Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education Vice President Jason Tauriainen speaks during a meeting of the board in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of education hears from schools about more restrictive cellphone policies

Existing policy says that devices shouldn’t be used during classroom instruction or other district-supervised activities

 

Media members and other observers gather at the Alaska Division of Elections office on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024,	as the results of all ballots, including ranked choice tabulations, were announced. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

State certifies election results

Bjorkman, Ruffridge, Vance, Elam win election to Alaska Legislature

 

Santa Claus waves at children from atop a Kenai Fire Department engine on Frontage Street in Kenai, Alaska, as part of the Electric Lights Parade on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas cheer lights up chilly Kenai evening

Electric Lights Parade closes Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities on Nov. 29

 

A snowmachine rider takes advantage of 2 feet of fresh snow on a field down Murwood Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Parts of refuge to open for snowmachining

The refuge advises that snowmachine users exercise caution

A snowmachine rider takes advantage of 2 feet of fresh snow on a field down Murwood Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jace and Tali Kimmel share their Christmas wishes with Santa Claus during Christmas Comes to Kenai at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas Comes to Kenai opens with Santa, reindeer, gifts

The festivity will continue in the evening with the electric light parade and fireworks

Jace and Tali Kimmel share their Christmas wishes with Santa Claus during Christmas Comes to Kenai at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Clarion Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak harvests a newsroom Christmas tree from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Arc Lake outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Clarion Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak harvests a newsroom Christmas tree from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Arc Lake outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman will lead 2 committees in Senate

Bjorkman is set to chair the Senate Labor Commerce Committee and the Senate Transportation Committee

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The waters of the Kenai River lap against the shore at North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘BelugaCam’ livestreams set up at mouth of Kenai River

Cook Inlet belugas are one of five genetically distinct populations of beluga whales in Alaska

The waters of the Kenai River lap against the shore at North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Josiah Kelly, right, appears for a superior court arraignment at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Anchor Point resident arraigned in Homer shooting case

He’s currently in custody at Wildwood Pretrial Facility

Josiah Kelly, right, appears for a superior court arraignment at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Clam Gulch resident sentenced to over 270 years for sexual abuse of a minor

Superior Court Judge Jason Gist imposed sentencing for each individual charge

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board looks to create more restrictive cellphone policy

Their use is currently permitted as long as it doesn’t “interfere with the educational process or with safety and security”

Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Team members treat a juvenile northern sea otter that was admitted for care on Nov. 16, 2024, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Kaiti Grant/courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)

Sealife center admits juvenile sea otter

The juvenile otter was rescued from Seward with “significant” facial trauma

Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Team members treat a juvenile northern sea otter that was admitted for care on Nov. 16, 2024, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Kaiti Grant/courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)
Sunrise over UAA's Kenai Peninsula College Kenai River Campus main entrance and Clarence E. Goodrich Building. Photo provided by KRC.

$2.3 million grant will fund migrant education at KPC

The College Assistance Migrant Program is a five-year grant provided by the U.S. Department of Education

Sunrise over UAA's Kenai Peninsula College Kenai River Campus main entrance and Clarence E. Goodrich Building. Photo provided by KRC.
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Evan Frisk calls for full-time staffing of the Central Emergency Services’ Kasilof station during a meeting of the CES Joint Operational Service Area Board on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Soldotna Prep School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kasilof residents ask for full staffing at fire station

Public testimony centered repeatedly on the possible wait times for an ambulance

Evan Frisk calls for full-time staffing of the Central Emergency Services’ Kasilof station during a meeting of the CES Joint Operational Service Area Board on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Soldotna Prep School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The southbound lane of Homer Spit Road, which was damaged by the Nov. 16 storm surge, is temporarily repaired with gravel and reopened on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Homer’s Spit road reopened to 2 lanes

Repairs and reinforcement against erosion will continue through December

The southbound lane of Homer Spit Road, which was damaged by the Nov. 16 storm surge, is temporarily repaired with gravel and reopened on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
The under-construction Soldotna Field House stands in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘We’re really moving along’

Officials give field house updates at Soldotna City Council meeting

The under-construction Soldotna Field House stands in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Civil Air Patrol Cadet Elodi Frisk delivers Thanksgiving meals to seniors during the Hilcorp Areawide Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon in the Kenai Senior Center banquet hall in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Giving thanks together

Seniors gather for annual Hilcorp Areawide Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon

Kenai Civil Air Patrol Cadet Elodi Frisk delivers Thanksgiving meals to seniors during the Hilcorp Areawide Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon in the Kenai Senior Center banquet hall in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Anchor Point man indicted for 3 shootings at Homer family planning clinic, recovery center

The grand jury returned 12 counts total for the three shootings

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is barricaded on Overland Avenue in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Citing dangerous drivers, Kenai closes one entrance to visitor’s center

The barricade will be removed temporarily on Friday for Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities

The entrance to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is barricaded on Overland Avenue in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)