provide the following: — Up to 12 labeled images (digital, slide, and or print) representative of recent work, with 3-D artists providing additional views of art works as needed. — A separate image sheet, including title of piece, media, dimensions and when the piece was made. — A proposal for your show (could include floor plan if needed). If you have a theme you are aiming for, this would be the place for that. — A one-page Artist Statement. Submit entries by mailing to: Peninsula a Art Guild/Kenai River Arts Council, P.O. Box 703, Kenai, AK 99611; by email to ourkfac@gmail. com; or drop off at the Kenai Fine Arts Center, 816 Cook Avenue, Old Town Kenai.

newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish food market have given this year’s event added significance, the jazz pianist said. “Jazz has been a bridge for bringing people together,” Hancock said in an interview. “It’s not sectarian and it’s not just for people of a particular ethnic group. It’s for human beings. We need to recognize that which makes us similar, while at the same time honoring that which makes us different.” Bokova said the event was also intended to be a highlight of yearlong observances of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. She said that in these turbulent times, the All-Star Global Concert at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters, to be offered on live stream around the world, offers a vital message. “Jazz is not simply music. Jazz is about civil rights, human dignity and dialogue among cultures,” said Bokova, interviewed by telephone from

Paris. “Jazz emphasizes the importance of creativity and freedom of expression.” Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, Al Jarreau and Marcus Miller will be among the American jazz stars performing at the concert climaxing Jazz Day celebrations. The international contingent includes trumpeters Hugh Masekela (South Africa) and Claudio Roditi (Brazil), saxophonists Igor Butman (Russia) and Guillaume Perret (France), and oud master Dhafer Youssef (Tunisia). The daylong program will include jazz education programs and performances in all 20 districts of Paris, said Tom Carter, president of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, which is presenting the event in partnership with UNESCO. Jazz Day events are also planned in nearly all 196 U.N. member states. Bokova said the initiative has spread quickly since its launch in 2012 when about 70 countries participated.

. . . Play

and I’m really annoying. Really annoying!” Vin Zant said that the cast members of Play On have begun to see similarities with the cast of Murder Most Foul. “We had a weekend rehearsal at my house, and we started noticing that we are our characters,” Vin Zant said. “We’re going through the exact same thing as them... It had been four and a half hours since we started rehearsal, almost nine o’clock, and I said ‘guys, does anyone need to call their parents?’ And the next line that somebody was supposed to say was ‘I have to get home soon because my mom doesn’t like me staying out late!’” Erfurth said that Play On! was “a unique opportunity.” “Because we can do the fun Edwardian overacting, overdramatized reactions thing — a parody of a play — and then we can do a play outside of that,” Erfurth said. “It’s really funny for anyone who’s ever done theatre to watch this, because it’s so close to home for everything you’ve experienced. That’s one of the beautiful things about theatre. It’s really stressful right until you actually do it, then the magic comes together, and the fact that this play kind of combined and acknowledged that experience of what it’s like to be part of a theatre group, but still gave us the opportunity to do almost two plays was kind of nice.” The Soldotna Drama Troupe’s performance of Play On! is part of a fundraising project for a trip to England in June. Erfurth said that she hopes it will be the final effort needed to fund the trip for many of her drama students. “Some of the kids are really close, others are not quite there because they haven’t been able to raise enough money,” said Erfurth. “We’re really hoping that this will be a big enough

Entertainment

Continued from page B-1

n A community choir, The Kenai Peninsula Singers, is open to everyone who wants to be there, whether it is their first time singing or they sang at The Met. The choir will rehearse every Tuesday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Kenai Central High School choir room. Call or email for more details: 907-283-2125 or simjnissen@gmail.com. n A bluegrass jam takes place on the first Sunday of the month at from 1-4 p.m. at the Mount Redoubt Baptist Church on South Lovers Loop in Nikiski. n The Flats Bistro on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Garrett Mayer on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Raymond MachenGray on Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. n Veronica’s Cafe in old town Kenai has open mic from 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, and live music Saturday at 6:30 p.m. n An all acoustic jam takes place every Thursday. The jam is at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna on the first Thursday of the month, and at the Kenai Senior Center during the rest of the month. Jam starts at 6:30 p.m. n AMVETS Post 4 is open to all military veterans and their families for support and camaraderie. Join us for Friday night tacos, or Saturday night steaks with Karaoke. Sunday afternoon its super hamburgers. Not a member? Stop by and we can show you how to become a part of this special veteran’s organization. AMVETS is located in the Red Diamond Center next door to IDEA Schools. n Sharpen your dart skills with a fun tournament every Sunday during the season at the AmVets in the Red Diamond Center. The number of players will determine the game. Sign up begins at 1 p.m. For more information call 262-3540. n Odie’s Deli in Soldotna has live music Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Pub Quiz night every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. n The Bow bar in Kenai has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and live music Fridays, Saturdays at 10 p.m. n Hooligans Saloon in Soldotna has poker Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 p.m. and live music Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. n The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and DJ Arisen on Saturdays. n Mykel’s in Soldotna has live music Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. with Robb Justice, and Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. with Bob Ramponi and Dave Unruh. n The Duck Inn will have live music from 7 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday with Robb Justice and Trio. n The Pinochle Club, formerly from Kasilof, plays at Hooligans Bar & Restaurant in Soldotna Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. Questions? Call Jay Vienup at 907-252-6397.

furth said. “They’re essentially learning the same script three different ways.” Another challenge has been learning the “mistakes” that the actors make in Murder Most Foul. “The problem with doing a play were you purposefully mess up the lines is that when you mess up the mess-up lines, then they get all flustered,” Erfurth said. “Sometimes it looks like it’s on purpose, and other times it derails the rest of the lines. It means you have to have the original lines down perfect, and you have to know each time how you mess them up.” In addition to doing three iterations of one botched play, most actors also have two characters — an actor in the “outer play,” and the character that actor plays in the “inner” murder mystery. “It means they have to have a really good sense of their outer character, in order to mess up believably,” Erfurth said. Soldotna High School Senior Paige Reide plays the actor Violet, as well as Violet’s murder mystery character Diana Lassiter. Reade was also the student who suggested the script to Erfurth. “I used to go to a performing arts center in Arizona, and they performed it my eighth grade year,” Reide said. “I really liked the idea, and I thought it was a great since we had a short amount of time, and the play’s about messing up.” Senior Courtney Vin Zant plays Phyllis, the aloof but demanding author of Murder Most Foul. “I am a terrible author,” said Vin Zant of her character. “My play makes absolutely no sense. I don’t know anything about it,

Markets, fairs and bazaars n The Nikiski Senior Center at 50810 Island Lake Road will hold their spring bazaar on March 27 and 28 (Friday and Saturday). Vendors may reserve a table at $10 per day/per table by calling the Nikiski Senior Center at 776-7654 and asking for Loretta. n Nikiski Community Recreation Center Spring Craft Fair is April 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Vendors may call 776-8800 to reserve space.

Films n Call Orca Theaters at 262-7003 for listings and times. n Call Kambe Cinemas at 283-4554 for listings and times.

. . . Reel

Down the Road

n The Pratt Museum in Homer is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www. Continued from page B-1 prattmuseum.org. Submissions may be emailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.

. . . Sez Continued from page B-1

and Paul McCartney allowed a string quartet on “Yesterday.” Cass Elliot became a Mama, John Lennon insulted Carol King, and drug songs were hip. And so, at years’ end, was the premiere of A Charlie Brown Christmas. I looked it up: time travel remains merely theoretical. Still, you can have the next best thing by reading “1965.” This book will have you humming along with songs you remember (or recognize, if you weren’t around then). Author Andrew Grant Jackson melds history, music, and little-known anecdotes as seamlessly as butter but what’s most fascinating about this book is seeing how times changed so completely in one year: we went from flattops to Beatle mops, from black segregation to Black is Beautiful, from “I Feel Fine” to “I Feel Good.” And, indeed, it was.

drunkenly, set fire to five hundred acres of California forest. The Byrds’ music “gave birth to the West Coast hippie dance style…” Girls wore shorter skirts and boys wore longer hair, which “angered” future presidential candidate Mitt Romney and he gave a classmate an impromptu haircut. By the summer of 1965, President Johnson launched Medicaid, Medicare, and escalated America ’s presence in Vietnam. Sonny and Cher got you, Babe; everybody was dancing at discotheques; Barry Gordy hired “a charm school teacher” to prepare the Supremes for stardom… and Watts burned. With 1965 winding down, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass’s album whipped up inThe Bookworm is Terri terest. Frank Sinatra insisted that Sammy Davis, Jr. be al- Schlichenmeyer. Email her at lowed to stay at Rat Pack hotels, bookwormsez@gmail.com.

opinion. “Birdman” should be most notable for the triumphant return to stardom of Michael Keaton, but his award was about the only one it didn’t win. “Birdman” is the story of Riggan Thomson, a former superstar who’s star has faded. After a blockbuster run playing the superhero “Birdman” in three films in the late eighties, Thomson turned down the big money and instead elected to try for a “serious” career. Now, twenty years since he last strapped on the wings, Thomson is trying for a last ditch career save by writing, producing, directing and starring in a Broadway adaptation of the Raymond Carver novel, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.” Broke, alone, and staring down the barrel of almost certainly dismal reviews, Riggan may be losing his grip on reality. His cast is a mess, his co-star, a troubled but brilliant actor in the vein of Val Kilmer, is out of control, his daughter hates him, and the voice in his head, that of “Birdman” himself, is an incessant reminder of a life full of wrong turns. As opening night fast approaches, the production goes C

into freefall, but it could be that freefall is where the most honest performances are found. “Birdman” is very good, and very intimate. Director Alejandro Iñárritu, and his fellow award-winning cinematographer achieve this intimacy, in part, by employing what, at first glance, seems like an annoying gimmick. The entire film, all ninety-some minutes of it, appears to be one long take. Think of it as the anti-“Taken.” The film takes place over the course of a week, the camera following the characters down stairways and hallways, onto the street, and soaring up and over the buildings as time speeds up and slows down. It sounds a little exhausting and seems like something that would get old quick, but to my surprise the camera work creates a remarkably close, personal feel. So often, the camera is pulled in close to Keaton’s face and the weight of his endeavor is palpable. The continuous-take technique also has the effect of speeding the story along. “Birdman” never lags. This is, without a doubt, an actor’s movie. The story is interesting, but feels more like a venue for some fairly remarkable scenes. Sometimes this can actually a detriment to the story as a whole, but in “Birdman,” it works. Keaton truly

AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File

In this Jan. 30, 2012 photo, jazz musician Herbert Jeffrey “Herbie” Hancock, performs as part of Unesco Headquarters’ in Paris Live Sets’, during a ceremonial launch of the World Heritage Convention’s 40th anniversary year.

Photos by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion

Eli Graham as “Dr. Forbes” threatens other cast members of “Play On!” during a rehearsal at the Triumverate North Theatre on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion

Sara Erfurth directs the cast of “Play On!” at a rehearsal at Triumverate North Theatre on Tuesday Feb. 24.

turn-out that they’ll be able to get that last amount in.” Erfurth said that “about half” of the students in the play are planning to go on the England trip. “The other half are just helping because they love drama,” Erfurth said. “Some of them are just volunteering their time, which is awesome.” Play On! will be performed

at Kenai’s Triumvirate North Theatre at 6:00 p.m on Feb. 26, 27, and 28. An Italian dinner, including coffee and desert, will served during the performance. Tickets will be $40. On Feb. 28, a $15 matinee, without dinner, will be presented at 2 p.m.

does a superb job - by far the best performance I’ve ever seen from an actor who always seemed like a solid comedic B-lister. Edward Norton, as Mike, is delightfully obnoxious and a huge pain to work with, but backs it up by being a really good actor - just like the real Edward Norton. There are myriad parallels to real life in “Birdman,” not the least of which is Keaton’s real-life run as the 1980’s big screen “Batman.” I have to imagine that Emma Stone, however, is nothing like the bitter, insecure, and ultimately fed-up daughter she plays so well in the film. Also good are Naomi Watts and Zach Galifinakis as co-star of the play and Riggan’s manager, respectively. “Birdman” is catching flack for some of it’s thematic material, but from what I saw, those with an axe to grind are reading too much into the film. For one, some have said it is unfairly critical of the current trend toward superhero movies and blockbuster effects films. Personally, I didn’t find that at all. The film never really answers whether our hero should have stopped being “Birdman,” just acknowledges that he’s conflicted about it. One criticism that can be fairly leveled against the movie is that it’s really just an hour and a half of Hollywood

navel-gazing, but so what? Actors and directors love movies about acting and directing, and so do most of the rest of us. That said, “Birdman,” though very good, doesn’t feel important or weighty enough to be the Best Picture of the Year. I guess that speaks to the entire nominee pool this year, but I also was disappointed with “Birdman’s” ending. The film comes to a definitive close - I won’t tell what happens other than to say it is somewhat jarring, and perhaps a little cliché. But then there comes another five minutes which, to my mind, make no sense whatsoever. This had the effect of leaving me rolling my eyes rather than applauding, which I would have been more than apt to do had the movie actually ended when it should have. I’m sure there’s symbolic meaning I’m missing. Overall, however, I was pleasantly surprised and legitimately moved by this intricate and intimate little dramedy. Mostly the movie soars, and if it crashes to the ground once or twice, so be it. Grade: A“Birdman” is rated R for language, sexual situations, and brief violence.

Reach Ben Boettger at ben. boettger@peninsulaclarion. com

Chris Jenness is a freelance graphic designer, artist and movie buff who lives in Nikiski.

CLASSIFIEDS C

Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015 B-3

www.peninsulaclarion.com classifieds@peninsulaclarion.com

Classified Index EMPLOYMENT Agriculture Computing & Engineering Construction & Trades Domestics, Childcare, Aides Drivers/ Transportation Education Finance & Accounting General Employment Healthcare Hospitality & Food Service Manufacturing & Production Oil & Refinery Office & Clerical Personal Care/Beauty Professional/ Management Real Estate, Leasing, Mortgage Retail Sales & Marketing Schools/Training Tourism Work Wanted

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE Commercial Property Condominiums/ Town Homes Farms/Ranches Homes Income Property Land Manufactured Mobile Homes Multiple Dwelling Out of Area for Sale Steel Building Vacation Property Wanted To Buy Waterfront Property

Drivers/Transportation CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA Position Vacancy DRIVER Pay $10.05 per hour. The Driver is a permanent part-time position, working 14 hours per week for the City of Kenai Senior Center. The Driver operates a City vehicle in order to bring seniors from their home to the Senior Center, various medical appointments, and shopping. This position requires daily contact with senior citizens, the public and other City employees. The applicant must be 18 years or older, have two years' experience working with the public or senior population. Must provide DMV drivers record and pass a state background check. Position announcement, job description and application are available through the Alaska Job Center Network, (907)335-3010. Submit resume and City of Kenai application form by March 6th , 2015 to Peninsula Job Service, 11312 Kenai Spur Hwy., Kenai, AK 99611. The City of Kenai is an equal opportunity employer. For more information about the City of Kenai, visit our home page www.ci.kenai.ak.us.

The City of Soldotna has an immediate opening for a regular full time Buildings Maintenance Technician in the Streets and Maintenance Department. This position performs tasks related to the operation and maintenance of the City including: public buildings, streets, storm drainage systems, parks, the Soldotna Municipal Airport, and other work as assigned. Review the complete job description at: http://ci.soldotna.ak.us/jobs.html. Must submit City application, resume and cover letter to: Human Resources at: 177 N. Birch Street, Soldotna, by email: tcollier@ci.soldotna.ak.us, or fax 866-596-2994 by 4:30 p.m., March 13, 2015. The City of Soldotna is an EEO employer.

General Employment

FINANCIAL Auctions Business for Sale Financial Opportunities Mortgage/Loans

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

Antiques/Collectibles Appliances Audio/Video Building Supplies Computers Crafts/Holiday Items Electronics Exercise Equipment Firewood Food Furniture Garage Sales Heavy Equipment/ Farm Machinery Lawn & Garden Liquidation Machinery & Tools Miscellaneous Music Musical Instructions Office/Business Equipment Vacations/Tickets Wanted To Buy

RECREATION Aircrafts & Parts All-Terrain Vehicles Archery Bicycles Boat Supplies/Parts Boats & Sail Boats Boat Charters Boats Commercial Campers/Travel Trailers Fishing Guns Hunting Guide Service Kayaks Lodging Marine Motor Homes/RVs Snowmobiles Sporting Goods

TRANSPORTATION Autos Classic/Custom Financing Motorcycles Parts & Accessories Rentals Repair & Services Sport Utilities, 4x4 Suburbans/Vans/ Buses Trucks Trucks: Commercial Trucks: Heavy Duty Trailers Vehicles Wanted

PETS & LIVESTOCK Birds Cats Dogs Horses Livestock Livestock Supplies Pet Services Pet Supplies

Kenaitze Indian Tribe is recruiting for the following Full Time Positions: MEDICAL DIRECTOR Serves the dual role of a clinical provider and clinical administrator. As an active member of the medical team the Medical Director provides assessments, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, crisis intervention, medications, staff consultation, and other medical services as needed. The Medical Director also provides lead ership and guidance to the medical core team, responsible for activities related to the delivery of medical care and services such as cost management, utilization review, quality assurance and performance improvement and medical protocol development. Also participates in panel management and population based care, staff meetings, and helping guide appropriate utilization of re sources. The Medical Director is responsible for clinical supervision of medical providers and has other administration duties as assigned. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICAL APPLICATIONS COORDINATOR Serves as a specialist/integrator in the implementation and ongoing support of multi-service clinical software applications used for the Dena'ina Wellness Center's Behavioral Health electronic health record (EHR). The incumbent is responsible to work with behavioral health staff and administration to implement, optimize, maintain, and upgrade the EHR through building functions and training end users to use the EHR to optimize daily functions. The position supports the daily interface between providers, support staff, and the electronic health record. Benefits include Holidays, Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave, Medical/Dental/Life & Accidental Death Insurance, 401(k)

NOTICES/ ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements Card of Thanks Freebies Lost/Found Personals/Notices Misc. Notices/ Announcements Worship Listings

Now Taking Applications. 25- 30 hours per week. Evenings to early morning shift. No experience necessary. Applicants must be able to lift up to 35 lbs. & be deadline orientated. Pre-employment substance abuse testing required. Applications available at the Clarion front office

Hospitality & Food Service THE RESTAURANT AT PORTERHOUSE GRILL in Sterling

General Employment

8am- 5pm, Monday-Friday. 150 Trading Bay Rd. in Kenai. The Peninsula Clarion is an E.O.E

Employment Agriculture Computing & Engineering Construction & Trades Domestics, Childcare, Aides Drivers/Transportation Education Finance & Accounting General Employment Healthcare Hospitality & Food Service Manufacturing & Production Oil & Refinery Office & Clerical Personal Care/Beauty Professional/ Management Real Estate, Leasing, Mortgage Retail Sales & Marketing Schools/Training Tourism Work Wanted

General Employment

NEWSPAPER CARRIER The Peninsula Clarion is accepting applications for a Newspaper Carrier.

