Ashlyn O'Hara

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)

School board briefed on remote learning opportunities

Members of the school board’s small schools committee were briefed Monday about the kinds of remote learning opportunities made available to students. The committee, officially… Continue reading

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 Alaska Capitol is photographed in January 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file)

School funding tops district’s priority list

“Parental rights” legislation and defined benefit plans were also among concerns discussed

The Alaska Capitol is photographed in January 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, left, addresses constituents during a town hall event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman lumber bill heads to governor’s desk

Senate Bill 87 aims to make locally milled lumber more widely available for the construction of housing in Alaska

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, left, addresses constituents during a town hall event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council members Deborah Sounar, left, and Teea Winger review budget documents during a work session on Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council makes headway on draft city budget

Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank and Kenai Controller Lana Metcalf presented to city council members

Kenai City Council members Deborah Sounar, left, and Teea Winger review budget documents during a work session on Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Eric Trevino walks the length of the press on Monday, April 24, 2023, in the Peninsula Clarion pressroom in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Stopping the press

The Clarion’s printing press retired after three decades

Eric Trevino walks the length of the press on Monday, April 24, 2023, in the Peninsula Clarion pressroom in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to kick off budget process with Saturday work session

Infrastructure is a key theme of the City of Kenai’s draft budget

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek, left, presents Officer David Bower with a Lifesaver Award during a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna police officer recognized for lifesaving actions

Police Chief Gene Meek presented Bower with a “Lifesaver Award” during Wednesday’s meeting of the Soldotna City Council

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek, left, presents Officer David Bower with a Lifesaver Award during a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche (fifth from left) celebrates the receipt of extrication equipment alongside staff from Kenai Peninsula fire departments and the Girdwood Fire Department during a press event at the Girdwood Fire Department on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Girdwood, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor’s Office)

Fire departments celebrate arrival of new equipment

The extrication equipment was donated to fire stations in Girdwood, Bear Creek, Homer, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kenai, Seward, Hope, Fritz Creek and Ninilchik

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche (fifth from left) celebrates the receipt of extrication equipment alongside staff from Kenai Peninsula fire departments and the Girdwood Fire Department during a press event at the Girdwood Fire Department on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Girdwood, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor’s Office)
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to get first crack at proposed budget Tuesday

Lower property taxes and full funding for education are included in a draft version of the budget

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen is recognized for her contributions to the city during a council meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A privilege to do this work’

Stephanie Queen closes out term as Soldotna city manager in emotional council meeting

Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen is recognized for her contributions to the city during a council meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Local fishers speak up for buyback bill

S.B. 82, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, would create the voluntary program

A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai seeks to boost city workers

A work session is set to brainstorm ways to increase the number of people applying for vacant positions with the City of Kenai

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula reporter Ashlyn O’Hara, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporter Jake Dye pose with their 2022 Alaska Press Club awards, Monday, April 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Clarion writers win 8 Alaska Press Club awards

The Clarion swept the club’s best arts and culture criticism category

Kenai Peninsula reporter Ashlyn O’Hara, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporter Jake Dye pose with their 2022 Alaska Press Club awards, Monday, April 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Survey to measure quality of borough services

The seven-question survey asks residents to rate their overall experience with the borough

The Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis speaks during a Soldotna City Council meeting in December 2022.

Soldotna to consider Kornelis as interim city manager

If appointed, Kornelis would officially serve from April 29 to May 14

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis speaks during a Soldotna City Council meeting in December 2022.
Kenai Fire Chief Tony Prior presents updates on the city’s spruce bark beetle mitigation efforts to Kenai City Council members during a council meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to mitigate hazard trees through mid-May

The city last year adopted the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Kenai Fire Chief Tony Prior presents updates on the city’s spruce bark beetle mitigation efforts to Kenai City Council members during a council meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30, 2023, why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Peninsula voices among ‘parental rights’ debate in Juneau

People who spoke in opposition outnumbered those who spoke in support by three to one

Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30, 2023, why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Fencing marks the boundaries of a planned dog park in Kenai near Daubenspeck Park on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai eyes July for opening of city dog park

The opening of the dog park will cap a yearslong effort by community members

Fencing marks the boundaries of a planned dog park in Kenai near Daubenspeck Park on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Daniel Sherrell’s “Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of our World” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday March 30, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Daniel Sherrell’s “Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of our World” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday March 30, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)