Ashlyn O'Hara

Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, confers with other senators and legislative staff moments before gavelling in the start of this year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers open session with education discussion

Early effort to overturn veto of one-time school funding fails in House

Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, confers with other senators and legislative staff moments before gavelling in the start of this year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Bill Elam speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Elam enters Alaska House race

Elam has represented District 5, which includes Sterling and Funny River, on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly since 2020

Bill Elam speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Flowers bloom at Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday, June 24, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna ordinance would streamline child care permitting in more city zones

Day care centers could operate under a more streamlined permitting process in more city zones under an ordinance given initial approval by members of the… Continue reading

Flowers bloom at Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday, June 24, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Skating on Arc Lake. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: New year, new hobby

As the saying goes, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I don’t know if the word “can’t” is the best choice for that… Continue reading

Skating on Arc Lake. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Motion to dismiss filed in sexual abuse case against former SoHi teacher

The attorney representing a former Soldotna High School teacher and union head filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss the case, asserting that the grand jurors… Continue reading

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Jay Hammond's "Diapering The Devil: A Lesson for Oil Rich Nations" is held outside the Peninsula Clarion office on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Unfinished Hammond manuscript is biting origin story of Alaska Permanent Fund

When, in 2020, I considered moving to Alaska, there was no shortage of online forums, Reddit threads and other resources ready to answer everything I… Continue reading

A copy of Jay Hammond's "Diapering The Devil: A Lesson for Oil Rich Nations" is held outside the Peninsula Clarion office on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council fields feedback on postponed drag story hour

Community members moved discourse about a recently postponed drag story hour event from cyberspace to city hall Wednesday night, where the Soldotna City Council convened… Continue reading

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce (left) and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen (right) participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Group studying 4-day school week model takes shape

Members of a newly minted Kenai Peninsula Borough School District group convened for the first time Wednesday in Soldotna to refine their goals and purpose… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce (left) and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen (right) participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (left) addresses constituents during a town hall event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman prefiles bills, says pressure is on for lawmakers this session

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman was well-represented on the list of bills prefiled by state lawmakers ahead of their upcoming session, which kicks off Jan. 16 in… Continue reading

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (left) addresses constituents during a town hall event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes (left) presents preliminary fiscal year 2025 budge information during a school board committee meeting on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Budget deficit continues to steer school board talks

Warnings about the implications and scale of the budget deficit the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is facing for the upcoming fiscal year again dominated… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes (left) presents preliminary fiscal year 2025 budge information during a school board committee meeting on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Graduates throw their caps into the air at the end of Soldotna High School’s commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board mulls grad policy clarifications

High school graduates would only be permitted to participate in the commencement ceremonies of the school they are graduating from under a policy being considered… Continue reading

Graduates throw their caps into the air at the end of Soldotna High School’s commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

New policy clarifies filming, recording in borough facilities

A new Kenai Peninsula Borough policy that explains what is and isn’t allowed in borough buildings when it comes to photography, filming or recording became… Continue reading

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Finance Director David Swarner (left) and City Manager Terry Eubank (right) present city budget goals for Fiscal Year 2025 during a work session with Kenai City Council members on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai starts early budget talks

The City of Kenai on Wednesday kicked off its budget process for the upcoming fiscal year with a work session attended by council members and… Continue reading

Kenai Finance Director David Swarner (left) and City Manager Terry Eubank (right) present city budget goals for Fiscal Year 2025 during a work session with Kenai City Council members on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna Landfill is seen on June 27, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai to assist borough with leachate management

Leachate is the word for liquid that touches trash at a landfill

The Soldotna Landfill is seen on June 27, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
A new sign welcoming people to the City of Soldotna stands near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Kenai River on May 1, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna RV park tenants sue landlords, alleging toxic water supply, fraudulent electricity charges

The suit also makes reference to the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Project

A new sign welcoming people to the City of Soldotna stands near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Kenai River on May 1, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly calls on state to increase K-12 funding

School districts across Alaska lobbied lawmakers heavily last session for a meaningful increase to the base student allocation

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Drag performer Jasper Dragful accepts a crown after speaking about the history of drag during Soldotna Pride in the Park on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Pride postpones drag story hour event, citing safety concerns

The story hour was one of three events scheduled as part of a “Happy New Queer Winter Celebration”

Drag performer Jasper Dragful accepts a crown after speaking about the history of drag during Soldotna Pride in the Park on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Cracks split the siding outside of Soldotna High School on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. The siding is one of several projects in a bond package Kenai Peninsula voters will consider during the Oct. 4 municipal election next month. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Suit alleges fungal growth at 4 KPBSD schools caused health problems

The district has both acknowledged and responded to the complaint, KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland said

Cracks split the siding outside of Soldotna High School on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. The siding is one of several projects in a bond package Kenai Peninsula voters will consider during the Oct. 4 municipal election next month. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Joel Isaak speaks during a Celebration of Life for Dr. Alan Boraas at Kenai Peninsula College on Jan. 17, 2020. Isaak was named deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development on Friday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Local Dena’ina linguist named DEED deputy commissioner

Joel Isaak teaches Dena’ina at Kenai Peninsula College and works as a linguist for the Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Joel Isaak speaks during a Celebration of Life for Dr. Alan Boraas at Kenai Peninsula College on Jan. 17, 2020. Isaak was named deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development on Friday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
A copy of Judy Johnson’s “Alaskan Pioneer Girl” rests in the snow on Sunday, December 24, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Small town girl weaves tales of home

Local memoir is an engaging window into what life on the central peninsula looked like in the second half of the 20th century

A copy of Judy Johnson’s “Alaskan Pioneer Girl” rests in the snow on Sunday, December 24, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)