Ben Boettger

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Proposed Wildlife Refuge rule creates debate

A proposed wildlife management rule puts the federal Fish and Wildlife Service’s ecosystem conservation priorities in conflict with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula average rents second lowest in Alaska

It’s the start of a new month — have you paid your rent yet? For Kenai Peninsula Borough renters studied in an annual state report… Continue reading

Spur closure to resume; North Spruce Street paved

Kenai’s North Spruce Street — formerly gravel — has been paved for a reduced price because of its use as a detour during ongoing work… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Centrol Emergency Services personnel inspect a Chevrolet HHR that collided with a GMC Yukon on Kalifornsky Beach Road near Diamond M Ranch resort on Saturday, July 30 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. The drivers of the HHR and the Yukon were both killed and a female passenger in the Yukon was transported to Central Peninsula Hospital with injuries. Alaska Troopers on scene did not release the victims' names because their families hadn't yet been notified.

Two die in K-Beach collision

  Update 7 p.m.: Alaska State Troopers have released the names of two men who died this afternoon in a head-on collision on Kalifornsky Beach… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Centrol Emergency Services personnel inspect a Chevrolet HHR that collided with a GMC Yukon on Kalifornsky Beach Road near Diamond M Ranch resort on Saturday, July 30 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. The drivers of the HHR and the Yukon were both killed and a female passenger in the Yukon was transported to Central Peninsula Hospital with injuries. Alaska Troopers on scene did not release the victims' names because their families hadn't yet been notified.

Kenai purchases land for South Beach access road

Editor's note: The house in an image that previously appeared with this story was mistakenly identified as the house Kenai acquired with its land purchase.… Continue reading

Independent U.S Senate Candidate Margaret Stock poses for a campaign portrait in February 2016.

U.S Senate candidate Margaret Stock running as independent

Independent U.S. Senate candidate Margaret Stock — one of 13 candidates challenging Lisa Murkowski in this year’s Senate race — spent last Sunday at her… Continue reading

Independent U.S Senate Candidate Margaret Stock poses for a campaign portrait in February 2016.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Cathy Cline, a project technician with the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, displays an otolith she extracted from a hatchery-raised chinook to children dissecting fish at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge's "Get Out and Get Dirty" daycamp on Thursday, July 28 at the Kenai National Wildlife headquarters in Soldotna. An otolith is a fish's earbone, which grows in layers of varying thickness dependent on the fish's water temperature. Hatcheries vary water temperature to produce an otolithic "signature" identifying the fish's origin. Cline, who describes herself as CIAA's "otolith reader" said she microscopically examines around 10,000 otoliths per year - sampled from fish delivered to processors - to learn about the fish's environment and the sucesses of various hatcheries.

Fish guts

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Cathy Cline, a project technician with the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, displays an otolith she extracted from a hatchery-raised king salmon to… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Cathy Cline, a project technician with the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, displays an otolith she extracted from a hatchery-raised chinook to children dissecting fish at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge's "Get Out and Get Dirty" daycamp on Thursday, July 28 at the Kenai National Wildlife headquarters in Soldotna. An otolith is a fish's earbone, which grows in layers of varying thickness dependent on the fish's water temperature. Hatcheries vary water temperature to produce an otolithic "signature" identifying the fish's origin. Cline, who describes herself as CIAA's "otolith reader" said she microscopically examines around 10,000 otoliths per year - sampled from fish delivered to processors - to learn about the fish's environment and the sucesses of various hatcheries.

Kenai senior and low-income housing projects move forward

The Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiative’s plans to bring low-income and senior housing to Kenai are rolling forward with a low-income housing tentatively titled Clear Pointe… Continue reading

Kenai council discusses land sales; delays comprehensive plan introduction

On its Wednesday meeting agenda the Kenai City Council had one ordinance, one resolution and three closed-door executive sessions regarding deals for the city to… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion RAW Welding employee Laron Hagan burns the paint off a steel buoy while owner Donnelle Scott sketches a "Nightmare Before Christmas"-inspired landscape at the RAW Welding workshop on Monday, July 18 outside Soldotna. The company will be plasma-cutting images into the buoy on Thursday at the Artzy Junkin craft market in Soldotna.