•Must have own transportation. •Independent contractor status. •Home delivery - 6 days a week. •Must have valid Alaska drivers license. •Must furnish proof of insurance. •Copy of current driving record required

Drop off an application/resume at the

Peninsula Clarion 150 Trading Bay Road, Kenai

Real Estate For Sale

The Peninsula Clarion is an E.O.E.

Commercial Property Condominiums/Town Homes Farms/Ranches Homes Income Property Land Manufactured Mobile Homes Multiple Dwelling Out of Area for Sale Steel Building Vacation Property Wanted To Buy Waterfront Property

Healthcare

By bringing together Medical, Dental, and Behavioral Health Services, PCHS offers high quality, coordinated care for the entire family.

Rentals Apartments, Unfurnished Apartments, Furnished Cabins Condominiums Town Homes Duplex Homes Lots For Rent Manufactured/Mobile Homes Misc. Rentals Office Space Out of Area Rentals Rental Wanted Retail/Commercial Space Roommate Wanted Rooms For Rent Storage Rentals Vacation Rentals

PCHS has Full-time hire position for

EVENT COORDINATOR, Greater Soldotna Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Information Center. The successful applicant must have excellent customer service skills and attention to detail, have the ability to plan and organize large community events, manage multiple projects, be able to anticipate project needs, discern work priorities, meet deadlines, and be willing to work occasional evenings and weekends. Qualifications required are: High School Diploma, 1-2 years event planning experience preferred, but willing to make exceptions for the right candidate, experience in fundraising, exceptional organizational and project management skills, exceptional communication skills, proficiency in the Microsoft suite of products (i.e. PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher and Word). Ability to work independently and contribute in a team environment. Previous work experience in a Chamber of Commerce is desirable, as well as experience working for a non-profit organization. Salary is D.O.E. with benefits. Mail resumes to: Tami Murray, Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, 44790 Sterling Hwy., Soldotna, AK 99669 OR email: Director@soldotnachamber.com Application period closes March 6, 2015

• • • •

ALL TYPES OF RENTALS Property Management and Oversight Division 170 N. Birch Suite 101, Soldotna (907)262-2522 Mary.Parske@century21.com www.Century21FreedomRealty.com

Apartments, Unfurnished

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR RENT: ALASKA 1st REALTY 44045 Kalifornsky Beach Rd., Soldotna www.Alaska1stRealty.com, e-mail; Alaska1stRealtyInc@gmail.com, phone: (907)260-7653

Homes FIVE STAR REALTY Property Management Experts with more than 25 year experience.

Full-Time/ Part-Time Sous Chef/ Chef/ Steward/ Waitress Dishwasher/Admin. cashier Maintenance Laborer. Please apply in Person, Mile 84.5, 35590 Sterling Hwy., Sterling

For the job description or to apply visit our website at: http://kenaitze.applicantpro.com. For questions call 907-335-7200. P.L. 93-638 applies

SERVICES Appliance Repair Auction Services Automotive Repair Builders/Contractors Cabinetry/Counters Carpentry/Odd Jobs Charter Services Child Care Needed Child Care Provided Cleaning Services Commercial Fishing Education/Instruction Excavating/Backhoe Financial Fishing Guide Services Health Home Health Care Household Cleaning Services House-sitting Internet Lawn Care & Landscaping Masonry Services Miscellaneous Services Mortgages Lenders Painting/Roofing Plumbing/Heating/ Electric Satellite TV Snow Removal Tax Services Travel Services Tree Services Veterinary Water Delivery Well Drilling

KENAI, AK Come join a family-friendly, innovative work environment. The Kenaitze Indian Tribe has opened our Dena'ina Wellness Center, featuring an integrated model of care. Employees at Kenaitze Indian Tribe deliver health, social service, education and tribal court services to tribal members, Alaska Native/American Indian people and others. Kenaitze Indian Tribe is recruiting for the following Full Time Position: GENERAL LEDGER CLERK The General Ledger Clerk, under the supervision of the Controller, reconciles purchasing cards monthly, enters cash receipts and journal entries. Provides support for accounts payable, payroll, accounts receivable, and other accounting functions of the Tribe's accounting department as needed. Benefits include Holidays, Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave, Medical/Dental/Life & Accidental Death Insurance, 401(k) For the job description or to apply visit our website at http://kenaitze.applicantpro.com. For questions call 907-335-7200. P.L. 93-638 applies

NEWSPAPER INSERTER

Apartments, Unfurnished

CITY OF SOLDOTNA EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Buildings Maintenance Technician Wage Range 15 $28.59-$36.96 Non-Exempt

Join the Clarion Newspaper Team!

REAL ESTATE RENTALS Apartments, Unfurnished Apartments, Furnished Cabins Condominiums/ Town Homes Duplex Homes Lots For Rent Manufactured/Mobile Homes Misc. Rentals Office Space Out of Area Rentals Rental Wanted Retail/Commercial Space Roommate Wanted Rooms For Rent Storage Rentals Vacation Rentals

Healthcare

General Employment

To place an ad call 907-283-7551

Care Coordinator Behavioral Health Clinician Certified Medical Assistant Dental Assistant

PCHS has Part-time hire position for

• Individual Service Provider Positions will be open until filled. Job description and application available online at www.pchsak.org Careers Please send cover letter, resume & application to: Human Resources, 230 E. Marydale Ave., Suite 3, Soldotna, AK, 99669 or fax to 907/260-7358. PCHS is an equal opportunity employer.

Apartments, Unfurnished

CHECK US OUT

Online

2-BEDROOM Townhouse, 1.5-bath, washer/dryer. No pets. No smoking. $775. plus utilities/ deposit. (907)398-6110. REDOUBT VIEW Soldotna’s best value! Quiet, freshly painted, close to schools. 1-Bedroom from $625. 2-Bedroom from $725. 3-Bedroom, 2-bath, from $825. No pets. (907)262-4359.

www.peninsulaclarion.com

PUBLIC NOTICES/ LEGAL ADS Adoptions Articles of Incorporation Bids Foreclosures Government Misc. Notices Notice to Creditors Public Notices Regulations

Cash in on your

$$$ TRASH! $$$ The Classifieds Can Help.

283-7551

Apartments, Unfurnished SOLDOTNA 1-Bedroom, 1-bath, apartment, washer/dryer No smoking/ pets. $750. (907)252-7355.

Apartments, Furnished EFFICIENCY 1-Person basement unit Downtown Kenai, quiet, adult building. No smoking/ pets, $575. including tax/ utilities. Security deposit/ lease. (907)283-3551. KENAI Furnished efficiency. Cable & utilities included except electric. No pets, $625. (907)283-5203, (907)398-1642. SOLDOTNA 4-PLEX Furnished 2-Bedroom, washer/dryer. $875. includes utilities. (907)394-4201, (907)394-4200. SOLDOTNA Furnished Studio. Shady Lane Apartments. $625. Heat & cable included. No pets. (907)398-1642, (907)283-5203.

Cabins 1-BEDROOM On Kasilof River furnished, washer/dryer, private. $950. includes utilities. (907)262-7405.

Homes 3-BEDROOM, 2-BATH Sterling. Fully furnished. No pets/smoking. $850. month + utilities Seasonal (907)229-2648 FOR RENT $1,100 all utilities included, fully equipped and furnished 1 Bedroom house on Spur Hwy. Kenai, 953-2222. References required

Manufactured/ Mobile Homes 2-BEDROOM 2-bath washer/dryer. Scout Lake area. Prefer quiet tenant. $700 monthly. $500 deposit. Small dog on approval. (907)394-8948

Available in the Office Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00 Diane Melton, Owner/Broker We provide 24 hour emergency service. Five Star Realty Always reach for the Stars Phone: 262-2880

Manufactured/ Mobile Homes PRIVATE MOBILE HOME. Very private mobile home on 120 beautiful acres. Property has 1 bathroom and 4 bed rooms including large 2 bedroom addition. New flooring throughout. Rent is $800.00 plus gas and electric. Come take a look. Call 907-776-8072.

Financial Auctions Business for Sale Financial Opportunities Mortgages/Loans

Auctions FUR AUCTION on 2/28 & 3/7 @ 11am-3pm. (bidder number not req'd) Hide & Horn Auction on 3/1: AK State surplus hides, horns & antlers. Pre-auction inspection @ 9am / Pre-registration of bidders required by 11:45am/Auction starts @ 12noon. (bidder number required). 3rd & E St Carnival Buttress area. www.facebook.com/ SCCATA

Merchandise For Sale Antiques/Collectibles Appliances Audio/Video Building Supplies Computers Crafts/Holiday Items Electronics Exercise Equipment Firewood Food Furniture Garage Sales Heavy Equipment/ Farm Machinery Lawn/Garden Liquidation Machinery & Tools Miscellaneous Music Musical Instructions Office/Business Equipment Vacations/Tickets Wanted To Buy

Miscellaneous 14’ ALUMINUM BOAT w/Trailer. Includes fish finder, electric motor, chair, battery, life vest, oar, $1,000. 7MM Magnum Rifle, 22 Rifle, both $400. 776-5495

www buyfivestarak.com

Miscellaneous JEEP 4.0 LITER ENGINE Late 90s Jeep 4.0 liter engine $250 252-9213

Recreation Aircrafts & Parts All-Terrain Vehicles Archery Bicycles Boat Supplies/Parts Boats & Sail Boats Boats Charter Boats Commercial Campers/Travel Trailers Fishing Guns Hunting Guide Service Kayaks Lodging Marine Motor Homes/RVs Snow Mobiles Sporting Goods

Snowmobiles OWNER FINANCE (Mobile Home in Soldotna). THIS HOME IS FOR SALE IN-TOWN (SOLDOTNA) OWNER FINANCED FOR QUICK APPROVAL & MOVE IN 3 Bedrooms – 1 &1/2 Bath All new flooring, Natural Gas forced air heat, all appliances included: stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer.Terms: Owner Financed at $42,500. Down Payment of $2,000.00 Monthly Payment $ 550.00 Park Space Rent $300.00 per month(includes water/sewer/garbage) Call for more details (please leave message) Note: this home must be occupied by the owner only; it cannot be purchased to rent out. All homes are owner occupied

Transportation Autos Classic/Custom Financing Motorcycles Parts & Accessories Rentals Repair & Services Sport Utilities, 4x4 Suburbans/Vans/ Buses Trucks Trucks: Commercial Trucks: Heavy Duty Trailers Vehicles Wanted

Advertise Online Today! www.peninsulaclarion.com

B-4 Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015

Advertise “By the Month” or save $ with a 3, 6 or 12 month contract. Call Advertising Display 283-7551 to get started!

Advertise in the Service Directory today! - Includes Dispatch. 283-7551

HaveGENERAL ToolsCONTRACTING Will Travel

Tim’s

Licensed, Bonded & Insured

35158 KB Drive Soldotna, aK 99669

24/7 PLUMBING AND

252-3965

35 Years Construction Experience

fax 907-262-6009

HEATING

No matter how old your system is we can make it more efficient. FREE Kenai: 283-1063 Text us at: ESTIMATES Nikiski: 776-8055 394-4017 email us at: linton401@gmail.com Soldotna: 262-1964 394-4018 UNLIMITED MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS License # 34609

907-260-roof (7663) Member of the Kenai Peninsula Builders Association

www.rainproofroofing.com

Roofing

Plumbing & Heating

Do you look forward to your gas bill each month? If not, you should call

ROOFING

Installation

130 S Willow Street, Suite 8 • Kenai, AK 99611

Notice to Consumers The State of Alaska requires construction companies to be licensed, bonded and insured before submitting bids, performing work, or advertising as a construction contractor in accordance with AS 08..18.011, 08.18.071, 08.18.101, and 08.15.051. All advertisements as a construction contractor require the current registration number as issued by the Division of Occupational Licensing to appear in the advertisement. CONSUMERS MAY VERIFY REGISTRATION OF A CONTRACTOR . Contact the AK Department of Labor and Workforce Development at 907-269-4925 or The AK Division of Occupational Licensing in Juneau at 907-4653035 or at www.dced.state.ak.us/acc/home.htm

Computer Repair, Networking Dell Business Partner Web Design & Hosting

Roofing

283-3362

Computer Problems Call Today ( 9 0 7 ) 2 8 3 - 5 1 1 6

• Carpentry • General Handyman Work • Sheetrock • Painting • Woodwork • Tree Removal • Hauling • Cleanup & Repairs • Decks • Kitchen Remodels • Bath • Siding • Remodels • Unfinished Projects?

Construction

Computer Repair

Cleaning

Tim Wisniewski, owner • Residential & Commercial • Emergency Water Removal • Janitorial Contracts • Upholstery Cleaning

Notices

LLC

Lic #39710

– Based in Kenai & Nikiski –

Trucks

Reddi Towing & Junk Car Killers Towing

Seamless Gutters

Small Engine Repair

Long Distance Towing

Slide Backs • Winch Out Services • Auto Sales Vehicle Storage • Roll Over Recoveries

Health

Notice to Creditors IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT AT KENAI

2007 CHEVY 2500 Duramax 2500HD, Allison Transmission, diesel. In good shape, 111,000 miles, basic interior, cloth seats, manual windows, etc. Lear Canopy. $16,000 398-4210

In the Matter of the Estate

) ) ) )

of ALICE MAE JOHNSON

) ) )

Deceased.

Pets & Livestock

Case No. 3KN-15-00011

Birds Cats Dogs Horses Livestock Livestock Supplies Pet Services Pet Supplies

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the said deceased are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must be presented to the undersigned Personal Representative of the estate, at DOLIFKA & ASSOCIATES, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, P.O. Box 498, Soldotna, Alaska, 99669.

Health

Dogs

PR/E

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ASIAN MASSAGE Healing Touch Wonderful, Relaxing Call Anytime (907)741-2662 or (907)598-4999

URAI TRADITIONAL THAI MASSAGE

DATED this 17th day February, 2015 CO-PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES DONALD JOHNSON KENNETH JOHNSON PUBLISH: 2/19, 26, 3/5, 2015

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT AT KENAI

Pawsitive training for all dogs & puppies. Agility, Conformation, Obedience, Privates & Rally. www.kenaikennelclub.com (907)335-2552

In the Matter of the Estate

) ) ) )

of JAMES MICHAEL DALY

*RELAXING THAI MASSAGE* Located in the Red Diamond Center on K-Beach Rd. Open: Monday - Saturday 11:00a.m. - 6:00p.m. Call for your appointment today! (907)395-7315, (907)740-1669

Services Appliance Repair Auction Services Automotive Repair Builders/Contractors Cabinetry/Counters Carpentry/Odd Jobs Charter Services Child Care Needed Child Care Provided Cleaning Services Commercial Fishing Education/Instruction Excavating/Backhoe Financial Fishing Guide Services Health Home Health Care Household Cleaning Services House-sitting Internet Lawn Care & Landscaping Masonry Services Miscellaneous Services Mortgages Lenders Painting/Roofing Plumbing/Heating/ Electric Satellite TV Services Snow Removal Tax Services Travel Services Tree Services Veterinary Water Delivery Well Drilling

Project Name: VIP Drive Paving LID 2015 Pre Bid Meeting: 2:30 PM Tuesday March 10, 2015 at City Hall Last Day for Questions: 5PM Wednesday March 11, 2015 Bid Due Date and Time: No later than 2PM Monday March 23, 2015 Scope of Work: Quantities are approximate. Bidders should contact the Public Works Department at (907) 283-8236 to be placed on the plans holders list. Bids must be delivered in a sealed envelope clearly marked with the project name to the Public Works Department at the address above. Bid documents can be obtained on City of Kenai website at: www.ci.kenai.ak.us or at City Hall for a non-refundable fee of $20.00 including sale tax for each set of documents. This contract may be subject to the provisions of the State of Alaska Title 36 Wage and Hour Administration Pamphlet Statutes and Regulations and may require 100% performance and payment bonds. PUBLISH: 2/26, 3/3, 2015

2106/211

DATED this 16th day February, 2015 PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE PATRICK DAY DALY PUBLISH: 2/19, 26, 3/5, 2015

Notice to Creditors IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT AT KENAI In the Matter of the Estate

) ) ) )

of ROBERT DUNCAN GRAHAM

) ) )

Deceased. Case No. 3KN-15-00013

PR/E

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the said deceased are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must be presented to the undersigned Personal Representative of the estate, at DOLIFKA & ASSOCIATES, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, P.O. Box 498, Soldotna, Alaska, 99669.

PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE LINDA J. GRAHAM PUBLISH: 2/19, 26, 3/5, 2015

Announcements Card of Thanks Freebies Lost/Found Personals/Notices Misc. Notices/ Announcements Worship Listings

Public Notices/ Legal Ads

DecideToDrive.org

AAOS_news_2column.indd 2

2094/6090

DATED this 17th day February, 2015

Notices/ Announcements

Adoptions Articles of Incorporation Bids Foreclosures Government Misc. Notices Notice to Creditors Public Notices Regulations

283-7551

Clarion Classifieds work for you! Buy it, Sell it, Find it...

PR/E

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID

NEED PICTURES? of special occasions, people, pets or your business? We can help! We are located in the Kenai area for "on location" photos. Call Teresa 580/821-2265 or email reflectionsoflife@outlook.com.

www.peninsulaclarion.com

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Bids

Miscellaneous Services

) ) )

Deceased. Case No. 3KN-15-00016

just your tows!

907. 776 . 3967

2097/6090

Notice to Creditors KENAI KENNEL CLUB

We don’t want your fingers,

2/23/11 9:10 AM

2098/6090

Call 283-7551

Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015 B-5

Would you like to have your business highlighted in Yellow Advantage?

),1' $1< %86,1(66 $1< 6(59,&( $1< 7,0( $7 PENINSULACLARION &20

â&#x20AC;˘ Reach readers in the newspaper and online that are ready, willing and able to buy your goods and services. â&#x20AC;˘ Have your business stand out from the competition by creating top of mind awareness. â&#x20AC;˘ Ads appear EVERYDAY in the newspaper â&#x20AC;˘ Easy to use online search engine puts your business ahead of the competion. â&#x20AC;˘ Update your ads and listings frequently.

Peninsula Clarion Display Advertising

(907) 283-7551

025( ,1)2

*HW FRXSRQV DQG VSHFLDO RIIHUV

180%(5

*HW SKRQH QXPEHUV

:(% 6,7(

0$36

9LVLW EXVLQHVV ZHEVLWHV *HW GLUHFWLRQV

)RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ FDOO Display Advertising DW 907 283-7551

Get your business listed 283-7551

Emergency Dentistry Cook Inlet Dental James Halliday, DMD

Boots

Walters & Associates

35081 Kenai Spur Hwy. Soldotna .......................262-5916

Extractions, Crowns, Bridges Root Canals, Dentures, Partials Emergency appts. available DKC/Medicaid

908 Highland Ave. Kenai............................. 283-0454

Automotive Insurance

Full Color Printing PRINTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INK alias@printers-ink.com

Located in the Willow Street Mall

283-4977

130 S. Willow St. #8 Kenai............................. 283-5116

Home delivery is just a phone call away!

