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P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 50, Issue 51
In the news
2 firms declined flight before fatal crash ANCHORAGE — An air ambulance that crashed on the Kenai Peninsula was on a flight to a location that other companies had declined. The Anchorage Daily News reported that one air ambulance service Friday night declined to make a trip from Anchorage to Seward and another company said it would not make the flight until Saturday. A pilot for Security Aviation and a two-person medical crew from Medevac Alaska died in the crash. Alaska State Troopers are waiting for confirmation from the state medical examiner before releasing names of people on board. LifeMed Alaska chief operating officer Steve Heyano said his company declined the flight because of bad weather. Guardian Flight in a statement said it put a request for a patient transport from Seward on hold but did not say why.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 • Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Spokesman: Gillis confirmed to House seat JUNEAU — Alaska House Republicans have voted to confirm Mel Gillis See news, Page A2
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Police: Homicide victim was lured, beaten By Dan Joling
tampering. Goddard’s mother, Melanie Goddard, 39, is charged with witness tampering. All are represented by the Alaska Public Defender Agency, which does not comment on pending cases and has not responded to an email request for comment. Witness statements say the motive was Atwood’s predatory sexual actions toward young women, including Ryan’s girlfriend. Atwood was using crutches for a broken leg when he disappeared. His body was found miles from the beach four days later hidden under brush along a power line trail about 9 miles north of the city. The state medical examiner concluded that Atwood
Associated Press
ANCHORAGE — A Seward man who went missing last summer was lured to a trail near a remote beach and beaten to death with a baseball bat, according to a criminal complaint filed by investigators. Five people have been charged with first-degree murder, seconddegree murder and manslaughter in the Aug. 25 death of Preston Atwood, 21. The five include Seward residents Laurel Correa, 19, her boyfriend, James Helberg, 18, Tyler Goddard, 19, Timothy Ryan, 24, and Ryan’s mother, Jennifer Harren, 46. Ryan is also charged with evidence
died of blunt force injuries. He had extensive injuries to his head, neck and genitals. Seward Police Chief Tom Clemons said last week the case is in the hands of prosecutors and he could not comment. Helberg told Seward Police Department Sgt. Karl Schefermeyer that his girlfriend texted him to say she was with Atwood at the beach and that he had made unwanted advances toward her. Ryan drove his mother, Helberg and Goddard to the beach, where Helberg said the men had decided to confront Atwood and teach him a lesson. The six walked down a trail to the beach and smoked pot, Helberg said. As they walked back up the trail,
Heavy snow hits peninsula
Helberg said, he heard a loud crack and someone trying to cry out. He said he walked Correa to her truck and returned down the trail to see Ryan striking Atwood with a black baseball bat. Helberg said he pleaded with Ryan to stop but Ryan didn’t until Atwood stopped moving. Goddard, Helberg said, stood by and watched. Harren, he said, watched part of the beating but walked away before it ended. Helberg said they dragged Atwood’s body to the tree line. Ryan buried the bat and Atwood’s crutches, Helberg said, and they drove away. Ryan, Harren and Helberg See victim, Page A3
Court date set for suit over Homer election By Megan Pacer Homer News
While both Arnold and Frisby emphasized community participation, Cordova Mayor Clay Koplin said he was only vaguely familiar with the organization. “There’s been so much fur flying on the ferries,” Koplin said. Cordova has been particularly hard hit by the the cuts to AMHS. The last ferry for the season left the city in September and the next one isn’t scheduled until May 15, Koplin said. The city has been receiving supplies through Alaska Airline’s freight services, but the planes being used can’t haul large freight, according to Koplin. “There’s been so many collaborations, so many initiatives,” Koplin said. “I’ve been collaborating directly with unions, other communities and (the Department of Transportation).” Koplin said his involvement in the group may have been as simple as a verbal “yes” at some point.
