Ashlyn O'Hara

A City of Kenai grader moves snow from a roadway on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A City of Kenai grader moves snow from a roadway on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council members thank outgoing council member Justin Ruffridge for his years of service to the city during a council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Ruffridge was elected last month to the Alaska Legislature. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna salutes Ruffridge at his final council meeting

Ruffridge was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives last month

Soldotna City Council members thank outgoing council member Justin Ruffridge for his years of service to the city during a council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Ruffridge was elected last month to the Alaska Legislature. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis, left, talks about the Soldotna field house project during a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to finish field house design with COVID relief funds

Voters in October approved a proposition allowing the city to incur up to $15 million in debt to build the field house

Soldotna Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis, left, talks about the Soldotna field house project during a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, speaks to reporters during a news conference on his proposed budget, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska, with members of his Cabinet also pictured. Dunleavy called the budget a starting point for discussions with lawmakers, who convene for a new legislative session in January. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Dunleavy gives 1st look at next state budget

The budget proposal comes as statewide revenue projections have gone down an estimated $1.8 billion

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, speaks to reporters during a news conference on his proposed budget, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska, with members of his Cabinet also pictured. Dunleavy called the budget a starting point for discussions with lawmakers, who convene for a new legislative session in January. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
A copy of “The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family,” is photographed on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Slapstick comedy meets academic survey in novel ‘The Netanyahus’

While the work is presented as — largely — a work of fiction, there are elements of truth

A copy of “The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family,” is photographed on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
People assemble Narcan kits on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, at Freedom House in Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, meeting accepted another $30,000 payment as part of a nationwide opioid settlement, which will be put toward opioid remediation in the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly accepts 2nd round of opioid settlement funds

The money comes from a nationwide settlement agreement involving major pharmaceutical companies

People assemble Narcan kits on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, at Freedom House in Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, meeting accepted another $30,000 payment as part of a nationwide opioid settlement, which will be put toward opioid remediation in the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Regular Municipal Election informational pamphlet for the Oct. 4, 2022, election is pictured. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is considering an ordinance that would end distribution of hard copies of the pamphlet to borough box holders. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Assembly mulls nixing voter pamphlet mailers

Mailing a borough to every box holder in the Kenai Peninsula Borough costs about $30,000 each regular election

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Regular Municipal Election informational pamphlet for the Oct. 4, 2022, election is pictured. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is considering an ordinance that would end distribution of hard copies of the pamphlet to borough box holders. (Peninsula Clarion file)
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)

Assembly asks state for east side setnet disaster declaration

The Kenai River drainage was closed to king salmon fishing this summer due to low king counts

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)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman submitted a letter of resignation to the assembly after being elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska State Senate. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly looks to fill Bjorkman’s seat

Bjorkman has represented Nikiski on the assembly since 2019 and was elected to the Alaska Senate

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman submitted a letter of resignation to the assembly after being elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska State Senate. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Snow is cleared from a parking lot at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Urgent winter storm watch issued for western Kenai Peninsula

Total snow accumulations of 8 to 16 inches are possible

Snow is cleared from a parking lot at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mountain View Elementary School teacher Callie Giordano demonstrates with students “word building” with practices from the University of Florida Literacy Institute during a board of education meeting on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Mountain View students demo literacy curriculum at school board meeting

Principal Karl Kircher said the Alaska Reads Act is “foremost” on the minds of the school community

Mountain View Elementary School teacher Callie Giordano demonstrates with students “word building” with practices from the University of Florida Literacy Institute during a board of education meeting on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kasilof River can be seen in June 2019. (Clarion file)

Kasilof sockeye run strongest of season, report finds

The department forecast about 941,000 sockeye in the Kasilof, when the actual run was about 1.5 million

The Kasilof River can be seen in June 2019. (Clarion file)
Kenai City Streets foreman Curt Wagoner drives a city sander equipped with a belly blade along the Kenai Spur Highway on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. The City of Kenai is not responsible for maintaining state roads. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai street crew treats, clears city roads

A five-man crew is tasked with plowing and treating 80 miles of roads

Kenai City Streets foreman Curt Wagoner drives a city sander equipped with a belly blade along the Kenai Spur Highway on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. The City of Kenai is not responsible for maintaining state roads. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A mock-up of an A-Frame property that would be located across the street from the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies Wynn Nature Center and used by the Homer Forest Charter School shows places for classroom yurts, a dormitory and kitchen, a parking area with bus parking and staff housing. The configuration was presented Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board of Education. (Via Homer Forest Charter School presentation to school board)

Efforts to open K-8 nature school in Homer delayed

Charter organizers proposed changing the school’s opening date from 2023 to 2024

A mock-up of an A-Frame property that would be located across the street from the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies Wynn Nature Center and used by the Homer Forest Charter School shows places for classroom yurts, a dormitory and kitchen, a parking area with bus parking and staff housing. The configuration was presented Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board of Education. (Via Homer Forest Charter School presentation to school board)
Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai explains the ranked choice voting process as the results are tallied during an Alaska Public Media broadcast, Nov. 23, 2022, at her office in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Elections division head to step down Friday

Fenumiai made the decision to retire in September, a division spokesperson said

Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai explains the ranked choice voting process as the results are tallied during an Alaska Public Media broadcast, Nov. 23, 2022, at her office in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seated left, and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom sign their oaths of office during the inauguration ceremony, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. Dunleavy, a Republican, last month became the first Alaska governor since Democrat Tony Knowles in 1998 to win back-to-back terms. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Dunleavy, Dahlstrom take oaths of office

Gov. Dunleavy was reelected during the Nov. 8 general election

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seated left, and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom sign their oaths of office during the inauguration ceremony, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. Dunleavy, a Republican, last month became the first Alaska governor since Democrat Tony Knowles in 1998 to win back-to-back terms. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)
Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)

Infrastructure dollars flood peninsula

Federal infrastructure bill makes available more than $232M for peninsula projects

Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)
Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)
Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna bumps vote on use of accessory housing as short-term rentals

An accessory dwelling unit is a subordinate, detached dwelling unit located on a lot or parcel with an existing residence

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Law enforcement to host women’s self-defense class in January

Within 48 hours of the course being advertised, 120 women had signed up to participate

Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)