130 S. Willow St. #8 Kenai............................. 283-5116

Contractor AK Sourdough Enterprises

150 Trading Bay Road, Suite 2 Kenai

283-3584

Located in the Willow Street Mall

Business Cards

Walters & Associates

Every Day in your Peninsula Clarion â&#x20AC;˘ www.peninsulaclarion.com

Computer Repair

Sweeneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clothing

Carhartt

Residential/Commercial Construction & Building Maintenance *Specializing in custom finish trim/cabinets* 35 yrs experience in Alaska

Kenai ................................335-0559 Cell....................................350-0559

Get all your news online today!

Sweeneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clothing 35081 Kenai Spur Hwy. Soldotna .......................262-5916

ZZZ peninsulaclarion FRP

www.peninsulaclarion.com

Win

Dentistry

Funeral Homes

Outdoor Clothing

Peninsula Memorial Chapels & Crematory Kenai........................................283-3333 Soldotna ..................................260-3333 Homer...................................... 235-6861 Seward.....................................224-5201

Cook Inlet Dental James Halliday, DMD Extractions, Crowns, Bridges Root Canals, Dentures, Partials Emergency appts. available DKC/Medicaid

908 Highland Ave. Kenai............................. 283-0454

Insurance

Family Dentistry

Sweeneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clothing

AK Sourdough Enterprises

35081 Kenai Spur Hwy. Soldotna .......................262-5916

Residential/Commercial Construction & Building Maintenance *Specializing in custom finish trim/cabinets* 35 yrs experience in Alaska

Print Shops

Kenai ................................335-0559 Cell....................................350-0559

Full Color Printing PRINTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INK

AK Sourdough Enterprises

alias@printers-ink.com

Residential/Commercial Construction & Building Maintenance *Specializing in custom finish trim/cabinets* 35 yrs experience in Alaska

150 Trading Bay Road, Suite 2 Kenai............................. 283-4977

Walters & Associates Located in the Willow Street Mall

130 S. Willow St. #8 Kenai............................. 283-5116

Cook Inlet Dental James Halliday, DMD

Remodeling

Kenai ................................335-0559 Cell....................................350-0559

Rack Cards

Find Great Deals Today!

Full Color Printing PRINTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INK

Extractions, Crowns, Bridges Root Canals, Dentures, Partials Emergency appts. available DKC/Medicaid

in the

alias@printers-ink.com

908 Highland Ave. Kenai............................. 283-0454

Circulation Hotline

B G in the Classifieds.

150 Trading Bay Road, Suite 2 Kenai............................. 283-4977

Dispatch

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to buy, sell or trade the Classifieds are the best way to find just what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re searching for.

283-7551 www.peninsulaclarion.com Peninsula Clarion

www.peninsulaclarion.com â&#x20AC;˘ 150 Trading Bay Road, Suite #1, Kenai, Alaska 99611 â&#x20AC;˘ 283-7551 â&#x20AC;˘ FAX 283-3299 â&#x20AC;˘ Monday - Friday 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

Classified Ad Rates Number of Days Run

THURSDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING A

(8) CBS-11 11 (9) FOX-4

(10) NBC-2

(12) PBS-7

4:30

Justice With Judge Mablean â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Insider (N)

(3) ABC-13 13 (6) MNT-5

4 PM

Supreme Justice

The Ellen DeGeneres Show KTVA 5 p.m. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; First Take Mike & Molly Entertainment Anger ManTonight (N) agement â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 4 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Dr. Oz Show â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Channel 2 News 5:00 2 Report (N) Wild Kratts â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wild Kratts BBC World â&#x20AC;&#x153;Skunked!â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; News Ameri7 ca â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

CABLE STATIONS

(30) TBS (31) TNT

138 245

(34) ESPN 140 206 (35) ESPN2 144 209 (36) ROOT 426 687 (38) SPIKE 241 241

ABC World News

CBS Evening News Two and a Half Men â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; NBC Nightly News (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Alaska Weather â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

6 PM

6:30

7 PM

B = DirecTV

7:30

Jeopardy! (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Wheel of For- Greyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anatomy â&#x20AC;&#x153;Staring at tune (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the Endâ&#x20AC;? Herman and Arizona bond. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Celebrity Celebrity The Mentalist â&#x20AC;&#x153;Red All Overâ&#x20AC;? Name Game Name Game A media mogul is murdered. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; KTVA 6 p.m. Evening Big Bang (:31) The Odd News (N) Theory Couple The Big Bang The Big Bang American Idol â&#x20AC;&#x153;Top 12 Girls Theory â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Theory â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Performâ&#x20AC;? The top 12 girls perform. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Channel 2 Newshour (N) The Slap Anouk learns she is pregnant. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; PBS NewsHour (N)

8 PM

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

8:30

9 PM

9:30 10 PM 10:30 11 PM 11:30

How to Get Away With Murder â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Night Lila Died; Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All ABC News at (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (:37) Nightline (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; My Faultâ&#x20AC;? (N) 10 (N) The Mentalist â&#x20AC;&#x153;18-5-4â&#x20AC;? The death of a math genius. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Everybody Everybody Loves Ray- Loves Raymond â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mond â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Big Bang Mom (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret Swim Theory Special (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Backstrom A fortune teller is Fox 4 News at 9 (N) murdered. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

The Blacklist A killer who Allegiance The Rezident tracks victims like prey. doubts Mark and Katya. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Jewel in the Crown Poirot Poirotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pursuit of an art thief leads him (:31) Italian Barbie leaves; Susanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sanity to a snowbound hotel in the Swiss Alps. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Americans in snaps. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; California

Paid Program The Office The Wendy Williams Show â&#x20AC;&#x153;Company (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Picnicâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; KTVA Night- (:35) Late Show With David The Late Late cast Letterman (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Show Anger Man- Two and a TMZ (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Entertainment Tonight agement â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Half Men â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Channel 2 News: Late Edition (N) Italian Americans in California

(:34) The Tonight Show Star- (:36) Late ring Jimmy Fallon â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Night With Seth Meyers Italian Ameri- Charlie Rose (N) cans in California

SATELLITE PROVIDERS MAY CARRY A DIFFERENT FEED THAN LISTED HERE. THESE LISTINGS REFLECT LOCAL CABLE SYSTEM FEEDS.

Celebrity Wife Swap Dara 108 252 Gottfried and Tanya Thicke. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Law & Order: Special Vic105 242 tims Unit â&#x20AC;&#x153;Behaveâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Friends â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Friends â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 139 247

(28) USA

News & Views (N)

5:30

Inside Edition Family Feud Family Feud (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funniest Home (8) WGN-A 239 307 Videos â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (3:00) Dooney & Bourke â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (20) QVC 137 317 (23) LIFE

5 PM

A = DISH

How I Met How I Met Your Mother Your Mother Shoe Shopping With Jane â&#x20AC;&#x153;Clarksâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Celebrity Wife Swap Andy Dickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ex and Lorenzo Lamasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wife. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Seinfeld â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Seinfeld â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Brisâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Outlaw Country Brothers reawaken a feud. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; E.D. On Air With Ellen DeGeneres â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Celebrity Wife Swap Celebrity wives trade places. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Outlaw Country Brothers reawaken a feud. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Computer Shop â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Rules of En- Rules of En- Parks and Parks and gagement gagement Recreation Recreation 27th Annual Big Bonanza Silver Sale (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Celebrity Wife Swap D.J. Celebrity Wife Swap Judy Paul and Plaxico Burress. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gold and Penn Jillette. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trophyâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Seinfeld â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Seinfeld â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Barberâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

(:02) Celebrity Wife Swap Robin Leach and Eric Roberts. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Big Bang The Big Bang Theory â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Theory â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Law & Order: Special Vic- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; tims Unit â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Family Guy Family Guy Family Guy Family Guy â&#x20AC;&#x153;Meg Stinks!â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chap Stewieâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bla-ack!â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; NBA Basketball Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers. From Quick- NBA Basketball Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix Suns. From US Airways Inside the NBA (N) (Live) en Loans Arena in Cleveland. (N) (Live) Center in Phoenix. (N) (Live) (3:00) College Basketball College Basketball Teams TBA. (N) (Live) SportsCenter (N) (Live) SportsCenter (N) (Live) SportsCenter (N) (Live) Teams TBA. (N) (Live) (3:00) College Basketball College Basketball Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Basketball 30 for 30 30 for 30 Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Shorts Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College Basketball The Game Graham College Basketball BYU at Portland. From Chiles Center in College Basketball St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at San Francisco. From War 365 Bensinger Portland, Ore. (N) (Live) Memorial Gymnasium in San Francisco. Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Jail â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Raising Hope Raising Hope 30 Rock â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 30 Rock â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 27th Annual Big Bonanza Silver Sale â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

(:02) Celebrity Wife Swap Coolioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Mark McGrathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mates. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Modern Fam- Modern Family â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ily â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conan Mindy Kaling; A.J. Jacobs; D.J. Demers. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

(:02) Celebrity Wife Swap D.J. Paul and Plaxico Burress. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Modern Fam- Modern Family â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ily â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Office Conan â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Todd Packerâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; NBA Basketball Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers. From Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. SportsCenter (N) (Live) SportsCenter NFL Live (N)

2014 World Series of Poker

College Basketball Arizona State at Utah. From Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cops â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Jail â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Jail â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

(2:00) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ram- â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elevenâ&#x20AC;? (2001, Comedy-Drama) George Clooney, Matt Damon. A â&#x20AC;&#x153;Titanicâ&#x20AC;? (1997, Historical Drama) Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane. A woman falls for an artist aboard the ill-fated ship. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (43) AMC 131 254 bo IIIâ&#x20AC;? suave ex-con assembles a team to rob a casino vault. Elevenâ&#x20AC;? King of the King of the The Cleve- The Cleve- American American Family Guy Family Guy Robot Mike Tyson Squidbillies Family Guy Family Guy American American Robot (46) TOON 176 296 Hill â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hill â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; land Show land Show Dad â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dad â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Chicken Mysteries â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dad â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dad â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Chicken Wild West Alaska Phred Wild West Alaska â&#x20AC;&#x153;Smooth Wild West Alaska â&#x20AC;&#x153;Midnight Wild West Alaska â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Ulti- Wild West Alaska â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fathers Wild West Alaska â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let the Wild West Alaska â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fathers Wild West Alaska â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let the (47) ANPL 184 282 challenges the men. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Criminalâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Madnessâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mate Retreatâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and Sonsâ&#x20AC;? (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Games Beginâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and Sonsâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Games Beginâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dog With a Dog With a Girl Meets Girl Meets Jessie â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; K.C. Under- â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zappedâ&#x20AC;? (2014, Comedy) Zendaya, Spencer (:45) Mickey I Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Do Liv & Mad- I Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Do A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Good Luck (49) DISN 173 291 Blog â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Blog â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; World â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; World â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cover â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Y7â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Boldman, Chanelle Peloso. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mouse â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; It â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; die â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; It â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Charlie â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Charlie â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; iCarly â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; iCarly Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sam & Cat â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Thunder- To Be Announced Full House â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Full House â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Full House â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Full House â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Fresh Prince Fresh Prince Friends â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (:36) Friends (:12) Everybody Loves Ray (50) NICK 171 300 crush. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mans â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; mond â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Boy Meets Boy Meets Boy Meets Boy Meets â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zookeeperâ&#x20AC;? (2011) Kevin James. Talking animals teach â&#x20AC;&#x153;Liar Liarâ&#x20AC;? (1997, Comedy) Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney. A The 700 Club â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gilmore Girls â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the (51) FAM 180 311 World â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; World â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; World â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; World â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; their shy caretaker how to woo a woman. fast-talking lawyer cannot tell a lie. Rubâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; My Big Fat American Gypsy My Big Fat American Gypsy My Big Fat American Gypsy My Big Fat American Gypsy My Big Fat American Gypsy Welcome to Myrtle Manor My Big Fat American Gypsy Welcome to Myrtle Manor (55) TLC 183 280 Wedding â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wedding â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wedding â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wedding â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wedding (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hello, Baby!â&#x20AC;? (N) Wedding â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hello, Baby!â&#x20AC;? Street Outlaws â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Alaska: The Last Frontier Alaska: The Last Frontier Alaska: The Last Frontier Alaska: The Last Frontier Alaska: The Last Frontier Alaska: The Last Frontier Alaska: The Last Frontier (56) DISC 182 278 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before the Freezeâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fueling the Fireâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dead of Winterâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spring Has Sprungâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before the Freezeâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fueling the Fireâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Man v. Food Man v. Food Bizarre Foods With Andrew Man v. Food Man v. Food Expedition Unknown Expedition Unknown â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beale The Layover With Anthony Anthony Bourdain: No Res- Expedition Unknown â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beale (57) TRAV 196 277 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Zimmern â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ciphersâ&#x20AC;? (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bourdain â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ervations â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sardiniaâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ciphersâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Vikings A mysterious wan- (:03) Vikings A mysterious (:01) Pawn (:31) Pawn (58) HIST 120 269 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; derer turns up. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; wanderer turns up. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Stars â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Stars â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The First 48 A man is mur- The First 48 â&#x20AC;&#x153;On Ice; Overkillâ&#x20AC;? The First 48 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bad Attitude; The First 48 The murder of a After the First 48 A man is (:01) Nightwatch â&#x20AC;&#x153;Full Moon (:02) Nightwatch SWAT team (:01) The First 48 The murIce rink worker killed; Miami Strappedâ&#x20AC;? Stabbing victim in father shot in the back. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; gunned down in Rochester, Risingâ&#x20AC;? EMTs deal with operation; river rescue. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; der of a father shot in the (59) A&E 118 265 dered in a trailer park. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; murder. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dallas. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; N.Y. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; strange calls. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; back. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Rehab Ad- Rehab Ad- Rehab Ad- Rehab Ad- Rehab Ad- Rehab Ad- Fixer Upper Houses in Wood- Rehab Addict Rehab Ad- House Hunt- Hunters Intâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l House Hunt- Hunters Intâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Rehab Ad- Rehab Ad (60) HGTV 112 229 dict â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dict â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dict â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dict â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dict â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dict â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; way, Texas. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dict â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ers â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ers â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dict â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dict â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Worst Cooks in America Chopped â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rattle & Rollâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Chopped Ingredients that are Chopped Reality stars battle Chopped Canada A preBeat Bobby Duff Till Dawn Cutthroat Kitchen â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Chopped Canada A pre (61) FOOD 110 231 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Final Food Fightâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hard to identify. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for charity. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; packaged staple. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Flay â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; packaged staple. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Shark Tank Beer-infused ice American Greed â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Con American Greed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Charity American Greed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ea$y Be- American Greed â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Cash American Greed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Charity Paid Program Paid Program Paid Program Paid Program (65) CNBC 208 355 cream. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Deadly Revengeâ&#x20AC;? Begins At Homeâ&#x20AC;? (N) ing Greenâ&#x20AC;? Kingâ&#x20AC;? Begins At Homeâ&#x20AC;? The Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly Factor (N) The Kelly File (N) Hannity (N) The Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly Factor The Kelly File Hannity On the Record With Greta Red Eye (N) (67) FNC 205 360 Van Susteren (:07) Futura- The Nightly Daily Show/ (:41) South (:13) South (:45) Broad (:15) Worka- (:45) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bayâ&#x20AC;? (2008) Kal Penn, Daily Show/ The Nightly At Midnight This Is Not (81) COM 107 249 ma â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Show Jon Stewart Park â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Park â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; City â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; holics â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; John Cho. The high-flying stoners are mistaken for terrorists. Jon Stewart Show With Chris Happening (3:00) â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Cabin in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Silent Hill: Revelationâ&#x20AC;? (2012, Horror) Adelaide Clemens. WWE SmackDown! â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wizard Wars Mentalists from Close Up Kings â&#x20AC;&#x153;Miamiâ&#x20AC;? Wizard Wars Mentalists from (82) SYFY 122 244 Woodsâ&#x20AC;? (2011, Horror) Demonic forces threaten to engulf a teenager. Montreal. (N) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Montreal.

PREMIUM STATIONS ! HBO 303 504 ^ HBO2 304 505 + MAX 311 516 5 SHOW 319 546 8 TMC

329 554

SATELLITE PROVIDERS MAY CARRY A DIFFERENT FEED THAN LISTED HERE. THESE LISTINGS REFLECT LOCAL CABLE SYSTEM FEEDS.

(:15) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pacific Rimâ&#x20AC;? (2013, Science Fiction) Charlie Hunnam, Diego KlatThe Jinx: (:15) The Jinx: The Life and The Jinx: The Life and tenhoff, Idris Elba. Humans pilot giant robots to fight monstrous creatures. The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Deaths of Robert Durst â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PG-13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Deaths (2:35) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Herâ&#x20AC;? Game of (:15) â&#x20AC;&#x153;X-Men: The Last Standâ&#x20AC;? (2006, Action) Hugh Jack- Girls â&#x20AC;&#x153;Close Togetherness Rosie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell: A Heartfelt (2013) Thrones: A man, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen. A cure for mutations Upâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Stand Up â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Day divides the X-Men. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PG-13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (3:30) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Austin Powers: In- â&#x20AC;&#x153;Escape Planâ&#x20AC;? (2013, Action) Sylvester Stallone, Arnold â&#x20AC;&#x153;47 Roninâ&#x20AC;? (2013, Adventure) Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki ternational Man of Mysteryâ&#x20AC;? Schwarzenegger, Jim Caviezel. A security expert must break Sanada, Tadanobu Asano. Outcast samurai seek revenge on (1997) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PG-13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; out of a formidable prison. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122; a treacherous overlord. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PG-13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (2:50) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Passing Strange The Making â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last Vegasâ&#x20AC;? (2013) Michael Douglas. Four (:15) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Step Up Revolutionâ&#x20AC;? (2012, Drama) Ryan Guzman, The Movieâ&#x20AC;? (2009) Deâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Adre of Boyhood aging pals go to Las Vegas to relive their glory Kathryn McCormick. A young woman strives to be a profesAziza. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;NRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; days. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PG-13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; sional dancer in Miami. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PG-13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (3:50) â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Impossibleâ&#x20AC;? (2012) Naomi (:45) â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Cold Light of Dayâ&#x20AC;? (2012, Action) Henry Cavill, (:20) â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Doubleâ&#x20AC;? (2011, Action) Richard Watts. A vacationing family is caught in the VerĂłnica Echegui. A young business consultant must save his Gere. A senatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s murder brings a CIA agent 2004 Thailand tsunami. kidnapped family. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PG-13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; out of retirement. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PG-13â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Clarion TV

Togetherness Looking â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Taxicab Confessions: The Girls â&#x20AC;&#x153;Close â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; City That Never Sleeps â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Upâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Mel Brooks Live at the Geffen â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blendedâ&#x20AC;? (2014, Romance-Comedy) Adam Sandler, Drew â&#x20AC;&#x153;For a Good Time, Call...â&#x20AC;? Barrymore, Joel McHale. Two single-parent families are stuck (2012, Comedy) Ari Graynor, together at a resort. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PG-13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Justin Long. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;V for Vendettaâ&#x20AC;? (2006, Action) Natalie Portman, Hugo (:15) Life on Top Feature 4: Weaving, Stephen Rea. A vigilante fights a fascist governLetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Do It A compilation of ment. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122; episodes. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Shameless â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crazy Loveâ&#x20AC;? Penn & Tell- Earthquake: These Ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t (:35) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get Jimmyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return sends Fiona er: Bulls...! Jokes â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Rich or Die into chaos. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tryinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kill Bill: Vol. 2â&#x20AC;? (2004, Action) Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Them Madsen. An assassin confronts her former boss and his gang. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bodies Saintsâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

February 22 - 28, 2015

Price Per Word, Per Day*

1 .............................. 6 .............................. 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

63Â˘ 44Â˘ 36Â˘ 29Â˘

Minimum of $6.30 per ad or 10 Word Minimum per Day Plus 6% Sales Tax â&#x20AC;˘ VISA & MasterCard welcome. Classified ads also run in the Dispatch and Online (except single day ads) *Ask about our recruitment ad pricing, details & deadlines

Add - A - Graphic $10 - With your classified Line ad. Call 283-7551

Angle Arrow -

Arrow -

Banner-

Best Stamp-

Checkmark-

Dollar Symbol-

Electric-

Firecracker-

For Sale Sign-

Heart-

Look-

Magnet-

New-

Pot of Gold-

Star-

Wow! Stamp-

Just tell us which graphic you like! An affordable way to grab peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention

Classified Ad Specials Private Party Only - Prices include sales tax. NO REFUNDS on specials. Cannot be combined with any other offer

Garage Sale - $26.00* 2 Days - 30 words

Includes FREE â&#x20AC;&#x153;Garage Saleâ&#x20AC;? Promo Kit

Wheel Deal

Selling a Car - Truck - SUV? Ask about or wheel deal special

Monthly Specials!

