Santa Claus greets Hudson Reinhardt during Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Getting into the holiday spirit

Christmas arrives in Kenai with fireworks, Santa and a lot of rain

Santa Claus greets Hudson Reinhardt during Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kinley Ferguson tells Santa Claus what she wants for Christmas during Christmas in the Park festivities on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Creating a winter wonderland

Christmas in the Park to bring Santa, sleigh rides, fireworks on Saturday

Kinley Ferguson tells Santa Claus what she wants for Christmas during Christmas in the Park festivities on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Flowers bloom at Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday, June 24, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to repair failed wastewater pipe

The pipe to be repaired discharges treated effluent into the Kenai River

Flowers bloom at Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday, June 24, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A mock-up of a new community health center to be located on First Avenue in Seward. (Illustration via City of Seward)

Seward council backs pursuit of funds by clinic for new facility

Members of the Seward City Council on Monday backed efforts by the Seward Community Health Center’s efforts to build a new community health clinic on… Continue reading

A mock-up of a new community health center to be located on First Avenue in Seward. (Illustration via City of Seward)
Jesse Lamm, Coltin Yancey and Chef Stephen Lamm plate and serve the Thanksgiving meal at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A day to be thankful’

Thanksgiving at the food bank is a community celebration

Jesse Lamm, Coltin Yancey and Chef Stephen Lamm plate and serve the Thanksgiving meal at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks to attendees at a town hall event on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman talks energy security, school funding at Nikiski town hall

A large portion of the discussion during Monday’s town hall focused on the pending shortage of natural gas resources in Cook Inlet

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks to attendees at a town hall event on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula College Main Entrance on Aug. 18, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fueling a better understanding of natural gas

KPC Showcase “Gasonomics” with Larry Persily set for Thursday

The Kenai Peninsula College Main Entrance on Aug. 18, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

72-year-old Soldotna resident dead in Sunday house fire

The origin and cause of the fire are currently under investigation

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Cars travel over the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, after snow and rain fell Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Freezing rain forecast through Thanksgiving morning

Periods of light freezing rain are expected from 4 p.m. Wednesday through 11 a.m. on Thursday

Cars travel over the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, after snow and rain fell Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
Design image via City of Soldotna.

Soldotna finalizing waterfront redevelopment design plan

The project would redevelop 85 acres of land between the Sterling Highway and the Kenai River

Design image via City of Soldotna.
In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard is the aftermath of a landslide in Wrangell, Alaska on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (U.S. Coast Guard photo via AP)

Girl dead, woman rescued, 5 missing after landslide hits isolated Alaska fishing community

The slide — estimated to be about 450 feet wide — occurred at about 9 p.m. Monday during a significant rain- and windstorm near Wrangell

  • Nov 21, 2023
  • By BECKY BOHRER, MARK THIESSEN and JOHN RABY Associated Press
  • State News
In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard is the aftermath of a landslide in Wrangell, Alaska on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (U.S. Coast Guard photo via AP)
Members of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee raise hands to vote in favor of a proposal during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Lower Cook Inlet fishing regs discussed at committee meeting

The proposals to the State Board of Fisheries were considered during a meeting of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee on Monday

Members of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee raise hands to vote in favor of a proposal during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
American Legion Post 20 Cmdr. Ron Homan, center, is joined onstage by Past Cmdr. Dave Segura and Chaplain Mike Meredith while speaking during a Veterans Day celebration at the American Legion Post 20 in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai OKs discount for veterans buying city land

Eligible veterans include those who are at least 18 years old and have lived in Alaska for at least one year immediately prior to the sale

American Legion Post 20 Cmdr. Ron Homan, center, is joined onstage by Past Cmdr. Dave Segura and Chaplain Mike Meredith while speaking during a Veterans Day celebration at the American Legion Post 20 in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign directs voters on March 5, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Local field for 2024 state elections takes shape

Kenai Peninsula voters next November will cast ballots in one Alaska State Senate race and in four Alaska House of Representative races

A sign directs voters on March 5, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Betty Hatch wades out into the mouth of the Kenai River with a dipnet in hand on Monday, July 10, 2023, at the Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Report: Kenai dipnetting participation was about average in 2023

Kenai collected around $483,000 in revenue from the fishery

Betty Hatch wades out into the mouth of the Kenai River with a dipnet in hand on Monday, July 10, 2023, at the Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Santa Claus waves from the top of a Kenai Fire Department fire engine during the “Christmas Comes to Kenai” parade on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Santa, fireworks to return for Christmas Comes to Kenai

Festivities will kick off Friday, Nov. 24, at 11 a.m., then run through the day with the parade at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 7 p.m.

Santa Claus waves from the top of a Kenai Fire Department fire engine during the “Christmas Comes to Kenai” parade on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Troopers: Reaction team dispatched after assault suspect refuses to leave residence

Troopers responded shortly after midnight to reports of a disturbance at a Soldotna home

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Trees and mountains are seen from Hidden Creek Trail near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on July 8, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

72-year-old man hospitalized after hiking trail bear attack

The man had accidentally gotten between a sow brown bear and her cub, which led the mother to attack, troopers said

Trees and mountains are seen from Hidden Creek Trail near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on July 8, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)