Walker assures residents Pioneer Homes won’t be closing

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, joined by his wife Donna, speaks to residents at the Pioneer Home in Palmer on Saturday afternoon. The governor apologized to the residents over rumors that had circulated over the past week insinuating the state’s retirement homes designed especially for veterans could be on the chopping block as the state tries to wrestle with its budget shortfall. Walker assured the residents the Pioneer Homes would not be closing and thanked the elder generation for their role in building Alaska. After the short speech, the Walkers greeted and spoke with residents. Earlier in the day, more than 150 people were on hand for a march at the Pioneer Home intended to show support for Alaska’s aging veterans. A staff aide for Walker said the governor was unable to attend that rally because he was meeting with Vice President Mike Pence in Anchorage earlier in the day.