Rustin Hitchcock and Becca Ford

Ford, Hitchcock marry

Becca A. Ford and Rustin D. Hitchcock were married on July 3, 2015 in Kasilof. Pastor Randy Parshall of Christ Lutheran Church presided. Becca is… Continue reading

Rustin Hitchcock and Becca Ford

Unhinged Alaska: Shake, rattle and go

What a long strange week it has been.Sunday and Monday were near normal except for a mild frenzy associated with my wife’s departure on Tuesday… Continue reading

Katie Ford

Community News and Notes

Connor and Alicia Barry of Soldotna announce the birth of their son, Sam Edward Barry, at 1:51 a.m. on Monday, July 27, 2015 at Central… Continue reading

Katie Ford
Sockeye salmon returning to Bear Creek are one of those special events in nature that occur every season in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: The Kenai Peninsula rediscovered

Browsing through my grandfather’s stack of In-Fisherman Magazines as a boy was the first time I had ever heard of the Kenai River. At the… Continue reading

Sockeye salmon returning to Bear Creek are one of those special events in nature that occur every season in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

An Outfoor View: Jenna talks habitat

Author’s note: In yet another attempt to teach readers about fish and fishing by baiting them with a steamy romance novel, here’s yet another chapter… Continue reading

In this Aug. 3, 2014, photo, a grizzly bear walks through a back country campsite in Montana's Glacier National Park. Glacier National Park officials recommend that hikers stay in groups on all of the Glacier trails and make noise in grizzly country. (Doug Kelley/The Spokesman-Review via AP) COEUR D'ALENE PRESS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Follow bear safety rules to prevent trouble for everybody

SPOKANE, Wash. — Following guidelines for camping in grizzly country can prevent trouble for everyone, including the bears.A Spokane man experienced a good case in… Continue reading

In this Aug. 3, 2014, photo, a grizzly bear walks through a back country campsite in Montana's Glacier National Park. Glacier National Park officials recommend that hikers stay in groups on all of the Glacier trails and make noise in grizzly country. (Doug Kelley/The Spokesman-Review via AP) COEUR D'ALENE PRESS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Church News

— Kasilof Community Church, next to the Kasilof Mercantile, will host Camp Kilimanjaro Vacation Bible School, an epic expedition through Proverbs from 10 a.m.-1:00 pm.,… Continue reading

Voices of Faith: The doctrine of fairness

I ask the question to many people only to receive the same response by either a stare that says “you’re crazy” or words to that… Continue reading

  • Jul 30, 2015
  • By Rev. Stephen S. Brown
  • Community
This July 19, 2014 photo shows typical terrain in the Bear Lake Corridor Trails area in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The corridor offers good day hikes in the eastern side of the park, using the town of Estes Park as a gateway. The park is launching a yearlong celebration of its centennial in September, and fall is a nice time to visit. (AP Photo/Lindsey Tanner)

Rocky Mountain National Park offers spectacular views

ESTES PARK, Colo. — No adjectives can do Rocky Mountain National Park justice. The jagged snow-draped peaks, rocky tundra, green valleys, and roaring waterfalls render… Continue reading

This July 19, 2014 photo shows typical terrain in the Bear Lake Corridor Trails area in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The corridor offers good day hikes in the eastern side of the park, using the town of Estes Park as a gateway. The park is launching a yearlong celebration of its centennial in September, and fall is a nice time to visit. (AP Photo/Lindsey Tanner)

Last week of July means reds, kings

It’s the final week of July, and on the central Kenai Peninsula, that means sockeye and king salmon.The Alaska Department of Fish and Game on… Continue reading

Alex Douthit, Salmon Buster's Guide Service Douthit dropped a group of personal use fishermen off at Cunningham Park and was waiting for another to arrive.  "People seem more interested in king salmon than reds," he said. "Today is my last dipnet fishing trip for the year."

Anglers come from near and far to fish the Kenai

Tom Pelfrey, WasillaPelfrey, and a group were dragging a cooler of sockeye salmon up the shore toward Cunningham Park after a guided personal use fishing… Continue reading

Alex Douthit, Salmon Buster's Guide Service Douthit dropped a group of personal use fishermen off at Cunningham Park and was waiting for another to arrive.  "People seem more interested in king salmon than reds," he said. "Today is my last dipnet fishing trip for the year."

Caribou Chill

Caribou ChiliDee Rusin, KenaiOne cold and wintry nightCaribou chili hit the spotSo how do you make itThis answer I gotAny real Alaskan womanKnows just what… Continue reading

This photo provided by The Weinstein Company shows, Rachel McAdams, left, as Maureen Hope and Jake Gyllenhaal as Billy Hope, in the film, "Southpaw."  The movie releases in the U.S. on July 24, 2015. (Scott Garfield/The Weinstein Company via AP)

Reeling it in: The good and the bad on the bigscreen

“Trainwreck”Apatow Productions2 hours, 5 minutesThere are times I feel out of touch with the mainstream of film criticism. More so lately than usual. Most of… Continue reading

This photo provided by The Weinstein Company shows, Rachel McAdams, left, as Maureen Hope and Jake Gyllenhaal as Billy Hope, in the film, "Southpaw."  The movie releases in the U.S. on July 24, 2015. (Scott Garfield/The Weinstein Company via AP)

What’s Happening

■ Salmonfest is Friday through Sunday at the Ninilchik fair grounds, see story.■ The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra Summer Music Festival’s chamber concert with the Madison… Continue reading

Savor summer with spicy, sweet zucchini cakes

No matter the source, home garden, farmers market or your favorite grocery store, there’s no better time to enjoy zucchini, a variety of summer squash,… Continue reading

  • Jul 28, 2015
  • By Sue Ade
  • Food

Pioneer Potluck: About Bernie and I returning from Colorado

Anchorage Airport, 1996   We had stayed so long on the ground in Denver, because of a lightening, thunder, rain storm, our arrival time in… Continue reading

  • Jul 28, 2015
  • By Grannie Annie
  • Food
Aveline Faye Russell

News and Notes

Nicholas Russell and Laurie Booth of Soldotna announce the birth of their daughter, Aveline Faye Russell, at 5:08 a.m. on June 10, 2015. She weighed… Continue reading

Aveline Faye Russell

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: It’s only a movie

I was flipping through channels the other day looking for something to watch and came upon Disney’s “The Living Desert” issued in 1953, on Turner… Continue reading

Remission is a wonderful response to leukemia

Last Monday, my oncologist walked into his examination room to give my wife and me the results of my bone marrow analysis. It had been… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: Curiosity will bring you back to this book

The Bookworm Sez: Curiosity will bring you back to this book

There’s never enough space in your closet. So maybe it’s time to purge, to donate things that don’t fit anymore. That’d make a lot of… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: Curiosity will bring you back to this book