Ashlyn O'Hara

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, gave her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday at the Capitol in Juneau. Murkowski’s speech emphasized bipartisanship and making Alaska ready for the opportunities brought by the recent infrastructure package.

Murkowski highlights infrastructure during speech to Legislature

Infrastructure and resource development were among the issues discussed by Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski during an address to the Alaska Legislature during a joint… Continue reading

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, gave her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday at the Capitol in Juneau. Murkowski’s speech emphasized bipartisanship and making Alaska ready for the opportunities brought by the recent infrastructure package.
Kenai Public Health Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Love Inc. Director Leslie Rohr a COVID-19 booster shot during the Project Homeless Connect event in Soldotna on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Project Homeless Connect participation down from last year

Organizers site the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

Kenai Public Health Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Love Inc. Director Leslie Rohr a COVID-19 booster shot during the Project Homeless Connect event in Soldotna on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska's 511 app shows travel on central peninsula roads to be "difficult" as of 6:50 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (Screenshot)

More snow forecast for peninsula

A winter weather advisory was issued through Tuesday morning

Alaska's 511 app shows travel on central peninsula roads to be "difficult" as of 6:50 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (Screenshot)
Colleen Mondor speaks about the history of missing aircraft in Alaska during a lecture presented by the Cook Inlet Historical Society on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Colleen Mondor speaks about the history of missing aircraft in Alaska during a lecture presented by the Cook Inlet Historical Society on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
A line gathers at the entrance to Frozen RiverFest on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Frozen RiverFest returns

Saturday night found groups of Alaskans huddled around bonfires and sipping beer in Soldotna Creek Park, where the annual Frozen RiverFest —a beer tasting event… Continue reading

A line gathers at the entrance to Frozen RiverFest on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly convenves on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly approves $30,000 cybersecurity contract following incident

The borough’s IT director said no public data was compromised

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly convenves on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
State Rep. Ron Gillham speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 6. at Kenai Municipal Airport.

Gillham targets school reform in Juneau

Gillham said Friday that his bills are aimed at expanding parent choice in education

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
State Rep. Ron Gillham speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 6. at Kenai Municipal Airport.
Alaska road maintenance crews conduct avalanche clearing work along the Seward Highway on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 near Girdwood, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Wintry weather causes avalanches around Southcentral

At least two avalanches, as well as excessive snow, caused road closures Friday

Alaska road maintenance crews conduct avalanche clearing work along the Seward Highway on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 near Girdwood, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference on Thursday in Juneau. (Photo courtesy Kevin Goodman, Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy reiterates budget priorities from Juneau

The governor has emphasized public safety, the PFD and education

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference on Thursday in Juneau. (Photo courtesy Kevin Goodman, Office of the Governor)
Kenai City Council member Deborah Sounart deliberates at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council member Deborah Sounart deliberates at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly member Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Split assembly voices opposition to proposed statewide sales tax

The resolution approved Tuesday opposes the implementation of a statewide sales tax in Alaska

Assembly member Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Freezing rain creates icy conditions on Wednesday, Feb. 16. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Icy conditions prompt closures across central, southern peninsula

The conditions follow several days of adverse conditions

Freezing rain creates icy conditions on Wednesday, Feb. 16. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents the borough’s new timber harvesting program to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough proposes timber sale, forest plans as part of spruce bark beetle mitigation

The program was presented to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly Tuesday

Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents the borough’s new timber harvesting program to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Fiona and Jane is held on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: “Fiona and Jane” a moving tale of female friendships and the Asian American experience

Off the Shelf is a bimonthly literature column written by the staff of The Peninsula Clarion.

A copy of Fiona and Jane is held on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce attends the March 2, 2021, borough assembly meeting at the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers at the Borough Administration Building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

First meeting of assembly gravel pit group postponed

The group was created to review the borough’s material site permitting codes

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce attends the March 2, 2021, borough assembly meeting at the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers at the Borough Administration Building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by 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)

School district budget forums offered this week

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is inviting community members to give input on the district’s fiscal year 2023 budget process through four budget forums… Continue reading

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)
Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

City of Seward says commission was not authorized to solicit public funds for project

The project would create a walking tour of historic properties in Seward

Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ryanna Thurman uses a holds locker at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Computers, Wi-Fi available for checkout at Soldotna library

The technology was made available through federal grant funds

Ryanna Thurman uses a holds locker at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow and debris from an avalanche can be seen near Mile 45 on the Seward Highway on Monday, March 29, 2021. An avalanche shut down traffic on both sides Monday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Goldie Shealy)

More snow, traffic delays expected for Southcentral

Motorists traveling on some sections of the Seward Highway should expect intermittent traffic delays of up to 45 minutes Wednesday, as state maintenance crews conduct… Continue reading

Snow and debris from an avalanche can be seen near Mile 45 on the Seward Highway on Monday, March 29, 2021. An avalanche shut down traffic on both sides Monday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Goldie Shealy)