Home

Soldotna’s Tania Boonstra sets out from the start on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at the Lookout Mountain Cross-Country Ski Trails in Homer, Alaska. Boonstra, a junior, earned the title of Skimeister for the third year in a row at this weekend’s regional meet. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Colony’s girls, boys sweep Region III ski meet

SoHi’s Boonstra wins 3rd straight Skimeister

  • Feb 10, 2025
  • By Chloe Pleznac
Soldotna’s Tania Boonstra sets out from the start on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at the Lookout Mountain Cross-Country Ski Trails in Homer, Alaska. Boonstra, a junior, earned the title of Skimeister for the third year in a row at this weekend’s regional meet. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Palmer mobs goalie Emily Christman after defeating Soldotna for the championship at the First National Cup Division II state hockey tournament Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Palmer defeats Soldotna for Division II state hockey title

Juneau tops Kenai for 3rd place

Palmer mobs goalie Emily Christman after defeating Soldotna for the championship at the First National Cup Division II state hockey tournament Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna's Noah Crabtree celebrates the game-winning goal in overtime Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at the First National Cup Division II state hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna tops Kenai in OT to advance to Saturday state final against Palmer

Freshman Crabtree scores both goals for Stars

Soldotna's Noah Crabtree celebrates the game-winning goal in overtime Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at the First National Cup Division II state hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Middle School Principal Vaughn Dosko points out elements of a redesign plan for the front of the school on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Work soon to begin on Kenai Middle security upgrades

The security upgrades are among several key KPBSD maintenance projects included in a bond approved by borough voters in October 2022.

Kenai Middle School Principal Vaughn Dosko points out elements of a redesign plan for the front of the school on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Fire Department headquarters are photographed on Feb. 13, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai adds funds, authorizes contract for study of emergency services facility

The building shared by Kenai’s police and fire departments hasn’t kept up with the needs of both departments, chief says.

The Kenai Fire Department headquarters are photographed on Feb. 13, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Best shows off a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai awards contract to develop Parks and Rec master plan

The document is expected to guide the next 20 years of outdoors and recreation development in the city.

Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Best shows off a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central's Logan Mese reacts after scoring the only goal of the game against North Pole at the First National Cup Division II state hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, February 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai, Soldotna hockey to play for spot in state final Friday night at sports complex

Longtime rivals have never met this deep in postseason

Kenai Central's Logan Mese reacts after scoring the only goal of the game against North Pole at the First National Cup Division II state hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, February 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Balancing Act’s homepage for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. (Screenshot)

KPBSD launches ‘Balancing Act’ software, calls for public to balance $17 million deficit

The district and other education advocates have said that the base student allocation has failed to keep up with inflation.

Balancing Act’s homepage for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. (Screenshot)
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)

Harvest Alaska announces proposed redevelopment of Kenai LNG terminal

The project could deliver additional natural gas supplies to the Southcentral market as early as 2026, developers said.

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)
Heather Rinke, RaChelle Gruenberg, Sara Bundy and Becky Hart won best costume for “Golden Girls” at the Ski for Women on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Poor snow cover cancels Ski for Women

There’s still hope for Tour of Tsalteshi

Heather Rinke, RaChelle Gruenberg, Sara Bundy and Becky Hart won best costume for “Golden Girls” at the Ski for Women on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Daniel Matveev celebrates his goal at the Division II state hockey tournament Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Division II state hockey returns to sports complex Thursday through Saturday

Editor’s note: A previous web version of this story had the wrong record for the Kenai vs. Soldotna series this season. The Clarion regrets the… Continue reading

Daniel Matveev celebrates his goal at the Division II state hockey tournament Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A depth marker is almost entirely subsumed by the waters of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

After delay, borough adopts updated flood insurance maps

The assembly had previously postponed the legislation amid outcry from the Kenai River Keys Property Owners Association.

A depth marker is almost entirely subsumed by the waters of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (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 approves federal request to fund recycling redesign

A large baler that was used for recycling was recently left inoperable by a catastrophic failure in its main ram.

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)
A person is detained in Anchorage in recent days by officials from the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (FBI Anchorage Field Office photo)

Trump’s immigration raids arrive in Alaska, while Coast Guard in state help deportations at southern US border

Anchorage arrests touted by FBI, DEA; Coast Guard plane from Kodiak part of “alien expulsion flight operations.”

A person is detained in Anchorage in recent days by officials from the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (FBI Anchorage Field Office photo)
Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist asks participants to kneel as a gesture to “stay grounded in the community” during a protest in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday focused on President Donald Trump’s actions since the beginning of his second term. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Trump protest rally at Alaska State Capitol targets Nazi-like salutes, challenges to Native rights

More than 120 people show up as part of nationwide protest to actions during onset of Trump’s second term.

Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist asks participants to kneel as a gesture to “stay grounded in the community” during a protest in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday focused on President Donald Trump’s actions since the beginning of his second term. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Borough Clerk Michele Turner administers an oath of office to Leslie Morton after Morton was appointed as the new Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly representative for Sterling and Funny River during an assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Morton appointed to assembly’s Sterling and Funny River seat

A vacancy on the assembly was created when Rep. Bill Elam resigned after winning election to the Alaska Legislature in November.

Borough Clerk Michele Turner administers an oath of office to Leslie Morton after Morton was appointed as the new Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly representative for Sterling and Funny River during an assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Milly Hornung and Halle Blades speak in opposition to a possible closure of Nikiski Middle/High School during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD discusses possible school closures in face of $17 million deficit

A presentation from borough administration to the board on Tuesday outlined a series of scenarios for closure of up to nine schools.

Milly Hornung and Halle Blades speak in opposition to a possible closure of Nikiski Middle/High School during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cook Inletkeeper Energy Policy Analyst Ben Boettger presents information about retrofitting homes to be more energy efficient at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Cook Inletkeeper to launch salmon solution community project

The program aims to address the impacts of pollution and warming temperatures in the Cook Inlet watershed.

Cook Inletkeeper Energy Policy Analyst Ben Boettger presents information about retrofitting homes to be more energy efficient at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A worker paints over a wall mural featuring words such as “fairness,” “leadership,” “compassion,” “diversity” and “integrity” at the FBI Academy at Quantico on Wednesday. (Anonymous photo provided to The New York Times)

Mass deletion and alteration of federal websites includes Alaska reports and data

Forest Service climate assessment, Alaska Native education program, FEMA strategic plan among deletions.

A worker paints over a wall mural featuring words such as “fairness,” “leadership,” “compassion,” “diversity” and “integrity” at the FBI Academy at Quantico on Wednesday. (Anonymous photo provided to The New York Times)
State Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (right), I-Sitka, answers a question from Rep. Jubilee Underwood (right), R-Wasilla, about a bill increasing per-pupil public school funding during a House Education Committee meeting on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Legislators and governor form working group seeking quick education funding and policy package

Small bipartisan group plans to spend up to two weeks on plan as related bills are put on hold.

State Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (right), I-Sitka, answers a question from Rep. Jubilee Underwood (right), R-Wasilla, about a bill increasing per-pupil public school funding during a House Education Committee meeting on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)