Jacob Dye

A flyer for the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank’s Spring Festival, set for June 20, 2025. (Provided by Kenai Peninsula Food Bank)

Food bank’s annual spring festival set for June 20

The event will feature a free lunch and informational fair.

A flyer for the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank’s Spring Festival, set for June 20, 2025. (Provided by Kenai Peninsula Food Bank)
Kenai City Council member Phil Daniel speaks during 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 OKs formal agreements with Kenaitze, Salamatof tribes

The agreements create a foundation for ongoing collaboration between the city and tribes.

Kenai City Council member Phil Daniel speaks during 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)
Aleutian Airways staff fill the desk during their first day of service at Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Aleutian Airways begins Kenai-Anchorage service

The first plane arrived at the Kenai Municipal Airport around 7 a.m. on Friday.

Aleutian Airways staff fill the desk during their first day of service at Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks during a joint luncheon of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman reports back on legislative session

Highlights included education funding, budget woes and bills on insurance regulations, fishing.

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks during a joint luncheon of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall is seen on a sunny Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai approves annual budget

The city expects to generate around $74.7 million in revenue next year while spending $85.7 million.

Kenai City Hall is seen on a sunny Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Señor Panchos in Soldotna, Alaska, is closed on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Detention of Soldotna restaurant owner violates his rights, lawyer says

Francisco Rodriguez-Rincon is facing federal charges for accusations that he is in the U.S. illegally.

Señor Panchos in Soldotna, Alaska, is closed on Wednesday, June 4, 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 delays riverfront rezoning measures

The two ordinances being considered would establish 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)
The Central Kenai Peninsula Special Olympics team stand for a photo at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Central peninsula Special Olympics team to compete at Alaska summer games

The 2025 Summer Games will be held in Anchorage from June 6-8.

The Central Kenai Peninsula Special Olympics team stand for a photo at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jets from the U.S. Air Force’s 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing are staged at Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, as part of Exercise Tropic Tundra on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Air Force jets launch from Kenai airport as part of weeklong training exercise

The jets are part of U.S. Air Force’s 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing’s Exercise Tropic Tundra.

Jets from the U.S. Air Force’s 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing are staged at Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, as part of Exercise Tropic Tundra on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD facing ‘paralyzing’ financial uncertainty

The district is waiting both to see how the governor will exercise his veto rights and for the borough to finalize its contribution.

Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Hanna Stormo applauds during her 102nd birthday party at Aspen Creek Senior Living in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Entwined with the story of Alaska’

Aspen Creek Senior Living resident Hanna Stormo celebrated her 102nd birthday Friday.

Hanna Stormo applauds during her 102nd birthday party at Aspen Creek Senior Living in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Northern Kenai fishing report: Local lakes stocked; Kenai River opens June 11

Some fishers are finding success on the Kasilof and in stocked local lakes.

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Central High School girls celebrate their first goal, by Brynnen Hanson, during the final match of the ASAA Division II Girls Soccer Championship at Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Alaska, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai girls stop SoHi, Palmer boys nip Soldotna in Division II state soccer finals

The Kenai Central High School girls topped Soldotna to claim their second straight state title Saturday at the Division II state soccer tournament in Wasilla.… Continue reading

The Kenai Central High School girls celebrate their first goal, by Brynnen Hanson, during the final match of the ASAA Division II Girls Soccer Championship at Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Alaska, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign for The Goods Sustainable Grocery is seen in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

New Saturday Market to launch this summer at The Goods

The summer bazaar will feature craftspeople from around the central and southern Kenai Peninsula.

A sign for The Goods Sustainable Grocery is seen in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna OKs $170,000 for new police camera system

The existing system was purchased only during the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2024.

Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Council member Alex Douthit speaks during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai loosens restrictions on employee purchase of city property

Municipal officers like city council members are still prohibited from buying property.

Council member Alex Douthit speaks during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mount Spurr is seen from the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, on May 11, 2025. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Likelihood of Spurr eruption continues to decline

Spurr is located about 61 miles away from Kenai and 117 miles away from Homer.

Mount Spurr is seen from the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, on May 11, 2025. (Peninsula Clarion file)
The barge, crane, and first pile of rock for the Kenai Bluff Stabilization Project is seen during a break in work at the bank of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai bluff project underway

A roughly 5,000-foot-long berm will be constructed from the mouth of the Kenai River to near the city dock.

The barge, crane, and first pile of rock for the Kenai Bluff Stabilization Project is seen during a break in work at the bank of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward Fire Department stands under cloudy skies in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward, Bear Creek fire departments rescue man from 700-pound boulder

The Seward Fire Department was called around noon on Saturday to headwaters of Fourth of July Creek.

Seward Fire Department stands under cloudy skies in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)