According to Carey Meyer, director of Public Works, "All road projects are pretty much done by the end of the season." This was not the case when I started asking some of the road companies' employees. One employee recently told me that they were hauling asphalt from Soldotna, and it was setting up by the time they were trying to use it in Homer. Just a little late in the year to be doing some last minute paving.

This year and last the majority of the construction focus was on East End Road, with a stretch of 3-5 miles of widening, repairing and adding a bike path. Another project was redoing Bartlett Street, the main road to the hospital. Both projects still are unfinished. The East End project was supposed to be done by the end of June, but at the city last minute wanted to run utilities around the road. So the road company Quality Asphalt & Paving got a change in order to extend the dead line to the end of the summer. The work is still continuing. According to East End project manager Gary Walkin, 90% of the East End road was completed by the end of July. Some of the last minute details were: water, utilities, turn lanes and some storm drains. Some work remains, awaiting materials, for things like guard rails and signs, said Walkin.

The city left an unfinished patch of road on the bypass next to Fat Olive's for all of last winter and part of this summer. Finally, in mid October, I witnessed a two-day event of paving the section for the fourth time in one year, after a season of gravel and holes that the city left. Also were added islands in the turning lane to prevent merging onto the bypass. So now you must wait for the stream of traffic with hardly any spacing between the vehicles to turn into. How about a stop light? The city finally got the funding for a light, so they are now going to rip out one of the islands. I am not sure on the price tag for those islands, but the city just spent the money this year to put them in, and now they are going to spend that more to take one out. With flaggers posing as stop lights on every road in town, it is sometimes like driving on the L.A. freeways; you have to plan extra time to get around town. I have gotten to a point that I only take right hand turns around town, because some intersections are near to impossible to turn at. Maybe next year money will be spent on traffic engineering.

Just now on Kachemak drive there is a company tarring up the recently paved road to put in piping. You would think that they would think of that before they repaved the road; what a waste. So you have the private companies that get the jobs, then you have Department of Transportation workers watching the crews work with their hands in their pockets, making sure that everything is going as planed. So in everyone's work environment it's harder to get things done-like on East End they had some dirt on the roads that was too salty, so the crew had to dig up all the fill dirt and start over. I don't think there is a head of traffic engineering in Homer, but if there is, it would sure be nice to meet him. If there is not, we sure need one.

In short, it is nice to see the tourists leave in their huge R.V.'s and for the roads to be smooth for awhile. Thanks for all the hard work on the roads this year. See you next season.

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Commentary: Who is to blame (for high gas prices)?
Tom Nesbitt, English A111 student

Everyone has noticed the increased price of oil today. No matter where you go, you see its effects. The most obvious is at the gas pumps, where local prices are around $2.90 a gallon. The increased prices of oil are also showing up other places that are not quite as obvious. Aviation is also being hurt by these higher prices. Alaska Airlines has started charging fuel surcharges of five percent on freight shipments, while Era Aviation has increased the cost of passenger tickets to offset the higher fuel costs.

There is good news, however. The United States is still paying less for gasoline, diesel and heating oil then most other places in the world. According to a CNN.com article entitled "Gas prices around the world," drivers in the United Kingdom pay over $5.00 a gallon making $2.90 a gallon seems like a bargain. And that price seems even better when compared to $6.48 that CNN.com reports for Amsterdam.

With these prices, shouldn't the oil companies be doing something to lower costs rather posting record profits? According to Consumer Federation of America, Exxon Mobil Corp. posted profits of $25 billion in 2004, with $8.4 billion of that coming in the fourth quarter alone.

That is the largest quarterly profit ever reported by a publicly traded company. And what are we getting for all this extra money we are being forced to spend? Are we getting higher quality fuel? Is this more expensive fuel giving our vehicles better fuel mileage? I know I haven't noticed any difference in mileage in my own truck from the fuel I just paid $2.90 a gallon than I got from fuel that only cost $1.90, if I recall correctly. It has been quite a while since I've seen fuel that cheap.

The question is: who is to blame? You can point at the oil companies. You can point at the president and his oil tycoon friends. You can point at all the oil producing countries around the world. Chances are, whoever you choose to point the finger at for these outrageous oil prices, you're going to be right.

