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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 70
Tuesday, December 31, 2019 • Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Cold settling in
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$1 newsstands daily/$1.50 Sunday
Holiday note There will be no paper Wednesday and the Clarion office will be closed to allow Clarion employees to spend New Year’s Day with their families.
In the news
New Year to begin with ice and snow Icy conditions will persist into New Year’s Eve, a Dec. 30 special weather statement from the National Weather Service said. The statement — valid for the western Kenai Peninsula, western Prince William Sound, north to Anchorage and the Matanuska Valley — said a wintry mix of snow, sleet and rain will continue causing icy conditions through New Year’s Eve. Warming temperatures, a wintry mix of precipitation and gusty winds will continue through Southcentral on Tuesday, causing slick roads and melting snowpack, the statement said. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 20s for the Kenai area for the rest of Monday, which will cause any rain and water on the roads to refreeze, making for even icier conditions. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day will see colder temperatures and snow. The special weather statement encourages residents to stay tuned for updates on the “rapidly changing conditions.”
Remains ID’d as Anchorage woman; homicide suspected ANCHORAGE — Human remains found along a highway south of Anchorage have been identified as that of a woman missing since January. The state medical examiner identified the remains found on the Kenai Peninsula as belonging to Shirley Skeek, 28, of Anchorage. The medical examiner also concluded that she was the victim of homicide, Alaska State Troopers announced Monday. Skeek’s family reported her missing Jan. 3. An outof-town relative called the Anchorage Police See news, Page A3
Index
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Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion
Firefighters from the Snake River Valley Type 2 crew work to expand a containment line off of Skilak Lake Road southeast of Sterling on Aug. 30.
2019 in review
Challenges and triumphs. Lively arts and community events. Great feats in sports and recreation. This year will be remembered for what ties our community together and what makes this area so special. Inside, find the Clarion’s review of 2019’s important stories in News (Pages B1-3) and Sports (starting on B6).
Photo taken by Cortney White
Boise State’s Allie Ostrander competes in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final June 30 at the Prefontaine Classic at Stanford University in California.
Soldotna City Council rejects wildfire study By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna City Council voted down Monday a letter that would support research on mental health and Alaska wildfires. The proposed research study from the University of Alaska Anchorage and John Hopkins School of Public Health would look at understanding and supporting mental health and well-being in the context of intensifying Alaska wildfires. At a special Soldotna City Council meeting, the council voted down
the opportunity to provide a letter of support for the collaborative project, which would include the city and potential residents in the study. Council member Lisa Parker, a regent for the University of Alaska, abstained from voting. Vice Mayor Paul Whitney and council member Dave Carey both voted the motion down. During Monday’s meeting, council member Jordan Chilson said Micha Hahn, professor of environmental science at UAA, is proposing a study assessing the mental health and social impacts in Soldotna. The
project would be funded by a grant from John Hopkins School of Public Health. “The main goal he’s pursuing in this project is to inform and increase preparedness and response capabilities for future wildfires by sharing his findings,” Chilson said Monday. “I think anything that we can do to increase our resiliency as a community — as these are likely to become more commonplace moving forward — I think it would be for our benefit.” During Monday’s discussion, Whitney said he didn’t see the benefit of the study. He said the broader Kenai
Peninsula Borough might be interested in such a study, since many communities within the borough were impacted by the Swan Lake Fire and other fires from this summer season. “I’m not quite sure what the benefit is to the city,” Whitney said. “I could see where the Kenai Peninsula Borough would be interested in this because whatever that wildfire did, it affected the entire borough, not just the city of Soldotna.” Without the letter of support from the city, it is unknown if the proposed study will move forward.
City of Kenai allows for New Year’s Eve fireworks By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
Residents in Kenai city limits will be allowed to ring in the New Year with fireworks for a 48-hour period between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. The use of fireworks is forbidden in the Kenai Peninsula Borough unless they are part of a permitted display. Kenai is the only city in the borough exempt from the ban. It will be the fifth year in a row the city allows its residents to engage in personal and private fireworks displays. During the 48-hour period, Kenai residents are allowed to light off any kind of fireworks. They must be
shot from private property, with the consent of the owner. Fireworks are banned from any public land in the city, Jeremy Hamilton, city of Kenai Fire Marshall, said. Residents should consider the risks of fireworks and take caution when using them. Residents should be mindful of neighbors, children and pets when choosing to light off fireworks. “Use common sense,” Hamilton said. “Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation.” The city began to allow fireworks within the limits of Kenai in 2015 when the city council passed an ordinance allowing for the 48-hour window around New Year’s.
Kat Sorensen / Clarion file
Fireworks are displayed during the 2016 Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration.