Brian Mazurek

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen here from Skilak Lake on Aug. 19, 2019. (Photo courtesy Marissa Nunooruk)

Sterling Highway to reopen at noon after weekend of extreme fire growth

The fire is currently 127,709 acres in size and grew about 25,000 acres over the weekend

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen here from Skilak Lake on Aug. 19, 2019. (Photo courtesy Marissa Nunooruk)
A plume of smoke rises from the Swan Lake fire area as vehicles head south on the Sterling Highway on July 18, 2019, near Skilak Lake, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Swan Lake fire flares up, again

The 102,906-acre fire has experienced substantial growth over the last few days.

A plume of smoke rises from the Swan Lake fire area as vehicles head south on the Sterling Highway on July 18, 2019, near Skilak Lake, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A young volunteer chases three piglets named Mary Hamkins, Petunia and Sir Oinks-a-lot through the race Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds during the pig races on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019 in Ninilchik, Alaska. Spectators place bets on their favorite swine to win and the proceeds go to support the fair. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Living the fair life

Residents enjoy weekend of pig races, fish throwing, and livestock auctions in Ninilchik

A young volunteer chases three piglets named Mary Hamkins, Petunia and Sir Oinks-a-lot through the race Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds during the pig races on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019 in Ninilchik, Alaska. Spectators place bets on their favorite swine to win and the proceeds go to support the fair. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Hurricane Dave                                 From left, Meg Anderson, Tom Torvie, Michael Faubion and Hurricane Dave are seen here in this undated photo.

Music to melt your feet

Crabshoot to take the stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair

Hurricane Dave                                 From left, Meg Anderson, Tom Torvie, Michael Faubion and Hurricane Dave are seen here in this undated photo.
14th annual Jr. Classic invites kids to catch salmon on the Kenai

14th annual Jr. Classic invites kids to catch salmon on the Kenai

The event ames to teach kids about all that Alaska has to offer.

14th annual Jr. Classic invites kids to catch salmon on the Kenai
Smoke can be seen on the horizon at sunset on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, from Cooper Landing, Alaska. High temperatures and dry conditions have caused the 102,548-acre Swan Lake Fire burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge east of Sterling and north of the Sterling Highway to flare up. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Dry conditions bolster Swan Lake Fire

Smoke from the fire is visible from the Sterling Highway between Mileposts 65 and 75.

Smoke can be seen on the horizon at sunset on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, from Cooper Landing, Alaska. High temperatures and dry conditions have caused the 102,548-acre Swan Lake Fire burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge east of Sterling and north of the Sterling Highway to flare up. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A construction crew excavates along the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on June 4, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Summer road projects nearing completion

Beaver Loop Road, Sterling Highway undergoing construction.

A construction crew excavates along the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on June 4, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Courtesy photo                                Soldotna Realtor Febra Hensley

Soldotna Realtor Febra Hensley named Realtor of the Year

Hensley has been a realtor for nearly two decades.

Courtesy photo                                Soldotna Realtor Febra Hensley
Court reports for Aug. 14, 2019

Court reports for Aug. 14, 2019

Read the latest reports.

Court reports for Aug. 14, 2019
Public safety briefs for Aug. 14

Public safety briefs for Aug. 14

Read the latest reports.

Public safety briefs for Aug. 14
Stocking up for school

Stocking up for school

Kids learn about health and safety while collecting back-to-school swag.

Stocking up for school
From left, Spc. Gabriel Rodriguez, Staff Sgt. David Wardlow, Spc. Tyler Vretenick and Spc. Ethan Holman show off the day’s haul during the Wounded Warrior’s Fishing Trip in Centennial Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Aug. 9, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek)

Wounded Warriors hit the Kenai River

The 13th annual fishing trip is provided free of charge to active-duty soldiers

From left, Spc. Gabriel Rodriguez, Staff Sgt. David Wardlow, Spc. Tyler Vretenick and Spc. Ethan Holman show off the day’s haul during the Wounded Warrior’s Fishing Trip in Centennial Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Aug. 9, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek)
Left: Jedidiah Erickson, Pepper Erickson and Slate Erickson are seen here in an undated photo. Right: Melissa Salgado is seen here in an undated photo. (Courtesy Department of Public Safety)

Missing Seward children found safe in Cordova with mother

The children were taken from their foster home on Aug. 5

Left: Jedidiah Erickson, Pepper Erickson and Slate Erickson are seen here in an undated photo. Right: Melissa Salgado is seen here in an undated photo. (Courtesy Department of Public Safety)
Kids attempt to travel through a “space portal”, also known as a hula hoop, during the last day of the Kenai Community Library’s summer reading program at the Kenai Park Strip on August 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

A universe of stories

Kids wrap up summer of reading, fun and imagination

Kids attempt to travel through a “space portal”, also known as a hula hoop, during the last day of the Kenai Community Library’s summer reading program at the Kenai Park Strip on August 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
PCHS to promote student health, safety

PCHS to promote student health, safety

Back to school fest gets kids ready for new year

PCHS to promote student health, safety
Division of Forestry issues burn permit suspension on the peninsula
Division of Forestry issues burn permit suspension on the peninsula
From left, Michele Vasquez, Eric Trieder, Fay Herold, Nelma Treider and Karyn Griffin smile for a photo while collecting signatures to recall Governor Mike Dunleavy in Soldotna Creek Park on Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy recall efforts hit the central peninsula

The recall campaign is set to release on Friday morning the number of signatures collected so far.

From left, Michele Vasquez, Eric Trieder, Fay Herold, Nelma Treider and Karyn Griffin smile for a photo while collecting signatures to recall Governor Mike Dunleavy in Soldotna Creek Park on Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion                                Denele McCarthy, of Soldotna, signs the petition Wednesday at Soldotna Creek Park to recall Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Soldotna.

Efforts to recall Knopp about halfway to 1st goal

Peninsula residents have eyes set on removing local Republican representative.

Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion                                Denele McCarthy, of Soldotna, signs the petition Wednesday at Soldotna Creek Park to recall Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Soldotna.
Rosie Skovron, left, and a Salmonfest attendee smile for the camera at one of the waste disposal stations during Salmonfest 2019 in Ninilchik, Alaska on August 2, 2019. Skovron is a volunteer for the Zero Waste project and an intern at Cook Inletkeeper. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish, love and… compost? Ethical consumption at Salmonfest

Cook Inletkeeper volunteers work to eliminate waste at Salmonfest

Rosie Skovron, left, and a Salmonfest attendee smile for the camera at one of the waste disposal stations during Salmonfest 2019 in Ninilchik, Alaska on August 2, 2019. Skovron is a volunteer for the Zero Waste project and an intern at Cook Inletkeeper. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Court reports for August 5, 2019

Court reports for August 5, 2019

Read the latest judgments.

Court reports for August 5, 2019