Ashlyn O'Hara

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)

Forums offer guidance on district budget process

A 30-minute presentation at SoHi served as an all-in-one guide on how the school district’s budget is crafted.

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)
Barbara Lake is stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (adfg.alaska.gov)

New access to Barbara Lake

The lake is about 30 miles north of Kenai.

Barbara Lake is stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (adfg.alaska.gov)
Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai dog park construction delayed

Efforts to create a dog park, which will be located at Daubenspeck Family Park in Kenai, have been underway for years.

Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to discuss land management plan Monday

The City of Kenai owns 369 subdivided parcels.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Erosion due to a failing stormwater pipe can be seen near Bryson Avenue in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo courtesy City of Kenai)

Bluff erosion project near Bryson Avenue nears completion

A pipe was leaking water through rusty connections.

Erosion due to a failing stormwater pipe can be seen near Bryson Avenue in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo courtesy City of Kenai)
Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Unofficial results show low turnout in cities, incumbent losses

All results are unofficial and do not include absentee, questioned and absentee ballots.

Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

School board OKs COVID sick leave for district staff

The agreement cited “continued uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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)

Live municipal election results

The Clarion is tracking municipal election results live. This page will be updated periodically throughout the evening. Blank charts reflect races for which data has… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Assistant Superintendent Kari Dendurent (front left) and Superintendent Clayton Holland (back right) listen as Board of Education President Zen Kelly (back left) speaks at a board meeting on Monday in Soldotna. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Superintendent seeks board input on revisions to district’s COVID protocols

Multiple parents and board members voiced their concerns about the district’s close contact policy.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Assistant Superintendent Kari Dendurent (front left) and Superintendent Clayton Holland (back right) listen as Board of Education President Zen Kelly (back left) speaks at a board meeting on Monday in Soldotna. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs show support for Soldotna City Council candidates at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Kenai Spur Highway on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tuesday’s the day to vote

What you need to know to cast a ballot

Signs show support for Soldotna City Council candidates at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Kenai Spur Highway on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Cindy Ecklund is running for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s east peninsula seat. (courtesy photo)
Cindy Ecklund is running for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s east peninsula seat. (courtesy photo)
Soldotna High School is photographed on Sept. 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

SoHi, Skyview go to universal indoor masking Monday

As of Friday, nine KPBSD schools — not including schools in “small communities” — were operating, or were going to start operating Monday, with universal indoor masking for staff and students

Soldotna High School is photographed on Sept. 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenn Carpenter is running for reelection to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s east peninsula seat. (Courtesy photo)
Kenn Carpenter is running for reelection to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s east peninsula seat. (Courtesy photo)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski attends a joint Soldotna and Kenai Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Murkowski campaign updates paperwork to continue to allow fundraising

Murkowski has not yet stated whether or not she intends to run for reelection in 2022.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski attends a joint Soldotna and Kenai Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly President Brent Hibbert is running unopposed for the Kalifornsky seat, which he has held since 2017. (Photo via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly President Brent Hibbert is running unopposed for the Kalifornsky seat, which he has held since 2017. (Photo via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Version 3 of the Alaska Redistricting Board’s proposal for the Kenai Peninsula keeps intact most of District 31, now called District 6, but puts the Fritz Creek and Fox River areas into a new District 5 that includes the southern shore of Kachemak Bay and Kodiak Island. (Photo courtesy of Alaska Redistricting Board)

Board seeking input on maps redrawing state, peninsula legislative districts

The Alaska State Redistricting Board will collect public input on six maps.

Version 3 of the Alaska Redistricting Board’s proposal for the Kenai Peninsula keeps intact most of District 31, now called District 6, but puts the Fritz Creek and Fox River areas into a new District 5 that includes the southern shore of Kachemak Bay and Kodiak Island. (Photo courtesy of Alaska Redistricting Board)
KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Building opportunity from the ground up

Development district works with local operations to hone goals, find funding.

KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Community members participate in a walk-in at Seward Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 27 in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Erfurth)

Seward walk-in supports COVID mitigation strategies

In a post shared to the KPEA Facebook page Monday, the group reiterated the shortcomings of the district’s current mitigation plan.

Community members participate in a walk-in at Seward Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 27 in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Erfurth)
Tables and chairs are set up outside of Everything Bagels on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn OՈara/Peninsula Clarion)

Outdoor dining expands in Soldotna

Opportunities to dine outdoors in Soldotna just became a lot more plentiful. That’s thanks to a program offered by the City of Soldotna that offered… Continue reading

Tables and chairs are set up outside of Everything Bagels on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn OՈara/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Students struggle to hit 50% proficiency locally, statewide

Yearly standardized testing results for Alaska’s third through ninth grade students show higher overall proficiency rates in math and English among local students than statewide… Continue reading

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)