Ashlyn O'Hara

Alaska Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna (Courtesy photo)

Micciche ‘optimistic’ lawmakers can steady state’s financial future

Heading into the session, Micciche said his primary focus will be on passing a fiscal plan for the state

Alaska Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna (Courtesy photo)
Leslie Rohr, executive director of Love INC, (left) and Kathy Gensel, president of Bridges Community Resource Network, Inc., field questions from reporters during a tour of the recently opened cold weather shelter in Nikiski, on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, in Nikiski, Alaska.

Half of beds at Nikiski shelter are occupied

The shelter opened at the end of December 2021

Leslie Rohr, executive director of Love INC, (left) and Kathy Gensel, president of Bridges Community Resource Network, Inc., field questions from reporters during a tour of the recently opened cold weather shelter in Nikiski, on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, in Nikiski, Alaska.
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

HEA sues Sterling man over power theft

Suit alleges more than $325,000 worth of power stolen from the cooperative since 2014.

The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander (left) and Kenai Finance Director Terry Eubank (right) moderate a city council work session discussing budget goals at Kenai City Hall on Monday, Jan. 10, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai developing budget goals

Officials aim to provide more transparency in the budget process

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander (left) and Kenai Finance Director Terry Eubank (right) moderate a city council work session discussing budget goals at Kenai City Hall on Monday, Jan. 10, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board works to highlight students’ voices

Within the first hour of the meeting students would have up to five minutes each to address the board about any issue

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lawmakers will return next week to the Alaska State Capitol building, seen here on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, for the next session of the Alaska State Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Local lawmakers prefile bills as session looms

COVID-19 health mandates, annexation and alcohol code reform on lawmakers’ agenda

Lawmakers will return next week to the Alaska State Capitol building, seen here on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, for the next session of the Alaska State Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Association of Realtors President Dale Bagely presents a regional real estate update during the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s 2022 Industry Outlook Forum on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Forum brings industry leaders to Kenai

The annual event is hosted by the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District

Alaska Association of Realtors President Dale Bagely presents a regional real estate update during the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s 2022 Industry Outlook Forum on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Fencing marks the boundaries of a planned dog park near Daubenspeck Park on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dog park funding approved after debate

Opponents expressed concerns about lack of defined plans for the project

Fencing marks the boundaries of a planned dog park near Daubenspeck Park on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Eroding bluffs can be seen on Kenai North Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on June 3, 2021. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai council thanks Dunleavy for proposed bluff funds

Gov. Mike Dunleavy including funding for Kenai bluff erosion in his proposed budget

Eroding bluffs can be seen on Kenai North Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on June 3, 2021. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A holds locker is seen at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council approves library grants

Some funds will go toward buying a holds locker that allows material pickup when the library is closed

A holds locker is seen at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The moon sits above Mount Redoubt on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of Office: Chasing sunshine

The winter solstice fell on a beautiful Tuesday last month. I woke up to flickers of sunshine peeking through the gaps in the curtains and… Continue reading

The moon sits above Mount Redoubt on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
State Sen. Peter Micciche fields questions from constituents during a joint chamber luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Micciche briefs community ahead of session

Micciche seeks path forward on budget, looks to pass legislation on fishing permits, alcohol regulations

State Sen. Peter Micciche fields questions from constituents during a joint chamber luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Chairs at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly chambers are decorated with paper cutouts on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building in Soldotna, Alaska. The cutouts were intended to represent Central Peninsula Hospital patients who died of COVID-19. During public testimony given Tuesday, several members of the public expressed the desire for alternative treatments for COVID-19 and protested CPH’s treatment methods. (Photo courtesy Katherine Uei)

Assembly approves state health grant

The money was made available under a grant program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairs at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly chambers are decorated with paper cutouts on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building in Soldotna, Alaska. The cutouts were intended to represent Central Peninsula Hospital patients who died of COVID-19. During public testimony given Tuesday, several members of the public expressed the desire for alternative treatments for COVID-19 and protested CPH’s treatment methods. (Photo courtesy Katherine Uei)
A copy of “The Year of Magical Thinking” by author Joan Didion is displayed on an e-reader. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Didion’s “Year of Magical Thinking” is a timely study on grief

‘The last week of 2021 felt like a good time to pick up one of her books.’

A copy of “The Year of Magical Thinking” by author Joan Didion is displayed on an e-reader. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Image via labor.alaska.gov

Uncertainty clouds future of state’s economy; modest job growth expected

That’s according to the January edition of “Alaska Economic Trends”

Image via labor.alaska.gov
Cars drive along the Kenai Spur Highway near Eagle Rock Drive on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2021 near Kenai, Alaska. The highway will be widened under a state transportation project. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

2nd phase of project to widen Kenai Spur to start this summer

The first phase of the project widened the highway between Swires Road and Eagle Rock Drive

Cars drive along the Kenai Spur Highway near Eagle Rock Drive on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2021 near Kenai, Alaska. The highway will be widened under a state transportation project. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Internet cables (Peninsula Clarion file)

ACS outage restored after phones, internet go down

The company isolated a fiber issue between Kenai and Soldotna

Internet cables (Peninsula Clarion file)
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation building in October 2020. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire file)

PFD filing period opens

The 2022 PFD application period opened Jan. 1 and will close on March 31.

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation building in October 2020. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire file)
A DHSS graphic shows most regions of Alaska to be at high alert level as of Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. (Screenshot)

2022 kicks off with a rush of COVID cases

More than 2,800 cases reported over last five days

A DHSS graphic shows most regions of Alaska to be at high alert level as of Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. (Screenshot)
A Ravn Airlines plane arrives in Anchorage to transport passengers to Kenai after more than two hours of delay on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. Windy conditions delayed flights to and from the peninsula over the weekend. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)”

Severe winds hammer Southcentral

The winds caused flight cancellations, power outages and local road closures

A Ravn Airlines plane arrives in Anchorage to transport passengers to Kenai after more than two hours of delay on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. Windy conditions delayed flights to and from the peninsula over the weekend. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)”