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CLARION P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 50, Issue 82
In the news
Troopers cite woman for killing moose eating from haystack FAIRBANKS — A Fairbanks woman faces legal consequences after shooting a moose that was eating from her haystack. The woman was issued a summons for taking a moose out of season and a citation for negligently feeding game, Alaska State Troopers report. Alaska Wildlife Troopers said the incident is a reminder that garbage, food scraps, hay and other material attractive to wildlife must be secured by landowners. The moose was shot Wednesday, troopers said. The 38-year-old woman living northeast of Fairbanks self-reported that she fired at the moose with a .22-caliber rifle as it was eating hay. The moose died a short distance away. A charity salvaged the moose.
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Friday-Saturday, January 17-18, 2020 • Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Bureau proposes change affecting Alaska tribal recognition JUNEAU — Alaska tribes seeking federal status will have to demonstrate more than 80 years of history under a new process See news, Page A2
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Impeachment trial begins in Senate By LISA MASCARO Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate opened the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump with quiet ceremony Thursday — senators standing at their desks to swear an oath of “impartial justice” as jurors, House prosecutors formally reciting the charges and Chief Justice John Roberts presiding. The trial, only the third such undertaking in American history, is unfolding at the start of the election year, a time of deep political division in the nation. Four of the senators sitting in judgment on Trump are running for the Democratic Party’s nomination to challenge him in the fall. “Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye!” intoned the Senate’s sergeant at arms, calling the
proceedings to order just past noon. Senators filled the chamber, an unusual sight in itself, sitting silently under strict rules that prohibit talking or cellphones, for a trial that will test not only Trump’s presidency but also the nation’s three branches of power and its system of checks and balances. The Constitution mandates the chief justice serve as the presiding officer, and Roberts made the short trip across the street from the Supreme Court to the Capitol. He has long insisted judges are not politicians and is expected to serve as a referee for the proceedings. Senators rose quickly when he appeared in his plain black robe. “Will all senators now stand, and remain standing, and raise their right hand,” Roberts said.
Senate Television via AP
In this image from video, presiding officer Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts swears in members of the Senate for the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday.
“Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending, you will do impartial justice
according to the Constitution and laws, so help you God?” The senators responded they would, and then they lined up to sign an oath book. Trump faces two charges after the House voted to
impeach him last month. One, that he abused his presidential power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden, using See Trial, Page A3
Soldotna man sentenced for heroin operation
Palmer man dies of injuries suffered in crash PALMER — A man has died of injuries suffered in a traffic crash northwest of Palmer. David Stanton, 55, of Palmer was seriously injured in a crash Monday on Palmer-Fishhook Road. He died Wednesday, Alaska State Troopers said. Stanton shortly before 6:30 p.m. Monday was driving a small pickup east on the road. He lost control and the pickup slid sideways into oncoming traffic, troopers said. The pickup slid into the path of a westbound half-ton pickup driven by Pio Victor Conttini, 62, of Palmer. Stanton was not wearing a a seat belt and he was ejected from the truck. Emergency responders transported him to a hospital. Conttini was not injured.
Above zero?
By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion
The frozen Kenai River can be seen here from the Ciechanski Day Use Area in Kenai on Thursday.
Flooding subsides in Big Eddy area By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
After an ice jam on the Kenai River caused flooding earlier this month and shut down several roads in the Big Eddy area, the flooding has been addressed and area roads, including Eddy Lane, Amiyung Drive and Riverside Lane, are now accessible. Dan Nelson, emergency manager for
the Kenai Peninsula Borough, said Thursday that the Borough’s Roads department used heavy machinery this week to break up the ice and stabilize the roads for safe travel. An ice jam near the Big Eddy State Recreation Area that formed Jan. 5 prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flood advisory and later flood warnings for the area. The latest flood advisory expired
Wednesday, and Nelson said the temperatures in the area are too cold for any more flooding to occur. “It’s winter, so everything is really frozen and it’s probably going to stay that way until there’s a significant increase in temperatures,” Nelson said. “But one good side effect of this cold weather is that nothing’s moving, so there’s no further risk of flooding at this time.”
A Soldotna man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for distributing large quantities of heroin throughout the Kenai Peninsula. Matthew Sean Bremond, 32, was sentenced on Jan. 15 by Sr. U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline after pleading guilty in September of 2019 to one count of drug distribution, according to a Jan. 16 news release from the Department of Justice. Bremond’s sentence includes nine years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Bremond was arrested after he sold large quantities of heroin — 126 grams and 96 grams in two instances — from his Soldotna residence in May of 2018, according to court documents. A search of Bremond’s house, storage units, and vehicle revealed further evidence of drug trafficking, including See heroin, Page A3
Musicians go ‘Low’ Taking on Citizens United By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
An unconventional musical duo from North Carolina will make their way to Soldotna this weekend for a performance that combines comedy with classical music. Bassist Paul Sharpe and cellist Brooks Whitehouse make up the music group Low and Lower, a duo that brings “artistry, virtuosity and satire” to the stage, according to their website, complementing their skills as classically trained musicians with elements of singing and spoken word. Whitehouse and Sharpe satirize classic pieces and provide commentary on everyday concepts, such as social media, while also making time for more traditional performances.
Sharpe is originally from Alaska and grew up in Anchorage, but it’s been several years since Low and Lower performed in the state. Their tour across the state this year stems from two of their newest pieces: one an epic poem about Sharpe kayaking in Kachemak Bay after an eagle feather fell into his lap, and the other a rendition of Robert Service’s 1907 poem “The Cremation of Sam McGee.” Sharpe and Whitehouse both teach at the University of North Carolina School of Music and began playing together in 2010. “Our first performance was at the South Carolina Governor’s School, and at the end we got a standing ovation,” See low, Page A3
Assembly members propose resolution supporting amendment By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Two Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members have introduced a resolution that calls for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Resolution 2020-008, introduced by Tyson Cox and Brent Johnson, would support and call for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution “to address issues that resulted from court decisions such as the United States Supreme Court’s Decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission,” according to the language of the resolution.
The resolution mentions the Supreme Court decision that held that corporations and other artificial entities are “persons” under the United States Constitution with a constitutional right to spend unlimited amounts of money on political speech. In their 2010 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that a prohibition of corporate independent expenditures is “an outright ban on speech, backed by criminal sanctions.” Cox said that he decided to introduce the resolution after attending a screening of “Dark Money,” a 2018 film by Kimberley Reed that focuses on the impact of the Citizens United Ruling on elections in Montana. “It really got me interested in the topic,” Cox said
on Thursday. “This is a great movie to show what can happen when we leave our corporations unchecked, especially when it comes to voting.” Cox introduced the resolution with the hopes that the Alaska Legislature will take notice of the issue and call for a Constitutional amendment to address it. Twenty states have passed resolutions calling for such an amendment, and if that number reaches 34 the U.S. Congress will be forced to call for a constitutional convention. Several municipalities in Alaska, including Anchorage, Homer and Sitka have already passed resolutions similar to the one Cox and Johnson have introduced. See assembly, Page A2