Ashlyn O'Hara

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska.

City, borough and school board seats up for grabs

The candidate filing period for people interested in running for seats open in the Oct. 5 municipal election closed Monday.

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska.
Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at a Kenai Peninsula Borough meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2018. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Mayor blasts hospital over COVID-19 treatment

Pierce shared anecdotes about what he believed was ineffective emergency room treatment.

Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at a Kenai Peninsula Borough meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2018. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Annaleah Karron leads a session during an in-service at Skyview Middle School on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Teachers build bridges to develop skills

Educators gathered to lay the foundation for a year of inter-school collaboration.

Annaleah Karron leads a session during an in-service at Skyview Middle School on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will offer a districtwide 100% Remote Learning option during the 2021-2022 school year. (Image via the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog)

School district offers updated remote learning options

Students learning 100% remotely will not be allowed to return to in-person learning outside of the transfer dates outlined.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will offer a districtwide 100% Remote Learning option during the 2021-2022 school year. (Image via the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog)
A roadside sign welcomes drivers to Nikiski, Alaska, on Jan. 7, 2019. (Clarion file)

Nikiski soil treatment facility on track for approval

The facility would be located near Mile 27.5 of the Kenai Spur Highway in Nikiski.

A roadside sign welcomes drivers to Nikiski, Alaska, on Jan. 7, 2019. (Clarion file)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Communications Director Pegge Erkeneff (left) and Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland stand in Holland’s office in the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Friday, Aug. 13 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

No mask mandate, but rules abound

Quarantine, vaccination status and testing part of school district’s layered COVID mitigation plan.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Communications Director Pegge Erkeneff (left) and Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland stand in Holland’s office in the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Friday, Aug. 13 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Council member Dave Carey attends a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna reinstates mask requirement in city buildings

The new policy, which was authorized by the Soldotna City Council during the council’s Wednesday night meeting, takes effect on Monday, Aug. 16 and applies to all city facilities.

Council member Dave Carey attends a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Shari Conner, a coalition coordinator for Change 4 the Kenai, adjusts a box of Narcan kits on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 at Freedom House in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Save someone’s life’

Narcan kits assembled at workshop on preventing opioid overdoses.

Shari Conner, a coalition coordinator for Change 4 the Kenai, adjusts a box of Narcan kits on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 at Freedom House in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Borough sales tax revenue higher than anticipated

The borough said it planned conservatively in anticipation of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
A sign at North Kenai Beach warns pedestrians away from the eroding bluffs. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

‘This project is actually going to get done’

Federal infrastructure bill bodes well for bluff erosion

A sign at North Kenai Beach warns pedestrians away from the eroding bluffs. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Bridge Access pedestrian pathway to move forward

The pathway would run 1.2 miles from the intersection of Beaver Loop Road to the Kenai Spur Highway.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy outlines new measures the state will undertake to tackle sexual assault during a press conference streamed live from the Alaska Department of Public Safety Crime Lab in Anchorage on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. (Screenshot)

‘The days of getting away with it are over’

Dunleavy announces new process for tracking sexual assault cases, renewed effort to collect DNA from offenders.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy outlines new measures the state will undertake to tackle sexual assault during a press conference streamed live from the Alaska Department of Public Safety Crime Lab in Anchorage on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. (Screenshot)
Associated Press
President Joe Biden speaks about the bipartisan infrastructure bill from the East Room of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.

$1 trillion infrastructure plan passes Senate

Efforts to advance the legislation were spearheaded by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Associated Press
President Joe Biden speaks about the bipartisan infrastructure bill from the East Room of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
To avoid accidental 911 calls, Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency advises a number a measures, including not putting smartphones in vehicle cup holders. (File)

Emergency management seeks to reduce accidental 911 calls

According to OEM, 98% of accidental 911 calls are the result of smartphone and smart device technology.

To avoid accidental 911 calls, Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency advises a number a measures, including not putting smartphones in vehicle cup holders. (File)
Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at a Kenai Peninsula Borough meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough seeks to change planning commission selection process

Traditionally, cities have advertised for their vacant seat on the commission, with applications forwarded to the city council for review

Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at a Kenai Peninsula Borough meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel cuts a ribbon during a ceremony at Kenai Municipal Airport on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘I think everyone got it right’

Ribbon-cutting at Kenai Municipal Airport caps airport renovations

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel cuts a ribbon during a ceremony at Kenai Municipal Airport on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 in Kenai, 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)
Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby waves to the crowd in Seward during her celebratory parade on Thursday, August 5, 2021. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘So thankful for you all’

Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby returns as Seward’s hometown hero

Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby waves to the crowd in Seward during her celebratory parade on Thursday, August 5, 2021. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Richard Derkevorkian speaks at a borough and district work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly rejects 3-minute time limit for member comments

The ordinance would have limited assembly members’ closing comments to three minutes during assembly meetings.

Richard Derkevorkian speaks at a borough and district work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Parent Nicole Darwin testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. Darwin testified in opposition to universal masking. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Parent Nicole Darwin testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. Darwin testified in opposition to universal masking. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)