Jacob Dye

Luke Karpic and Oscar Marcou smile as they write their response to a question posed during Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Middle School Battle of the Books competition on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, at Kenai Middle School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Luke Karpic and Oscar Marcou smile as they write their response to a question posed during Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Middle School Battle of the Books competition on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, at Kenai Middle School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A pair of nearly pristine three-year-old workout shoes are placed in the backseat of Jake Dye’s mostly invincible car in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 8. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the office: ‘Stupid walks’

After more than three weeks of regularly hitting the gym — easily the longest stretch of any kind of exercise I’ve managed since leaving high… Continue reading

A pair of nearly pristine three-year-old workout shoes are placed in the backseat of Jake Dye’s mostly invincible car in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 8. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mark Jurek directs the Soldotna High School Band at a rehearsal on Oct. 11, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mark Jurek directs the Soldotna High School Band at a rehearsal on Oct. 11, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The cast of Triumvirate Theatre’s production of “Seussical” rehearse on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Seuss on stage

Triumvirate’s “Seussical the Musical” brings to life familiar literary characters

The cast of Triumvirate Theatre’s production of “Seussical” rehearse on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Incoming Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Maddy McElrea addresses attendees at a chamber luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

McElrea named new executive director of Soldotna Chamber

She is filling the role vacated by Shanon Davis

Incoming Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Maddy McElrea addresses attendees at a chamber luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Cases slow statewide; hospitalizations rise

61 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in Alaska

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Wood is piled near the entrance to Centennial Park on Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Federal grants for wood projects accepting applications

The Wood Innovations Grant Program seeks to fund expansion of wood use projects

Wood is piled near the entrance to Centennial Park on Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Public Health Center is seen on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Report: Alaska makes progress, falls short on 2030 health goals

Healthy Alaskans 2030 tracks 30 health objectives related to a variety of health factors

The Kenai Public Health Center is seen on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Golden-yellow birch trees and spruce frame a view of Aurora Lagoon and Portlock Glacier from a trail in the Cottonwood-Eastland Unit of Kachemak Bay State Park off East End Road on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong)

State parks advisory boards accepting applications

Alaska State Park advisory boards provide state park managers with recommendations on management issues

Golden-yellow birch trees and spruce frame a view of Aurora Lagoon and Portlock Glacier from a trail in the Cottonwood-Eastland Unit of Kachemak Bay State Park off East End Road on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong)
A recently added port-a-potty is available in the parking lot of Slikok Multi-Use Trails on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Slikok makes sanitation upgrades

A port-a-potty was installed to due to the increased popularity of the trails

A recently added port-a-potty is available in the parking lot of Slikok Multi-Use Trails on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School can be seen in this Sept. 2, 2021, photo, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)

‘Little Sweethearts’ family dance to debut at SoHi

The event will be hosted by SoHi’s freshmen student council

Soldotna High School can be seen in this Sept. 2, 2021, photo, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)
The northern fur seal rescued by Alaska SeaLife Center staff is seen on Jan. 31, 2023, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

Northern fur seal pup admitted to SeaLife Center rescue program

The pup was reported by Sitka residents using the center’s 24-hour stranding hotline

The northern fur seal rescued by Alaska SeaLife Center staff is seen on Jan. 31, 2023, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
The Kenai Community Library children’s section is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Literary competition returns to local schools

Battle of the Books aims to instill in kids a love of reading

The Kenai Community Library children’s section is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Dan Sullivan speaks at the Kenai Classic Roundtable at Kenai Peninsula College on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Local students nominated to compete for appointments in military academies

Students interested in pursuing appointment to the military service academies can apply for nomination through their state’s congressional delegation

Sen. Dan Sullivan speaks at the Kenai Classic Roundtable at Kenai Peninsula College on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Christ Lutheran Church is seen on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Musicians bring ‘golden age of guitar’ to Performing Arts Society

Armin Abdihodžic and Thomas Tallant to play concert Saturday

The Christ Lutheran Church is seen on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Storm Reid plays June Allen in “Missing,” a screenlife film that takes place entirely on the screens of multiple devices, including a laptop and an iPhone. (Photo courtesy Sony Pictures)

On The Screen: ‘Missing’ is twisty, modern, great

I knew “Missing” was something special early on

Storm Reid plays June Allen in “Missing,” a screenlife film that takes place entirely on the screens of multiple devices, including a laptop and an iPhone. (Photo courtesy Sony Pictures)
Tamera Mapes and a client laugh and joke with one another during a free haircut at Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Caring and connecting

Project Homeless Connect offers a variety of services

Tamera Mapes and a client laugh and joke with one another during a free haircut at Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19 cases continue to climb

Statewide hospitalizations decreased slightly

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
ASLC Seasonal Animal Care Specialist Emma Begalka interacts with Mist the Steller sea lion in the Underwater viewing area at the Alaska SeaLife Center during an enrichment session on November 30, 2022. Mist unexpectedly passed away on January 23, 2023 after staff observed seizure-like tremors. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

Young sea lion dies unexpectedly at SeaLife Center

Mist, who was approximately 2-and-a-half years old, had been socializing with three other Steller sea lions

ASLC Seasonal Animal Care Specialist Emma Begalka interacts with Mist the Steller sea lion in the Underwater viewing area at the Alaska SeaLife Center during an enrichment session on November 30, 2022. Mist unexpectedly passed away on January 23, 2023 after staff observed seizure-like tremors. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Kristin Davis performs a dissection on a donated lynx on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo provided by Kristin Davis)

KCHS students get rare opportunity to dissect lynx in class

“A local trapper let me know there was a lynx, would I want to have it?,” anatomy and biology teacher Kristin Davis said

Kristin Davis performs a dissection on a donated lynx on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo provided by Kristin Davis)