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Get your egg-sucking leech out: Kenai River opens at Cooper Landing for boating, fishing

Suzanne Downing
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Get your egg-sucking leech out: Kenai River opens at Cooper Landing for boating, fishing

Part of the Kenai River will be reopened for boating Wednesday from 6 am to 6 pm, after recent rain dampened fire activity and lowered the potential for conflict between boaters and local residents who were staging for possible evacuation.

The river will be open to boaters from the Cooper Landing state boat launch to Sportsman’s Landing.

The river will remain closed to boating from Sportsman’s Landing to Skilak Lake to reduce traffic on roads and make it easier to quickly deploy firefighters and resources in fighting wildfires on the Kenai Peninsula, officials said.

For the section of the river that is open, drift boats are popular, as are rafts with rowing frames. Lure fishing for rainbow trout is catch-and-release on the upper Kenai. The fish haven’t seen a lure for two weeks during the fire, and are eating salmon roe; the three flies that will likely work will be any egg pattern, egg-sucking leech, and flesh flies, according to Must Read Alaska’s sportfishing adviser.

The Cooper Landing School will also be open on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Fire danger has decreased over much of the Kenai Peninsula, but residents and visitors should remain aware and prepared for changing conditions. For statewide fire information, visit the AICC website at https://fire.ak.blm.gov/ or http://www.akfireinfo.com.

Cold case arrest in Shelley Connolly murder

Suzanne Downing
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Cold case arrest in Shelley Connolly murder

Alaska State Troopers said 62-year-old former Alaskan Donald F. McQuade was arrested in Oregon in connection with the death of Shelley Connolly in 1978.

Back in 1978, Connolly was found sexually assaulted and beaten, dead along the railroad tracks. She had been dragged behind a vehicle, and then dumped along the tracks near Beluga Point, Mile 109 of the Seward Highway. Her death was determined to be due to a blunt blow to her abdomen, which caused a lacerated liver.

The teenager had been seen in the parking lot of Chikoot Charlie’s in Spenard earlier that day, and later at Leroy’s Diner. According to news reports from that time, her broken fingernails and debris showed she had fought to try to climb out of the ditch after being raped and dragged.

Oregon police arrested McQuade without incident on Friday. Based on DNA technology not available at the time of Connolly’s death, McQuade has been charged with Connolly’s murder.

Investigators made the connection earlier this year: DNA evidence pointed to a set of brothers, and they narrowed their search down to McQuade after finding he had been in Alaska during the time of the murder.

At the request of the Cold Case Unit, the Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory developed a DNA profile of an unknown male, based on biological evidence collected during the autopsy. No match was generated from the DNA, which was loaded into the CODIS system in 2003. But this year, investigators submitted the material to Parabon Nanolabs, and using genetic technology, the lab was able to link the DNA to McQuade, who was 21 at the time of the girl’s death and living in Anchorage.

“Investigators have spent years analyzing this case looking for a viable lead. I have an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction that all that work has paid off,” said Investigator Randy McPherron of the Alaska State Trooper’s Cold Case Unite. “More than anything, I am relieved to be able to provide Shelley’s friends and family a sense of justice and the knowledge that Shelley was more than a name on an unsolved homicide sitting in a filing cabinet somewhere. Every single victim matters to us.”

Walmart gets out of gun and ammo business

Suzanne Downing
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Walmart gets out of gun and ammo business

Walmart on Tuesday announced it will stop selling handguns in Alaska, the only state where it still sells them. The decision is in response to the mass shooting at an El Paso, Texas Walmart a month ago that left 20 people dead.

America’s largest retailer said that nationwide it would also stop selling handgun ammunition and “short-barrel rifle ammunition,” such as .223 caliber and 5.56 caliber. It will sell off all of its inventory first and is asking customers to no longer open carry in the Walmart and Sam’s Club stores around the country, even if state law permits it.

Walmart will continue to sell long-barrel deer rifles, shotguns, and the ammunition for those firearms.

