26.0°

Hi Neighbors.

When I started this column, I was simply amazed at how many people stepped up to help -- they sent me news, gave me tips and occasionally told me where I made a mistake. Heather Linde once wrote about how, in a small town, everyone already knew the news; they only read the paper to find the mistakes.

It has been my experience that a small town paper is the glue that holds us together. As I say my good-byes today, I know the folks at the Clarion will continue to keep our community connected. I'll drop in to visit every fifth Sunday's "funny paper."

I suspect that I will regret saying this, but with the cooler weather this year, we have enjoyed a wonderful lack of mosquitoes. Although -- we have discovered a few creepy crawlies that are a constant source of mystery and intrigue.

If you are curious to learn about what kind of bug just crawled up your leg? And what the heck is that "thing" scampering around the floor? You might want to stop by the Soldotna Creek Park from 10 to noon Tuesday and check out "Insect Investigations with Dominique Collet." Collet is the author of Insects of Southcentral Alaska and one of our communities premiere naturalists. The Soldotna Creek Park is behind Don Jose's Restaurant in Soldotna on the Sterling Highway. Participants are encouraged to bring weather appropriate clothing and be prepared to go where the bugs are, which might include an adventure to Soldotna Creek. The event is free and is one of the Kenai Watershed Forum's summer programs. For more information, call Jan Yager at 260-4882, Ext. 238 or visit www.kenaiwatershed.org.

If you would like to learn more about harvesting natural recourses such as wild game and berries, here is your opportunity. Starting July 8 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, Colleen Sonnevil of the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service will conduct a free nutrition class. The course will continue through Aug. 26. For more information, call Linda Swarner at 262-3111.

If berry picking leaves you in the mood for a little more pickn' -- keep in mind that at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna there is a blue grass jam session. Everyone is welcome to come on out and pick a little or simply sit back and enjoy. For more information, call 283-4156

Progress Days entry and vendor forms are available at the Soldotna Chamber of commerce or at www.soldotnachamber.com.

Happy birthday wishes to Kaye Gundersen on July 3; Dorothy Wilson and Norman MacLeod on July 5; and Ruby Smith on July 6.

This week's Spenard Builder Supply readerboard message, "Remember that government of the people will be government for the people as long is there is government by the people."

God bless, take care and have a terrific summer.

Homesteader photos sought

The Clarion is seeking photos from families who homesteaded in the Soldotna area. Photos depicting life in the early years will be selected to run in the Clarion's Soldotna Progress Days special section in July.

Photos of businesses, children at play, community gatherings, homes, traveling and any other aspect of homestead life are sought.

Information to include with photos, if at all possible, is the name of the photographer, date, place, names of people in the photo and brief description of activity taking place.

Photos with name, address and telephone number included will be returned to the owner.

The deadline is at 5 p.m. July 11. Photos may be dropped off at the Clarion office at 150 Trading Bay Drive, mailed to Peninsula Clarion, P.O. Box 3009, Kenai, AK 99611, or e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com, attention Nan Misner.

For more information, call Nan at 335-1241.

Swim lessons offered in Soldotna

The Soldotna High School pool offers 10 days of swim lessons, level one lessons are for 25 minutes, level two through five for 40 minutes. Registration has begun for classes. Lesson dates are: today through July 11; session four, July 14 through 25; and July 28 through Aug. 8. Lesson are offered at from 10 to 10:40 a.m.; 10:45 to 11:25 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.; 12:15 to 12:55 p.m.; 4 to 4:40 p.m.; and 4:45 to 5:25 p.m.

Private swim lessons times and pool rentals are available. The cost is $50 for 10 days of swim lesson; $15 for private lessons; $4 lap swim or open swim; and $35 for a punch card/10 punches on the card.

For more information, call Cindy 262-7419 or e-mail her at CAldridge@KPBSD.k12.ak.us.

Financial workshops planned

Free financial education workshops will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 265 N. Binkley in Soldotna. Topics will be goal setting and planning, budgeting, pay yourself first, credit worthiness, understand compound interest, good debt vs. bad debt, buying a car and home, protect your family and predatory lending. For more information or an appointment call Cathy VanCauwenbergh, financial literacy specialist RurAL CAP.

Area students named to dean's list

* Soldotna residents Brian Beeson, Joel Isaak and Jake Zufelt were named to the dean's list at Corban College and Graduate School in Salem, Ore.

To be named to the list students must have achieved and maintained a grade point average of 3.60 or higher while completing a minimum of 12 hours of graded coursework for the duration of the term.

* Soldotna residents Amanda Weaver and Stacey Foster were named to Harding University dean's list. To be eligible, a student must carry 12 or more hours and have a 3.65 grade point average.

Foster is a junior majoring in management.

Weaver is a senior majoring in management.

* Soldotna resident Shiloh A. Schlung was named to the dean's list at Boston University.

Area students graduate

* Soldotna resident Seth McCord graduated from Boston University with a doctor of medicine in medicine.

* Soldotna resident Kara L. Brown graduated June 15, 2008, from Oregon State University with a degree of doctor of pharmacy (four-year); John B. Richards, bachelor of science and psychology.

* Soldotna resident Heidi Ann (Keller) Skilling graduated magna cume laude from the School of Nursing at West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.V. on May 17, 2008. She also is commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and will be stationed in Florida in July. Her father, SFC (U.S. Army, Retired) William, presented her ceremonial first salute.

She is the daughter of William and Carol Keller of Soldotna.

* Soldotna residents Kaitlin Brett Vadla and James Gregory Gabriel graduated from Gonzoga University om Washington.

Vadla received a bachelors of arts, honors degree in international relations and graduated magna cum laude.

Gabriel received a bachelors of science degree in electrical engineering.

* Soldotna resident Kevin P. Lauscher graduated from Northern Michigan University, Communications and Marketing Department with a baccalaureate degree in earth science and secondary education.

* Soldotna resident Gary Eugene Leiter graduated from Corban College and Graduate School with a degree in education.

Riding high

Colten Jensen, a graduate of Soldotna High School, was named the Alaska High School Rodeo Association 2007-08 All-around champion at the State High School Finals Rodeo held June 20 through June 26 in Farminton, N.M.

The awards program was started as a way of recognizing those NHRA members, who through their outstanding rodeo skills, earned the right to be called the best young rodeo athlete in each of the NHSRA's 47-affiliate associations.

Jensen also was named the Wrangler Cutting Champion and the Wrangler Bull riding Champion at the Alaska State High School Finals Rodeo held in Ninilchik on June 13 and 14. In addition to receiving other awards and college scholarships given out at the state level, Jensen received jeans and a special state event champion patch to put on his competition shirt for both awards.

Smola continues studies

Former Soldotna resident Jennifer Smola has been admitted to the College of Graduate Studies at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Smola also will be enrolled in the McCall Outdoor Science School, a one-year AmeriCorps service opportunity. Field-based teaching experience in environmental education for fifth- and sixth-grade students, graduate-level coursework in ecology, teaching, and outdoor leadership and hands-on experience in a non-profit operation are part of the course work.

She is the daughter of Abby Smola of Soldotna and Jim Smola of Anchorage. Smola is a 2004 graduate of Soldotna High School.

Macvie honored

Former Soldotna resident Meagan Macvie received the Governor's Award for Leadership in Management from Washington State Gov. Gregoire.

The program recognizes managers in state government who have demonstrated outstanding leadership. She is the communications director at the states Department of Personnel.

Managers were nominated by their agencies and selected based on their high performance and ability to deliver results. A selection committee comprising agency directors and members of the governor's staff selected the winners from a pool of 46 managers nominated from 20 agencies.