Friday, November 10, 2006

Business Briefs
Chambers set schedules Holiday decorating contest begins Small business center to host workshop Area banks collect for the hungry CPGH nurse honored Carpet One launches ‘star’ pet search

Hosts helped debate take off
On behalf of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce, Soldotna Chamber of Commerce and the Nikiski Chamber of Commerce we would like to thank Larry Porter and the Challenger Learning Center staff for allowing us to host our joint Chamber Luncheon, the Gubernatorial Forum, at the Challenger Learning Center. The facility is state of the art and allowed KSRM and KDLL to broadcast live this event.

State needs to comply with mandate to get control back
A lawsuit brought by a group of urban Alaska sport hunters challenging the federal subsistence priority for rural Alaskans was shot down by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in August. The Court’s decision: “Congress intended to protect the subsistence way of life for Native and non-Native rural Alaskans.” The plaintiffs argued that the “equal access” and “common use” phrase in the Alaska Constitution grant hunting and fishing evenly to all Alaskans. It is doubtful if any of the plaintiffs know the singular reason these phrases were used by the writers of Alaska’s Constitution back in 1958: fish traps. Outside interests were pillaging our fisheries prior to statehood.

Community comes together once again
Soldotna Community Schools recently worked with the Skyview National Honor Society on our annual “Make-It-and-Take It” fall craft fair. The NHS students planned the crafts, made supply lists and helped kids to create their masterpieces. The NHS students helped the children to create some simple and some not-so-simple crafts, ranging from “feathery spiders” to “turkey magnets.” Kids also had the opportunity to decorate their own cookies and have their faces painted.

Reader says ‘no’ to drift boats
In regards to your question about prohibiting motor boats on the Kenai River and allowing only drift boats, my answer is no!

Moon shines
I really appreciate Scott Moon. He is such a talented photographer. He brings us beautiful pictures of wild life and scenery that most of us would never see of Alaska. The Clarion is lucky to have him on staff.

Organizations offer warm assistance
The students and staff of Redoubt Elementary wish to thank Credit Union 1 for their generous donation of much-needed coats, hats, gloves and snow pants for students and the Jerry V. Horn Memorial Post No. 10046 Ladies Auxiliary for their generous cash donation to assist Redoubt students in need.

Dueling polls oppose, support Pebble Mine project
Two public opinion polls commissioned by an environmental group opposed to the Pebble Mine project are being touted as proof that Bristol Bay Region residents and voters statewide believe, by and large, that open-pit mining is not worth the risk.

Bomb scare sends some Nikiski plant workers home
Industrial plants in Nikiski took precautionary evacuation measures Wednesday afternoon in response to an e-mail threat to one of the plants.

As conflicts continue, more at home attend Veterans Day service
As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue, more and more people are developing a stronger understanding of the sacrifices veterans have made for their country and attendance at the Soldotna Veterans Day ceremony has swelled, says Herb Stettler, service officer at the Soldotna Veterans of Foreign War Post No. 10046.

2006 salmon harvest numbers 80 million behind 2005
Alaska waters yielded up an estimated 141.5 million salmon to commercial fishers in 2006, according to preliminary figures compiled by the state Department of Fish and Game.

Let’s talk it over
Members of the school board and district administration took the opportunity to listen Tuesday night while residents of Kenai voiced their hopes and fears regarding the community’s schools.

Friends in high places
If you’re writing regular checks to utility companies large or small, you have advocates out there you may not be aware of.

Peninsula mirrors statewide voting on governor, ballot measures
Kenai Peninsula voters Tuesday mirrored their counterparts from across the state, easily electing GOP gubernatorial candidate Sarah Palin and running-mate Sean Parnell, sending incumbent Republican legislators back to Juneau and choosing, once again, to reward Don Young with another term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Soldotna buys land for new visitors center
After agreeing to set aside money seven months ago, the Soldotna City Council moved swiftly Wednesday night to OK the purchase of land next to the city’s visitors center.

Floods, avalanches, eruptions - borough handles it all
Flooding, volcano eruptions, avalanches and oil tanker groundings are all disasters that can tax the emergency response capabilities of local government.

Dale E. Bondurant
Longtime Funny River, Sterling and Anchorage resident Dale E. Bondurant died Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006, of complications from a stroke and Alzheimer’s disease at the Willows Nursing Home in Funny River. He was 82.

Clara ‘Elaine’ Stanley
Lifelong Alaskan and Nikiski resident Clara “Elaine” Stanley died Monday, Nov. 6, 2006, at her home on her 30th wedding anniversary, after a long illness. She was 56.

