Thursday, March 16, 2006

Business Briefs
Area chambers set schedules Canned food drive events planned Berry growers offer information Alliance luncheon to planned Workshop to open doors Builders seek entries for Parade Scholarships offered Unemployment tax refunds available BBB cautions against tax preparation fraud Bed & breakfast meeting set

Financial planning: Good for your future
Maybe you are just starting out with that first real job. You might be married for only a few years and have one or two small children. On the other hand, you might have worked for 10 or 15 years. Retirement, children heading to college or other issues might be looming.

Art Briefs
Stained glass classes offered Writers contest accepting submissions Winter drama camp announced Young writers, performers get chance to play Kids’ art wanted Arts scholarships available Arts grants offered Carving workshops slated Dance club seeks members Storytellers wanted LeeShore Center sponsors design contest Kenai photos wanted

What’s Happening
Best Bets Events and Exhibits Entertainment Films Down the Road Anchorage Events

Takes too long to get "16 Blocks"
From the end of January through March and sometimes into April, the cinematic landscape is barren and cold, as Hollywood chooses to save its best offerings for either summer or Christmas. A friend of mine and I were talking, and I mentioned that there was a dearth of good movies out there. "A dearth, huh?" she said with a raised eyebrow.

Homer artist hits the road with creativity in tow
The angelic impact of Jo Going’s recently completed artist-in-residency at the American Academy in Rome fills the Homer artist’s home.

Coach says thank to all — including the moose
The people of the Kenai Peninsula surely must be inundated with notes of thanks from around the polar world for the spectacular job you did last week. We felt so sincerely welcomed wherever we went.

Reader stands on principles after opening ceremonies
While all I have heard is applauding for the opening ceremonies of the Arctic Winter Games, I must say, I was totally offended. I happened to turn on the broadcast just as the flag bearers were coming on stage. At that point a Reader’s Digest version of each anthem was played, I have never heard such a disgrace in my life.

Senators’ stance applauded
For thousands of years, Alaska’s Bristol Bay fishery has not only helped sustain hundreds of Alaska Native generations, but also has contributed billions of dollars to our state and national economy. Thousands of fishermen like my father continue to fish there every summer, but now this fishery is in more danger than it has ever been.

Government should be held accountable
We desperately need to rein in the wildly flying government. We must demand accountability and a strict adherence to the law.

System would make law more effective
I suspect that you are as frustrated as I am that Alaska is currently experiencing big increases in both drug and property crimes. Would you like to do something to actually make a difference in how many meth addicts, burglars, construction site thieves and other associated criminals are stopped? You can.

Games visitor says Kenai treatment ‘outstanding’
I was one of the many people who came to your area for the Arctic Winter Games.

Games bring injuries, but nothing peninsula agencies can’t handle
Despite a large influx of athletes arriving from all over the arctic world to engage in strenuous sports for six days, local emergency responders could exhale a sigh of relief at the end of the Arctic Winter Games.

Bluff work starts
What mammals, fish and birds use the area near the Kenai bluffs?

School funding falls short
For the first time, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is contemplating funding schools below the legal limit for contributions from local revenues set by state and federal law.

Stores receive "gold" from Games
Besides being good for the sake of athletic competitiveness and entertainment on the Kenai Peninsula, the 2006 Arctic Winter Games were good for many businesses.

After 62 years senior goes for his diploma
Not many folks are more qualified to say it’s never too late to learn than Allan Ulen.

Deputy marshals in shooting named
The Alaska State Troopers are continuing the investigation into the March 1 shooting of Jason Karlo Anderson at Homer Municipal Airport. The investigation could take anywhere from several weeks to a few months, said trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation office in Anchorage, the main branch of the troopers’ detective bureau, is investigating the shooting.

Buses collide; 9 sent to hospital
Nine students were taken to the hospital Tuesday, after two Laidlaw school buses collided on Redoubt Avenue and Sterling Street near Soldotna Middle School.

Paul Russell Walluk
Kenai resident Paul Russell Walluk, died Wednesday, March 8, 2006, due to an automobile accident. He was 8.

Edwin G. Rofkar
Longtime Ninilchik resident Edwin G. Rofkar, died Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at his home in Ninilchik. He was 82.

Trey Alexander Lee Thiele
Soldotna resident Trey Alexander Lee Thiele, died Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at the Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He was 13.

Catherine ‘Katy’ Louise (McFarland) Feulner
Former Kenai Peninsula resident Catherine “Katy” Louise (McFarland) Feulner died Saturday, March 11, 2006, in Apache Junction, Ariz. She was 79.

Around the Peninsula
Women invited to take a break Flight instructors meeting set Herb growing class set to sprout AFS dinner scheduled Bazaar tables available Agility class planned for pooches

Around the Peninsula
SoHi after-prom committee to meet Disabled vets to meet Herb growing class set to sprout Free health screenings set Chicken dinner fundraiser slated School hosts open house Community dance planned

Sports Brief
Soldotna’s Denna, Kenai’s Keener, Epperheimer named to all-NLC team

Parental support means letting teens make their own mistakes
Teens have to choose every day what decisions they are going to make and how these decisions might affect them and the people around them.

Around the District
Students of the Month announced Free health screenings set Scholarships available Aurora Borealis Charter Connections Cook Inlet Academy Grace Lutheran IDEA Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science Mountain View Elementary Nikiski Middle-High School Redoubt Elementary Ridgeway Montessori Preschool Sears Elementary Soldotna Elementary Soldotna Middle Sterling Elementary Tustumena Elementary Wings Christian Academy

Winning Essay
The following D.A.R.E essay was selected as Best in Class at Redoubt Elementary School.

Late-starting semester classes offer something for everyone
There are four, one-credit short courses in March at the Kenai River Campus.

Kenai Peninsula Online - Alaska Newspaper -