Erin Thompson

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Behind-the-wheel trainer Donny Bergonzini sits in a truck at the Alaska Driving Academy in Sterling on Thursday. Bergonzini, who has 19 years experience in the oil industry, provides commercial driver’s license training at the recently opened academy. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Driving to succeed: New CDL training schools open career options

For those looking to get into one of Alaska’s heavy industries — from oil and gas to construction to trucking — a commercial driver’s license… Continue reading

Behind-the-wheel trainer Donny Bergonzini sits in a truck at the Alaska Driving Academy in Sterling on Thursday. Bergonzini, who has 19 years experience in the oil industry, provides commercial driver’s license training at the recently opened academy. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Police Lt. Ben Langham demonstrates how police prepare evidence for storage on Thursday at Kenai Police Department headquarters on Thursday. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

No room at the precinct: Police face shortage of evidence space

Kenai police are facing a storage crunch. The amount of evidence collected for criminal cases has been building up for decades, posing a logistical challenge… Continue reading

Kenai Police Lt. Ben Langham demonstrates how police prepare evidence for storage on Thursday at Kenai Police Department headquarters on Thursday. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Man faces 40 criminal charges for string of thefts

By ERIN THOMPSON Peninsula Clarion A Soldotna man is facing 40 criminal charges and an arrest warrant for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in personal… Continue reading

Kyle Downum hands his son a graham cracker sandwich at the Kenai Community Library on Monday. The family took a break from the library’s many activists to enjoy a free afternoon lunch. The Kenai and Soldotna libraries are offering free lunches to children 18 and under as part of its Summer Food Program. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Kids eat free at summer meal programs

The Kenai Community Library is expanding its summer meals program, with free lunches available to children twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays. The library launched… Continue reading

Kyle Downum hands his son a graham cracker sandwich at the Kenai Community Library on Monday. The family took a break from the library’s many activists to enjoy a free afternoon lunch. The Kenai and Soldotna libraries are offering free lunches to children 18 and under as part of its Summer Food Program. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Man allegedly smashes fellow driver’s window; drives into ditch

A Soldotna man is facing charges after allegedly smashing the window of a fellow driver’s car in a road rage incident. Shawn A. Michlitsch, 20,… Continue reading

Father, son arrested after alleged drunken confrontation, trooper chase

A father and son are facing charges after allegedly trying to start a fight and evading an Alaska State Trooper pursuit Saturday night. William J.… Continue reading

Speeding bikers lead troopers on chase

Two motorcyclists led Alaska State Troopers on a 130-mile-an-hour chase south of Turnagain Pass on Saturday. Troopers spotted the bikers about 5 p.m. near Mile… Continue reading

Court denies appeal by Soldotna man who hit joggers with car

A Soldotna man convicted in 2013 for hitting two joggers with his car has lost an appeal to suppress evidence presented during trial. In a… Continue reading

Criminal justice reform comes home: New pretrial enforcement office opens in Kenai

A new system for assessing and monitoring criminal defendants before they go to trial is opening an office in Kenai. The Pretrial Enforcement Division of… Continue reading

Keeping an eye on sea lions: SeaLife Center crowdfunds for research funding

Keeping an eye on sea lions: SeaLife Center crowdfunds for research funding

The video equipment used to monitor sea lions at a rookery just south of Resurrection Bay is at the end of its life, and researchers… Continue reading

Keeping an eye on sea lions: SeaLife Center crowdfunds for research funding
Police get a new ride

Police get a new ride

The Kenai Police Department has added two bicycles to its patrol fleet ahead of the tourist season. The department invested $3,000 in the bikes, which… Continue reading

Police get a new ride

Swimming the Russian River

I went to the Russian River last week. I had this urge to be in water. Not the mucky brown water of the inlet, which… Continue reading

Anchor Point man allegedly smashes car while driving drunk; doesn’t stop

An Anchor Point man accused of drunkenly smashing his truck into two guardrails and almost causing a head-on collision has been charged with assault. Hugh… Continue reading

Sohi graduates take the next step

Sohi graduates take the next step

After a ceremony filled with song, speeches and the cheers of friends and family, 172 Soldotna High School graduates received diplomas Tuesday night. The ceremony… Continue reading

Sohi graduates take the next step
Onward and upward: Kenai Central students pursue new paths

Onward and upward: Kenai Central students pursue new paths

Their aspirations are diverse, and their paths may soon diverge, but Kenai Central High Schools graduates had one last opportunity to share a moment together… Continue reading

Onward and upward: Kenai Central students pursue new paths

Brothers accused of assaulting, threatening woman

Two brothers face assault charges after allegedly hitting and threatening a Kenai woman during an argument over the weekend. Bryan E. Bakk, 28, and Cody… Continue reading

Alleged car thief arrested in Fred Meyer bathroom

A man accused of stealing a truck from an Anchorage hotel parking lot was arrested in the bathroom of the Soldotna Fred Meyer last week.… Continue reading

Dogs trot around the 3 Friends Dog Park on Monday, May 21, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

A woof over their heads

A dog enjoys an off-leash romp at the 3 Friends Dog Park in Soldotna on Monday, May 21. The City of Soldotna recently installed a… Continue reading

Dogs trot around the 3 Friends Dog Park on Monday, May 21, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
University of Alaska Anchorage student Julie Polasik peers over the Kenai flats through a birding scope during the 24-Hour Midnight Sun Big Sit on Saturday, May 19. Dozens of volunteer bird watchers turned out to the Kenai Wildlife Viewing Platform for the sit, which aimed to tally the dozens of species of birds coming and going from the estuary. Data gathered by bird watchers will be posted to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird website, which collects data on bird species around the world. Organized by the Keen Eye Bird Club, the event was part of the Kenai Birding Festival, which took place over the weekend and offered guided hikes, float trips, trail walks, workshops and educational talks. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

A Keen Eye for detail: Birders turn out to take annual tally

By Erin Thompson Peninsula Clarion… Continue reading

University of Alaska Anchorage student Julie Polasik peers over the Kenai flats through a birding scope during the 24-Hour Midnight Sun Big Sit on Saturday, May 19. Dozens of volunteer bird watchers turned out to the Kenai Wildlife Viewing Platform for the sit, which aimed to tally the dozens of species of birds coming and going from the estuary. Data gathered by bird watchers will be posted to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird website, which collects data on bird species around the world. Organized by the Keen Eye Bird Club, the event was part of the Kenai Birding Festival, which took place over the weekend and offered guided hikes, float trips, trail walks, workshops and educational talks. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Jessica Hendrickson, chief animal control officer at the Kenai Animal Shelter, tosses a ball to Cherokee, one of the shelter’s adoptable dogs on Thursday, May 17. President of the Alaska Animal Control Association, Hendrickson helped organize a training conference sponsored by the nonprofit, which has been inactive for at least seven years. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

An old org learns new tricks: Animal control nonprofit up and running after of dormancy

A long-dormant Alaska nonprofit came back to life last week with a two-day conference attended by animal control professionals from across the state. Hosted at… Continue reading

Jessica Hendrickson, chief animal control officer at the Kenai Animal Shelter, tosses a ball to Cherokee, one of the shelter’s adoptable dogs on Thursday, May 17. President of the Alaska Animal Control Association, Hendrickson helped organize a training conference sponsored by the nonprofit, which has been inactive for at least seven years. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)