Jacob Dye

Beluga monitor Teresa Becher watches as beluga whales swim up the Kenai River on Saturday, April 24, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. Beluga monitoring will be the first topic of a series of Fireside Chats hosted by Kenai Watershed Forum at Kenai River Brewing, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

Fireside chats to feature speakers on the local environment

The Kenai Watershed Forum will host the chats through Nov. 23

Beluga monitor Teresa Becher watches as beluga whales swim up the Kenai River on Saturday, April 24, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. Beluga monitoring will be the first topic of a series of Fireside Chats hosted by Kenai Watershed Forum at Kenai River Brewing, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Kids put their new pet ghosts into bottles at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kids put their new pet ghosts into bottles at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Abriella Werner leaps as she approaches the end of the diving board, Derrick Jones watches during a dive practice on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

From springboard to diving board

SoHi junior takes gymnastic experience to pool and breaks 17-year dive record

Abriella Werner leaps as she approaches the end of the diving board, Derrick Jones watches during a dive practice on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cody Good competes for Kenai Central High School during a League of Legends match against Anchorage Christian Schools on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Esports Week 3: Kenai maintains perfect streak, SoHi takes week off

The third week of esports competition was a quiet one. Soldotna High School teams had a week off, while two of Kenai’s matches were rescheduled… Continue reading

Cody Good competes for Kenai Central High School during a League of Legends match against Anchorage Christian Schools on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Silas Thibodeau and Dakota Wisnewski rehearse during a KCHS Marching Band practice on Aug. 18, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai bands debut with Halloween theme

“After nine weeks of practicing, they finally get their payoff.”

Silas Thibodeau and Dakota Wisnewski rehearse during a KCHS Marching Band practice on Aug. 18, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Christ Lutheran Church is seen on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Opera: Aggressive, refined, for everyone

The Performing Arts Society presents a recital by a baritone vocalist and a pianist

The Christ Lutheran Church is seen on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Hospitalizations see uptick; COVID cases still declining

498 new COVID-19 cases were reported statewide

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
The Soldotna Seniors Center is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna seniors to raise money for meals

The center provides meals in-house and delivers between 70 to 90 a day

The Soldotna Seniors Center is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Fat Bear Champion 747 photographed on Sept. 6 by L. Law. (Photo courtesy Katmai National Park)

Fattest bear crowned in annual competition

The final matchup brought Bear 747 and Bear 901 head-to-head

Fat Bear Champion 747 photographed on Sept. 6 by L. Law. (Photo courtesy Katmai National Park)
“Evening Jam with Chuck” by Susan Biggs, hangs with its second place ribbon during the opening reception of the Kenai Art Center Biennial Juried Show on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A community reflected in art

Kenai Art Center unveils winners in biennial juried show

“Evening Jam with Chuck” by Susan Biggs, hangs with its second place ribbon during the opening reception of the Kenai Art Center Biennial Juried Show on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer's Carter Tennison runs with the ball, pursued by several Bulldogs, during the playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 at Nikiski Middle/High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Tennison leads Homer past Nikiski and into Division III title game

The visiting Homer Mariners locked in their shot at the Division III title with a 54-20 victory over the Nikiski Bulldogs on Saturday, as Mariners… Continue reading

Homer's Carter Tennison runs with the ball, pursued by several Bulldogs, during the playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 at Nikiski Middle/High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer's Annabelle Franciscone performs an open turn while swimming the 50-yard breaststroke at the SoHI Pentathlon on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer’s Nelson, Cordova’s Fritsch capture Pentathlon

Every swim team in the region — plus a few extras — came together in Soldotna on Friday for the annual SoHi Pentathlon. Most high… Continue reading

Homer's Annabelle Franciscone performs an open turn while swimming the 50-yard breaststroke at the SoHI Pentathlon on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Roy and Ozella Williams chat with attendees at their 70th Wedding Anniversary celebration on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘We just keep loving each other’

Senior center celebrates couple’s seven decades of marriage

Roy and Ozella Williams chat with attendees at their 70th Wedding Anniversary celebration on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai League of Legends team captain Silas Thibodeau fights a monster in the jungle during a match against Anchorage Christian Schools on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Esports: Kenai brings home two Week 2 sweeps, SoHi enters competition

League of Legends The Kenai Kardinals handily dispatched the Sitka Wolves with a final score of 2-0 on Tuesday, rising to 1-1 in tournament play.… Continue reading

Kenai League of Legends team captain Silas Thibodeau fights a monster in the jungle during a match against Anchorage Christian Schools on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kevin Bell Arena ice rink nears completion on Sept. 29, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. The Homer Hockey Association announced Wednesday that the arena was closed indefinitely due to insufficient insurance coverage. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)

Homer hockey arena closed due to insufficient insurance

The board of directors discovered that their liability insurance policy is inactive

The Kevin Bell Arena ice rink nears completion on Sept. 29, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. The Homer Hockey Association announced Wednesday that the arena was closed indefinitely due to insufficient insurance coverage. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
A rainbow is seen on Aug. 28, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Eye-opener

It’s a cliche that folks from Alaska take Alaska for granted. I know I definitely always have. I was never an outdoorsy person. The last… Continue reading

A rainbow is seen on Aug. 28, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
This image released by Universal Pictures shows Luke Macfarlane, left, and Billy Eichner in a scene from “Bros.” (Universal Pictures via AP)
This image released by Universal Pictures shows Luke Macfarlane, left, and Billy Eichner in a scene from “Bros.” (Universal Pictures via AP)
The cast of “The Music Man Jr.” rehearse on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, at Nikiski Middle/High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Music Man Jr.’ premieres Friday

Performances will kick off with a dinner and show fundraiser for Kenaitze tribe

The cast of “The Music Man Jr.” rehearse on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, at Nikiski Middle/High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

27 new deaths reported; COVID cases, hospitalizations down overall

For the period of Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, 554 new COVID-19 cases were reported

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Pumpkins submitted to the pumpkin decorating contest are seen at the 5th annual Kenai Fall Pumpkin Festival in Kenai, Alaska, on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Pumpkins — on the ground and from above — to make appearance at annual festival

The Kenai Fall Pumpkin Festival is back on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.

Pumpkins submitted to the pumpkin decorating contest are seen at the 5th annual Kenai Fall Pumpkin Festival in Kenai, Alaska, on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)