Monday, October 24, 2005

Unocal sites' future up in the air
Chevron's acquisition of Unocal has Alaskans buzzing about what the future of its business properties are in Alaska. So far, no plans have been announced.

Mixed feelings
A wintery mix of weather greeted early morning motorists on the Sterling Highway on Sunday. The forecast calls for clearer skies and cooler temperatures for the next few days.

Project needs more than miners
Once operating, Northern Dynasty Mines' Pebble Project would need employees to fill as many as 1,000 jobs, from top-level supervisors and managers, to engineers and technicians, to clerical and maintenance staff.

Dog found 13 days after bear attack
Colleen Sinnott of Kasilof may have had her scalp torn off, three ribs broken and numerous puncture wounds and scratches, but there was only one thing on her mind after she survived a recent brown bear attack.

Tesoro tax fight on to court
Tesoro Alaska has appealed a Kenai Peninsula Borough property tax decision to the Alaska Superior Court, the latest move in a decade-long string of disagreements over assessments imposed on the company's Nikiski refinery and the land on which it rests.

Memo clouds gas pipeline deal
Gov. Frank Murkowski held a shotgun press conference Friday evening in Fairbanks announcing that the state reached an agreement with ConocoPhillips on fiscal contract terms for a natural gas pipeline. He said the state still is working on an agreement with BP and ExxonMobil.

Cool surprise
Amy Arestad spins in Saturday's fresh snow following a volleyball game at Skyview High School. While some people reacted to the weather with delight, others mumbled groans as they left the school.

Pebble test holes show possible 'mother zone'
Northern Dynasty Mines Inc. announced Friday that test holes drilled to the east of its Pebble Project site northwest of Iliamna has revealed what the company is calling a very substantial higher-grade deposit adjoining Pebble.

Aviation regiment returning from duty
FAIRBANKS (AP) — The first of 500 soldiers from a Fort Wainwright aviation battalion have returned after a 10-month deployment to Kuwait and Iraq, with the rest to follow in coming months, military officials said.

Police warn of Games phone scam
Kenai Peninsula supporters of the Arctic Winter Games should give the cold shoulder to anyone trying to "cold call" them in search of funds for the Games.

Pebble project: Mining a work force
In its pitch promoting a world-class mine northwest of Lake Iliamna, Northern Dynasty Mines officials have said it could take as many as 2,000 workers to construct and as many as 1,000 permanent employees to operate the mine over its anticipated 30- to 50-year life.

Paul S. Coulter
Kenai resident Paul S. Coulter died Friday, Oct. 21, 2005, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He was 48.

Martha V. Cage
Soldotna resident Martha V. Cage died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005, at home with her family by her side. She was 81.

Doris Brow
Longtime Alaskan Doris Brow died Saturday, July 23, 2005, while a resident at the Anchorage Pioneers Home. She was 92.

Bridge money's nice, but public support is too
In his 37 years as an Alaska senator, Ted Stevens has done much to improve Alaska. The billions of federal dollars he's secured for the state have funded projects that advance the infrastructure, economy and other facets of our state.

Fish painting flap is 'plane' hypocritical
The uproar over federal funds being used to paint the image of a fish on the side of an Alaska Airlines jet to advertise the state's wild salmon industry would be laughable if it were not so blatantly motivated by raw politics.

Voices of the State: Early detection can save lives
This year, more than 211,240 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and approximately 40,410 will lose their lives from the disease. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer for women in Alaska and it is estimated that we will see 260 new diagnoses this year and 50 deaths.

Voices of the Clarion: Tricked-or-treated out
A sure sign I am getting older: I can look back at events in my childhood and assert that they were better than kids today have it.

Heros
HEA brightens resident's night Woman 'wheelie' happy for help

Serving families
A recent night at Melanie Hollon's dinner table was full of laughs. In fact, she said, this is the case most nights. But on this occasion her 14-year-old son was the source of the laughter.

Around the Peninsula
Music workshop, concert set Foster care presentation to be discussed Chemical dependency presentation slated LeeShore membership meeting planned HEA to host community meetings Prevention coalition to meet Library pumpkin contest slated

Around the Peninsula
Domestic violence workshop set School board seat available Wheelchairs sought Lifeguard classes offered HEA hosts community meetings Teen night slated Sports equipment fund-raiser slated Community Halloween party planned Boo review party set Country jamboree planned Elks plan Halloween party

Peninsula People
Fernandez deploys to Iraq Houser deploys to Iraq Lopeman honored

Births
Heidi and Stephen Dambacher Sarah Hancock and Michael Harris Danielle Edwards and Sam Thibodeau Crystal and Justin Trickel

My best friend
Nikki, a 10-year-old black Lab, started getting white spots a year and a half ago. Owners Becky and Steve Foster of Soldotna tell people she's a reverse Dalmatian.

Community Schools
Competitive volleyball Pilates' yoga Hunter education (home study) Triumvirate Theatre tour

Senior Menus
Homer Kenai Nikiski Seward Soldotna Sterling

Senior Activities
Homer senior, Friendship centers Kenai Nikiski Seward Soldotna Sterling

Kards pack all-state team
Nobody in small-schools football came close to beating Kenai Central this season. Thus, nobody in small-schools football did as well as the Kardinals in all-state voting announced by the Alaska Coaches Association Sunday.

Homer swimmers sweep boroughs
The Homer girls and boys swim teams swept the Kenai Peninsula Borough Meet Saturday in Homer.

Dillingham wrestlers grab crown
Dillingham had four champions and two other second-place finishes Saturday in winning the Grace Invitational wrestling tournament in Anchorage.

Kardinals blow past Soldotna
The Kenai Central High School volleyball team overpowered Soldotna Friday, defeating the Stars in three games in a Northern Lights Conference match at Kenai.

SkyHi netters lose to Colony, Palmer
Too good. The Colony volleyball team has been too good for everyone it has faced this season except for Juneau-Douglas, and the Knights were too good for host Skyview Friday in a Northern Lights Conference match.