Walmart has 9 stores in Alaska, according to its website, including nine super centers, and two discount stores.

Formerly with AK Dems, Jay Parmley back in South Carolina

Suzanne Downing
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Formerly with AK Dems, Jay Parmley back in South Carolina

Jay Parmley, who was executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party for 2-1/2 years, has been rehired by South Carolina Democrats. Parmley left Alaska this summer, and at the time said he was moving to Florida with his husband and mother-in-law.

Parmley is from Oklahoma, but has worked in several states for the Democratic Party and its subunits.

In 2012, he resigned his North Carolina post after a former male staffer accused him of sexual harassment — showing him a photo of a penis — and unwanted physical advances. The employee later sued, saying he was fired because he blew the whistle on Parmley.

[Read: NC Democratic Party ex-staffer sues over sexual harassment]

About the same timeframe, Parmley’s ex-girlfriend accused him of infecting her with HIV.

Even with that baggage, Richland County, SC Democrats hired Parmley in 2012. In 2016, Parmley was then whisked away by the Alaska Democratic Party, where he has been the ED for three years; he followed former Alaska Rep. Kay Brown in that role.

Now he’s back with the South Carolina Democratic Party, where he will help the 2020 efforts to upset U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. It’s also a pivotal election year for the presidency, although South Carolina has historically been a red state. There is no gubernatorial election in South Carolina in 2020.

[Read: NC Democratic Party ex-staffer sues over sexual harassment]

In Parmley’s spot in Alaska, the Alaska Democratic Party has hired a former Mark Begich staffer, Lindsey Kavanaugh.

[Read: Road to White House: AK Democrats hire new executive director]

MRAK Almanac: Federalist Society speaker on separation of powers

Suzanne Downing
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MRAK Almanac: Federalist Society speaker on separation of powers

9/3: Federalist Society: Why Separation of Powers Matters, with Attorney General Kevin Clarkson and Professor Emeritus John Baker, Louisiana State University. Captain Cook Hotel Quarterdeck, 5 pm. $30 nonmembers, $25 members.

9/3: Kenai Borough Assembly Meeting, 6 pm. The invocation will be offered by Greg Madden on behalf of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, the Pastafarians. Meeting info here.

9/3: Ketchikan Borough Assembly meeting, 5-8 pm, Assembly Chambers, 1900 First Avenue. Agenda includes approval of a marijuana cultivation and a marijuana production facility, and the legislative priorities for 2021. Agenda is here.

9/4: Kenai City Council Meeting, 6 pm, Kenai City Council Chambers. Among items” Substitute Ordinance No. 3083-2019 – Amending Kenai Municipal Code 14.20.175 – Adult Businesses, To Increase The Buffer Distances Between Adult Businesses And Sensitive Uses From 500 Feet To 1000 Feet And Define Sensitive Uses and Amend Kenai Municipal Code 14.22.010 – Land Use Table, to Add Adult Businesses.

9/5: Ketchikan City Council meeting, 7-10 pm, City Hall, 334 Front Street. Discussion includes the city’s legislative priority draft list for FY 2021: 7a6 – FY 2021 Community Priority List. Agenda is here.

9/5: Fairbanks North Star Borough Committee of the Whole work session. Agenda here.

9/6: Juneau ribbon cutting at the New Pederson Hill Subdivision Phase 1, 12:30-1:30 pm, 10160 Glacier Highway.

9/7: City of Soldotna public hearing on a proposed annexation of land, 2 pm at Soldotna High School Auditorium. The City of Soldotna intends to file an annexation petition with the Local Boundary Commission. The territory proposed for annexation consists of about 3.8 square miles of land, and includes areas adjacent to the existing city boundaries as shown on the map at this link.

9/9: Anchorage Planning Commission, 6:30 pm at Loussac Library Assembly Chambers. Public hearing on master plan for Town Square Park.

9/9: Fairbanks City Council meeting, 6:30 pm, City Hall.

9/10: Wrangell Borough Assembly Meeting, 7 pm.