Cpl. Michael H. Lasky
Cpl. Michael H. Lasky, of Soldotna, died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, while serving in Iraq with the U.S. Marines. He was 22.

Patrick McLane Babitt
Kasilof resident Patrick McLane Babitt died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006, at his home. He was 5.

Another peaceful election; system works as it should
With Election Day behind us and Veterans Day scheduled to be observed Saturday, it’s a good time to reflect on how good we have it.

Outdoor Briefs
Seward flood damage update Subsistence board to meetCommittee meeting scheduledSubsistence nominations soughtWhat’s your story?

Class teaches trappers to respect their targets
It’s no secret that many Alaskans pride themselves for their rugged individualism, and part of this independence comes from the ability to be self-sufficient by hunting, fishing and living off the land.

Research to bear in mind when it comes to animal encounters
Last week I introduced readers of this column to some of the pros and cons of firearms, pepper spray and Ikaros hand-held marine flares for bear protection. The hand-held flares, to recall, are a 10-inch flare that is activated by pulling a string; the flare burns with an extremely intense red flame for 60 seconds. Pepper spray comes in an aerosol canister with a trigger and a safety clip that must be removed prior to firing.

Around the Peninsula
RCA to talk about rates, services College council to convene Young Life banquet planned Coed basketball planned Mystery Creek Road to close Christmas bazaar set to sale Meeting delves into psychology program Developmental screenings available Salvation Army plans holiday feast

Around the Peninsula
Mystery Creek Road to close Women voters to lunch, learn Hospice to host open house Family holiday photos offered Historical society holds auction Preschool offered in Nikiski Kayaking, water safety classes slated Holiday decorating contest begins Homemakers offer homemade treats SoHi craft fair planned Cribbage club pegged for tournament Totem Tracers postpone meeting Second Sunday stories slated Fill up in Nikiski Class scheduled on signs of suicide Prof to speak on Dena’ina language Food bank board meeting planned CES collects for holiday food drive

SoHi hoping to regain winning feeling
As its nickname “The Rock” would attest, Kodiak often makes for a tough road trip for high school teams.

Juneau tops Nikiski
Albert Svensson, Ian Nankervis and Nolin Ainsworth each recorded a goal and an assist and Kelsey Preston denied all 39 shots she faced in leading visiting Juneau-Douglas to a 6-0 victory over Nikiski at the Kenai Multipurpose Facility Wednesday night.

Bulldogs want to return to glory days
When asked if it’s been too long between state titles for the Nikiski volleyball team, coach Bruce King responded without hesitation.

Skyview wrestlers split duals
The Skyview wrestling team split a pair of dual meets on Thursday at Colony High School.

Soldotna loses 3 to East
Cook Inlet Conference champion East Anchorage took advantage of its height and beat second-seeded Soldotna, 25-15, 25-22, 25-19, on Thursday in the first round of the Class 4A state volleyball tournament at West High of Anchorage.

6-foot-2 Rima gives Nikiski’s defense fits
Nikiski’s hopes of a state volleyball championship ran into a 6-foot-2 wall on Thursday at the Class 3A tournament at West High in Anchorage.

Peninsula Clarion - Pulse

Have guitar, will travel
His Web site says it all — Dan Sullivan rocks. On a Thursday night at Soldotna’s Maverick Saloon, he pleases the crowd with everything from Johnny Cash to Pink Floyd to “Gilligan’s Island,” with a few of his original compositions thrown in, as well.

Rating system gets rated
This weekend, while the rest of you were struggling to decide between attending a screening of the Pixar-lite “Flushed Away” about rats and their adventures in the sewer system, and the winner of the Beat-A-Dead-Horse award, “The Santa Clause 3,” I was visiting an ex-student at Montana State University.

What’s Happening
Best Bet Events and Exhibits Entertainment Upcoming Events Films Down the Road Anchorage events

Church Briefs
Church photos wantedLutefisk dinner plannedPuppet drama featuredAddictions group meetsClothes closet opensKids’ night out plannedWomen’s Bible class plannedClothes available

Peacemakers needed to forget the bad, spread the good
There’s a high calling in life that few seem to desire, an office that only a minority long to hold — “public peacemaker” — but what does a peacemaker do?

Lundy, Matsumoto to join Oilers for 2007
Cal Baptist University junior outfielder Robert Lundy will join the Peninsula Oilers this summer. Lundy redshirted his sophomore year but as a true freshman in 2004, he appeared in 51 of 52 games where he hit .313 with 35 runs and 27 RBIs. He also collected 14 doubles and three home runs. Lundy is coached by former Oilers head coach Gary Adcock and is studying criminal justice. He calls Riverside, Calif., home.