Ashlyn O'Hara

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

Study analyzes wildfire impact on peninsula

Data suggest wildfires are going to be a persistent problem for Alaskans in the future.

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)
Potholes are seen on Wildwood Drive on Thursday, April 22 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Wildwood Drive to get a makeover

The drive has been called one of the “poorest rated condition roadways” in Kenai.

Potholes are seen on Wildwood Drive on Thursday, April 22 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Pieces of art are displayed at Cook Inletkeeper’s Community Action Studio on Thursday, April 22 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Cook Inletkeeper launches rotating art gallery

The display formally debuted on Earth Day as one of several activities the organization offered at the studio.

Pieces of art are displayed at Cook Inletkeeper’s Community Action Studio on Thursday, April 22 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna City Council receives a presentation from their auditors on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, via Zoom. (Screenshot)

Seward to stop using Zoom for public meetings

The borough, in contrast, has no plans to phase out Zoom services.

The Soldotna City Council receives a presentation from their auditors on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, via Zoom. (Screenshot)
Billy Adamson (left) and Adam Kiffmeyer scale a communications tower on Thursday, Jan. 7 in Nikiski, Alaska. Homer-based SPITwSPOTS was one of the telecommunications companies awarded CARES money by the Kenai Peninsula Borough as part of an effort to increase public access to the internet. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Cell service to reach Summit Lake area

The assembly allocated between $1.2 and $2 million in CARES Act money to improve public access to the internet through tower site development and infrastructure.

Billy Adamson (left) and Adam Kiffmeyer scale a communications tower on Thursday, Jan. 7 in Nikiski, Alaska. Homer-based SPITwSPOTS was one of the telecommunications companies awarded CARES money by the Kenai Peninsula Borough as part of an effort to increase public access to the internet. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Debbie Brown testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly honors former president Jack E. Brown

Brown represented Nikiski on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly from 1987 to 2001.

Debbie Brown testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Annette Pankoski testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly approves election measures

The assembly OK’d purchasing new voting equipment.

Annette Pankoski testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A rescued dog sits at the Kenai Animal Shelter on Thursday, May 17, 2018. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Over $1,000 in donations made to Kenai Animal Shelter

The money will be used to respond to equipment needs and technology improvements.

A rescued dog sits at the Kenai Animal Shelter on Thursday, May 17, 2018. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai’s finance director opimistic about city’s financial future

“The City of Kenai is doing very well.”

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on April 9 in Nikiski.

Tshibaka reports financial support from peninsula residents

Tshibaka has raised nearly $215,000 for her campaign since the beginning of this year in total receipts.

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on April 9 in Nikiski.
The RavnAir kiosk stands empty at the Kenai Airport on Thursday, April 2, 2020. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Council to mull potential Kenai air carrier

Rambler Air would join Grant Aviation and Ravn Alaska in offering scheduled service between Kenai and Anchorage.

The RavnAir kiosk stands empty at the Kenai Airport on Thursday, April 2, 2020. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks during a debate on a supplemental budget on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Courtesy photo | Brian Hild, House Majority Digital Media Specialist)

Bill prohibiting employers from mandating vaccine introduced

Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, introduced legislation Wednesday.

Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks during a debate on a supplemental budget on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Courtesy photo | Brian Hild, House Majority Digital Media Specialist)
Logo for Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles (doa.alaska.gov)

Seward DMV loses both employees, closes temporarily

The two employees worked within the city and are the only ones trained to operate the DMV.

Logo for Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles (doa.alaska.gov)
A sign directs voters to Soldotna City Hall to cast their ballots, Dec. 17, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

City clerk explains election system

Soldotna City Clerk Shellie Saner spoke during a Wednesday city council work session about how city elections work and emphasized how collaboration between her office… Continue reading

A sign directs voters to Soldotna City Hall to cast their ballots, Dec. 17, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Rhonda Baisden testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on March 1 in Kenai. Baisden has been a vocal critic of school board COVID-19 mitigation policies implemented by the school district. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘You can’t expect people to live in bubbles forever’

Parents organize proms as tensions continue on school mitigation protocols.

Rhonda Baisden testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on March 1 in Kenai. Baisden has been a vocal critic of school board COVID-19 mitigation policies implemented by the school district. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Project Homeless Connect volunteers help Arlene Jasky, center, pick out hats and gloves for a friend during a Project Homeless Connect event at the Sterling Senior Citizens Center in Sterling, Alaska on Feb. 2, 2021. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Fund established to combat peninsula homelessneess

An anonymous donor reached out to the Kenai Peninsula Foundation wanting to formally establish a fund.

Project Homeless Connect volunteers help Arlene Jasky, center, pick out hats and gloves for a friend during a Project Homeless Connect event at the Sterling Senior Citizens Center in Sterling, Alaska on Feb. 2, 2021. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign is posted directing drivers to a vaccine clinic held at Beacon Occupational Health in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, April 10, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to offer walk-in vaccine clinic with state grant funds

The state has about $37.5 million available for the program and is requiring 10% of the funds from each grant to be used to address health equity.

A sign is posted directing drivers to a vaccine clinic held at Beacon Occupational Health in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, April 10, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign indicates the future site of the Kenai Peninsula Peace Crane Garden Trails on Marydale Avenue on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Community seeks to weigh in on peace garden resolution

A resolution encouraging the state to approve a grant application for the project was up for consideration by the council.

A sign indicates the future site of the Kenai Peninsula Peace Crane Garden Trails on Marydale Avenue on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Pamela Parker (center) and Shanon Davis present at a Soldotna Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna chamber looks back at 2020

The chamber also named its people of the year and gave updates on relief spending.

Pamela Parker (center) and Shanon Davis present at a Soldotna Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Tim Dillon, executive director of KPEDD, presents to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPEDD to survey businessed on how to use rescue funds

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Economic Development District is helping the state plan for how to best use funds it receives from the federal government via… Continue reading

Tim Dillon, executive director of KPEDD, presents to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)