Ask about our seasonal classified advertising specials. For items such as boats, motorcycles, RVs and snowmachines

Information

Important Classified Advertising Information

â&#x20AC;˘ In the event of typographical errors, please call by 10 A.M. the very first day the ad appears. The Clarion will be responsible for only one incorrect insertion. â&#x20AC;˘ Prepayment or credit card required. â&#x20AC;˘ Ads can be charged only after an approved credit application has been filed. â&#x20AC;˘ Ads may also be charged to a current VISA or MasterCard â&#x20AC;˘ Billing invoices payable on receipt. â&#x20AC;˘ No refunds under $5.00 will be given. â&#x20AC;˘ Minimum ad is 10 words. â&#x20AC;˘ One line bold type allowed. Additional bold text at $1.00 each word. â&#x20AC;˘ Blind Box available at cost of ad plus $15.00 fee. â&#x20AC;˘ The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement deemed objectionable either in subject or phraseology or which is considered detrimental to the newspaper.

Place your ad online at ShopKenaiPeninsula.com

Ad Deadlines Line Ads

10 A.M. The Previous Day Monday - 11 A.M. Friday Sunday - 10 A.M. Friday

Corrections

In the event of typographical errors, please call by 10 A.M. the very first day the ad appears. The Clarion will be responsible for only one incorrect insertion.

Faxed ads must be recieved by 8:30 A.M. for the next dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s publication

B-6 Peninsula Clarion, Thursday, February 26, 2015

Crossword

Face-to-face friend refuses to like online interaction DEAR ABBY: Help! Facebook is killing my social life. I am wondering if anyone else is having this experience. I am a woman whose job requires me to be on the computer eight hours a day. The last thing I want after work is to go online. Before Facebook took over my social circle, this wasn’t a problem. But now all my friends and family are on the site and pressuring me to do likewise. Gradually, Facebook contact seems to be replacing real, physical get-togethers. Things that used to be done in person or over the phone are now all done on Facebook, and we rarely get together anymore. If I don’t check Facebook, I am out of the loop. If I suggest getting together, everyone is “busy” — busy on Facebook, I guess. They aren’t mad at me or avoiding me, they just want contact on their terms. Am I the only one having this problem? — OLD-SCHOOL IN CHAMPAIGN, ILL. DEAR OLD-SCHOOL: I’m sure you’re not the only one. The Internet is supposed to be a tool to facilitate communication, not a substitute for real, flesh-and-blood relationships. If you can’t work out a compromise with your friends and family — say, one in-person visit a month — you may have to cultivate some new relationships with other “old-

school” people who also prefer face-to-face contact. DEAR ABBY: My father recently passed away. It was unexpected. He was my sunshine and my heart. I am devastated. Because of this, I am no longer sure I want to have a traditional wedding. It would be too sad to not share the day with Dad, as I had dreamed. My fiance and I Abigail Van Buren have discussed eloping, and it seems like the right idea. The trouble with eloping, however, is that we’d want our parents and siblings there as witnesses, and we’d like a party for friends and extended family after the nuptials. People are telling me THAT’S not eloping, and they have been looking forward to attending our wedding. In the midst of my grief, I’m not sure how to respond to their comments. What should I do? — FATHERLESS BRIDE IN MISSISSIPPI DEAR FATHERLESS BRIDE: If you would prefer your nuptials to be a small, intimate affair,

that’s what they should be. Have a reception later. Whether others were looking forward to attending your wedding is beside the point. If you are challenged for not wanting a big wedding, all you need to say is that your plans changed when your father died. No one should be able to argue with that, because your feelings are understandable. DEAR ABBY: I have a neighbor who is always asking to borrow things. The items come back only if I go and collect them — from food items like spices, to gasoline, cash and more. The situation is almost comical, like Simpson vs. Flanders. How can I make my stuff less available without outright saying no? — FLANDERS OF “SPRINGFIELD,” MAINE DEAR FLANDERS: And what is wrong with just saying no? When someone’s generosity is abused, that’s the most logical thing to do. And without being nasty, you should tell your neighbor the reason why. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www. DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Rubes

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) HHH You might want to understand exactly what is motivating someone who suddenly has become a little too friendly. Understand what is needed to make you more comfortable with this person. For the moment, you might need to observe more and say less. Tonight: Hang out. CANCER (June 21-July 22) HHHH Listen to forthcoming news that involves others in your life. Understand that your finances will need to be handled with kid gloves. An associate might ask for a share of a project that doesn’t feel right to you. Listen to your instincts. Tonight: Easy does it. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) HHHH Be aware of what must be done in order to get where you want to go. A meeting might prove to be a stronger guideline and motivator than you even had considered. Honor a change of pace, and know when you have had enough. Tonight: Find your pals. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) HHHH You could be greeting a lot more opportunities than you originally had thought. If you feel overwhelmed by everything you are hearing, slow down. Understand what might be needed in order to feel more comfortable. Tonight: Wherever you are, you are a force to be dealt with. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) HHHH Friends surround and support you. You could have a lot on your mind, and you might need to do some research and deep thinking. A loved one seems likely to interfere with your train of thought. Close the door if you must. Tonight: On top of your game

By Leigh Rubin

Ziggy

Hints from Heloise

Jacqueline Bigar’s Stars A baby born today has a Sun in Aquarius and a Moon in Gemini. HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015: This year you’ll be ready to communicate, but others might not be on the same page. You need to evaluate your listener before you express yourself. Learn to speak on someone else’s level, if need be. You relax through chatting with others, rather than internalizing your feelings. If you are single, you could meet someone quite significant to your life. This person might not be The One, but in some way, he or she could be pivotal in your meeting Mr. or Ms. Right. If you are attached, your sweetie is a source of tension, as you appear to be on different wavelengths. Trying to see eye to eye might be difficult. Nevertheless, you will be able to balance your interactions from September on. GEMINI can be too superficial for your taste. The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult ARIES (March 21-April 19) HHHH Save worrying for a different day. You might be on the path to a mistake, but a sequence of events could unfold in your favor and save the day. A child or new friend seems to have a lot to share. The question remains: Can you relax and let go? Tonight: The world is your oyster. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) HHH Be careful with your finances; otherwise, a mistake could occur. Focus on your security, home and family matters. You could be surprised by the support that someone gives you. Try to understand what is happening with a situation at home. Tonight: Make hay while the sun shines.

By Eugene Sheffer

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) HHHHYou will want to see a situation differently from how you have up until now. You could be encouraged by a higher-up to revise your impressions, as you might be off-base. Be as gracious as possible, even if you happen to disagree. Tonight: Leader of the gang. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) HHHH Graciously accept an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone. Whether it’s a trip or a workshop, it does not matter. Though you might not want to give up the time, you will benefit enormously from taking a mental break from the here and now. Tonight: Off to hear some music. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) HHHH You might want to hear news from a loved one or a special partner. Do not stand on ceremony; make a call to this person, rather than torture yourself. You could be overwhelmed by everything that is happening and might need to talk through your choices. Tonight: Dinner for two. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) HHHH An offer comes through that simply will be too enticing to say “no” to. In fact, you might have two offers and have to make choice. Good luck will come through those who are closest to you. A big smile goes a long way. Tonight: There is no excuse for being alone. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) HHHHYou could be a bit uptight about your choices. How you deal with a co-worker and explain a situation is very likely to color your day. Stay positive, and help this person stay positive too. You’ll have so much energy, so make sure you get some exercise. Tonight: Talk up a storm.

Stop sheets from having a ball Dear Heloise: I can’t be the only one having this problem! With deeppocket bedsheets, my sheets now roll into a ball in the clothes dryer — usually with the pillowcases in the middle of the ball. I have to unroll the ball, continue the drying cycle and stop it again several times to unroll the ball. The end result is the same: very wrinkled sheets. Is there any way to solve this problem? By the way, my dryer is a large-capacity dryer. I am so frustrated! — Mickey in Houston Mickey, I hear you. It’s bothersome, and takes up extra time as well. I’ve tested several hints, and the following Heloise hint seems to work the best: Before putting a flat sheet in the dryer, put all the corners together and straighten the sides. Tie two corners together into a loose knot. Put it into the dryer, and the sheet dries without ending up in a ball. For a fitted sheet, put the elastic sides together and tie two ends in another loose knot. Do shake out pillowcases and shirts. Don’t just throw items in a lump of wet material. Do use a lower heat setting for a longer time. Don’t dry on high heat! — Heloise Cake dust Dear Heloise: When baking a cake and it calls for dusting the pan with flour, just take the cake mix (a tablespoon or so) and dust with that. — Ann in Jackson, Mich.

SUDOKU

By Tom Wilson

3 5 2 4 1 9 7 8 6

7 1 9 6 5 8 4 3 2

4 8 6 2 7 3 9 5 1

1 3 5 9 2 7 8 6 4

6 2 8 3 4 1 5 9 7

9 4 7 5 8 6 1 2 3

8 7 3 1 9 2 6 4 5

2 9 4 7 6 5 3 1 8

Difficulty Level

5 6 1 8 3 4 2 7 9

2015 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Friday.

2/25

Previous Puzzles Answer Key

B.C.

Tundra

By Johnny Hart

Garfield

Shoe

By Jim Davis

Take It from the Tinkersons By Bill Bettwy

By Chad Carpenter

By Chris Cassatt & Gary Brookins

Mother Goose and Grimm

By Michael Peters

TRENDS Y

Facing growth and weathering challenges in the changing economy of the Kenai Peninsula

February 2015 Low gas prices a draw for RV tourists By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion

While Alaska is projected to have another historic year for tourism, how visitors get to the Kenai Peninsula is still up in the air. Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council Executive Director Shanon Hamrick said as a result of lower gas prices a lot of interested independent travelers have contemplated driving a recreational vehicle up to the last frontier over flying into Anchorage and renting from there. The February short-term outlook from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed January to be the seventh consecutive month for the price-per-barrel of oil to be in decline and forecasts continued low prices in 2015. For Hamrick, continued low prices for oil and subsequent at-the-pump savings may be a good thing, as motor home traffic typically increases. “Its all good for the Kenai Peninsula. I’ve seen a shift from out of state plates on the road to rental RVs the last five years,” she said. Between the three transportation routes used by tourists get to Alaska, Hamrick said more than 52 percent come via cruise ship to cities like Juneau, Ketchikan and Seward. The re-

mainder are divided between flying and driving, she said. Travelers who are not using a packaged vacation plan tend to visit the Kenai Peninsula at a high rate due to its proximity to Anchorage, she said. More than 1.9 million people visited Alaska between May 2013 and April 2014, according to the Alaska Division of Economic Development — an all-time high for the state. The 2015 tourism season is expected to be another record-breaking one between expanded air service travel and increased tourism marketing, Hamrick said. Jerry Dunn, owner of the Beluga Lookout Lodge and RV Park in Kenai, said last year was his best ever. Located in Old Town overlooking the mouth of the Kenai River, Dunn said guests book up to a year in advance to be able to reserve a spot in July during dipnet season. Beluga RV Park has 65 hook-up sites and five rooms in the lodge. The price of the RV campsites range from $45 a night in May and September to $75 a night for a view site from July 10-31. “People come to my place for the scenery and the fishing,” he said. “July is absolutely crazy. The amount of people here is unreal.” Dunn said he has guests from all

Clarion file photo

Kay and Howard Imsande of Brainerd, Minn., enjoy a campfire next to their RV in Centennial Campground in Soldotna in 2007. Tourism officials are expecting low gas prices to bring more RV traffic to Alaska this season.

over the world stay at his park. He said if gas prices continue to stay below $3 a gallon he expects to see more motor homes in 2016 because a lot of spots

Trends is an annual economic report by the Peninsula Clarion. It is intended to give an overview of some of the primary factors and players driving the Kenai Peninsula’s economy.

Low gas prices a draw for RV traffic Kenai Peninsula tourism evolves State drastically cuts capital projects Kenai reaps benefits of area boom Hobbyists turn to business Area boutique expands by fitting in Training options open for job seekers Transaction technology Licensing eased with online filing Fishing guides innovate Commercial catches evolve Cook Inlet experiments with pollock

By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion Clarion file photo

Kenai’s airport is an activity hub. See story A-1 on page A-3.

A-1 A-2 A-3 A-4 A-4 A-4 A-5 A-5 B-1 B-1 B-2

Seward is the top tourist destination on the Kenai Peninsula and brought in more than $38 million in tourism-related sales tax, while Homer generated more than $27 million last year. Bed and breakfast inns within the borough saw the biggest increase with more than $14 million in revenue for the third quarter of 2014, more than double the total from the second quarter. In 2013, third quarter numbers totaled $12 million. Hamrick said those numbers show more independent travelers are making their way to the peninsula. About 30 percent of people who come on a cruise return to Alaska as an independent traveler, Hamrick said. With the tourism marketing council’s increased efforts to help small businesses improve their social media and web presence to attract visitors and the market trends, she estimates another 1.5 to 2 percent increase in tourism this year. Hamrick jokes the recent increase in Alaska reality TV shows could be a factor for why tourists choose to travel north. “I have lived here my whole life and I’m still blown away by the beautiful (mountain) views here,” she said. “Everybody wants to come see the big, fluffy bears.”

Kenai Peninsula tourism evolves under pressure

Trends 2015

Index

are already booked for July and were snatched up before the prices started to drop. While the 2014 tourist season brought a 1.5 percent increase in sales tax to the borough from last year, total revenue was down nearly $700,000. According to tourism sales tax figures from the borough finance department, Hamrick said she found that while accommodations rose 1.85 percent to $61.3 million, total revenue for fishing guides dropped by 3 percent down to $43.3 million. A quarter of all sales tax in the borough comes from tourism, Hamrick said. Hamrick said fishing restrictions on king salmon had a major impact on guides. Despite the recent downtrend, fishing is still a key draw for tourists. “State research shows the top three reasons people come to Alaska are mountains, glaciers and wildlife,” she said. “We have those things better than anybody else. We should be promoting it and providing businesses services to get out and experience all Alaska has to offer.” While the Kenai Peninsula ranks behind the port cities of Juneau and Ketchikan for most visitors to the state, Hamrick said cruise visitors skew the numbers.

Inlet rebound costs the state BlueCrest,WesPac to develop Cosmo Industry wary amid shakeups CIRI settles Kenai Loop gas fee dispute Uncertainty in Alaska LNG Federal coordinator talks AK LNG Administration ‘fully engaged’ in LNG Central Peninsula Hospital expands Soldotna Senator talks budget cuts

C-1 C-1 C-1 C-2 C-2 C-3 C-3 C-4 C-5

The landscape of tourism on the Kenai Peninsula is changing out of necessity. For the second year in a row the Kenai River will be closed to early king run salmon fishing, an indication of the low numbers of the once notoriously plentiful species. “Tourism companies operating on the Kenai Peninsula are realizing they have to diversify their businesses,” said Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council Executive Director C

Shanon Hamrick. Hamrick helps local operations market their services. Recently she has seen owners add gold mining or bear viewing as options in their daylong fishing trips, she said. “That was unheard of three years ago,” Hamrick said. “Fishing can’t stand alone anymore.” To remain viable, companies are taking the necessary steps to maintain a competitive business, Hamrick said. Former Executive Director of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Michelle Glaves said Sol-

dotna businesses have also recognized the need to cater to their off-season consumers. Local businesses like Sportsman’s Warehouse and Trustworthy Hardware are drastically impacted by the tourism season and many of each store’s products appeal to summer consumers, Hamrick said. Other store’s like the Soldotna-based Ken’s Alaskan Tackle are only open during the tourism season and shutter for the winter when both tourism and fishing on the peninsula slow down. See TOURISM, page A-2

A-2 Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

State drastically cuts spending on capital projects By BEN BOETTGER Peninsula Clarion

Alaska’s yearly capital projects budget distributes state funds, as well as federal funds received by the state for local projects, to Alaskan municipalities and boroughs. The capital budget for fiscal year 2015 — in effect during the calendar year from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 — distributed $594.8 million from the state’s unrestricted general fund. About $70.6 million went to groups in the Kenai Peninsula. This money funded 94 projects, including transportation for the Nikiski Boys and Girl’s Club, a playground in Funny River, sidewalk improvements in Soldotna, wastewater plant renovation design in Kenai, dredging of a sewage lagoon in Seward, paving a visitor center parking lot in Homer, iPads for kindergarten students at Chapman Elementary school

in Anchor Point, and facility upgrades for Kenai’s Leeshore Domestic Violence Shelter. On February 5, 2015, Governor Bill Walker released the capital budget he proposed for fiscal year 2016. It reduced total capital project funding by $444.3 million for a total of $150.3 million. About $9.9 million was given to four projects on the Kenai Peninsula including improvement of water storage and distribution infrastructure in Homer, two road projects in Kenai, and one in Seward. Only the $1.9 million given to Homer came from the state’s unrestricted general fund. The three road projects - which will provide maintenance to stateowned roads, including the Kenai Spur Highway and Beaver Loop Road — will be receiving federal dollars through the state capital projects budget. The city of Kenai will assume ownership of Beaver Loop Road

after the state finishes repaving and shoulder-broadening it, expected in 2020.

