Jacob Dye

Diane Peterson, Casady Herding and Jen Brighton stand with signs sharing Martin Luther King Jr. quotes are calling to “Resist” along the side of the Kenai Spur Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Trump inauguration marked by small Soldotna protest

The group stood alongside the Kenai Spur Highway across the parking lot from conservative social club and coffee shop Ammo-Can Coffee.

 

Kenaitze Tribal Council member Mary Ann Mills, Secretary Ronette Stanton and Chair Bernadine Atchison participate in a joint work session of the Kenai City Council and Kenaitze Tribal Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai, Kenatize hold joint work session and share updates

Much of the meeting centered on brief updates on the largest projects underway.

 

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and City Manager Terry Eubank speak during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai sets goals for next budget

The goals will guide Kenai’s administration in preparing the budget document that will be considered in the spring.

 

Luminaria light the path of the Third Annual StarLight StarBright winter solstice skiing fundraiser at the Kenai Golf Course in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

StarLight StarBright fundraiser canceled

The subpar trail conditions that caused the previous delay have not improved.

Luminaria light the path of the Third Annual StarLight StarBright winter solstice skiing fundraiser at the Kenai Golf Course in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Sarah Vance, candidate for State House District 6, participates in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Vance prefiles 2 bills targeting tech

Both bills are intended to safeguard children and maintain “societal integrity” in the face of rapidly advancing technologies.

Rep. Sarah Vance, candidate for State House District 6, participates in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche points to where the disconnected baler ram has bent piping at the Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, advocates seek path forward for recycling after baler failure

The borough needs to measure whether its actions are really reducing the impact of solid waste on the planet, mayor says.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche points to where the disconnected baler ram has bent piping at the Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Marty Askin and Brian Gabriel inspect a displayed model of a traditional Dena’ina home called a nichil during the grand reopening of the cultural center at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai visitor center revitalizes peninsula’s ‘rich history’

The vision for the space describes monthly rotation of exhibits and a speaker series.

Marty Askin and Brian Gabriel inspect a displayed model of a traditional Dena’ina home called a nichil during the grand reopening of the cultural center at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai man arrested after allegedly aiming shotgun into traffic

Multiple parents who were dropping children at nearby Mountain View Elementary reported the man, police said.

The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward Deputy Fire Chief Katherine McCoy stands for a photo with Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites and Assistant State Fire Marshal Mark Brauneis after McCoy was presented the 2024 Ken Akerley Fire Service Leadership Award at Seward Fire Department in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites)

Seward deputy fire chief earns state leadership award

Katherine McCoy this month received the 2024 Ken Akerley Fire Service Leadership Award.

Seward Deputy Fire Chief Katherine McCoy stands for a photo with Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites and Assistant State Fire Marshal Mark Brauneis after McCoy was presented the 2024 Ken Akerley Fire Service Leadership Award at Seward Fire Department in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites)
Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Elam prepares for freshman legislative session

He’s excited to get onto the floor and start legislating.

Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Bjorkman readies for start of legislative session

His priorities this year won’t look much different from those of his freshman legislative session.

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Tim Daugharty speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD launches conversation on $17 million deficit

The district says overcoming the deficit without heavy cuts would require a substantial increase to the BSA.

Tim Daugharty speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Member Jordan Chilson speaks in support of an ordinance that would establish a residential property tax exemption during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna defines legislative priorities for upcoming session

Roof replacement, signalization study and road improvements top the list.

Member Jordan Chilson speaks in support of an ordinance that would establish a residential property tax exemption during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Vance, Bjorkman prefile bills ahead of session

In total, 37 House bills, 39 Senate bills and five Senate joint resolutions had been filed as of Friday.

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough accepts fishery disaster funds, calls for proclamation of fishery disaster

The funding stems from fishery disasters that were first recognized and allocated in 2022.

Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Students embrace Aubrie Ellis after she was named National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025 by the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals at Mountain View Elementary School in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mountain View assistant principal earns national recognition

Aubrie Ellis named Alaska’s National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025.

Students embrace Aubrie Ellis after she was named National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025 by the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals at Mountain View Elementary School in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Project Manager Jason Graf points to a map while answering questions from attendees on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Open House at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna PZ Commission gets 1st look at draft Riverfront Redevelopment zoning plan

The draft document describes a new riverfront mixed-use district.

Project Manager Jason Graf points to a map while answering questions from attendees on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Open House at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Company in talks to helm Alaska pipeline project says LNG is key to ‘global energy transition’

Glenfarne Group said they had entered into an agreement with AGDC to develop the Alaska LNG Project.

Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Off the Shelf: ‘Anxious Generation’ underserves conversations about cellphones

The book has been cited in recent school board discussions over cellphone policies.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

New York-based company in talks to develop Alaska LNG Pipeline

Though the state declined to name the partner, a statement from New York-based Glenfarne Group on Wednesday said they had entered into an exclusive agreement with AGDC for development of the project.

Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)