Ashlyn O'Hara

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly convenes on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly gravel pit group to meet next week

The group is a subcommittee of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly convenes on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Bing’s Landing boat launch is seen in this undated photo. (Photo via Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation/dnr.alaska.gov)

Bing’s Landing to close for most of April

State crews will make improvements to the boat launch

Bing’s Landing boat launch is seen in this undated photo. (Photo via Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation/dnr.alaska.gov)
An aerial photo of the 102-acre Loon Lake Fire footprint taken at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Kale Casey/Alaska DNR-Division of Forestry)

Burn permits required starting Friday

The wildfire season ends on Aug. 31 — unless extended via an emergency order

An aerial photo of the 102-acre Loon Lake Fire footprint taken at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Kale Casey/Alaska DNR-Division of Forestry)
Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings attends a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Farnsworth-Hutchings was one of two names submitted for the Soldotna seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission after a monthslong standoff between the city and borough mayor over the appointment. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Monthslong commission delay could end next week

Tautfest’s appointment, if approved, would cap a 10-month process to fill the vacancy

Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings attends a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Farnsworth-Hutchings was one of two names submitted for the Soldotna seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission after a monthslong standoff between the city and borough mayor over the appointment. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD student enrollment higher than projected

Historical enrollment numbers were presented to the KPBSD Board of Education

KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna mayor vetoes financial support for Triumvirate production

The council voted to use up to $25,000 to support an outdoor community theater production

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Teressa Minnich, left, speaks to another poll worker at a precinct at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Division of Elections: Now is the time to verify voter registration information

People must be registered to vote by May 12 to vote in the special primary election

Teressa Minnich, left, speaks to another poll worker at a precinct at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna mulls parks and rec changes

Soldotna parks and rec board would get bigger, meet more often under proposal

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Hailey Scott holds her daughter, Ryssa Curtiss, in a rental apartment on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Scott appied to rent the apartment. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Landlord’s market’

Renters battle limited housing inventory

Hailey Scott holds her daughter, Ryssa Curtiss, in a rental apartment on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Scott appied to rent the apartment. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman announces bid for state Senate

Tuckerman Babcock and incumbent Sen. Peter Micciche have also filed to run for the seat

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents information about the borough’s new timber sale and reforestation project at the Donald E. Gilman Kenai River Center on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Penisula Clarion)

Borough takes next steps to combat spruce bark beetle outbreak

Borough land management is crafting legislation to outline a forest management plan, timber sale

Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents information about the borough’s new timber sale and reforestation project at the Donald E. Gilman Kenai River Center on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Penisula Clarion)
Joe Rizzo, Triumvirate Theatre executive director, testifies at the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna offers financial support for summer Triumvirate production

The Soldotna City Council approved the use of some federal relief funds for the summer show

Joe Rizzo, Triumvirate Theatre executive director, testifies at the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council member Justin Ruffridge speaks at the city council meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Ruffridge, who also owns Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and has helped spearhead multiple COVID-19 response efforts on the central Kenai Peninsula, said it was important to acknowledge the repeal of mask recommendations for “celebration’s sake.” (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna fully repeals masking recommendations for city buildings

The city has changed its guidelines multiple times over the course of the pandemic

Soldotna City Council member Justin Ruffridge speaks at the city council meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Ruffridge, who also owns Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and has helped spearhead multiple COVID-19 response efforts on the central Kenai Peninsula, said it was important to acknowledge the repeal of mask recommendations for “celebration’s sake.” (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of “I am Malala” is seen on Saturday, March 19, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Taking back the pen

Malala Yousafzi writes of the struggle for education in Afghanistan

A copy of “I am Malala” is seen on Saturday, March 19, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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 describes ‘path to completion’ for dog park

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander described needed work in a council memo

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)
Traffic moves north along the Sterling Highway shortly after the roadway reopened. A fatal crash closed the highway for several hours Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council voices support for lighting on Kenai Spur, Sterling highways

Additional lighting would be added to Kenai Spur Highway within city limits and along the Sterling Highway Safety Corridor

Traffic moves north along the Sterling Highway shortly after the roadway reopened. A fatal crash closed the highway for several hours Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai speaks at an Anchorage news conference on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, about the upcoming special election to fill the seat in U.S. House of Representatives vacated following the death of Rep. Don Young last week. (Screenshot)

State details timeline to fill vacant US House seat

The state plans to hold the special general election on Aug. 16, concurrently with the regular Alaska primary

Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai speaks at an Anchorage news conference on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, about the upcoming special election to fill the seat in U.S. House of Representatives vacated following the death of Rep. Don Young last week. (Screenshot)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland stand near the entrance to the district’s Soldotna offices on Thursday, March 17, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD lays out its legislative goals

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has multiple bills it would like to see passed

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland stand near the entrance to the district’s Soldotna offices on Thursday, March 17, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signage hangs on the exterior of the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility on Monday, March 21, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Ice rink closures planned for Kenai, Soldotna this summer

Both cities are planning to renovate their respective facilities

Signage hangs on the exterior of the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility on Monday, March 21, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Buildings are perched above eroding bluffs on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. The Kenai Bluff erosion remains the City of Kenai’s top capital priority heading into the upcoming fiscal year. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Bluff erosion top capital priority for Kenai heading into next fiscal year

Kenai City Council members approved the city’s five-year capital improvement plan Wednesday

Buildings are perched above eroding bluffs on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. The Kenai Bluff erosion remains the City of Kenai’s top capital priority heading into the upcoming fiscal year. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)