Kenai Kenai city manager Rick Koch said that the drastic budget cuts would not cause any emergencies in Kenai. “There are some things we’d like to do that we’re going to be moving forward on, at least not right now for a year or two,” Koch said. “But there’s not anything we have that’s ongoing that we’re going to have to stop.” Among the projects that Kenai has put off due to state budget cuts, Koch listed Kenai recreation center renovation, designs for expanding the senior center, the paving of gravel roads. The governor’s amended budget will be approved, and likely amended, by the state legislature before it is enacted

. . . Tourism Continued from page A-1

Hospitality is one of the largest sectors of Kenai Peninsula tourism, Hamrick said. Homer’s Lands End hotel, the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge in Cooper Landing and Seward’s Breeze Inn are some of the peninsula’s largest employers, she said. There is a local interest in making sure those positions go to residents, Hamrick said. In tourism, employers first and foremost are looking for quality customer services skills. The tourists themselves are looking for people who can show them unique entertainment in a safe way, Hamrick said. Organizations such as the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce put effort into creating opportunities for locals interested in a career in tourism to take classes that will help them develop competitive skills, she said. Guided tours are expanding to appeal to the “adventurer

Graphic courtesy the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

and goes into effect on July 1, 2015. Walker has already amended the budget once since its introduction, adding funding for the state ferry system, Medicaid, housing assistance, and community jails. Koch is not optimistic about the possibility of legislators bringing more money to Kenai projects. “All those requests have been submitted to the legislature, but frankly, I think there’s little opportunity to get a lot of stuff funded this year,” Koch said. “It doesn’t really make a lot of sense to put pressure on our legislators or other legislators to fund capital projects, because frankly the realistic view is there’s not going to be a lot of capital money this year. So

legislative contingent... That usually happens in late fall, so it can be down there prior to the governor issuing his proposed budget, and also before the legislature goes into session.” Eubank said that the city completed last year’s legislative priorities just around the time oil prices were starting to drop, but that the likely decrease in state budget wasn’t a concern of theirs at the time. “I don’t know that it would ever really change our priorities list,” Eubank said. “We’ll put our priorities out in fat years or in lean years. What we would expect to get funded would differ, but it wouldn’t necessarily change what our priorities are.” Koch had a similar attitude toward decreased funding to the city of Kenai. “We’re not going to lose anything,” he said. “The appropriations we received in past budgets, they’re not at risk. This is just going to be a pretty tough year for any additional program funding. And we’ve got plenty to keep us busy.”

we’re all sort of waiting if the Governor agrees with the legislature regarding what level of capital funding he would allow to be put into the budget with the risk of triggering vetoes on projects.” Kenai finance manager Terry Eubank said that city sent its funding priorities to Juneau this year according to its usually procedure. “We go through a process every year where we as a community put forward what our legislative priorities are,” Eubank said. “We go through a council process that adopts our legislative priorities, then the city manager generally forwards Reach Ben Boettger at ben. those priorities not only to the boettger@peninsulaclarion. governor’s office, but to our com.

Soldotna sees steady growth By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion

A boy watches an eagle take flight on May 18, 2014 in Whiskey Gulch, a popular clamming beach on the Kenai Peninsula. As the tourism industry shifts on the Kenai Peninsula, many visitors make time for wildlife viewing and clamming, glacier tours and kayaking in lieu of spending all of their time fishing.

traveler,” Hamrick said. As fishing opportunities decrease, companies are attempting to cultivate an outside interest in the area’s other recreations, she said. Wildlife viewing, zip lining, kayaking and glacier tours are becoming more of a marketing focus, Hamrick said.

Fishermen know about the Kenai Peninsula, Hamrick said. That is not an area where as much marketing effort is needed anymore, so focus is slowly expanding, she said. Reach Kelly Sullivan at kelly. sullivan@peninsulclarion.com

Soldotna is an evolving municipality. The population is expanding steadily, by the hundreds each year, said the city’s Director of Economic Development Stephanie Queen. “The one thing all employers need is a skilled workforce,” she said. “One way communities can attract or retain this type of talent, is to make sure we are a great place to not only work, but to live, raise a family, play, and grow old.” Residential and commercial construction projects were at an all time high in 2014, Queen said. Some of the city’s larger projects include the specialty clinics at Central Peninsula

Hospital, aircraft hangars at the Soldotna Airport and newly opened private retail stores and restaurants. Soldotna residents are also heavily involved in the state’s oil and gas industry. The city is ranked third in the state for number of residents employed in the industry, Queen said. “This renewed development pressure comes at a time of increased oil and gas activity in Cook Inlet,” Queen said. Soldotna’s economy remains

viable because it is well diversified, Queen said. Education and tourism are in periods of growth as well, she said. “We have many natural advantages in this area, from great recreational opportunities, housing options, low property taxes, quality schools and health care,” Queen said. “While these things on their own do not create jobs, we’re going to continue to support them because they provide the underlying conditions which allow our private sector to thrive.” Another area of growth is the local tourism industry which brings millions in tax revenue each year. According to Soldotna’s 2015 fiscal year operating budget, sales tax accounted for $7.85 million of the city’s revenue. See SOLDOTNA, page A-3 C

Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

A-3

Kenai reaps benefits of Cook Inlet boom By BEN BOETTGER Peninsula Clarion

City leaders say Kenai has seen steady growth as Cook Inlet’s oil and gas industries expand. Speaking at the Kenai Peninsula’s Community Economic Forum in January 2015, Kenai Mayor Pat Porter said that in 2014 homes in Kenai spent an average of 79 days on the market. Ninety-five homes were sold in Kenai that year, an increase of 21 over the previous year. Porter said that both these numbers for Kenai had been increasing for the previous four years. In 2013, 8 vacant lots were sold in Kenai. Thirty-four were sold in 2014, a number that did not include 87 sales to the Alaska LNG pipeline project. “The city of Kenai... I would refer to it as land-rich,” said Kenai council member Henry Knackstedt. Porter and Knackstedt expect demand for residential, commercial, and industrial space to increase in Kenai, and the city wants to be sure that availability increases correspondingly. Porter and Knackstedt expect Kenai to continue growing as a result of oil and gas development in Kenai’s northern neighbor, Nikiski. The Alaska LNG pipeline, expected to have a terminal in Nikiski, and a gas line to be created by Apache Energy along Nikiski’s north road, have drawn investment to the area. Porter said that construction on these projects will create a demand for residential space and commercial services as workers bring their families to the peninsula.

Kenai will be the closest major shopping area to the Nikiski sites. Kenai developer Bryan Lowe’s 40acre Shoreline Heights subdivision, designated by the Kenai Peninsula Borough in 2003, will make available 47 residential lots near Cook Inlet on the north side of the Kenai River, 21 of which will have views of the Inlet. Lowe, who said he intends to begin selling property in Shoreline Heights in early 2015, shares Porter’s expectation of growth in Kenai. “I thought it would be good time (to buy property) because of the LNG plant and the mini-boom we’re getting now,” Lowe said. Lowe is developing the subdivision with a specific demographic in mind. “I would like to target executives there, because it is higher-dollar land,” Lowe said. “A high-end neighborhood is what I’m hoping for.” Another group of residents Lowe hopes to attract are those from Nikiski who have sold their properties to Apache or LNG.

“I’ve had some inquiries from people that sold to the oil company, that would like to replace their homes on the bluff, because they thought they were going to live there forever, and now they found out they have to sell,” Lowe said. Lowe said he’s confident that Kenai’s boom will create demand for the kind of property he hopes to market. “There’s not a subdivision like that anywhere on the Inlet,” Lowe said. Industrial land in Kenai is centered around one of the city’s major economic assets — its municipal airport, which Porter described as “a huge engine for development in our community.” The airport property was granted to the city by the federal government in 1963, making it one of the few airports in Alaska owned by a municipality rather than the state, said Knackstedt, who previously served as a 20-year member of the city’s airport commission. Knackstedt said that for the past five years, the airport has been a selfsustaining economic entity financially independent of the city, funding its operations through land leases and parking, landing, and fuel fees. The airport property includes a plot of land that the city is developing as an industrial park. The Kenai Airport Industrial park grew from a lease to natural resource extractor Buccaneer Energy in 2012 — a lease now owned by AIX energy, which bought Buccaneer’s assets following Buccaneer’s bankruptcy. AIX is currently the only occupant

. . . Soldotna Continued from page A-2

Former Executive Director of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Michelle Glaves said the reason for the continued success of the local tourism industry was the ability of local residents to diversify their offerings. Guided tours were focused solely on the fishing industry for so long, Glaves said. As the fisheries dwindle, companies are expanding their services, she said. “It is a huge boon to everyClarion file photo one’s pocketbook when we In this July 4, 2013 file photo Kyle Boyles and David Fink work have other people in town,” on a portion of the Soldotna airport expansion project.

Clarion file photo

In this June 23, 2010 file photo a C-17 from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson does a touch and go landing at Kenai Municipal Airport earlier this year. Kenai’s municipal airport is an engine for development in the community.

of the Industrial Park, leasing two of the park’s 19 lots for its extraction facilities. However, Knackstedt said that all the lots have been readied for development by the construction of access roads and connections to the city’s water and sewer system. Knackstedt said that the park’s proximity to the airport through convenient roads will be an incentive for prospective clients, and that the city council is currently considering ways to market the remaining industrial lots to interested businesses. Knackstedt sees growth occurring through the airport, as it becomes an

Glaves said. Maintaining a competitive edge keeps these companies viable, she said. The vast majority of local businesses are considered small businesses, meaning they employ fewer than seven staff members at any given time. The second element to a flourishing economy is putting effort into the off-season consumers, Glaves said. “The city’s economic strategy is two-fold, make Soldotna a place to raise a kid and grow old, and at the same time encourage commercial development,” Queen said. “We do that by assisting existing local entrepreneurs.” It is the city’s job to make

important link in the supply chain of developers working on the pipeline, as well as other projects in the North Kenai area. He said the conveniences of Kenai would be a draw not only to construction, but to families. “Kenai is in such an excellent position right now, with all the development that’s going on,” Knackstedt said. “Sandwiched between Anchorage and Nikiski, the big industrial area. People are going to need to move somewhere.” Reach Ben Boettger at ben.boettger@peninsulaclarion.com

‘It’s a huge boon to everyone’s pocketbook when we have other people in town.’ — Michelle Glaves, former executive director Soldotna Chamber of Commerce it easier for interested investors, Queen said. This effort has included beautification of the downtown area. One of the city’s main roadways, Binkley Street, received three mini-roundabouts last summer. In a business confidence survey given to members of the Soldotna Chamber, layout of a city is considered “overwhelmingly critical,” Queen said.

“We also know people are tired of talking about it and want to make it start happening,” Queen said. “These things all bode well for Soldotna’s future, not just in quality of life for our residents, but for our economic stability moving forward.” Reach Kelly Sullivan at kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion. com

A-4 Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

Area entrepreneurs turn hobbies into businesses Nathan Titus, general manager of small business, and therefore, often Peninsula Powersports, said he grew there is a connection between a perup snowmachining. He said his love son’s interests or passion and their On the Kenai Peninsula, many res- and passion for the outdoors is a cru- small business,” Zak wrote. Zak wrote that combining business idents have turned their hobbies into a cial element to his business, and all successful, growing businesses. While of his employees love outdoor recre- and hobbies could lead to success. “(It’s) an extremely positive thing transitioning from a hobby to a busi- ation. “It comes through with custom- in most cases,” he wrote. ness has some pitfalls, it’s not without While having a passion for your advantages, according to some local ers,” Titus said. “If someone just started up and didn’t care — they product or service is important, Zak experts. Businesses that have grown out just wanted to start a business and wrote that having a strong business of a hobby can be found all across make money — it comes through,” plan is also vital. “What can cause an issue is if the the peninsula. In Nikiski, 1 Crazy Titus said. Titus said that he has seen some person starting the business lets their Cupcake opened after Sierra Lehl spent several years of playing and ex- similar businesses fail due to not passion drive their business deciperimenting with baking. Today, her having enough enthusiasm for their sions as opposed to using their passion combined with sound business unique cupcakes are delivered across products or services. “Other shops behind us come up decision making tools,” Zak wrote. the Kenai Peninsula. Pat Reese, who has owned Robin In Soldotna, Alaska Berries was and didn’t really have the passion,” created because of Bryan Olson’s love Titus said. “They start out good and Place Fabrics in Soldotna since 1982, of berry farming. Now, his business get a few people, but then it just kind said she opened her shop because she loves business. has expanded and Olson has opened of fades away.” Bryan Zak, assistant state director She said that turning a hobby into a wine tasting room where he sells a for the Alaska Small Business De- a business could have some drawvariety of berry wines. velopment backs because many new business C e n t e r , owners don’t understand how much wrote in an time goes into running a business. email that She said that what often happens turning a is that people don’t have time to do hobby into the hobby that they love, because a business running a business is so time conPhoto by Ian Foley/Peninsula Clarion isn’t un- suming. Some of Nikiski-based Sierra Lehl’s cupcake creations. Lehl’s business 1 usual. Reese said that when starting a Crazy Cupcake was born from a longtime baking hobby. Several area busiBy IAN FOLEY “It is business, success doesn’t happen Peninsula Clarion very com- overnight. mon for a “When you start a business, you learn your customers and your busiReach Ian Foley at ian.foley@penOne business on the Kenai Peninsula has filled a gap in hobby to need to invest everything back in,” ness — it takes a while.” insulaclarion.com the market, and it’s a perfect fit. turn into a Reese said. “Give yourself (time), and Lea’s Boutique in Sterling, which started as a lingerie and adult gifts shop, has increased its target market after opening a an underwear department and certified bra fitting service. An alternative entrance to the underwear department is available behind the building for clientele wishing to bypass the more risqué products found elsewhere in the shop. Steve Stuber, owner of Lea’s Boutique, said it was important to offer quality products, particularly bras, which he said can help alleviate some physical problems. “Bras are a lot bigger deal than most people realize,” StuBy IAN FOLEY oil and gas industry. At Kenai Peninsula College, On average, occupational ber said. “Proper fitting bras keep people from having neck Peninsula Clarion According to the state of Suzie Kendrick, advancements health and safety specialists pain, headaches, and upper back problems.” Alaska Department of Labor program manager, said the col- earn $6,143 a month. KPC ofLea’s receives new products from brands such as Freya, As industries grow on the and Workforce Development lege has faculty counselors fers an Associate of Applied Curvy Kate, Coquette and Elomi on a weekly basis. Kenai Peninsula, job-training website, one of Alaska’s high- who are available to do both Science degree for occupationTo help women find the right bra size, Natasha Mallett, al safety and health. The course options are becoming more est paying jobs is that of a pe- general and specific advising. the store’s manager and certified bra fitter, is on hand to astroleum engineer. On average, One of the popular degrees can be completed online. abundant. sist women. With Soldotna becoming To help meet the needs of they make $13,362 a month. Kendrick cited was process “The big thing is, you can go anywhere to get fitted, but to the epicenter for health care on employers, the state of Alaska, The website not only provides technology. be actually be certified to do it and do it properly (is another According to the KPC web- the peninsula, KPC has helped as well as several institutes on wage information, it provides thing),” Stuber said. the Kenai Peninsula are avail- details about various programs site, the entry-level salary for by producing qualified nurses. Mallett, who was certified last March in New York by the able to help guide, train and and courses available through- workers with a process tech- Currently, KPC offers an aslingerie company Eveden, said that most women she meets out Alaska to help job seekers nology degree ranges from sociate of applied science RN produce qualified employees. at the store have the wrong size bra. The success of the vari- become qualified in the field. $45,000 to $100,000 a year. degree, while UAA offers a “It happens all the time,” Mallett said. “Girls come in ous programs is evident in not The website is not only limited Approximately 90 percent of four-year Bachelor of Science and think they’re 36 inches around and I measure them and only how quickly workers are to petroleum engineers, career students who complete the de- RN degree. they’re actually 32-34 (inches).” “We can’t pump out enough placed, but also how lucrative information is available for gree are currently working in Mallett explained that when buying bras, many women scores of professions. The site the field, according to the web- nurses to meet the need in the the positions are. usually try them on over clothes, which can give the incorstate of Alaska,” said KendIt shouldn’t come as a sur- provides information about a site. rect size. She said that she’s one of only a handful of women Other professions on the rick. prise that many of Alaska’s course length, cost and durain Alaska that does bare fittings. Despite the intimate nature peninsula are also highly paid. most lucrative jobs are in the tions. See TRAINING, page A-5 of bra fitting, she said people don’t tend to be nervous. “I’ve been doing it for so long that I’m pretty good at making people feel comfortable,” Mallett said. “I’m behind you the whole time. The only thing I can see is your back.” Lea’s has bras ranging from B to N cup, with band sizes 28 to 56 inches. Stuber said it was important to have sizes for all women. “Bigger women want to be beautiful, too,” Stuber said. “You can be normal and be beautiful.” Aside from bra fitting, Lea’s is always trying to offer more products and services, including boudoir photo sessions. Recently, the store has started selling sports bras, swimwear and maternity bras, while breast pumps will be available in the future. “It’s been a way for us to be a good service to the community,” Stuber said As far as what the future holds, Stuber said he hopes to open a Lea’s Boutique in Anchorage with shops in Wasilla and Fairbanks to follow later. In order for his products to stay cheaper than the same ones online, his profit margin is smaller, but Stuber says he can make up for it with customer service. “If we take care of people in the right way, the money will be there,” he said. By IAN FOLEY Peninsula Clarion

Lea’s Boutique expands by fitting in

Job training options abound for Kenai Peninsula job seekers

Reach Ian Foley at Ian.foley@peninsulaclarion.com

Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

Transaction technologies Licensing burden Mobile payment programs expand businesses By Kelly Sullivan Peninsula Clarion

Kenai businesses are modernizing, slowly but surely. After ordering a morning coffee, customers are passed miniature mobile devices through coffeecart windows, and with a few screen taps, the financial transaction is complete. Food trucks, home-based companies, and local stores are adopting new technologies as avenues for conducting their businesses, said C Cups Specialty Coffees owner Amy Jackman. But the progress is slow compared to the Lower 48 states, she said. Jackman said she believes she is one of the first people in Alaska to have taken the technological leap two years ago. Her business was the first on the Kenai Peninsula to use Square, a credit card processing application for her finances. “It is the most streamlined process I have ever seen,” Jackman said. By making the switch, Jackman saves money, speeds up transactions and creates better security for her customers, she said. The only cost associated with Square is 2.75 percent charge every time a c ard is swiped, or a 3.25 percent charge if Jackman or one of her staff has to manually type in a card number, she said. For her previous point of sale system, Jackman said she made a standard licensing payment of almost $1,000, and monthly fees of nearly $50. She said this new system is threatening big banking institutions by eliminating the middleman with a free application called Wallet. Consumers now have the

. . .Training Continued from page A-4

A resident nurse in Alaska has a monthly wage of $6,970. The state’s website projects high growth and demand for the qualified RNs. “We have some very awesome programs that will put people to work in a short time,” Kendrick said. In Seward, AVTEC, Alaska’s Institute of Technology, offers vocational training for students who want to find work quickly. Courses at AVTEC include welding, diesel and heavy equipment technologies, and maritime training.

eased with online filing By IAN FOLEY Peninsula Clarion

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/Peninsula Clarion

C Cups Specialty Coffees owner Amy Jackman uses the Square application on the coffee-carts iPad, which functions as the companies’ Point of Sales system Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Kenai, Alaska. Jackman said using mobile devices for financial transactions has streamlined operations.