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Commentary: Efforts for KPC students appreciated
Celeste Morningstarr, KPC student

As we've all noticed, prices keep rising. Everything from the cost of a gallon of gas to the increasing costs of education. We're all feeling the pinch one way or another. There are however, three distinct individuals that not only deserve a pat on the back and a tip of the hat, but a standing ovation from the community of students here at KRC.

In large part, these three play a major role in areas of communication, government, and financial assistance, whose purpose aids this student body. Two of these people I have the distinct pleasure of knowing fairly well, and the other I have yet to make the acquaintance of, but nonetheless, I feel an obligation of regard, due in part to both his position and the service he affords me as a student. They are Todd Marshall-Closson, KRC Student Union President; Robert Bell, Student Commissioner to Alaska Commission on Post Secondary Education; and Karalee Rhoten, Financial Aid Services and adjunct instructor. Each of these three has undertaken the daunting task of making themselves available in the many areas of student advocacy, championing student causes, and all the while maintaining a unit of one.

This past September a number of individuals along with our KRC-SU president traveled to Anchorage to discuss the proposed tuition increase with the University of Alaska Board of Regents. Equipping themselves with as much statistical and relevant information as needed, each of these student constituents spoke on behalf of all of us supporting members. Although their arguments were unsuccessful in convincing the UA/BOR to freeze tuition costs over the next three years, their efforts were nothing short of extraordinary. Marshall-Closson, speaker for the Coalition of Student Leaders presented the Coalition’s resolution to the UA/BOR and President Hamilton. Even as the discussion became heated, Bell, spoke of the eloquence and even-temperedness Marshall-Closson displayed while delivering his message.

Bell went on to say that even as UA President Hamilton proceeded to dismantle the Coalition’s argument brick by brick, our KRC-SU president neither wavered nor faltered while at the podium. Bell concluded his comments by saying how proud he was to stand in the same company as that of KRC-SU president Marshall-Closson, adding that he felt each and every one of us houses the potential of altering that which appears immovable, unchangeable, and predetermined, thereby achieving greatness as a collective body.

This brings me to the last, but in no way the least, of my short list of those who exemplify dedication to the whole, financial aid assistant, Karalee Rhoten. Students from all walks of life in search of assistance will find an immediate friend, whose warmth and generous nature shines forth even through the most trying of times. The office of Carrie Burford, whom Mrs. Rhoten holds in high regard, is best represented by such an individual. Dividing her time as an adjunct instructor of both Technical Writing and Methods of Written Communication courses, Karalee Rhoten embodies the spirit of community and graciousness; traits noteworthy here at KPC.

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Commentary: Condoms on campus likely
Katherine Fancher, English A111 student

Beginning in January, condoms will be available on campus---if the proposed health clinic is approved. Students voted in favor of the KRC Health Clinic in September, and the margin was nearly 2 to 1, according to Student Union Communications Officer Nicole Simmons. The effort toward a clinic establishment is in response to the need of low-cost student health care. The plan still needs approval by University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton.

Despite the clinic's proposed small size, it would offer a wide array of services, such as common illness care, immunizations, STD/HIV and Hepatitis B/C screening, nutrition information, height and weight recording, first aid, and a Self-Help Center (where cough drops, aspirin, condoms and other self-help items could be found).

The Health Clinic would be partnered and contracted with Central Peninsula General Hospital to supply certified health care. The hospital has to approve the contract before the partnership can begin. The clinic's operation dates would be during the normal school year (fall and spring semesters), beginning next semester. Located in the new building extension, the clinic would run for one full year and then an evaluation will taken: should we keep the clinic?

The Health Clinic would be patterned after UAA's on-campus clinic. So, like UAA, KPC would be able to offer an optional student health insurance. Full eligibility for this very-low-cost insurance, which would provide a variety of major medical benefits, would be six or more credits with fees fully paid.

Speaking of fees, there would be a mandatory $5/credit fee each semester for all students taking six more credits. But that is such a small charge when the first four visits are free ($5 co-pay after that) and when (optional) student health insurance is available.

To help balance expenses, a part-time receptionist would be hired for the clinic via the work-study program. So think about it: an on campus clinic, with possible employment opportunities, and available low-cost student health insurance. One more thing: condoms would be available.

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