Thursday, October 27, 2005

Business Briefs
Area chambers set schedules Chamber rec. guide seeks entries

What's Happening
Best Bets Events and Exhibits Entertainment Upcoming events Films Down the Road Anchorage events

From the bookshelf: Treadwell, bears create haunting tragedy
On Oct. 5, 2003, Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard died in Katmai National Park. Bear fatalities are front-page news in Alaska, but this case achieved national notoriety because Treadwell made a very public career promoting bears as gentle creatures and himself as a man with a mystical connection to them.

Art Briefs
Stained glass classes offered in Homer Performers wanted for New Year's Eve show Artists in Schools open for applications Dance club seeks members Women's quilting class open Pastel painting workshop slated Theater offering gallery space Storytellers wanted Boys and Girls Club show open for entries Booth space open for holiday bazaar Quilting contest honors Arctic Winter Games Rasmuson Foundation offering grants

Stories with style
As listeners to the Travelin' Tales storytelling troupe's first performance in Kenai found out, the story of Cinderella isn't limited to the Disney movie. Versions of the classic tale come from across the world and include unique details such as bucking broncos, magic skulls, invisible creatures and even sumo wrestling.

Post office project helpers get stamp of approval
Restoration of Soldotna's first post office, 1945-51, is now complete after a busy summer of work. Our first post office was in the homestead cabin of Howard and Maxine Lee at the bus loading area at Soldotna Elementary School.

Group finds success in holding first derby
The Deep Creek Charterboat Association would like to graciously thank our co-sponsors of the 2005 Ninilchik Fishing Derby: Gold: Canterwood Cabins, Ninilchik Chamber of Commerce, Wells Fargo Bank (Soldotna); Silver: Anglers Lodge, Arctic Tern Charters, Deep Creek Sport Shop, Koffler Boats Inc.; Bronze: Afishunt Charters, Alaskan Gamefisher, B&J Commercial, Catch-A-Lot Charters, Chihuly's Charters, The Cross Enterprises, D&M Charters, Fishward Bound Adventures, Happy Valley Bar & Caf-Bait & Tackle, Happy Valley Hookers, Homer Electric Association, Joyce Marie Charters, King's Run Charters, Meander-In B&B, Ninilchik Saltwater Charters, Willie Boats Inc. and Will's Copper King Charters.

Recruiters want students to know their options
After reading the article "Moms aim to keep info on kids from recruiters" (Clarion, Oct. 19), I felt the public should know a little bit more about why it is important for recruiters to have access to students.

Students plus seniors is perfect equation
Our community needs to be applauded for the support of our youth. I would like to thank Country Foods, Three Bears, Safeway and Dairy Queen of Soldotna for donations that assisted with supplying food for the Kenai Central High School civic students Oktoberfest-Karaoke Night fund-raiser at the Kenai Senior Citizens Center.

Community scores with team support
The Soldotna High School football team would like to thank the wonderful businesses of our community for their support of our 2005 football season. The following businesses and sponsors went out of their way to help make our season a success.

Tanker, cruise ship tax floated
Pete Sprague is proposing taxing the value of large, nonfishing, commercial vessels that drop anchor at peninsula ports.

House committee plans special ANWR session
FAIRBANKS (AP) — A proposal to develop oil in the Arctic National Wild-life Refuge released by the chairman of the U.S. House Resources Committee contains far more provisions than a Senate version.

Out with the old, in with the new
Jane Dullum clears this summer's flowers from a bed at Kenai Peninsula College and plants new bulbs for next spring in Wednesday's sun. "I figured this was a good outside project for today," Dullum said.

School board picks Hatch
Though it took four tries, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education selected a candidate Wednesday for Seat 2 to represent the interests of Kenai.

Votes go to Williams
John Williams, touting his experience as the longtime mayor of the city of Kenai, pulled a stunning upset in Tuesday's runoff election for the Kenai Peninsula Borough's top post, defeating former state Sen. John Torgerson, the front-runner and odds-on favorite coming out of the six-candidate Oct. 4 regular election.