‘It’s the most streamlined process I have ever seen.’ — Amy Jackman, Owner of C-Cups Specialty Coffees

photograph of themselves so the employee can verify the right person is accessing the application, she said. Jackman has assisted upward of 50 locals in downloading and learning how to use Wallet, Square and Register — the application for cash register transactions. Alaska is about two years behind the mobile movement, but people are catching on, Jackman said. “People don’t understand it, so they feel they don’t have much control over the situation and chose to avoid it,” she said. If more people took advantage of the new systems, it could be empowering, Jackman said. This type of technology can be used for any type of business, she said.

option of downloading the paylater payment system, Jackman said. At her business, drivers with a Wallet account set up on their phones only have to approve that the C Cups’ system connects with their own, and then have to do nothing but order their coffee, she said. The barista takes their order, punches it in on the iPad locked up to the counter beside the espresso machine and the cusReach Kelly Sullivan at keltomer pays later, Jackman said. ly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion. Each Wallet user must take a com. Ben Eveland, director of AVTEC, said that many of the programs produce highly skilled workers in a short amount of time. “(AVTEC offers) a career in a year,” Eveland said. Eveland said that because the class sizes are capped at 14, students get high-quality training. He said many graduates make $100,000 a year soon after getting hired. Eveland said that because AVTEC only offers classes for in-demand professions, most graduates have no trouble finding work. “Almost all of them are getting work in their field,” Eveland said. “The placement is about 90 percentin their field.”

A-5

for that is where the internet and technology is as far as the usefulness of information to help you get a business started.” Zak said the online process is not only easy — it’s quick as well. “Obtaining a business license the state of Alaska business-licensing site, you are able to go to the site and actually complete the paper within 15 minutes and have a business license,” Zak said. The Alaska Small Business Development Center, which offers free consultations to people wishing to start a business, has many locations around Alaska. Their website also provides tools to help people in different stages of business development. Zak said such tools and resources weren’t readily available in years past. “I definitely feel like it’s so much easier than it ever used to be,” Zak said. “In the past, finding a good business planning tool or financial projection model tool was difficult. You may find it if you took a class at the college or something, so it was a more long-term commitment from the person thinking about starting the business.” The biggest mistake small business owners make is not doing a financial projection he said. “If you don’t do a financial projection first, and you go ahead and move forward without looking at a cash flow or a financial projection for that business — that would be a big mistake,” he said.

How easy is starting a business on the Kenai Peninsula in 2015? Due to improving technology and more resources to assist prospective business owners, it’s never been easier according to many around the community. To start a business in Kenai, a person must get a state of Alaska business license and a Kenai Peninsula Borough sales tax certificate. Other permits vary depending on the city, and nature of the business. According to Kathy Fagerstrom, program coordinator for the Alaska division of corporations, business and professional licensing, the state of Alaska began offering business licenses online in August 2000. Before that, applications had to be filled out and sent in by mail. Scott Cunningham, who owns several McDonald’s restaurants on the peninsula, said the state of Alaska website is relatively easy to navigate. He said that when he initially applied for a business license over two decades ago, it was done through the mail. However, the internet has made the process more convenient. “It does make it a lot easier,” Cunningham said. “It’s super simple.” Bryan Zak, assistant state director for the Alaska Small Business Development Center, also said getting a general business license online is a fairly simple process. Reach Ian Foley at Ian.foley@peninsula“Compared to years past, I would say it’s definitely easier,” Zak said. “The main reason clarion.com

The cost of the courses is also affordable. Eveland said that because the state subsidizes tuition, nearly all courses cost $2,700. “It’s dirt cheap,” Eveland said. Reach Ian Foley at Ian.foley@peninsulaclarion.com

A-6 Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

B-1

Faced with uncertain runs, fishing guides innovate By RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion

It’s not something they like to talk about, but the Fenton brothers figured out a new way to fish for sockeye salmon on the Kenai River in recent years. Without giving away too many details, it involves plugs and a relatively serene area of the river — but that’s about all of the detail Mike Fenton, co-owner and guide at Fenton Bros. Guided Sportsfishing Alaska LLC., was willing to say on-the-record. “We’ve been doing it for quite a while and, obviously, I tried to keep it on the down low just because it’s a pretty effective way to catch those things,” he said. “But, the cat’s kind of out of the bag … it’s everybody’s river out there.” The brothers have been offering the option to their clients for years, partially because it was a different kind of fishing experience than what one could normally get on the famed Kenai River. But, Fenton said, it was also an innovation in response to uncertainty in the increasingly restrictive king salmon seasons that used to be the bread and butter of a viable fishing guide business on the central Kenai Peninsula. “We’ve definitely had to learn to adapt and instead of selling a fishing trip now that’s ‘Hey, we’re going to take you and your grandfather from Texas king fishing in June,’ we kind of changed our attitude and said ‘Hey, we will take you fishing, we’re just not exactly sure where or what we’ll

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion

In this Sept 1. 2014 file photo, two sport anglers fish for silver salmon as the sun rises over the Kenai River in Soldotna. As the fishing and tourism industries evolve, guides have increasingly found innovative ways to cope with restricted fishing seasons.

be able to do,’” Fenton said. Volatility in the king fishery has certainly caused a drop in the number of guides on the Kenai River. According to data from Alaska State Parks, the number of guides registered to fish on the Kenai River has been in steady

decline since 2007 when it peaked at 396 guides before dropping to 284 during the 2013 fishing season. The year the number of guides on the river peaked, Fish and Game data showed the early run of Kenai River king salmon, and king stocks state-

wide begin to decline. “…Abundance declined from 20072009 and stayed at this bellow or wellbelow average abundance,” said area management biologist Robert Begich in a 2013 interview. Fenton said he has seen a decline

in returning king numbers for about a decade and each year, Fish and Game managers restrict the fishery even further to protect the dwindling stocks. “We started sometimes with shortened seasons, changes in gear type regulation, down to one hook from multiple hooks, bait to no bait and along with that, we’ve seen the size and number of the larger kings diminishing,” he said. What was once the most unique attraction on the Kenai River has become a sideboard to fishing trips that often include rainbow trout, sockeye, coho, marine or fly-out fishing and halibut trips. “You just have to learn to adapt,” Fenton said. For Rod Berg, co-owner of Rod ‘N Real, the closure of the early run king salmon fishery in 2014 was another blow to the guided sportfishing industry — one that he has seen undergo drastic changes in the 30 years he has been working on the Kenai River. He has opened his guiding business up in a different way. In 2014, Berg said the focus for his business was on sockeye and silver salmon trips — Rod ‘N Real guides took clients on sportfishing trips and they took Alaskans on personal-use dipnetting trips, though personal-use guiding is a smaller portion the business. “We haven’t really relied on (dipnetting),” he said during a 2014 interview. “We don’t want to start relying on it, because I don’t think it’s going to last, personally ... It worked out for See GUIDES, page B-2

Upper Cook Inlet sockeye harvest forecasted to beat 2014 Despite higher numbers, commercial catch has declined and shifted in recent fishing seasons By RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion

If everything goes as forecast, Upper Cook Inlet fishermen should see a total run of 5.8 million sockeye during the 2015 fishing season. Of those, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates that about 2.1 million will make it past boats, beach nets, dipnets and individual lines in the water to their natal

streams — leaving a harvest of about 3.7 million fish. The 2015 Upper Cook Inlet Sockeye Salmon Forecast outlines harvest predictions in several major systems in the Cook Inlet including the Kenai and Kasilof rivers, the Susitna River, the Crescent River and Fish Creek. On the Kenai River, biologists are calling for a total run of about 3.6 million fish, which is about 200,000 fewer than

the 20-year average, according to the forecast. The run should be primarily composed of fourand five-year-old sockeye, according to the report. On the Kasilof River, nearly 1.1 million sockeye are forecasted to return, which is about a 12 percent increase from the 20-year average. Biologists estimate that the run should be primarily three- and four-yearold fish. In the northern part of the

inlet, Susitna River and Fish Creek sockeye salmon runs are each expected see far fewer fish than 20-year averages for the two systems with 276,000 predicted to return to the Susitna and 61,000 to Fish Creek. Biologists also estimated commercial harvests of the other four species of salmon returning to the Cook Inlet. Chum salmon at 176,000 and coho salmon at 161,000 are predicted to be caught in the largest vol-

ume while 98,000 pink salmon are predicted to be caught. The fleet is expected to catch about 6,700 king salmon in 2015, according to the report. Despite the banner forecast, it’s unclear how Cook Inlet commercial fishermen will fare in the coming season. In 2014, setnetters in the Upper Cook Inlet were restricted in the name of conserving weak chinook salmon runs; a 4.9 million commercial sockeye har-

vest was predicted, but the fleet caught 2.6 million. If measured in sheer volume of fish, the Upper Cook Inlet commercial harvest of salmon was low: preliminary Fish and Game estimates showed it to be about 20 percent less than the 10-year average harvest. Despite the lower harvest, higher prices may have deflected some of the blow to area commercial fishermen. It See CATCH, page B-3

B-2 Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

. .Guides Continued from page B-1

some guys and it’s something we’re probably going to be forced to do more and more if these kings don’t turn around.” Berg said the whole model for sportfish guiding on the Kenai Peninsula will have to change to stay viable. “We added clam trips to the other side of the Inlet, we offer eco-tours, things like that,” he said. “But how do you go from a harvest-type industry to an eco-tourism type thing? It is really hard to incorporate the two and we’ve had to farm out a lot of our business.” On the Kenai River, that adaptation has led to guides bringing anglers into lower parts of the river, earlier in the fishing season on the hunt for rainbow trout — or finding clients who are happy to catch-and-release fish for the famed king salmon. Anglers have also shifted focus from the Kenai River to other parts of the Kenai Peninsula, he said. “There’s great fishing out of Whittier … a lot of people tend to — if they get a boat big enough — a lot of times, they’ll camp out on some of the islands and just stay out for a couple of days,” he said. Others head to Seward for marine fishing, he said. While Fenton and his brother have found a balance between working their other jobs, innovating in the Kenai River fisheries and attracting a new type of conservation-minded client — Fenton said he still saw the declining Kenai River guide numbers as a blow to the industry. “I can’t see the future being very robust in regards to … any new number of guides coming into the industry and being able to survive, other than strictly doing it as a hobby,” he said. “It’s tough for these young guys.” Reach Rashah McChesney at Rashah.mcchesney@peninsulaclarion.com.

Upping their groundfish game

Upper Cook Inlet commercial fisherman try for pollock in experimental fishery ‘With salmon you see them jump, and herring sort of school, but there’s no indication of where pollock are. Time of day and tide seem to influence the pollock.’ — Rob Nelson, fisherman

Photo by Molly Discher/For the Clarion

Gregory Bosick and Derek Ball load pollock into fish totes after hauling in a tow onboard the Sea Prince on January 11, 2015 as part of an experimental seine fishery for pollock. The fishery was created in 2013 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and comes at a time when commercial fisheries in Cook Inlet have been in flux as the drift fleet faces time and area restrictions to conserve northern Cook Inlet-bound coho salmon stocks and the East Side Setnet fishery is restricted in the name of king salmon conservation. By Molly Dischner For the Clarion

Despite more than thirty years of fishing around Alaska, Kasilof fisherman Rob Nelson had never let out a net hoping to catch pollock before December. But the long-time seiner has been learning how to catch the groundfish in Kachemak Bay as part of an experimental fishery this winter. In most of Alaska, pollock are caught by trawlers. But Nelson and other fishermen are hoping that seines could provide a way to safely catch the fish, without worrying about bycatch. Seining is “one of the better methods to release anything undesirable that you do catch,” he said, because fish are alive until they’re hauled on deck. Each day of fishing is a learning experience, he said January 11 while making his fifth pollock trip since the experimental

fishery opened December 1. “It’s a big learning experience for everyone, really,” he said. Even finding the fish can be a challenge. During the winter, fish seem to slide back into deep areas. In the summer, they’re often in shallower waters and near the beaches. “With salmon you see them jump, and herring sort of school,” he said. But there’s no indication of where pollock are, he said. Time of day and tide seem to influence the pollock, he said. They’re less active than salmon, so more prone to be carried by the current. That day, his first haul returned just a few hundred pounds of pollock. Nelson said the tide seemed different than usual, perhaps

pushing the fish in an unusual pattern. Typically, Nelson uses a fish finder to help him locate the pollock. That sends an echo down, and shows individual fish and schools on a screen he can monitor while driving the boat. When he’s fishing for herring, Nelson said it will show what direction the school is moving. That morning, the ones he could see were swimming deeper than 100 feet. But not every fish shows up on the finder. His best haul of the day came after few had shown on the radar. In addition to his equipment, Nelson had a little extra help finding pollock during the opener. A voice coaxed him into moving away from his position. “Right over here, closer to Derrick,” said Jake Weiss, the

only other participant in the fishery. Weiss wasn’t actively fishing, but he motored his skiff out into the bay, looking for pollock in the area where Nelson was fishing and helping to direct the tow. Nelson considered the new information. “Keep doing what we’re doing, sounds like,” he said. Both fishermen use herring seine gear in the experimental fishery. Nelson’s net hangs at about 180 feet deep and fishes at about 150. It isn’t deep enough to go out in the middle of the bay, where he thinks the largest concentrations of pollock might be. If the fishery receives an allocation and becomes a regular fixture in the bay, he’ll consider investing in a new net, he said. It would have to be specially-

made for catching pollock, and could cost up to $100,000, he said. It’s a large investment, but just the next step in a long fishing career for Nelson. “My dad was a fisherman back when I was real little,” he said. By age 20, in 1986, he had his own skiff and camped on the beach while fishing for salmon. He’s bought bigger boats over the years, and in 2012, the newest Sea Prince was built. It’s a 58-foot boat that Nelson uses to seine for salmon in Prince William Sound and herring in Sitka. For each haul, Nelson drove the Sea Prince around the bay, looking for fish and trying to understand the current. When he was ready to start towing, he nodded his head. On deck, two of his crew got the seine ready to be deployed. A third crewmember took off in a skiff, pulling the seine away from the main boat and eventually making a large circle, bringing the end back to the side of the Sea Prince after about 35 minutes of towing. Then the seine was hauled from the water, with a purse formed to hold in the pollock. The net catches most everything that’s above the seine’s depth, that doesn’t swim away. Once the haul was brought onboard, Nelson and his crew sorted the fish. Pollock were loaded into fish totes to be delivered to a processor in Homer; Pacific cod were separated out, also to See POLLOCK, page B-3

. . . Pollock Continued from page B-2

be sold or retained for personal use. Bycatch from the fishery is also monitored, said Elisa Russ, Alaska Department of Fish and Game assistant area management biologist for commercial groundfish fisheries in the Cook Inlet area. King salmon were counted and returned alive to the ocean if possible. Herring and other species were also returned to the water. During the six tows made during that fishing period, six king salmon were caught, and all were released alive. Russ said that when dead kings were hauled in on a previous trip, they were delivered to the Homer food bank. At the end of the day, Russ also samPhoto by Molly Dischner/For the Clarion pled the pollock to start getting more Derek Ball uses a skiff to pull a seine in Kachemak Bay on January 11, information for Fish and Game on the 2015 while fishing for pollock in an experimental fishery. pollock in the bay. It’s another benefit of the new fishery, Russ said. mits for Kachemak Bay, Russ said. In 2014, Nelson made four trips and Under the terms of the permit, each the other fishery participants – Jake trip is limited to 10,000 pounds of pol- Weiss – made three, catching a comCreating local opportunity lock, fishermen must record their catch bined total of 11.4 thousand pounds. The fishery was created by the Fish in a logbook and must carry a mandaThe impetus for the experimental and Game last year. No one registered tory Fish and Game observer. fisheries came as fisherman around the for an experimental pollock seine fishThrough Dec. 31, the catch was lim- state look at how to deal with pending ery in Kodiak, in part because of the ited to 220,000 pounds. From Jan. 1 Gulf of Alaska rationalization, a federal timing of the fishery, but Cook Inlet to Feb. 28, another 220,000 pounds is move that could slow down groundfish fisherman expressed interest, so the de- available for the fishery, Russ said. fisheries, including pollock, and repartment offered commissioner’s per-

Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015 B-3 duce bycatch, but also make it harder Developing markets for new entrants to participate in those Finding the fish and figuring out fisheries. where to catch them is not the only Although the federal managers have not yet made a final decision on how or challenge in the fishery. Nelson has also been trying to deif to rationalize the gulf, fishery participants in 2013 asked the state to consid- velop sources to sell them to. “We’ve got a handful of markets er how it will respond, and the state’s Board of Fisheries created a pollock we’re exploring,” he said. On the first trip of the new year, Jan. working group to look at the issue. In February, the work group will 11, Nelson was catching pollock for meet in Anchorage to discuss the ex- two bait markets. “New automatic longline systems perimental fisheries so far and whether providing state-waters pollock fishing are loving pollock,” Nelson said. That day, it was all delivered to The opportunity could be practical. Auction Block in Homer for custom Federal management isn’t the only reason Cook Inlet fishermen are inter- processing, where it would be separated by size for the two different bait ested in the new fishery. Nelson grew up on Kachemak Bay, markets. At other times during the season, and over the last several decades, he’s seen a shift in area. When he was a kid, he’ll also sell pollock to a processor salmon and shellfish were more pre- in Seward that uses it for fillets, and to South Korea, where the fish is desirable dominant than they are now. “30 years ago, there weren’t really fresh and unprocessed. That’s one of the more complicated any pollock here in the bay,” Nelson markets. said. After the fish is caught in Kachmak The largest concentrations of polBay, the shipment has to go through lock started showing up 10 years ago, and in the last five years, he said, there a customs process in South Korea beare so many that “you can’t shake ‘em fore it gets passed along for sale. That can take from three days to a week, he fast enough when fishing for kings.” said.

mercial Area Management Biologist Pat Shields in a previous Clarion interview. However, as sockeye salmon continue to return to the inlet in large numbers and king salmon numbers continue to drop, disparities in harvest between the two gear types have become more pronounced. “Typically it’s not quite a 50-50 split between drifters and setnetters,” said Assistant Area Management Biologist Aaron Dupuis. “Usually the drifters get a bit more, but the difference increased quite a bit since we’ve had a low abundance of kings.” The conversation around saving chinook salmon has not subsided and sportfishing managers promised similar restrictions to inlet’s king salmon fisheries in a spate of emergency orders released in February. Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion The restrictions will undoubtA commercial drift gillnetting boat leaves the mouth of the Kasilof River at about 1 a.m. July 17, edly affect the commercial fisheries, though it is unclear how 2014 during an overnight fishing period in Kasilof. far-reaching those effects will let setnetters find themselves on nearly 93 percent of the total be on Cook Inlet commercial fishermen. an increasingly restrictive fish- salmon harvest. Photo by Molly Dischner/For the Clarion ing schedule due to low numTypically, harvest is more Continued from page B-1 Two fishermen are participating in an experimental pollock Reach Rashah McChesney bers of king salmon returning evenly split between drift and to area streams. set gillnet fishermen, said Com- at rashah.mcchesney@penin- fishery in Kachemak Bay this winter. Through Jan. 15, 2015 they caught 15,250 pounds of pollock in eight trips. sulaclarion.com. Between the two types of was the second year that comcommercial fishing in Upper mercial harvesters in Cook Inlet saw lower-than-average Cook Inlet, drift gillnetting harvests with higher-than av- boats caught approximately erage values. When the $2.25 1.47 million sockeye salmon, price per pound for sockeye is or about 64 percent of the total factored in, the ex-vessel value salmon harvest in Upper Cook of the 2014 harvest was high, at Inlet. In 2013, drift fishermen caught about 1.65 million sock$35 million. But, the value of the sockeye eye salmon, compared to the harvest wasn’t spread equally setnet harvest of 992,000 fish. among fishermen — a trend in In 2012, when setnet fishermen recent years as Upper Cook In- were shut down for the bulk of the season, drift fishermen took

