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Alex Koplin. (courtesy photo)

Opinion: Public schools do much more than just teach the three Rs

Isn’t it worth spending the money to provide a quality education for each student that enters our schools?

Alex Koplin. (courtesy photo)
Metal art by David Morris is showcased in “Steel Sentiments” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Remembering through metal

“Steel Sentiments” is a solo show by metal artist David Morris.

Metal art by David Morris is showcased in “Steel Sentiments” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Local musician Silas Luke Jones performs blindfolded during his performance at the inaugeral HomerFest on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Inaugural ‘HarborFest’ draws hundreds to Spit over weekend

The inaugural event was aimed at bringing tourists into the area during the slower, early summer season.

Local musician Silas Luke Jones performs blindfolded during his performance at the inaugeral HomerFest on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Nick Varney
Nick Varney
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)
At some point after William B. Hurd was buried in Kenai in 1899, his family asked that his body be exhumed and sent back to New York, where it was reburied. This image, from findagrave.com, shows the marker on his final resting place.

Mary Penney and her 1898 Alaska adventure — Part 8

Despite Mary’s dreams and the newspaper’s low-brow assessment of her experience, the culmination of her journey was decidedly anti-climactic.

At some point after William B. Hurd was buried in Kenai in 1899, his family asked that his body be exhumed and sent back to New York, where it was reburied. This image, from findagrave.com, shows the marker on his final resting place.
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Minister’s Message: Watching and waiting for the Lord’s return

The Lord Jesus wants you to be with him.

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A harbor seal pup found May 31, 2025, on a beach in Homer, Alaska, is photographed after being taken into custody by Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program. (Photo courtesy of Kaiti Grant, Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center rescues 3 seal pups, including female found on Homer beach

The recent rescues come after the discovery and recovery of a premature harbor seal pup and an orphaned northern sea otter pup earlier this spring.

A harbor seal pup found May 31, 2025, on a beach in Homer, Alaska, is photographed after being taken into custody by Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program. (Photo courtesy of Kaiti Grant, Alaska SeaLife Center)
Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser watches Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, discuss the federal disparity test for education funding provided by states during a Senate Education Committee meeting Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

State education board delays decision limiting local funding for schools

DEED blames local contributions for failure of disparity test — testimonies point the finger back.

Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser watches Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, discuss the federal disparity test for education funding provided by states during a Senate Education Committee meeting Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)

Ostrander takes 5th at U.S. Mountain Running Championships

Allie Ostrander, a 2015 graduate of Kenai Central now a pro runner living in Boulder, Colorado, took fifth place in the U.S. Mountain Running Championships… Continue reading

Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Soldotna's Isabelle Cruz delivers to Kenai Central on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the Soldotna Little League fields in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna, Kenai set for Division II state softball

The Soldotna and Kenai Central softball teams will play in the Division II state softball tournament at Cartee Fields in Anchorage from Thursday to Saturday.… Continue reading

Soldotna's Isabelle Cruz delivers to Kenai Central on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the Soldotna Little League fields in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Division II state baseball tourney comes to Seymour Park

The Division II state baseball tournament will be at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai for the first time from Thursday to Saturday. The Soldotna… Continue reading

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This version of maeuntang, or Korean fisherman’s stew, features sablefish, daikon, zucchini and green onions with fermented Korean bean and red pepper pastes. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Out with the old fish

Now is the time to empty our freezers of last year’s harvest.

This version of maeuntang, or Korean fisherman’s stew, features sablefish, daikon, zucchini and green onions with fermented Korean bean and red pepper pastes. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Fireweed blooms along the Homer Spit walking path by the Homer Harbor on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting

HarborFest to debut in Homer with music, boat show, arts and culinary competition

The event will also feature a chef competition, return of Wooden Boat Society.

Fireweed blooms along the Homer Spit walking path by the Homer Harbor on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting
Nick Varney

Reeling ‘Em In: Tough times all around

The lagoon wasn’t exactly a hotspot for king-popping last week even for the couple of fish-stealing thug seals that showed up.

Nick Varney
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)
This excerpt from a 1916 U.S. Department of Agriculture map shows Kachemak Bay and vicinity less than 20 years after the arrival of the Kings County Mining Company.

Mary Penney and her 1898 Alaska adventure — Part 7

The Kings County Mining Company had hiked through the mountain benchlands at the advent of winter, hoping to reach the gold-mining areas of Hope and Sunrise.

This excerpt from a 1916 U.S. Department of Agriculture map shows Kachemak Bay and vicinity less than 20 years after the arrival of the Kings County Mining Company.
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: It seems like a lifetime ago

A reader asked me if I remembered writing about a trip Jane and I took to New Zealand many years ago.

Nick Varney
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Minister’s Message: Live like this

“Living” is about have a spiritual life based on the belief in Jesus and accepting his forgiveness.

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This sweet and tangy roasted spaghetti squash dish includes blended tomato and goat cheese sauce. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

A list for life’s challenges

Roasted spaghetti squash is blended with tomato and goat cheese sauce for a sweet and tangy meal.

This sweet and tangy roasted spaghetti squash dish includes blended tomato and goat cheese sauce. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)