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W of 1 inner Awa0* 201 Exc rds fo 8 e r Rep llence i o n rt * Ala ska P i n g ! res
P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 50, Issue 57
In the news
Wasilla man dies in crash of 2 pickups WASILLA — A Wasilla man died in a crash of two pickups southwest of the city. William Arndt, 66, died Monday night of injuries suffered in a crash on Knik-Goose Bay Road. Alaska State Troopers determined that Wasilla resident Susan Kaltenbacher, 69, was behind the wheel of a northbound three-quarter-ton pickup shortly before 7 p.m. She lost control of the truck and it crossed into the southbound lane, where it struck a pickup driven by Arndt. Emergency responders transported Arndt to Mat-Su Regional Hospital. Hospital staff pronounced him dead shortly before 8:30 p.m. Kaltenbacher also was transported to the hospital.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 • Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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Peninsula recovers from severe weather Warm temperatures and rain are still forecast to continue in some areas, which could impact different areas of the peninsula. By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
Recent winds and rain have caused power outages, landslides and flooding across the peninsula, prompting a two-hour delay start for all schools Tuesday morning
and temporary road closures in some areas. In a Tuesday afternoon video update, Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency Manager Dan Nelson told residents that the state Department of Transportation and borough responders were working
to clear roads. “We had some closures this morning, but things are getting a little bit back to a normal weather pattern,” Nelson said. Almost 4,000 members lost power early this week due to high winds, a Tuesday press release from Homer Electric Association said. As of Tuesday, all members affected by that outage had their power restored.
As snow melts from power lines and weakened trees settle, however, more power outages may continue, according to the release. Warm temperatures and rain are still forecast to continue in some areas, which could impact different areas of the peninsula, Nelson said. The flood warning for the Anchor River, issued by the National See weather, Page A2
School board seeks full funding from state By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
Man to accept 4-month sentence for killing polar bear ANCHORAGE — An Alaska man has agreed to plead guilty to killing a polar bear without harvesting its meat, authorities said. Chris Gordon of Kaktovik reached a plea deal with prosecutors in which he will accept a maximum prison sentence of four months and a $4,500 fine, Alaska’s Energy Desk reported. The killing violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act, authorities said. The whaling captain is also expected to agree not to hunt marine mammals except bowhead whales for a year after sentencing. Gordon was charged in July with a single count of “wasteful taking of marine mammal.” Gordon shot the polar bear in front of his house after it was attracted by butchered whale meat in his front yard, authorities said. Gordon acknowledged he failed to use bear-resistant food storage lockers for the whale meat and that a snow removal vehicle moved the polar bear carcass a few weeks after Gordon killed it. Several months after that he “caused the polar bear carcass to be discarded and burned in the Kaktovik dump
Clouds, sun
Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion
Organizers for Project Homeless Connect meet Tuesday at the Independent Living Center in Kalifornsky.
Opportunity to Connect Project Homeless Connect volunteers can sign up for part of the day or all day, and are needed to run the food pantry and clothing booths By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Project Homeless Connect 2020 has just about everything it needs to be a success, but it’s missing volunteers. Organizers for the project met on Tuesday at the Independent Living Center on Kalifornsky Beach Road to discuss what is still needed for the event in terms of supplies, services and volunteers. During the discussion, it
was made clear that more volunteers are needed to fill in the gaps, especially as companions for the participants. Project Homeless Connect is an annual event in Soldotna that provides a one-stop shop for those experiencing or who are at risk of homelessness. During the event, community members can come in for a free meal, blankets, clothes, diapers, shower and laundry vouchers, haircuts and a number of other services all provided at
no cost. Similar events occur in other parts of Alaska, including Anchorage and Juneau, and this year events will be taking place in Homer and Seward to cover the entire peninsula. Upon arrival to the event, participants are asked to fill out a survey asking for information regarding the size of their household, how long they have been homeless, their reason for becoming See connect, Page A2
The school board is calling on Gov. Mike Dunleavy and the Kenai Peninsula legislative delegation to provide adequate funding in the upcoming budget process. During its Monday meeting, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution to send a letter, dated Dec. 3, to Dunleavy and peninsula state representatives and senators. The letter asks Dunleavy to consider fully funding education as he creates his proposed FY 2021 budget, which is expected to be released this week. The school board is asking for full funding “to meet increasing costs and the diverse and significant needs of Alaska students.” “Our success in schools and our graduation rate continue to rise,” the letter said. “Simultaneously, we have seen a rise in OCS and suicide risk referrals, and students who experience homelessness. The socialemotional health of our students is a priority in our district, and the investment to fully fund education for Alaska students is a promise for our future.” The board’s letter also asks the state for early notification funding, saying it’s critical for sound financial management, stability, a focus on learning and for the recruitment and retention of quality educators. “The KPBSD is accountable for the dollars entrusted to it and supports measures that will allow our district to operate in a more efficient manner,” the letter said.
City to vote on funds for drug task force officer By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai City Council will be voting next week to authorize additional funds for a Kenai Police Officer’s participation in statewide efforts to crack down on drug trafficking. Ordinance 3100-2019, introduced by the council on Dec. 4, would increase estimated revenues and
appropriations for the city’s General Fund by $4,786.53. That amount represents 79.5 hours of overtime worked by one officer in the department between Oct. 2018 and April 2019, Kenai Police Chief David Ross said on Tuesday. During that time, an officer with the Kenai Police Department was a member of the regional drug task force for the Southcentral area of
Alaska. For that reason, the costs associated with the officer’s involvement and overtime work are paid for through Alaska’s designation as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Last year, Alaska became the 29th HIDTA-designated area in the country, which is a designation used by the Drug Enforcement Administration to provide additional federal resources
to areas that have been determined to be “critical” drug trafficking regions in the country. Michael Troster, director of the Alaska HIDTA, said on Tuesday that the designation allows Alaska to receive about $2.5 million per fiscal year that is used to bolster local drug enforcement efforts. Precincts like See officer, Page A2
Impeachment charges: Trump ‘betrayed’ U.S. By Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick Associated Press
WASHINGTON — House Democrats announced two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Tuesday, declaring he “betrayed the nation” with his actions toward Ukraine as they pushed toward historic proceedings that are certain to help define his presidency and shape the 2020 election. The specific charges aimed at
removing the 45th president of the U.S.: Abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, flanked by the chairmen of impeachment inquiry committees at the U.S. Capitol, said they were upholding their solemn oath to defend the Constitution. Trump responded angrily on Twitter: “WITCH HUNT!” Voting is expected in a matter of days by the Judiciary Committee, which begins deliberations Wednesday, and by Christmas in the full
House. The charges, if approved, would then be sent to the Senate, where the Republican majority would be unlikely to convict Trump, but not without a potentially bitter trial just as voters in Iowa and other early presidential primary states begin making their choices. In the formal articles announced Tuesday, the Democrats said Trump enlisted a foreign power in “corrupting” the U.S. election process and endangered national security by asking Ukraine to investigate his
political rivals, including Democrat Joe Biden, while withholding U.S. military aid as leverage. That benefited Russia over the U.S. as America’s ally fought Russian aggression, the Democrats said. Trump then obstructed Congress by ordering current and former officials to defy House subpoenas for testimony and by blocking access to documents, the charges say. By his conduct, Trump “demonstrated he See charges, Page A13