. . . Catch

B-4 Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

C-1

Inlet rebound costs the state during price plunge BY TIM BRADNER Morris News Service — Alaska Alaska Journal of Commerce

The turnaround in Cook Inlet oil and gas production in recent years is one of the big success stories for Alaska. It has come at a hefty expense, however, to the state treasury. It turns out that Inlet producers are being heavily subsidized by the state of Alaska, consultants to the state Legislature say in a report. Since the state budget is 90 percent dependent on North Slope oil production revenues, this also means that, in effect, the big producing companies on the Slope are paying for the Cook Inlet producers. What matters most to Alaskans is that the Cook Inlet turnaround, no matter who pays for it, has increased natural gas production in Southcentral Alaska, easing a worry that gas supplies might run short and that utilities might have to import liquefied natural gas, at great expense. Still, the matter of who pays the bill is important with the plunge in oil prices and huge yearto-year state deficits looming. The Legislature’s oil and gas consultants, Janak Mayer and Nikos Tsafos, said the development incentive tax credits paid to Cook Inlet producers in fiscal year 2015, the state’s current budget year, constitute about half of the state’s cash outlays to companies under the credit program, or about $300 million. Mayer and Tsafos spoke to the Senate Finance Committee in Juneau on Jan. 27. Statewide, the total cash outlay for the credits are $625 million, according toDepartment of

revenue (and production),” Mayer and Tsafos said in a paper prepared for the Legislature. The state’s net profits production tax applies only to the North Slope fields. Cook Inlet fields are under a very minimal production tax. However, because Cook Inlet companies can take the same advantage of the state tax credit cash payments as do North Slope explorers, the result is a subsidy — more paid to the companies compared with production tax revenue paid. Cook Inlet companies do pay state royalty, although with some Inlet fields this is reduced, and state corporate income tax in some cases. The state’s tax credit program also allows companies with production who pay production taxes to credit their tax credits against production tax liability. This money never shows up in the state general fund because the companies do not have to pay it, although the state tracks the amount. A part of the tax credit program, however, also allows companies with no production tax liability, such as exploring companies who have not yet made discoveries, to turn in their credits for a cash refund from the state. This is money Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion that must be appropriated from the state general fund because it is an actual expenditure by the The liquid natural gas tanker Excel sits at the ConocoPhillips LNG facility on May 2, 2014 in state. Kenai. It was one of six planned LNG cargoes to be exported from Kenai to Japan and the first Mostly the cash refunds are to help small indesince plant operations were suspended in late 2012. The recent boom in Cook Inlet production pendent companies who are aggressively explorhas come at a cost to the state. ing but often on shoestring budgets. But because Revenue data, which actually exceeds state pe- are estimated at $625 million this year. Cook Inlet producers, even larger companies, do troleum tax income by $101.4 million, accord“Since the state does not levy a profit-based not pay production tax under the special tax proing to the Revenue Department figures Mayer production tax in Cook Inlet, these (tax credits) visions for the Inlet, they are also eligible for the and Tsafos presented to legislators. essentially constitute a subsidy to Cook Inlet cash refunds. The state’s total cash outlay for the tax credits producers rather than an investment in future tax See REBOUND, page C-2

BlueCrest, WesPac ink deal to develop Cosmopolitan unit BY TIM BRADNER, Morris News Service - Alaska Alaska Journal of Commerce

BlueCrest Energy plans to resume drilling at the Cosmopolitan oil and gas deposit near Anchor Point this summer, BlueCrest CEO Benjamin Johnson said. The company, based in Fort Worth, Texas, has signed a Memorandum of Terms with WesPac Midstream LLC to help finance development of gas resources at Cosmopolitan oil. BlueCrest will move a land drill rig to an onshore pad this spring to begin preparations for drilling high-angle, or deviated, wells to the oil reservoir at Cosmopolitan, which is about three miles offshore. This summer the company also hopes to begin drilling offshore wells into the shallower gas reservoir with a jack-up rig, Johnson said. C

See COSMO, page C-5

Industry wary amid shakeups BY TIM BRADNER, Morris News Service - Alaska Alaska Journal of Commerce

There was an apprehensive mood among oil support contractors and service companies at the Alaska Support Industry Alliance’s annual “Meet Alaska” conference in Anchorage Jan. 9. Activity is still bustling on the North Slope despite the steady slide of crude oil prices — Alaska crude oil slid to $50 per barrel last week — but contractors worry that the layoff of rigs, crews and budget cuts being seen in the Lower 48 will spread to Alaska. Two major North Slope producers, BP and ConocoPhillips,

will announce their 2015 capital budgets in early spring. There’s worry that capital spending will be reduced after being substantially hiked in 2014. There are two pending Slope development projects, North East West Sak viscous oil expansion and the Greater Moose’s Tooth No. 1, both operated by ConocoPhillips, that will be before the company’s board for approval. Also, BP has yet to give the green light to its big Prudhoe Bay west end development, which will involve new wells, new pads and facilities in the western part of the field. On a more positive note, BP’s North American president John Minge and Steve Butt, ExxonMobil Corp.’s manager

of the big Alaska LNG Project, were both upbeat about progress made on the big gas pipeline and liquefied natural gas project in comments at Meet Alaska. “Most people underestimate the progress that’s been made on the Alaska LNG Project, but it’s significant,” Minge said. “With agreements made between the parties (including the state) on how to move forward, and with Senate Bill 138 (passed in 2014 by the Legislature) laying out a roadmap for the project, it’s clear that Alaska gas has never been closer to reality than it is today. And yet, there’s still much to do.” Minge and Butt, speaking for the Alaska LNG Project itself, made thinly-disguised pleas to

new Gov. Bill Walker to stick with the “roadmap” laid out in Senate Bill 138 passed by the Legislature last spring. The structure lined out in the bill achieves the long-sought alignment between the producers, TransCanada, a pipeline company, and the state. “Big projects succeed when all the participants are aligned,” in their interests, Butt said. Both Minge and Butt mentioned critical 2015 decisions needed by the state as a partner including the approvals in March by the Department of Natural Resources for the state taking “in kind” payment (in gas) for royalty and the gas production tax. The authorizing legislation See SHAKEUP, page C-4

C-2 Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

CIRI settles dispute over Kenai Loop gas fees BY ELWOOD BREHMER Morris News Service - Alaska Alaska Journal of Commerce

The fight over Kenai Loop natural gas appears to be over. Attorneys for all four parties currently involved in the dispute — Cook Inlet Region Inc., the Alaska Mental Health Land Trust Authority, the Department of Natural Resources, and AIX Energy LLC — signed a joint request for dismissal Jan. 23 of the ongoing hearing in the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission related to the case. CIRI Vice President of Land and Energy Development Ethan Schutt said the Southcentral Native corporation had an agreement in place with AIX for a couple weeks.

“We’ve been waiting for a resolution between AIX and the other parties,” Schutt said Jan. 23. AIX won an October auction to purchase assets of the bankrupt Buccaneer Energy Ltd., which developed the Kenai Loop pad on Mental Health Land Trust property. Of four wells on the pad, two began producing natural gas in early 2012. Since, CIRI, which owns an adjacent parcel, filed suit against Buccaneer in state court and sought relief through the state commission for gas royalties it was owed for gas drained from its part of the reservoir. Schutt has said CIRI owns 20 percent of gas produced from the wells and that Buccaneer’s contract was for approximately $7 per thousand cubic

. . . Rebound Continued from page C-1

Under state law the Department of Revenue cannot release information on which companies are applying for and receiving credits, but some small independents use the anticipated state cash refunds, and even boast about them, to raise financing including equity investment to fund their exploration. As to the Cook Inlet question, Mayer and Tsafos recognized the benefits of the industry’s surge of activity in the Inlet. “While these subsidies have played an important role in turning around investment and production in Cook Inlet, it may now be an opportune time to reconsider the future of these credits,” the consultants said in their report. “In particular, it may be worth examining whether financing solutions that leverage the strength of the state’s balance sheet to assist these companies in gaining access to reasonably-priced capital might present an alternative to credits that makes more efficient use of the state’s resources, at lower costs to the state.” One example of an alternative financing strategy is the possible $50 million equity investment by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority in the Kitchen Lights gas development project being led by Furie Operating Alaska, a small independent. Furie’s project is a new gas production platform and connector pipelines to shore in Cook Inlet. AIDEA, the state economic development finance corporation, is studying the investment with Furie. AIDEA has also made an equity investment with Brooks Range Petroleum, an independent developing a small oil field on the North Slope. Tim Bradner can be reached at tim.bradner@alaskajournal.com.

feet, or mcf, of gas. Based on AOGCC production records, the gross value of gas owed to CIRI could be in the neighborhood of $10 million or more. Mental Health Trust Land Office Executive Director Marcie Menefee wrote in a Jan. 28 email to the Journal that her office is still in the process of finalizing lease terms with AIX. However, she wrote that the Mental Health Trust Land Office’s agreement with AIX is independent of DNR and CIRI. DNR represents the State of Alaska’s interest in the case as the primary owner of the resource. The department also often represents the Mental Health Land Trust. When Australia-based Buccaneer filed for bankruptcy May 31, 2014, it owed DNR

about $605,000 for a combination of Cook Inlet oil and gas lease payments and production royalty payments. Overall, the company owed more than $2.1 million to unsecured creditors in Alaska. The bankruptcy proceedings are continuing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, located in Houston. South Texas Bankruptcy Court Judge Marvin Isgur approved a settlement order between CIRI and Buccaneer Jan. 27. The settlement released the two from potential liabilities and evaporates CIRI’s $5.75 million proofs of claim filed against Buccaneer in September. The proposed court settlement was filed Jan. 8. Schutt declined to go into detail about the agreement with

AIX, but said CIRI would be in a “more traditional role as a lessor” to AIX. He said where the money comes from is less important to CIRI than whether or not the company is paid what it is owed. Previously, he had said CIRI could seek payment from the Mental Health Land Trust for royalties it received from CIRI’s gas. Representatives from AIX would not discuss the deal and said it is confidential. AIX is a shell subsidiary of Meridian Capital International Fund, which financed some of Buccaneer’s Cook Inlet work. Last April AIX purchased much of Buccaneer’s debt. In late May, the AOGCC ordered Buccaneer to open an escrow account at an Alaska financial institution and to seg-

regate its Kenai Loop production revenue into the account monthly. That money would be held until either a settlement was reached outside of the commission or an order was handed down by the commission doling out appropriate allocations. While Buccaneer delayed in setting up the account, by November it had transferred about $8 million into the escrow account, according to court filings. It put $399,639 into the account for December. The dismissal petition requests the escrow funds be dispersed to AIX in accordance with the multiple settlements between the parties. Elwood Brehmer can be reached at elwood.brehmer@ alaskajournal.com.

Walker announcement causes uncertainty over Alaska LNG BECKY BOHRER Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The big news at the Capitol this past week was Gov. Bill Walker’s gas line proposal, one that some legislators fear will create an atmosphere of uncertainty over efforts to bring Alaska’s gas to market. The state has been pursuing a major liquefied natural gas project, known as Alaska LNG, with BP, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil Corp., TransCanada Corp. and the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., or AGDC. Walker said that will continue. But in an opinion piece published on newspaper websites Wednesday night, Walker said he was concerned about what would happen if that project falters and therefore, he wanted to increase the size of a smaller, in-state gas project so the state would have another option.

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion

See WALKER, page C-6

A crew pulls a core sample on Jan. 13, 2014 as part of the extensive feasibility testing the Alaska LNG project is performing Nikiski.

Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

Federal coordinator weighs in on AK LNG By RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion

A federal coordinating office handling Alaska’s gas pipeline projects has been defunded by Congress and will no longer serve as a liaison between the public and organizers of the behemoth AlaskaLNG project. Federal coordinator Larry Persily plans to close the office, which operates the arcticgas.gov site and contains information about the project and each phase that it has moved through thus far. Persily is hoping to find a repository for all of the information that the office has gathered during its 10 years of operation. Here’s a question and answer session with Persily on what Alaska residents should look for as the project progresses and how they can weigh-in to protect their own interests.

Where does the responsibility for coordination between agencies lay? Who is going to be tasked with being the liaison for the public and private entities involved?

This is the largest and most expensive, most complex energy project ever in North American. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is going to do a single Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that all federal agencies will rely on. They have already started contacting other federal agencies, signing them up as cooperating agencies so that those federal agencies get together and sit around the table and say what issues need to be covered in this EIS so that Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries, the Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, can all rely on that environmental review. So, they’re talking among themselves, whether we exist or not, to make sure that that single EIS addresses all the issues. You can permit a project through the federal government without a coordinating office … to share information. It has been done before. Our office was very unique, there was nothing else like our office in the federal government which was part of the problem to continue funding it. It was seen, by detractors, as another Alaska earmark. Alaska earmarks are never popular. So you take away our office, the federal government is still capable of doing an EIS working within their agencies. I think where the public will notice the lack of our office is a less coordinated direct flow of information to the public.

whales and salmon habitat and ice and tides and existing pipelines and platforms, this is a challenge to them. It’s taking a lot of work. Where you put in and where you take it out? Getting past Denali. What side between Denali Park and Glitter Gulch with all the construction and the river and the railroad and the highway, where do you lay your pipeline? That’s another challenge. Going through Atigun Pass. You’ve got the oil pipeline, you don’t want to be on top of the oil pipeline so where do you go through? There are some challenging engineering and environmental portions of this project, they all have answers as Steve Butt from Alaska LNG explains. It’s a matter of finding the best answer, not Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion just the most cost effective, but Larry Persily, federal coordinator in the Federal Office for Alaska Gas Line Projects, speaks the most cost effective and the about the environmental assessment needed for the Alaska LNG project to progress October least environmentally damaging. 28, 2014 in Soldotna.

of technology. How are people in rural areas of the state getting access to information?

in Nikiski? As Steve Butt, the project manager, said, maybe we’re going to need to relocate the highway to get it out of harm’s way. If you’re someone who is in school transportation, trucking and commute or fisheries you’re going to want to read it. Look for those issues that affect you. I know that Mayor Mike Navarre from the borough is engaged and involved. He wants to hire someone dedicated to watch out for the borough’s interest.

That’s absolutely true. Last year, Glennallen wanted to know what was going on. So, I went out there and spent the night with the Glennallen chamber and answered questions about the project. It’s not a big city where you can go on the evening news and reach 90 percent of the market and this is a huge project, it’s complex and it’s going to affect the whole state — even if you’re not on Did you say that the pipeline route. I think there’s a need there FERC will be required and I just have to find a way to address issues but not to convince other federal offinecessarily individual cials that we can find a way to do this, at a reduced level be- comments? cause we don’t have anymore funding. But, somewhere in the Yeah, FERC, in the environgovernment we can find a few mental impact statement … in hundred thousand dollars to its decision to grant authority keep people informed. to build and operate a plant can say, “We’ve identified these You mentioned that things as impacts and this is you need to do to mitione of the most impor- what gate those impacts.” tant things that people Whether it’s traffic, whether could do would be to it’s fisheries, whether it’s seaconstruction, whether familiarize themselves sonal it’s limited hours when the with the project? How school buses are running — best can they do that FERC gives them the authority to build and operate. It can now? list dozens, hundreds of conditions. Well, like I said we’re lookSo that’s where the commuing for a way to keep the webnities in the state are going to site going. We put project upwant to get in there because, dates there. hey, we want the project. It’s Let’s say when the draft engood for us but we’ve got to vironmental reports come out, figure out a way to deal with if you’re concerned with trafsome of the impacts, particufic you’re going to want to read larly the temporary ones as that section of the report. What best we can. FERC can imwould this project do to traffic

As you’ve talked to people about the project, what have they Is it common for identified as their priFERC to put those types mary concerns? of factors on a project of Well, certainly Alaskans want to get jobs. That’s not rethis scale? pose those mitigating factors into Alaska LNG’s operating license.

In your study of this project, as it has developed, which areas were of the most concern to you?

ally the federal government’s problem. Under federal law any American can go work in this country. But certainly I’m sure that will come up. I want jobs, everybody wants jobs. I’m sure that will come up and that’s something the project developers are going to have to deal with politically. Getting gas out of the pipe and to Alaskans is not really an issue to the federal government — that’s going to be an issue for the state of Alaska who is going to be in charge of those off-take points. Where do they want them and how are they going to get the gas out of the pipeline?

Getting across Cook Inlet is a challenge. There are pipelines in Cook Inlet, it’s not impossible, but between beluga

Are there portions of the project that are commonly misinter-

Yeah, it is. Of the LNG projects that FERC has approved so far in the Lower 48, they all have conditions. You can’t build something this big without affecting the environment. The question is, affect it as little as possible and do what you can then to repair, restore or replace what you’ve lost somewhere else.

What was the primary responsibility of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects? FERC will do notices about their meetings and the environmental impact statement, but I think we did a good job of trying to translate and putting it all together for the public. I am working with other agencies to try and say “hey guys, even though we’re going away, this is a huge undertaking in Alaska.” We need to find some other place in the federal government to find a desk, find a person, give them our data, our website, all the research we’ve done and continue the information service to the public. I’m trying to make the argument within the federal government that just because this specific office is going away doesn’t mean that the public need is going away and doesn’t mean that the responsibility of the federal government goes away.

