Ashlyn O'Hara

Staff from the Alaska SeaLife Center help release two harbor seal pups into Cook Inlet on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

SeaLife Center sends off seals at Kenai beach

Harbor seals Tuber and Darth Tater were rescued from Kenai and Nikiski earlier this year

Staff from the Alaska SeaLife Center help release two harbor seal pups into Cook Inlet on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sterling Elementary welcomes students on the first day of school on Tuesday, August 17, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Arrest made in case of vandalism at Sterling Elementary School

A Nikiski man was arrested Tuesday in connection with an incident of vandalism at Sterling Elementary School that occurred in July and resulted in more… Continue reading

Sterling Elementary welcomes students on the first day of school on Tuesday, August 17, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, fields questions from attendees at a legislative presentation at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman reports back from Juneau

The state senator gave a presentation to a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, fields questions from attendees at a legislative presentation at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
From left: Paul Whitney, Chera Wackler, Garrett Dominick and Dan Nelson participate in a Soldotna City Council candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday.

Election 2023: Soldotna candidates talk city’s future at Monday forum

The forum, hosted in partnership with the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters and the Soldotna Public Library, is the first of eight being held ahead of the Oct. 3 municipal election

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
From left: Paul Whitney, Chera Wackler, Garrett Dominick and Dan Nelson participate in a Soldotna City Council candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday.
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)

KPBSD to use grant funds for elementary counselor positions

The district budgeted about $626,000 for elementary school counselors for the current fiscal year

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 George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Forum flyer by Ashlyn O'Hara.

Election 2023: 1st Clarion, KDLL candidate forum is Monday

Three city council candidates and one mayor candidate will share their thoughts about issues facing Soldotna

Forum flyer by Ashlyn O'Hara.
Sample ballots are displayed ahead of the Oct. 4 municipal election at an absentee in-person polling place in Kenai City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sample ballots are displayed ahead of the Oct. 4 municipal election at an absentee in-person polling place in Kenai City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State Board of Education bars trans girls from girls high school sports teams

Schools or school districts must create separate athletic categories for cisgender girls and other student athletes

A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Image via Amazon

Off the Shelf: ‘The bard of the Yukon’ lures with ghostly song

Jaunty tales and folksy rhymes bring the far north to life in Robert Service’s poetry

Image via Amazon
A sign welcomes visitors to AlaSkins and the River Terrace RV Park on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes visitors to AlaSkins and the River Terrace RV Park on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs S.B. 7 into law at Papoose Milling on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, in Big Lake, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Office)

Dunleavy signs lumber bill

Sponsored by Nikiski Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, the bill establishes a lumber grade training program

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs S.B. 7 into law at Papoose Milling on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, in Big Lake, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Office)
A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State board of ed to take up transgender sports issue Thursday

The board will consider whether or not to separate cisgender girls, other student athletes

A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Crews respond to a flood event at the Lowell Creek Tunnel outflow. (Photo courtesy Seward Public Works Director Doug Schoessler)

Seward considers legislative priority list

Many of the projects are carried over from last year’s list

Crews respond to a flood event at the Lowell Creek Tunnel outflow. (Photo courtesy Seward Public Works Director Doug Schoessler)
Soldotna Police Officer David Bower, right, sits with his lawyer, Andy Pevehouse, during a bail hearing at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Aug. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna police reviewing policies after officer’s arrest

The officer was arrested on a fourth-degree domestic violence assault charge

Soldotna Police Officer David Bower, right, sits with his lawyer, Andy Pevehouse, during a bail hearing at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Aug. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
2023 Candidate forum flyer. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Election 2023: Clarion, KDLL to hold in-person candidate forum series

The forums will be held Mondays and Thursdays in September

2023 Candidate forum flyer. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
After buying produce, patrons could bring their vegetables to the Fermentation Station to learn how to preserve the harvest at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival, on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Young readers program, local farmer’s market named Soldotna mini grant recipients

Applicants were given the opportunity to present to city council members during Wednesday’s special meeting

After buying produce, patrons could bring their vegetables to the Fermentation Station to learn how to preserve the harvest at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival, on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A vision plan prepared by McKinley Research Group shows potential uses of waterfront space identified as a priority for revitalization. (Plan via City of Kenai)

Kenai to hire temporary planner to assist with waterfront revitalization

The city during the summer of 2021 began brainstorming ways to revitalize the City of Kenai’s waterfront

A vision plan prepared by McKinley Research Group shows potential uses of waterfront space identified as a priority for revitalization. (Plan via City of Kenai)
Dave Yragui, left, and Peter Micciche, right, talk about flood problems along Kalifornsky Beach Road during a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

K-Beach residents, officials mull flood solutions at meeting

Residents brainstormed solutions to the high water levels that have been damaging their property

Dave Yragui, left, and Peter Micciche, right, talk about flood problems along Kalifornsky Beach Road during a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
From left: Kendall Kenai Peninsula Service Manager Joshua Lee and Project Manager Vincent English stand near service bays in Kendall’s new service facility and dealership on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

New dealership sets up shop in Soldotna

The soon-to-be completed project will be the home of a Kendall Auto Alaska dealership and service center

From left: Kendall Kenai Peninsula Service Manager Joshua Lee and Project Manager Vincent English stand near service bays in Kendall’s new service facility and dealership on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)