Lawyers in a lawsuit filed against the City of Homer in Alaska Superior Court will have their first day in court next week. Tom Stroozas, a former member of the Homer City Council, is suing the city and the city council over the Oct. 1 municipal election, alleging new council member Storm Hansen-Cavasos violated residency requirements when she ran for office. His lawsuit asks the Superior Court to find that she wasn’t qualified for office and to invalidate her election. A motion for expedited consideration of the case was granted on Friday, Nov. 22, according to online court records. The first court date for the case is set for Monday, Dec. 9 at the Nesbett Courthouse in Anchorage, according to online court records. It’s a hearing for the judge, Josie Garton, to weigh a motion Stroozas’ attorneys made for a preliminary injunction that would keep Hansen-Cavasos from serving on the council while the case is making its way through court. Garton was reassigned as the judge in the case on Tuesday, replacing Andrew Guidi. Keri-Ann Baker, one of the attorneys representing Stroozas in the case, said in an email Wednesday that the hearing on the preliminary injunction, originally scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5, was changed again after a request for an extension from the defense. Before suing the city, Stroozas contested the election locally. The council voted for an investigation to take place, which was conducted by the city manager with help from the city attorney and city clerk. After reviewing the report from that investigation, the council voted to uphold Hansen-Cavasos’ election to the body. She was recused for that vote and for discussion of the investigation report. A group of citizens who live outside city limits, with help from Stroozas, claim Hansen-Cavasos did not live within city limits for the required full year before running for city council. The investigation showed she lived at a rented home off East End Road, and then at two different addresses within city limits. Hansen-Cavasos and family members said in sworn affidavits during the investigation that, while she continued paying rent at the East End Road area property, she had moved into town with her mother to a home on Mission Road in the summer of 2018, a year before the October 2019 election. Hansen-Cavasos explained in her affidavit that there may have been confusion surrounding her permanent
See ferries, Page A2
See suit, Page A3
Murder, arson charges in deaths ANCHORAGE — A 34-year-old Anchorage man has been charged with murder and arson in the deaths of two people found in a burning sport utility vehicle. Anchorage police Monday arrested Tylan Fely. He also faces charges of weapons misconduct, evidence tampering and misconduct involving a corpse. Fely has not been arraigned, and online court documents do not list his attorney. Police say the victims appear to be woman and a girl and that the deaths are “domestic-related.” The victims’ identities and cause of death have not been confirmed. Police shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday responded to reports of a vehicle fire. Responding officers found an SUV fully engulfed in a vacant lot on Newell Street a few blocks east of Boniface Parkway.
Chilly
Erin Thompson / Peninsula Clarion
Snow drifts can be seen along the roadway in Kalifornsky.
By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
The western peninsula was blanketed in snow after winter weather brought consistent snowfall over Sunday and Monday. An overnight measurement taken Monday showed nearly 10 inches had fallen, Michael Kutz from the National Weather Service said. A Winter Weather Advisory from the National Weather Service was active Sunday until Monday night. Beginning Tuesday and for the rest of the week, residents shouldn’t expect any more significant snowfall, due to a northwesterly flow coming through the area, according to the National Weather Service.
Both the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and the Kenai Peninsula College had a two-hour delayed start Monday morning. If more school closures are warranted this week, the school district will make the announcement by 7 a.m. With extra snow on the ground, drivers can stay safe by driving slow. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is asking drivers not to “crowd the plow.” The borough maintains 645 miles of road and plowing begins when snow depth reaches 6 inches, a Facebook post from the Kenai Peninsula Borough said. Plowing times will vary due to snow weight, drifting or other changes to weather conditions, the post said. The latest road conditions can be found by calling 511 or visiting www.511.alaska.gov.
Group pushes for ferry funding By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
In response to massive cuts to the state’s marine transportation system, a new organization has formed to advocate for the ferries in Alaska. A collaboration between local municipalities and unions, the Friends of the Alaska Marine Highway System hopes to become a voice for the promotion of Alaska’s ferry system. “More and more communities were asking why we didn’t have an organization advocating for funding the ferry,” said Percy Frisby, acting director of the organization. “The whole idea of this is to keep community members informed of what’s happening with the ferry system.” The organization has yet to form a board of directors, but Frisby said that would be done in the coming days. According to Frisby, a consultant for local unions, the plan is to
have an 11-member board, with four seats going to union members and the rest representatives from Southeast communities. The AMHS budget for 2020 was cut by $38 million. Originally, it faced a $97 million cut proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in February. Since then, sailings have been cut back or canceled to many coastal communities, and high repair costs have taken some vessels out of service. According to the group’s website, members includes the cities of Cordova, Gustavus, Kodiak, Pelican and Skagway. Three unions — the Inlandboatman’s Union of the Pacific, the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots and the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association — are listed as members as well. “It’s more the communities, not the union,” IBU spokesman Robb Arnold said by phone Monday. “We’re part of it on paper, but I think that it’s more community driven.”