Appeals court conviction for Stepovichbloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/newsminer.com/... ·...
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By MATT BUXTON [email protected] The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly’s finance committee will resume work on the borough’s pro- posed $159 million budget today with plenty of big-ticket items to discuss. Most eyes will be on the borough’s local contri- bution to the Fairbanks school district, which sent out warnings this week to as many as 80 teachers at risk of budget-related layoffs. The school district is grappling with two multimillion-dollar shortfalls in funding. The district had been count- ing on a $2.7 million increase to the base student funding from the state, but the Legislature declined to provide it. It also wants an additional $1.8 mil- lion from the borough. The assembly agreed, as a prelimi- nary step in the budget process, to set a minimum funding level at $47 million, the same as last year. Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins has proposed an additional $800,000. Assembly committee to work on budget School spending to be big focus By ROD BOYCE [email protected] The Alaska Court of Appeals on Friday upheld the felony drugs convic- tion of Fairbanks businessman and former state legislator Nick Stepovich but reversed his conviction on a misde- meanor charge of attempted evidence tampering. The 2009 convictions by a Fairbanks jury came as the result of Stepovich’s arrest in the early hours of Nov. 8, 2008, when a police officer saw Ste- povich and another man, Troy Towse, standing close to one another next to a Dumpster behind the Big I bar on Turner Street. The officer suspected the men were engaged in a drugs transaction. Stepovich reportedly ignored the warnings by police officer Kurt Lock- wood to stop and instead walked around the Dumpster, out of the sight of the officer, and then re-emerged holding his hands out. A small packet of cocaine was found a short time later behind the Dumpster. The evidence tampering charge stems from Stepov- ich’s dropping of the packet behind the Dumpster. Appeals court upholds drugs conviction for Stepovich Tosses out lesser charge of attempted evidence tampering INSIDE Teachers union, district fail to agree on new contract. Page B1 By SAM FRIEDMAN [email protected] It’s been 20 years since Alexie Sergie lost his sister, Sophie, to a still- unsolved homicide on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. On Friday after- noon, he stood with his mother and father at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, holding back tears as he described his then 20-year-old sister as if he had just lost her. “Growing up, we used to tease her a lot. We’d have fun together. It was just me and her, a small family,” he said. “For those of you who are miss- ing loved ones who were murdered, never give up hope.” The family, from Pitka’s Point in Southwestern Alaska, hasn’t given up hope. They have traveled to Fairbanks during most of the past 20 years on the anniversary of her death. It’s a hard time of year for the family, which is Gathering of Remembrance Photos by Eric Engman/News-Miner Sophie Sergie’s mother, Elena, pauses while lighting a candle in honor of her daughter during the annual Gathering of Remem- brance commemorating the victims of Interior Alaska’s unsolved homicide cases Friday at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. This year’s gathering marks the 20th anniversary of the unsolved death of Sophie Sergie, a University of Alaska Fairbanks student who was found dead in a Bartlett Hall restroom. Above: Sophie Sergie’s mother, Elena, gets emotional while listening to her son, Alexie, speak during the annual Gathering of Remembrance. Below: The Rev. Scott Fisher leads a procession along First Avenue. IN THEIR HONOR Family, friends remember loved ones lost in unsolved Interior homicides S. Sergie Please see GATHERING, Page A6 252-C Vol. CIX, No. 116 20 pages Classified ................... C4 Comics ...................... C3 Dear Abby .................. C2 Interior/Alaska ............ B1 Obituaries .................. B2 Opinion .......................A4 Inside Sourdough Jack sez: “Each day it’s stayin’ winter, I’m gettin’ madder.” Hitler’s taste tester recalls fears of poisoning. Page B4 Not-so fine dining Our Town ........................ A3 Our Town Plus ................. C1 Sports ............................. D1 Stock Markets .................. D4 Weather ........................... A5 World............................... B4 The voice of Interior Alaska since 1903 Seventy-five cents Saturday, April 27, 2013 newsminer.com RECYCLED Recycled material is used in the making of our newsprint By GARY BLACK [email protected] Bill Maher, one of the biggest names in the world of comedy, is bringing his stand-up routine to The Blue Loon in Fairbanks in August. Maher is the host of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” an Emmy-nominated program heavy on politics and current events that skewers both sides of the political spectrum while poking fun at pop culture, religion and the media. The Alaska performances — Aug. 23 in Fairbanks and Aug. 24 in Anchorage — mark the first time Maher has performed in the state. It’s part of his “Making Back My Million” tour, a tongue- in-cheek jab about the million- dollar donation Maher made last year to President Obama’s re- election campaign. Maher started his career as a stand-up comedian in 1979 and still considers stand-up to be his true passion. While he’s known for his slaying of politicians and the goings-on in Congress, you can expect a different per- formance when he’s behind the microphone on stage. “I think Fairbanks is very fortunate to get someone of his caliber and stature,” said Adam Wool, manager and owner of The Blue Loon. “Granted, he’s not for everyone, and he is a polar- izing figure. But from what I understand, his routine is very much a ‘stand-up’ routine, not a political rant. I do think his comedy is political at times, but if you’ve seen some of his HBO comedy specials, he’s much like other stand-up comedians look- ing for laughs.” Three of Maher’s last nine stand-up specials for HBO have been nominated for Emmy awards, and his “Real Time” show has been nominated for 23 Emmys. In addition to his TV program, which has featured such regular guests as John Edwards, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Ari- anna Huffington, Alec Baldwin and Michael Moore, Maher has written five bestsellers. IF YOU GO What: Comedian Bill Maher When: Aug. 23 Where: The Blue Loon Tickets: Tickets range from $70 to $35 each and can be purchased at www.theblueloon. com. FYI: Maher’s performance is an outdoors show. Ages 21 and up INSIDE Arlo Guthrie to pay tribute to Woody this weekend. Page B1 Comedian Bill Maher coming to The Blue Loon Submitted photo Bill Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” is bringing his stand-up rou- tine to The Blue Loon in Fair- banks in August. Please see MAHER, Page A6 Please see BUDGET, Page A6 Please see STEPOVICH, Page A6 Wenatchee tops Ice Dogs in Game 1 Sports » Page D1 SIGNS OF SPRING Our Town Plus » Page C1
Transcript of Appeals court conviction for Stepovichbloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/newsminer.com/... ·...
By MATT [email protected]
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly’s finance committee will resume work on the borough’s pro-posed $159 million budget today with plenty of big-ticket items to discuss.
Most eyes will be on the borough’s local contri-bution to the F a i r b a n k s school district, which sent out warnings this week to as many as 80 teachers at risk of budget-related layoffs.
The school district is grappling with two multimillion-dollar shortfalls in funding. The district had been count-ing on a $2.7 million increase to the base student funding from the state, but the Legislature declined to provide it.
It also wants an additional $1.8 mil-lion from the borough.
The assembly agreed, as a prelimi-nary step in the budget process, to set a minimum funding level at $47 million, the same as last year. Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins has proposed an additional $800,000.
Assemblycommitteeto work on budgetSchool spending to be big focus
By ROD [email protected]
The Alaska Court of Appeals on Friday upheld the felony drugs convic-tion of Fairbanks businessman and former state legislator Nick Stepovich but reversed his conviction on a misde-meanor charge of attempted evidence tampering.
The 2009 convictions by a Fairbanks jury came as the result of Stepovich’s arrest in the early hours of Nov. 8, 2008, when a police officer saw Ste-povich and another man, Troy Towse, standing close to one another next to a Dumpster behind the Big I bar on Turner Street. The officer suspected the men were engaged in a drugs transaction.
Stepovich reportedly ignored the warnings by police officer Kurt Lock-wood to stop and instead walked around the Dumpster, out of the sight of the officer, and then re-emerged holding his hands out. A small packet of cocaine was found a short time later behind the Dumpster. The evidence tampering charge stems from Stepov-ich’s dropping of the packet behind the Dumpster.
Appeals court upholds drugs conviction for StepovichTosses out lesser charge of attempted evidence tampering
INSIDETeachers union,
district fail to agree on new contract. Page B1
By SAM [email protected]
It’s been 20 years since Alexie Sergie lost his sister, Sophie, to a still-unsolved homicide on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.
On Friday after-noon, he stood with his mother and father at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, holding back tears as he described his
then 20-year-old sister as if he had just lost her.
