Wire Service

Smoke from the Swan Lake Fire has led to poor visibility along the Sterling Highway as seen here on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Letter to the Editor: Lessons learned from past fires

Responsibility for the last few feet before fire reaches your house is yours, not the firefighters.

Smoke from the Swan Lake Fire has led to poor visibility along the Sterling Highway as seen here on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Letter to the Editor: Funny River should be accessible to all

Locals shouldn’t have to drive to the lower river to teach their children how to catch sockeye.

Letter to the Editor: Funny River access would benefit community

‘Seasonal residents’ own property, pay taxes and have as much right to government services and consideration as anyone else.

Letter to the Editor: Make your voice heard on annexation

For many years now, the city of Soldotna has bludgeoned its way toward annexation.

Opinion: Future is bright for Alaska farming

It’s hard not to be optimistic about the future of farming in the 49th State.

Opinion: Alaska Pioneer Homes continue to provide a home and community to Alaska’s elders

More elders are coming to Pioneer Homes with higher levels of need requiring greater assistance.

September: Welcome to the shoulder season

September: Welcome to the shoulder season

Days get shorter, nights longer, there is a chill in the air, leaves are falling, flora changes.

September: Welcome to the shoulder season
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Middle school media

Now you know why I stopped watching the news this summer.

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Schools briefs for the week of Sept. 2, 2019

Schools briefs for the week of Sept. 2, 2019

What’s happening this week

Schools briefs for the week of Sept. 2, 2019
<em>Rick Cupp is minister at Kenai Fellowship. Sunday Bible classes for all ages 10 a.m. Worship 11:15 p.m. Wednesday meal 6:15 p.m. Worship and classes at 7 p.m. Call 283-7682.</em>

Ignore internet’s illusions of beauty

Concentrate on your inner beauty, not your outer beauty.

<em>Rick Cupp is minister at Kenai Fellowship. Sunday Bible classes for all ages 10 a.m. Worship 11:15 p.m. Wednesday meal 6:15 p.m. Worship and classes at 7 p.m. Call 283-7682.</em>
Refuge notebook: Storks in Poland are example of cultural wildlife conservation

Refuge notebook: Storks in Poland are example of cultural wildlife conservation

This last month I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Poland with my family. The trip was organized by my father-in-law, Henry, who lived… Continue reading

Refuge notebook: Storks in Poland are example of cultural wildlife conservation
A collection of marine debris found at a clean-up in 2013 at Gore Point, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Steinberg)

Voices of the Peninsula: Marine debris is a rising problem

Mammals are perishing because of ingesting plastics.

A collection of marine debris found at a clean-up in 2013 at Gore Point, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Steinberg)
BP’s departure could leave a big hole for Alaska nonprofits

BP’s departure could leave a big hole for Alaska nonprofits

Alaska — with its small population — has a ‘pretty thin philanthropic layer’, says social service provider.

BP’s departure could leave a big hole for Alaska nonprofits
University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen makes a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents at the UAS Recreation Center on Sept. 15, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska Voices: Regardless of our structure, UA is committed to students

Even if Board of Regents decides to maintain three separate universities, they will need to change.

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen makes a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents at the UAS Recreation Center on Sept. 15, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Alaska marijuana grower Dane Wyrick poses for photos at his Danish Gardens cultivation and retail location in Anchorage, Alaska, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019. Wyrick said the future of his business is hazy, in part because of the tax the state of Alaska places on cultivators, which bear the burden of the taxation in the market. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Alaska’s licensed marijuana growers cite tax concerns

Statewide total amount of late taxes due, with accruing penalties and interest, is about $1 million.

Alaska marijuana grower Dane Wyrick poses for photos at his Danish Gardens cultivation and retail location in Anchorage, Alaska, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019. Wyrick said the future of his business is hazy, in part because of the tax the state of Alaska places on cultivators, which bear the burden of the taxation in the market. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Pioneer Potluck: About the abundance of berries this year

Pioneer Potluck: About the abundance of berries this year

When we arrived in Alaska in 1967, one of the main summer occupations was picking wild berries.

Pioneer Potluck: About the abundance of berries this year
In this undated file photo showing the 800-mile Trans-Alaska pipeline that feeds 950,000 barrels of oil a day to the West Coast snakes it way across the tundra north of Fairbanks, Alaska. BP, a major player on Alaska’s North Slope for decades, is selling all of its assets in the state, the company announced Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. Hilcorp Alaska is purchasing BP interests in both the Prudhoe Bay oil field and the trans-Alaska pipeline for $5.6 billion, BP announced in a release. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)

BP to shed Alaska assets, sell to Hilcorp Alaska for $5.6B

The sale comes as BP attempts to divest $10 billion in assets by 2020.

In this undated file photo showing the 800-mile Trans-Alaska pipeline that feeds 950,000 barrels of oil a day to the West Coast snakes it way across the tundra north of Fairbanks, Alaska. BP, a major player on Alaska’s North Slope for decades, is selling all of its assets in the state, the company announced Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. Hilcorp Alaska is purchasing BP interests in both the Prudhoe Bay oil field and the trans-Alaska pipeline for $5.6 billion, BP announced in a release. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)
Boise State’s Allie Ostrander competes in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final June 30 at the Prefontaine Classic at Stanford University in California. (Photo taken by Cortney White)

Ostrander names MW Female Scholar-Athlete of Year

Soldotna runner Allie Ostrander was named Mountain West Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Tuesday in a press release from the conference. The scholar-athlete award honors… Continue reading

Boise State’s Allie Ostrander competes in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final June 30 at the Prefontaine Classic at Stanford University in California. (Photo taken by Cortney White)
This July 2019 photo provided by Peter Westley shows a carcass of chum salmon lying along the shore of the Koyukuk River near Huslia, Alaska. Alaska scientists and fisheries managers are investigating the deaths of salmon that may be tied to the state’s unusually hot, dry summer. July was the hottest month ever recorded in Alaska. (Peter Westley, University of Alaska Fairbanks via AP)

Alaska salmon deaths blamed on record warm temperatures

Climate models have for years forecast unhealthy Alaska river temperatures for salmon.

This July 2019 photo provided by Peter Westley shows a carcass of chum salmon lying along the shore of the Koyukuk River near Huslia, Alaska. Alaska scientists and fisheries managers are investigating the deaths of salmon that may be tied to the state’s unusually hot, dry summer. July was the hottest month ever recorded in Alaska. (Peter Westley, University of Alaska Fairbanks via AP)
Bethune, Aldridge win Tri Nikiski

Bethune, Aldridge win Tri Nikiski

Michael Bethune and Morgan Aldridge came away winners Saturday morning at the second annual Tri Nikiski triathlon at the Nikiski Recreation Center. The event features… Continue reading

Bethune, Aldridge win Tri Nikiski