It seems that, in Alaska, it can be difficult to get information to people because they’re geographically spread out and have access to disparate types C

See Q&A, page C-6

C-3

Administration ‘fully engaged’ in advancing AK LNG Project BY TIM BRADNER Morris News Service-Alaska Alaska Journal of Commerce

State officials are “fully engaged” in negotiations over commercial agreements needed in 2015 for the large North Slope natural gas pipeline and liquefied natural gas project, but declining to give specifics. “We are in commercial negotiations with all Alaska LNG parties and are making every effort to maintain timelines. However, commercial negotiations can only occur as quickly as all parties come to agreement,” Marty Rutherford, Deputy Commissioner of Natural Resources, said in a statement released to reporters. Gov. Bill Walker has designated Rutherford as the state’s lead negotiator in the gas project negotiations. “It is premature to predict when all projectenabling contracts will be ready for legislative approval,” she said in the statement. Talks now underway include the “upstream gas supply, commercial structure and fiscal terms,” the statement said. On gas supply, the issue involves an assurance that the state will be able to receive its full 25 percent share of gas production in the event of a problem in the producing fields on the North Slope or some other disruption. Because the state does not control gas production operations, unlike the producer company partners in the project, some agreement must be in place to guarantee the state a steady supply. This is needed so the state can sell its share See ENGAGED, page C-4

C-4 Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

Central Peninsula Hospital sees rapid expansion By BEN BOETTGER Peninsula Clarion

Soldotna’s Central Peninsula Hospital, one of two borough funded hospitals on the Kenai Peninsula, has been expanding steadily since it began as a clinic operated by Dr. Paul Isaak in the late 1960’s. Since 1971, when it was an approximately 8,000-square-foot facility with 20 staff members, Central Peninsula Hospital has become a 228,973-square-foot facility with 773 on staff. “This is kind of a demonstration of the economic driver that our hospital is for the community,” said Central Peninsula Hospital CEO Rick Davis in his quarterly financial report to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on January 20, 2015. “773 employees is a lot of payroll, a lot of housing, a lot of groceries and things like that.” The Hospital’s most recent developments include the 2013 construction of a radiation oncology building, funded in part by a $2 million state grant, and the November 2014 purchase of a private urology clinic in Soldotna for $604,000. In February 2013 the borough approved the issue of $4.3 million in revenue bonds to fund

Clarion file photo

In this Feb. 4, 2010 file photo, Dr. Gregg Motonaga talks about the technology available to him at Central Peninsula Hospital, where he works as an anesthesiologist.

the 87,981-square-foot addition of 5 clinics, including cancer clinics, a spine center, two foot clinics, and two gastrointestinal labs. The addition finished its permitting process and its bonds were issued in January 2014. Currently, the special clinics building is being built

. . . Engaged Continued from page C-3

of LNG and to guarantee customers on delivery. Similar agreements will be in place among he producer company partners but those firms have operational control of gas production plus access to other LNG on world markets to make up any supply shortfall in commitments to customers. The fiscal terms discussion relates to some form of agreement with gas producers that tax terms will not change on the project. Another important action for the state is a formal determination that royalty will be taken in kind, or as gas, rather than cash. This will be tied to modifications of the state leases, Ru-

by Nesser Construction of Anchorage, and is expected to be completed in late January 2016. “What that expansion’s going to do is give us a comprehensive spine center all in one place, which is really important - to have all those services

therford said. “An RIK (royalty-in-kind) decision itself does not require legislative approval but it is tied together with the lease modification, which will need legislative approval,” she said. It is difficult to link the RIK action to a specific timetable because it is part of the overall negotiations. “The final RIK decision must be made before FEED (the decision to begin front-end engineering and design) and this decision is closely linked to the ongoing commercial negotiations,” Rutherford said. In a related development, Senate Resources Committee chair Sen. Cathy Giessel said Feb.2 that the Senate Republican leadership has started planning for an October special session in anticipation of needed legislative approvals of the agreements. The agreements are also needed be-

in one continuous area,” said Davis. “And secondly, it completes our cancer center. When that building opens up, we’ll have a full cancer center with infusion and radiation oncology and medical oncology all under one roof.” The hospital originally

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion

fore a Dec. 30, 2015, deadline for the state to sign a long-term gas “throughput” agreement with TransCanada Corp. to transport the state’s 25 percent share of gas through TransCanada’s portion of the gas pipeline and North Slope gas conditioning plant. Rutherford’s comments came amid expressions of concerns by legislators over whether the state is on track with the necessary negotiations. The overall

planned to install new MRI and CT machines in the speciality clinics building, giving it a total of three of each type of machine. In November 2013 the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services denied the hospital’s application for a required Certificate of Need for the design that included these two machines, but in January 2014 approved a design without them. Davis said that speciality clinic is being built with facilities to operate MRI and CT machines, and that one of the hospital’s currently existing MRI and CT machines may be moved into this space. Alternatively, Davis said the hospital could also reapply for state approval of new machines, but that they “hadn’t really started that process yet.” “We were approved to shell those spaces in, and that’s what we’re doing right now,” Davis said. “And we haven’t really decided yet what we’re going to do as far as the equipment in them... Some of our options are to reapply with additional information, or to relocate existing equipment into that building, but we haven’t really decided which direction to go.” In his speech to the assembly, Davis reported that at the end of

project is on a tight schedule for the agreements to come into place if the FEED, a multi-billion-dollar commitment to detailed engineering, is to begin in 2016. The FEED is needed for a Final Investment Decision on the project, basically the approval for construction, which would come in late 2017 or early 2018 under the current plan. That would allow time for equipment and materials procurement and construction, and a start of operations in late 2023 or early 2024. The state would be an equity partner in the project with North Slope producers BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and TransCanada, a pipeline company. The state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corp. would own the state’s interest in the large LNG plant now planned to be built at Nikiski, near Kenai.

2014, Central Peninsula hospital had recorded a gross patient revenue of $131,443,000 - an increase of 13.4 percent from the revenue recorded at the same time in 2013. The hospital projected a continuing increase to $230,523,000 in 2015. At the close of 2014, the hospital projected an opposite trend for its uncompensated care, which had by mid-2014 had risen by $7 million since 2009. However, projections from the end of 2014 predicted that it would decrease from the mid-2014 number of $20,438,000 to $18,237,000 by the end of fiscal year 2015 in June. Uncompensated care includes the categories of charity care, given to patients with an annual income less than 200% of the designation in the most recent Alaska Federal Poverty Guidelines, and bad debt incurred by those who’ve used the hospital’s loan program and are unable to make the monthly installments required. Although the hospital’s bad debt had increased by $800,000, its dollars spent in charity care had decreased by $2 million. Davis said that the hospital’s charity care had come down 12% from July to December 2014.

.. Shakeup Continued from page C-1

for the state’s participation in the project provides for this, but the state administration must take certain actions this spring to make it happen. Gas “in-kind” underpins the structure of the state-industry partnership in the gas project, achieving the alignment between state and industry interests needed for the project to move forward. Butt mentioned the importance of stable fiscal terms for the project, which will be among other “project enabling agreements” needed this year. An LNG purchaser signing a long-term contract will need to See SHAKEUP, page C-6 C

Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

C-5

Soldotna senator weighs in on the state’s budget cuts By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska — If people are uncomfortable with the impact of rescheduling ferry reservations, they will never be comfortable with the type of cuts needed to make the state budget work, a Senate Finance Committee member said during a recent hearing. In an interview, Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, said there will be a level of discomfort and a need to pull back to essential services. Micciche

. . . Cosmo Continued from page C-1

WesPac Midstream is working on a medium-sized liquefied natural gas, or LNG, plant at Port MacKenzie, in upper Cook Inlet, with a goal of supplying LNG to Alaska communities and industrial customers. The company is a “midstream” energy development company specializing in fuels. It is owned principally by a private equity investment fund managed by Oaktree Capital Management, LP. Oaktree is a global investment management firm with more than $93 billion in diversified assets under its management as of Sept. 30, 2014. The company has substantial experience in the energy, finance, and infrastructure industries. WesPac Midstream is developing several liquefied natural gas, or LNG facilities in major market areas in the US and Canada. The company recently inked a deal to supply LNG to Totem Ocean Trailer Express, or TOTE, from a first-of-itskind LNG fueling facility in Jacksonville, Fla. TOTE will have two large ocean freight vessels operating between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico which, when completed, will be fueled by LNG from WesPac’s Jacksonville facility by late 2016. TOTE also operates ocean freight service to Alaska from Tacoma, Wash. Terms of the BlueCrest/ WesPac arrangement are confidential but Johnson said it involved “several hundred million dollars” in capital commitment for the drilling of gas production wells and installation of two offshore production platforms at the field, which is near Anchor Point, south of Kenai. “The agreement is subject to definitive documentation and all necessary governmental approvals, as well as confirmation of underlying agreements and

chairs a Senate Finance subcommittee looking at the transportation department’s budget. In prioritizing services in the agency’s budget, “rescheduling a few tickets is going to be below what I see as essential services across the entire system,” he said. “We’re going to evaluate the impacts. But the reality of it is, it seems like the administration is avoiding all discomfort, and that’s something that none of us can afford to do,” he said. The state transportation department had proposed reduc-

tions in ferry service as part of an effort to cut costs during the upcoming fiscal year. But in budget amendments earlier this week, Walker proposed a one-time reallocation of $6.3 million from other parts of the department’s budget to restore full service to the currently published ferry schedule. He said many families already have bought tickets for once-in-a-lifetime Alaska vacations, and he wanted to ensure that service was available to them. During a committee discus-

sion on budget amendments Friday, Micciche said that is probably not the direction he will want to go in his subcommittee’s budget recommendation. The ferry issue is just one that’s been raised by lawmakers digging into Walker’s budget plan. Others include proposed contingency funds for the administration to address the unintended consequences of budget cuts and Medicaid expansion. There is skepticism among

approval by the Boards of both companies,” Johnson said. BlueCrest would remain the operator of the field, he said. WesPac intends to sell the produced natural gas to markets in Alaska, either as LNG delivered by truck, rail, marine vessel or directly as natural gas delivered into the existing gas pipeline infrastructure. The WesPac partnership will allow BlueCrest to focus on development of the deeper oil deposit at Cosmopolitan, Johnson said. The company plans to begin drilling extended-reach production wells into the oil reservoirs with a shore-based drill rig this summer. BlueCrest plans to drill up to 20 new oil wells over the next five years and is currently completing the preparatory work for those wells. The shallower gas deposit will be produced using vertical production wells drilled with a jack-up rig, Johnson said. BlueCrest hopes to make arrangements to use the Spartan 151 jack-up rig now in Cook Inlet, although the rig is currently slated to be used by Furie Operating later in the summer to assist in that company’s construction of a gas production platform its Kitchen Lights project in north Cook Inlet. A second jack-up rig, the Endeavour, had been in Cook Inlet and was used by BlueCrest to drill an exploration well at Cosmopolitan in 2013. The Endeavour recently departed for South Africa, but in light of current market conditions, Johnson said he believes that BlueCrest will easily be able to find another suitable rig under very favorable terms. BlueCrest hopes to install the first gas production platform in 2016 and a second in 2017. Each platform will be capable of handling 35 million cubic feet per day of gas, or 70 million cubic feet per day total. Johnson said the estimate of oil and gas reserves at Cosmopolitan is confidential but the capacity of the production

facilities gives an indication of the reserve size. “We had been focused mainly on the oil development with the gas as a secondary goal, but WesPac came in and will now fund and accelerate the gas development,” he said. The only published estimates of oil reserves at Cosmopolitan within the last several years were included in Buccaneer’s September 2013 quarterly report to investors and were based only on the earlier ConocoPhillips and Pioneer drilling (not accounting for the results from the 2013 drilling program). That report listed 31 million barrels of oil of proven reserves; 44 million barrels of oil of proven and probable reserves and 70 million barrels of oil estimated as proven, probable and possible resources. One new offshore well was drilled at Cosmopolitan in 2013 with Buccaneer, the 25 percent minority owner, as operator. Drilling began in May 2013. The first well, drilled to 7,599 feet, encountered productive gas sands from approximately 800 feet down to 5,600 feet deep and newly-found oil sands approximately 400 feet above those previously discovered by ConocoPhillips and Pioneer. No long-term production tests on the oil zones were conducted, because of limitations in storing oil produced from a flow test. However, two of the newly-discovered oil sands were flowed to the surface under carefully constrained conditions in order to confirm their productivity. A test of gas-bearing sands

in the 2013 well at 5,500 feet depth flowed at a choked-back rate of 7.2 million cubic feet per day. In the second test, a gasbearing sand at 4,300 feet was tested and flowed at a chokedback rate of 7.3 million cubic feet per day. BlueCrest has not announced what the gas sands would be capable of producing under a full production mode. Cosmopolitan was discovered years ago by ConocoPhillips, who at the time did not have access to an offshore drilling rig to vertically explore the entire productive interval. ConocoPhillips sold the prospect to Pioneer Natural Resources, which had planned to develop the oil reservoir using production wells drilled from shore. Pioneer drilled another test from shore but then decided to exit Alaska to focus on the company’s shale oil program in Texas. Cosmopolitan was sold to BlueCrest and a minority partner, Buccaneer Energy. BlueCrest itself has invested about $110 million in Cosmopolitan so far, Johnson said. The existence of the shallow gas reservoirs were always suspected, but they had not been confirmed until the 2013 exploration drilling by BlueCrest and Buccaneer. BlueCrest subsequently bought out Buccaneer’s minority interest. Tim Bradner can be reached at tim.bradner@alaskajournal. com. Rashah McChesney of the Peninsula Clarion contributed to this article.

many legislators about the Medicaid expansion and the type of savings the state might see as a result of it. Walker has made Medicaid expansion a priority, and his budget attributes spending reductions in some programs to costs that would be covered under expansion. The budget includes proposed cost-control efforts for the current Medicaid program. Both Senate Finance cochair Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, and House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, said they would prefer to see reforms to Medicaid, a cost driver in the budget, before moving to expansion. “I think we have to have reforms of the magnitude that actually get us savings now before we ever consider expansion,” Kelly said in an interview. In discussing budget amendments Friday, Walker’s budget director, Pat Pitney, told the Senate Finance Committee that Walker is considering a bill on Medicaid expansion after being asked to consider that by finance committee leaders. Aspects of expansion are currently

sprinkled throughout the budget. A Walker spokeswoman had said earlier this week that he was not considering a separate bill. Leaders in both the House and Senate have said they will probably cut deeper in crafting their versions of their budget than Walker proposed. The state is facing multibilliondollar deficits this year and next, a situation exacerbated by the fall in oil prices. The state plans to use savings to help get by. Chenault said he thinks his caucus will want to try to address the issue as much as possible because next year will be worse if things stay the same. He said he didn’t have a target for total cuts. Pitney said the administration feels that what it put forth represents a significant reduction but said legislators are the appropriators. During the committee hearing, Pitney called the budget proposal a first step, “and as the pressure builds, the solutions will become more dramatic and the choices will become harder.”

C-6 Peninsula Clarion Special Section, February 2015

. . .Walker . . . Shakeup Continued from page C-4

Continued from page C-2

Whichever project is first to produce a “solid plan,” with conditions acceptable to the state, will get the state’s full support, he wrote. Or, the two might be combined at some point, he said. AGDC has been pursuing the smaller project on the state’s behalf. The piece was posted hours after company representatives and a deputy Natural Resources commissioner told lawmakers the parties were working together and the project was on track for a decision next year on whether to move to the next phase. The opinion piece “pretty much lays out that we’re in competition now with our partners,” said House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, who has raised concerns with Walker’s new plan. Walker said while the companies are working well with Alaska now, he wants to ensure the state has an economically viable gas line “not beholden to potentially changing priorities” by the companies over the next few years. It’s in Alaska’s best interest to have two options, he wrote in an emailed response to questions Friday. He said he doesn’t see that legislative changes would be needed, though Chenault said lawmakers are looking into that. It would be an in-state pipeline that would provide gas to Alaskans and to a liquefied natural gas terminal developed by others, Walker said. Walker announced his plans when he did because he said Alaskans and the Legislature deserve to know the direction he’s heading on the gas line. Legislative leaders are looking forward to greater clarity on that direction.

know that the financial terms, including taxes, won’t change. Butt made an oblique reference to the current controversy over Walker’s firing of three Alaska Gasline Development Corp. board members. “The Alaska project is unique,” with private industry in partnership with a state government, he said. “Democracy can be pretty messy at times and it’s a challenge to preserve the project,” through these events. “The Alaska LNG Project will operate for decades, however, and it will span a lot of political transitions.” He also made reference to the governor’s action to restrict new AGDC board members from signing confidentiality agreements: “Confidentiality is about respecting private information (of partners) as we work together. It’s not about ‘veiling’ a project but about creating an environment where people can work together. You want to know your private information will be held confidential. “How would you (as oil support contractors) feel if the details on all your bids on projects were out there in the public domain?” Later in the meeting, new state Revenue Commissioner Randy Hoffbeck gave assurances that the new administration was still committed to seeing the gas project schedule remain on track, a pledge the governor made during his campaign. Despite this, the firing of the AGDC board members and the limitations on protection of confidentiality has raised concerns, not so much about Walker but about some of the people he has appointed. Minge was upbeat, however, about the state’s role in the project: “Thanks to the Legislature’s work on SB 138 we now have a roadmap for progress. Gov. Walker has repeatedly said that he wants to keep the project on track, and I am going to interpret that as support for SB

. . . Q&A Continued from page C-3

preted? I think … this not just a pipeline. The liquefaction marine terminal at Nikiski will be probably close to half of the project costs. So I think (proj-

AP Photo/Becky Bohrer

Gov. Bill Walker speaks with reporters during a news conference on his plans to seek dismissal of a lawsuit he brought before taking office involving the Point Thomson oil and gas field, on Feb. 11, 2015, in Juneau.

138 and the process it laid out.” Most of Hoffbeck’s remarks dealt with the state revenue situation and the sharp drop in oil prices, but he did say, “pushing the gasline forward is critical,” to securing a new source of income for the treasury. Hoffbeck also said the governor and other state officials were concerned about the effects of industry incentive tax credits on state finances as oil prices continue to drop. “However, the governor is not seeking any change to the credits or oil tax structure,” at least for now, Hoffbeck said. On the oil price situation and revenue

ect organizers) are right, it’s a pipeline but between the gas liquefaction plant on the North Slope, the marine terminal, and the pipeline — the pipeline is maybe a quarter of the cost though it’s the longest portion of it. So I think that’s one misconception. I think the factor that “I want it done tomorrow, why can’t we just go out there and build it?” Well, we don’t have any cus-

slide, Minge said he is optimistic about the future but, “there will be impacts — that’s the reality of a significant price drop — but we have to keep our nerve and stay strategic. This isn’t our first rodeo. We’ve been through ups and downs before.” There are upsides, too. “A low-price environment has a way of focusing the mind and encouraging companies to innovate, develop new technologies, and become more efficient,” he said. He cited some recent examples within BP’s Alaska group, which works through integrated teams with contractors. A series of innovations in drilling

tomers, we don’t’ know how much it’s going to cost, you don’t have your permits. It’s going to take this long; just be patient. It’s going to take another couple of years to design the permitting process — they will not be at a point to make a decision, permits in hand, customers in hand, until 2019 and it’s going to take five years to build it. You can only do so many sea lifts to the North Slope when

have allowed BP to enjoy a 30 percent gain in efficiency, in terms of days per 10,000 feet, despite the complexity of wells, Minge said. A series of improvements have increased the number of well-work jobs by 50 percent over the last three years while also improving performance. “Another example involves innovations allowing the team to do casing repairs without a rig, saving 50 percent of the cost,” Minge said. “Without this the economics of some of the workovers wouldn’t have made sense, even at high oil prices, so this is a solution that will increase production over the life of the field.”

the ice is up, you can only do so much construction in the winter when the ground is frozen. That’s just how long it’s going to take to build the modules, get the pipe delivered and put it in the ground.

So the office is closing in February 2015?

I had some money leftover. I’m targeting Feb. 28 give or take a few days or a week. End of February, early March, but I hope to, before then, find some way to continue the website and the information service somewhere in the federal government.

Reach Rashah McChesney at Rashah.mcchesney@peninWell they didn’t fund us, but sulaclarion.com.