Ashlyn O'Hara

Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly takes down ZipMart structure

The dilapidated ZipMart building in Sterling was demolished last week, capping monthslong efforts to mitigate a structure the Kenai Peninsula Borough called a public safety… Continue reading

Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Voters line up to put their ballots in a ballot machine at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 3 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Resolution would ask borough voters whether to align state and local election days

A resolution up for consideration by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday would put before peninsula voters the question of whether borough elections should… Continue reading

Voters line up to put their ballots in a ballot machine at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 3 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Mount Redoubt can be seen acoss Cook Inlet from North Kenai Beach on Thursday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Utilities, state lawmaker call on state to investigate Hilcorp compliance with Cook Inlet leases

A state lawmaker and the leaders of four major electric utilities are calling for the State of Alaska to investigate whether or not Cook Inlet’s… Continue reading

Mount Redoubt can be seen acoss Cook Inlet from North Kenai Beach on Thursday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly resolution would back proposed exclusion of trans girls from high school girls sports

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday will wade into the issue of transgender rights in Alaska when it considers whether to support banning trans… Continue reading

A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD Summer Work Program Coordinator Olivia Weagraff welcomes attendees to a program celebration event at Soldotna High School on Thursday, June 29, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD celebrates Summer Work Program students

About 45 people gathered in the Soldotna High School commons last week to celebrate the latest group of students to complete a summer work program… Continue reading

KPBSD Summer Work Program Coordinator Olivia Weagraff welcomes attendees to a program celebration event at Soldotna High School on Thursday, June 29, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai grand jury indicts former SoHi teacher on 61 counts of sexual abuse of a minor, possession of child pornography

A former Soldotna High School teacher and head of the local teachers union is facing 61 counts of sexual abuse of a minor and possession… Continue reading

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward offers city manager gig to Sorensen

Sorensen currently serves as the executive director of the Seward Chamber of Commerce

Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)

Field house tops Soldotna’s capital priority list

Soldotna City Council members Wednesday got their first look at the lineup of capital projects the city expects to fund in the upcoming fiscal year,… Continue reading

A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)
From left, Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney swears in Soldotna Police Officer Bryan Hahn while Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek looks on during a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna swears in new police officer

A new officer joined the ranks of the Soldotna Police Department during Wednesday’s meeting of the Soldotna City Council. Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney swore in… Continue reading

From left, Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney swears in Soldotna Police Officer Bryan Hahn while Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek looks on during a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Childhood photos of Chris and Carine McCandless are displayed in "The Wild Truth," which lays in the Peninsula Clarion office on Thursday, June 29, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Chris McCandless in a new light

I get a lot of podcast recommendations from my friends who work in public radio. Sometimes the recommendation comes as a texted link to a… Continue reading

Childhood photos of Chris and Carine McCandless are displayed in "The Wild Truth," which lays in the Peninsula Clarion office on Thursday, June 29, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign displays the logo of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Senior centers, social services suggested as stops for Kenaitze fixed-route bus

Project leaders on a proposed fixed-route bus service for the central Kenai Peninsula are requesting public input on what the scope of that service should… Continue reading

A sign displays the logo of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Baby white spruce trees sit newly potted near the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tree-for-all: Inletkeeper tree-planting campaign underway

From a white truck parked at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, David Knight hauled a large bag full of sawed-off plastic containers. Dropping… Continue reading

Baby white spruce trees sit newly potted near the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs direct visitors at the City of Seward’s city hall annex on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward City Council ponders path forward for electric utility

Seward-area residents interested in serving on a newly formed city committee that will help plan the future of the city’s electric utility will have two… Continue reading

Signs direct visitors at the City of Seward’s city hall annex on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Contestants race down the Kenai River during the 16th Annual Cooper Landing Drift Boat Regata near the Eagle Landing Resort in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Officials: Wear life jackets, use caution when recreating on water

A group of seven people were rescued Saturday from Mile 80 of the Kenai River

Contestants race down the Kenai River during the 16th Annual Cooper Landing Drift Boat Regata near the Eagle Landing Resort in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5, 2021, municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough proposes changes to write-in candidate rules

The changes are being proposed in response to questions that came up after the most recent special mayoral election

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5, 2021, municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets on Monday, April 10, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board starts conversation about 4-day school week

KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland made clear to board members that the purpose of the discussion was not to make any decisions

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets on Monday, April 10, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A spruce tree seeps sap outside of the Kenai Post Office on Friday, July 2, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

New federal grant will fund borough beetle-kill mitigation

Assembly members on Tuesday voted to accept more than $70,000 for the effort

A spruce tree seeps sap outside of the Kenai Post Office on Friday, July 2, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Amid misconduct allegations, new district policies promise diligence

KPBSD says it is confident the Title IX policies implemented will prevent harm against students by staff members

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Devil’s Creek Trail in Chugach National Forest, seen June 15, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly backs expanded use of e-bikes in Chugach

The nonbinding resolution calls for class I and II electronic bicycles to be allowed on the forest’s nonmotorized trails, roads and other areas

The Devil’s Creek Trail in Chugach National Forest, seen June 15, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs ZipMart demolition

The building, located on Swanson River Road, started to collapse earlier this year

Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)