9/10: Haines Borough Assembly meeting, 6:30 pm, Assembly Chambers.

9/10: Petersburg Planning Commission, noon, Municipal Building

9/11: Petersburg local absentee voting between now and Sept. 30 upstairs in the Municipal Building, 8 am-4:30 pm. Deadline to absentee vote is Sept. 30, 12 pm.
Local Absentee Voting

9/12: University of Alaska Board of Regents meet.

9/16: Juneau Assembly meeting, 7-11 pm, City Hall.

UAF prior reductions mean only finding $7.5 million more

Suzanne Downing
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UAF prior reductions mean only finding $7.5 million more

After the final budget was signed by Gov. Michael Dunleavy on Aug. 19, the University of Alaska System began the process of distributing University System President Jim Johnson’s general guidance for achieving the $25 million system-wide reduction.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ reduction target is $17 million. According to UAF Chancellor Dan White, his campus had already achieved $9.5 million in reductions, and so must only find an additional $7.5 million.

White detailed the approach he plans to take at UAF:

  • 10% GF Reduction – $9.5 million
    • This reduction was already proposed during the continuation budgeting processing for FY20 and included a multitude of unit reductions within procurement, services, travel and reduced staffing.
  • Remaining reduction needed – $7.5 million
  • Facilities and Administration – $2.5 million
    • Through statewide consolidations of central university administration, the system office will find $5 million in savings and portions will be attributed to the universities. UAF is anticipating being able to count $2.5 million from these savings.
    • Reduce $2.5 million in facility maintenance expenses.
  • Academic Program & Student Services – $1.3 million
    • Expedited program review of academic programs and general units will begin this fall 2019 at the system level. White estimates that some funds will be saved through potential reduction of faculty contracts within eliminated programs but due to teach-out requirements, one-time bridge funding will be required.
  • Research – $700,000
    • Application of an unallocated reduction will be applied to units supporting organized research. The purpose of the unallocated reduction is to allow unit leaders to make the best choices for their units.
  • Public Service – $500,000

To meet the new reduction, UAF will use one-time bridge funding where possible. Johnsen’s memo asked UAF to protect funds within Advancement functions (Fundraising-Development, University Relations, Alumni) and Title IX.

With the $9.5 million already cut and the $7.5 million yet to go, the University of Fairbanks will see a $17 million reduction, the most of any campus. For UAF the entire budget cut will be generally allocated thus:

  • Administration – $7.8 million
  • Academic programs & Student Services – $6.2 million
  • Research – $1.7 million
  • Public Service – $1.2 million

The next step is approval of the budget distribution plan by the Board of Regents on September 12.

Alaska Life Hack: What’s a hundred dollars worth in Alaska?

Suzanne Downing
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3
Alaska Life Hack: What’s a hundred dollars worth in Alaska?

There was a time when Alaska had the highest cost of living in the nation. No more.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released a report comparing the purchasing power of metro and non metro areas around the country in 2017 to answer this question: How much will $100 buy in different areas of the country?

Regions where $100 buys the least are the usual suspects — cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. In the South, $100 will go a lot further in purchasing power; same in the middle of the country.

In Anchorage, $100 only has $92.68 worth of buying power, while in Fairbanks, it has $93.55.

Anchorage and Fairbanks’ purchasing power compares with East Los Angeles communities of Riverside and San Bernadino, and San Louis Obispo County.

As for personal income growth, Alaska was not the worst, but didn’t perform well, with only 1 percent income growth between 2016 and 2017. The U.S. growth rate was 2.6 that year.

 

Swan Lake Fire challenged by wind, Deshka, McKinley fires 95 percent contained

Suzanne Downing
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2
Swan Lake Fire challenged by wind, Deshka, McKinley fires 95 percent contained

KENAI LAKE WATER SCOOPING PLANES DRAWING CROWDS

Rain helped firefighters on the Kenai Peninsula by slowing down the Swan Lake Fire, but winds that came with the fire made it more difficult for crews to get to where they needed to be to contain it. Field reports say rain hit the ground in most locations, but wasn’t substantial.