RAW Welders cut metal artistically

Work is by definition practical, while art isn’t necessarily so. A local welding company has found a way to make the two coexist while embellishing… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion RAW Welding employee Laron Hagan burns the paint off a steel buoy while owner Donnelle Scott sketches a "Nightmare Before Christmas"-inspired landscape at the RAW Welding workshop on Monday, July 18 outside Soldotna. The company will be plasma-cutting images into the buoy on Thursday at the Artzy Junkin craft market in Soldotna.

Alaska Veterans Administration takes medical appointing duty from contractor TriWest

Officials from the Alaska Veterans Administration (VA) said their agency is taking over services previously performed by contractor TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Local veterans who attended… Continue reading

Eagle to be released

Eagle to be released

Eagles are a common sight on the central Kenai Peninsula, but those wishing for a closer encounter with this majestic bird will have an opportunity… Continue reading

Eagle to be released

Kenai Peninsula Borough planning commission membership could be reduced

A Kenai Peninsula Borough ordinance introduced by assembly member Brent Johnson would reduce the number of Borough Planning Commission members from the present 13 to… Continue reading

Acuren fined $7000 for Kenai office violations

An oilfield support services company whose Kenai office was cited in 2014 for radiation safety violations has been issued a $7,000 fine by the federal… Continue reading

A chart provided by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services shows the users of state-funded (AKHAP) and federally-funded (LIHEAP) heating assistance broken down by census areas.

Heating assistance cut from state budget

One casualty of this year’s state budget cuts is an aid program that assists low-income households with their winter heating bills. The Alaska Department of… Continue reading

A chart provided by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services shows the users of state-funded (AKHAP) and federally-funded (LIHEAP) heating assistance broken down by census areas.

Bear injures hiker on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

A woman hiking alone Sunday on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge’s Lower Kenai River trail was bitten on the upper leg by a brown bear.… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion A recently-installed "no drones" sign warns hobby drone owners not to fly at the Fourth Street Park on Friday, July 1 in Kenai. Kenai administrators have posted the signs in city parks near the airport to discourage drone pilots from flying where they may endanger incoming planes.

Kenai airport takes caution against drones

Three public areas near the Kenai Municipal airport have received new signage dealing with a new problem: remote-controlled hobby drones that city and airport officials… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion A recently-installed "no drones" sign warns hobby drone owners not to fly at the Fourth Street Park on Friday, July 1 in Kenai. Kenai administrators have posted the signs in city parks near the airport to discourage drone pilots from flying where they may endanger incoming planes.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Scaffolding surrounds the fascade of Kenai Middle School during its summer-long asbestos removal treatment on Thursday, June 30 in Kenai. Asbestos fire-proofing material is being taken from its roof beams and disposed of in the Kenai Peninsula Borough landfill.

Kenai middle school getting new roof, losing asbestos

When students and teachers abandoned Kenai Middle School for the summer, construction crews moved in. Asbestos fire retardant is being removed from the school roof’s… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Scaffolding surrounds the fascade of Kenai Middle School during its summer-long asbestos removal treatment on Thursday, June 30 in Kenai. Asbestos fire-proofing material is being taken from its roof beams and disposed of in the Kenai Peninsula Borough landfill.

Kenai girl missing; reported as runaway

A Kenai girl, Ayla Smith, is missing from the home of her mother Megan Ehret since Friday morning. Ehret reported her a runaway to the… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Using a crane from Peak Oilfield Services, volunteers for the Kenai Historical Society help place a wooden fishing boat, built in 1929, on struts in front of the Kenai Visitors Center on Wed. June 19, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska. The boat, donated by Dave and Linda Hutchings, will be kept there as a historical exhibit.

Old boat finds new berth at Kenai Visitors Center

After almost 90 years in the current, an old fishing boat has come to rest in front of the Kenai Visitor Center. The wooden boat,… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Using a crane from Peak Oilfield Services, volunteers for the Kenai Historical Society help place a wooden fishing boat, built in 1929, on struts in front of the Kenai Visitors Center on Wed. June 19, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska. The boat, donated by Dave and Linda Hutchings, will be kept there as a historical exhibit.