Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion                                 Bobbi Jackson samples some of her fermented cauliflower and carrots at Jackson Gardens and Nursery, Monday, Aug. 26, near Soldotna.

Shop talk: In the business of growing

Bobbi Jackson’s 10-acre homestead has become a cornucopia of locally grown flowers and produce.

Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion                                 Bobbi Jackson samples some of her fermented cauliflower and carrots at Jackson Gardens and Nursery, Monday, Aug. 26, near Soldotna.
Trees burned by the Swan Lake Fire and knocked down by gusts of wind can be seen here along the Sterling Highway on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Swan Lake Fire shows little weekend growth despite strong Sunday winds

Winds reached up to 45 mph along some isolated areas of the Sterling Highway

Trees burned by the Swan Lake Fire and knocked down by gusts of wind can be seen here along the Sterling Highway on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign directs voters at Soldotna City Hall during the special Field House election on March 5, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to consider changing service board elections to appointments

The borough has 12 service boards, of which seven boards include elected positions.

A sign directs voters at Soldotna City Hall during the special Field House election on March 5, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Schools briefs for the week of Sept. 2, 2019

Schools briefs for the week of Sept. 2, 2019

What’s happening this week

  • Aug 31, 2019
Schools briefs for the week of Sept. 2, 2019
Smoke from the Swan Lake Fire impairs visibility on the Sterling Highway on Aug. 20, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Hunters should be aware of fire conditions

Hunting season is already open, and more openings are scheduled soon for the Kenai Peninsula.

Smoke from the Swan Lake Fire impairs visibility on the Sterling Highway on Aug. 20, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Faces of the fire

Faces of the fire

On the line with firefighters battling the Swan Lake blaze

Faces of the fire
Rains help firefighting efforts

Rains help firefighting efforts

A low-pressure storm system arrived Friday and some areas of the fire received 1/4-inch of rain.

Rains help firefighting efforts
Cooper Landing man arrested after high-speed pursuit on Sterling Highway

Cooper Landing man arrested after high-speed pursuit on Sterling Highway

The vehicle allegedly stopped in a parking lot, rammed three patrol vehicles in an attempt to flee.

Cooper Landing man arrested after high-speed pursuit on Sterling Highway
A disaster declaration for the borough was extended and an emergency ordinance to fund disaster response was passed in a special assembly meeting at the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly extends fire disaster declaration

The declaration includes $200,00 for emergency response.

A disaster declaration for the borough was extended and an emergency ordinance to fund disaster response was passed in a special assembly meeting at the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
This map shows the combined emergency area closure for the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Church National Forest effective Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (U.S. Forest Service)

Public lands around fire closed

The closures are due to concern for public health and safety related to the Swan Lake Fire.

This map shows the combined emergency area closure for the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Church National Forest effective Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (U.S. Forest Service)
The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

Crews continue to battle Swan Lake Fire

As of Thursday morning, the fire measured 161,921 acres.

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)
Voter registration deadline Sunday

Voter registration deadline Sunday

Absentee ballots can be submitted in person from Sept. 16 through Election Day.

Voter registration deadline Sunday
Nancy Yeaton of Nanwalek speaks at a Hilcorp meeting on lower Cook Inlet seismic testing on Aug. 23, 2019, at Land’s End Resort in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Hilcorp holds Homer meeting on seismic testing; questions and comments get heated

Some people asked pointed questions and someone blew an air horn.

Nancy Yeaton of Nanwalek speaks at a Hilcorp meeting on lower Cook Inlet seismic testing on Aug. 23, 2019, at Land’s End Resort in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Borough issues disaster declaration as Nanwalek, Seldovia run out of water

Borough issues disaster declaration as Nanwalek, Seldovia run out of water

Seldovia’s water source nearly depleted; Nanwalek will be out by Friday.

Borough issues disaster declaration as Nanwalek, Seldovia run out of water
Traffic is backed up along the Sterling Highway after the proximity of the Swan Lake Fire caused a road closure on Aug. 19, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Swan Lake Fire delays deliveries across peninsula

The Swan Lake Fire has been growing for over a week now, causing delays and closures on the Sterling Highway between Cooper Landing and Sterling.… Continue reading

Traffic is backed up along the Sterling Highway after the proximity of the Swan Lake Fire caused a road closure on Aug. 19, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Tight Lines: Weekly fishing report

Tight Lines: Weekly fishing report

As fishing season winds down, fire shuts down some Kenai River access

Tight Lines: Weekly fishing report
BP’s departure could leave a big hole for Alaska nonprofits

BP’s departure could leave a big hole for Alaska nonprofits

Alaska — with its small population — has a ‘pretty thin philanthropic layer’, says social service provider.

  • Aug 28, 2019
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
BP’s departure could leave a big hole for Alaska nonprofits
Erin Thompson / Peninsula Clarion                                Haze from Swan Lake Fire smoke can be seen over Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near the corner of the Sterling Highway and Funny River Road on Wednesday in Soldotna.

Smoke prompts air quality advisory for peninsula

Dense smoke from the Swan Lake Fire moved into the western peninsula Wednesday

Erin Thompson / Peninsula Clarion                                Haze from Swan Lake Fire smoke can be seen over Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near the corner of the Sterling Highway and Funny River Road on Wednesday in Soldotna.
Kara Moriarty, President and CEO of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, gives a presentation to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Visitors Center in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska Oil and Gas Association president predicts decades of increased oil production

By 2040 there could be rates of production as high as 1 million barrels a day in ANWR alone.

Kara Moriarty, President and CEO of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, gives a presentation to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Visitors Center in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The distillery of the Kenai River Brewing Company in Soldotna, Alaska, is seen in April 2018. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Clarified alcohol regs could curb fundraisers, community events in local breweries

The proposed regulations wouldn’t allow the Brewery to Bathroom 0.5K Relay for Life benefit run.

The distillery of the Kenai River Brewing Company in Soldotna, Alaska, is seen in April 2018. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)