Crews are fully engaged around the perimeter of the fire, but are not able to get as deep toward the fire area, according to Rocky Gilbert, an operations chief of the Great Basin team.

At Jim’s Landing, they were getting rid of those tree-and-limb hazards as the winds were doing their damage. All containment lines held during the wind event.

Canadair CL-215 Super Scooper air tankers are operating on Kenai Lake near Cooper Landing and are attracting the attention of large groups of onlookers.

Fire officials are concerned that those stopping along the road to watch may be hit by passing vehicles, or even could be injured in the event the aircraft has a mechanical malfunction.

Officials ask that onlookers do not watch from directly under the flightpath of the aircraft, and instead use the Cooper Bay Boat Launch for spectating, if they must.

DESHKA LANDING FIRE

The containment of the Deshka Landing Fire remains at 95 percent and total acres burned at 1,318. Cooler temperatures and light rain aided firefighters as they systematically moved through the fire area within 300 feet of the perimeter, looking for ash pits and hot spots.

MCKINLEY FIRE

McKinley fire is 95 percent contained at 3,288 acres. While the perimeter is holding, the interior areas of the fire have hot high-hazard ash and ember pits, and the fire continues to smolder in the forest floor.  Crews are working cautiously to mop up deep ash pits and avoid falling trees. Officials report several injuries from burns and falling trees among firefighters and residents. A structure group is assessing areas around homes for hazards. The focus is also on removing tree hazards along roads, especially as winds become gusty. Scattered rain and mild temperatures are expected this week.

A night shift is monitoring for flare ups and the mop up continues.

THE TOTALS SO FAR

Some 696 wildfires have burned 2,588,992 acres in Alaska this year, with nearly half of that in the Upper Yukon Zone. Some 163,000 acres have burned on the Kenai Peninsula and 5,231 have burned in the Upper Mat-Su area. In Southwestern Alaska, 587,543 acres are charred.

Fires were caused by both humans and lightning:

Humans caused 312 fires, for 40,316 acres burned

Lightning cause 366 fires, with 2,529,958 acres burned

Undetermined: 18 fires, with 18,717 acres burned.

 

Alaska Life Hack: 15 day countdown to Anchorage plastic bag ban

Suzanne Downing
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29
Alaska Life Hack: 15 day countdown to Anchorage plastic bag ban

Ready. Set. …

On Sept. 15, the Anchorage will be the latest community in Alaska to ban single-use bags that merchants have used for decades to help shoppers move their purchases from the checkout stand to their homes.

The Anchorage bag ban was passed by the Anchorage Assembly last year, but implementation was delayed over the concern for for businesses with a large inventory of bags.

Sellers may provide non-plastic bags, such as paper, but must charge a minimum of $0.10 per bag. This is intended to change behavior and encourage more people to bring their canvas, woven and other multi-use bags to the grocery store with them.

Wasilla has had a plastic bag ban in place for over a year, but allows bags to be given out by stores if they are 2.25 mil or thicker, such as would be used if a shopper purchased clothing from an apparel shop. Stores may provide customers with any size recyclable paper or reusable carryout bags.

Other communities with bans include Bethel, Fairbanks, Homer, Hooper Bay, Kodiak, Palmer, and Unalaska.

Legislation to create a statewide tax on plastic bags was been offered in the House in 2018 by Anchorage Democrats Rep. Andy Josephson and Harriet Drummond, but didn’t advance. This year it was offered in HB 81 by Josephson, who is concerned about plastics, and micro-plastics  in the environment.
Are these bans effective or just virtue signaling?
“As important as banning single-use plastic bags is in terms of reducing it as a source, it’s not going to change the world,” Mark Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste told National Geographic. “The main point, frankly, is to communicate to policy makers, the public, and to the industry that we’ve got to do something serious to reduce plastic packaging and if you all can’t figure out how to do it, we’re going to start banning your products one at a time.”
So, yes, it’s a bit of virtue signaling.
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