“Growing up, we used to tease her a lot. We’d have fun together. It was just me and her, a small family,” he said. “For those of you who are miss-ing loved ones who were murdered, never give up hope.”
The family, from Pitka’s Point in Southwestern Alaska, hasn’t given up hope. They have traveled to Fairbanks during most of the past 20 years on the anniversary of her death. It’s a hard time of year for the family, which is
Gathering of Remembrance
Photos by Eric Engman/News-Miner
Sophie Sergie’s mother, Elena, pauses while lighting a candle in honor of her daughter during the annual Gathering of Remem-brance commemorating the victims of Interior Alaska’s unsolved homicide cases Friday at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. This year’s gathering marks the 20th anniversary of the unsolved death of Sophie Sergie, a University of Alaska Fairbanks student who was found dead in a Bartlett Hall restroom.
Above: Sophie Sergie’s mother, Elena, gets emotional while listening to her son, Alexie, speak during the annual Gathering of Remembrance. Below: The Rev. Scott Fisher leads a procession along First Avenue.
IN THEIR HONORFamily, friends remember loved ones lost in unsolved Interior homicides
S. Sergie
Please see GATHERING, Page A6
252-C Vol. CIX, No. 11620 pages
Classified ................... C4Comics ...................... C3Dear Abby .................. C2Interior/Alaska ............ B1Obituaries .................. B2Opinion .......................A4
Inside Sourdough Jack sez:
“Each day it’s stayin’ winter, I’m gettin’ madder.”
Hitler’s taste tester recalls fears of poisoning. Page B4
Not-so fine dining
Our Town ........................ A3Our Town Plus ................. C1Sports ............................. D1Stock Markets .................. D4Weather ........................... A5World ............................... B4
The voice of Interior Alaska since 1903Seventy-five cents Saturday, April 27, 2013newsminer.com
RECYCLED
Recycled material is used in the making of our
newsprint
By GARY [email protected]
Bill Maher, one of the biggest names in the world of comedy, is bringing his stand-up routine to The Blue Loon in Fairbanks in August.
Maher is the host of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” an Emmy-nominated program heavy on politics and current events that skewers both sides of the political spectrum while poking fun at pop culture, religion and the media.
The Alaska performances — Aug. 23 in Fairbanks and Aug. 24 in Anchorage — mark the first time Maher has performed in the state. It’s part of his “Making Back My Million” tour, a tongue-in-cheek jab about the million-dollar donation Maher made last year to President Obama’s re-election campaign.
Maher started his career as a stand-up comedian in 1979 and still considers stand-up to be his
true passion. While he’s known for his slaying of politicians and the goings-on in Congress, you can expect a different per-formance when he’s behind the microphone on stage.
“I think Fairbanks is very fortunate to get someone of his
caliber and stature,” said Adam Wool, manager and owner of The Blue Loon. “Granted, he’s not for everyone, and he is a polar-izing figure. But from what I understand, his routine is very much a ‘stand-up’ routine, not a political rant. I do think his comedy is political at times, but if you’ve seen some of his HBO comedy specials, he’s much like other stand-up comedians look-ing for laughs.”
Three of Maher’s last nine stand-up specials for HBO have been nominated for Emmy awards, and his “Real Time” show has been nominated for 23 Emmys. In addition to his TV program, which has featured such regular guests as John Edwards, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Ari-anna Huffington, Alec Baldwin and Michael Moore, Maher has written five bestsellers.
If You GoWhat: Comedian Bill MaherWhen: Aug. 23Where: The Blue LoonTickets: Tickets range from
$70 to $35 each and can be purchased at www.theblueloon.com.
FYI: Maher’s performance is an outdoors show. Ages 21 and up
INSIDEArlo Guthrie to pay tribute to
Woody this weekend. Page B1
Comedian Bill Maher coming to The Blue Loon
Submitted photo
Bill Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” is bringing his stand-up rou-tine to The Blue Loon in Fair-banks in August.
Please see MAHER, Page A6
Please see BUDGET, Page A6
Please see STEPOVICH, Page A6
Wenatchee tops Ice Dogs in Game 1
Sports » Page D1 SIGNS of SPRINGOur Town Plus » Page C1