Air supply business takes off
Despite Alaska's chilly image, it's not always easy for some communities to buy frozen ice cream. Thanks to the help of some Kenai Peninsula entrepreneurs, however, that cold fact may soon be a thing of the past.

Murkowski calls for easing MMS lease sale restrictions
Gov. Frank Murkowski has recommended the U.S. Minerals Management Service continue evaluating the option of dropping restrictions against joint bidding by oil and gas exploration companies in Cook Inlet and elsewhere in Alaska's federally controlled Outer Continental Shelf.

Wal-Mart coming to Kenai
After years of rumors and speculation — and 1 1/2 years of secret negotiations — it can finally be said: Wal-Mart is coming to the Kenai Peninsula.

Five vie for empty seat
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education will meet in a special session today to select a representative for Kenai.

Conoco cancels gas line meeting
ConocoPhillips canceled a meeting with some Alaska legislators at the last minute Tuesday after an Anchorage Democratic representative raised questions about the meeting's legality, said company spokeswoman Dawn Patience.

Unalaska officials head to Iceland
UNALASKA (AP) — Six Unalaska city officials will leave today on a 10-day trip to Iceland. The trip is at the invitation of a company that wants to sell the city geothermal energy.

Homer man cuts deal to avoid murder trial
On the day he was scheduled to go on trial for first-degree murder in the death of Mephibosheth "Moshe" Wilkinson, Leonard Wallace, 49, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder.

Wal-Mart reactions mixed
While Wal-Mart's proposed super center in the city of Kenai could create a lot of jobs and tax revenue, it could spell bad news for the city of Kenai's retail sector, according to some area business owners.

Curtis Muse
Wasilla and Cooper Landing resident Curtis Muse, also known as "Curt Trout," died Saturday, Oct. 23, 2005, while motoring across Skilak Lake after fishing on the Kenai River. He was 54.

Caution urged with oil revenue surplus
Commonwealth North hosted a forum Wednesday to discuss what Alaska should do with the big surplus pouring into the state treasury, thanks to $60-a-barrel oil. UAA economist Scott Goldsmith had some good advice for Alaskans and their political leaders.

Around the Peninsula
KCHS conferences today Nikiski rec center game for teen night Sports equipment fund-raiser on track Celebration aims to lighten up trails Ducks Unlimited banquet planned Class offers room to 'row' Team will work for uniforms

Votes go to Williams
John Williams, touting his experience as the longtime mayor of the city of Kenai, pulled a stunning upset in Tuesday's runoff election for the Kenai Peninsula Borough's top post, defeating former state Sen. John Torgerson, the front-runner and odds-on favorite coming out of the six-candidate Oct. 4 regular election.

Lunch menus
Elementary and Secondary

Around the district
Essay contest begins VFW Ladies Auxiliary sponsors art contest Aurora Borealis Charter Connections Cook Inlet Academy Grace Lutheran IDEA Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Sciences Kenai Central High School Kenai Middle School Kenai Montessori Kenaitze Cuya Qyut'anen Head Start Nikiski Middle-Senior High Nikiski North Star Elementary READS Redoubt Elementary Sears Elementary Skyview High School Soldotna Elementary Soldotna Middle Soldotna Montessori Charter School Sterling Elementary Tustumena Elementary Wings Christian Academy

KPC around campus: Financial aid seminar for home school families set
Carrie Burford is the financial aid specialist for Kenai Peninsula College. Her knowledge of financial resources makes her office a stop for many students.

Principal for a Day
Let's say you're in fourth or fifth grade, and you're in charge for the day: All-day recess, right?

Kenai seniors key Kards win
Kenai Central's senior volleyball players went out on a high note Tuesday evening, picking up a dominant three-game victory over the visiting Homer Mariners.

Skyview netters sweep Soldotna
The Skyview High School volleyball team defeated Soldotna in three games Tuesday in a Northern Lights Conference match at Soldotna.