News

Alexandra Stoaks, 8, peers through a magnifying glass featured in one of the exhibits at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Stoaks and her family attended the Dec. 27 Winter Break Family Fun Day at the center. The visitor center hosts community events throughout the year, including weekly winter walks and film screenings. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Families turn out for fun at the refuge

Kids and adults explore the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center and participate in hands-on activities during a family fun day on Dec. 27. The… Continue reading

Alexandra Stoaks, 8, peers through a magnifying glass featured in one of the exhibits at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Stoaks and her family attended the Dec. 27 Winter Break Family Fun Day at the center. The visitor center hosts community events throughout the year, including weekly winter walks and film screenings. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly considers fixes for service area board vacancies

Right now, the Seldovia Recreational Service Area Board cannot meet. There aren’t enough members to make a quorum. Three of the five seats are empty… Continue reading

Men file wrongful imprisonment suit against Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS (AP) — All four men who were imprisoned in the beating death of a 15-year-old boy have filed federal civil rights lawsuits against the… Continue reading

  • Dec 28, 2017

Troopers beef up holiday enforcement

If you’re out partying this weekend, you might want to think twice about getting behind the wheel. State Troopers will be conducting focused holiday traffic… Continue reading

Dylan Griffith (left) and Chase Griffith (right), co-owners of cannabis retailer and cultivator Permafrost Distributors, talk behind the counter at their Sterling Highway store on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 in Sterling, Alaska. The brothers opened their Nikiski limited cultivation operation in December 2016 and expanded to the Sterling retail store and cultivation operation in June 2017. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Post-vote, cannabis businesses bloom on peninsula

Every time brothers Chase and Dylan Griffith make a business decision, instead of shaking hands, they bump fists. It’s par for the course in their… Continue reading

Dylan Griffith (left) and Chase Griffith (right), co-owners of cannabis retailer and cultivator Permafrost Distributors, talk behind the counter at their Sterling Highway store on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 in Sterling, Alaska. The brothers opened their Nikiski limited cultivation operation in December 2016 and expanded to the Sterling retail store and cultivation operation in June 2017. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Attorney Tom Wagner is retiring from his position as a contract public defender for City and Borough of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City’s public defender retiring after working more than 11,000 cases in 17 years

The numbers from the past 17 years of Tom Wagner’s life are staggering. Wagner, who is retiring from being a public defender for the city… Continue reading

Attorney Tom Wagner is retiring from his position as a contract public defender for City and Borough of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Health care cost transparency rules gain advocates

Officials say they’ve seen benefits of a health care cost transparency ordinance passed by the Anchorage Assembly last February, and now Ketchikan is exploring a… Continue reading

Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship (left) administers the oath of office to Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce during a swearing-in ceremony at the George A. Navarre Borough Administration Building on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Pierce won the mayor’s seat in a runoff election held Oct. 24, narrowly defeating opponent Linda Hutchings with a margin of 45 votes. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce hits the ground running as mayor

It’s been a busy few months for the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s new mayor. Charlie Pierce took over the borough mayor’s office Nov. 5 after a… Continue reading

Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship (left) administers the oath of office to Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce during a swearing-in ceremony at the George A. Navarre Borough Administration Building on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Pierce won the mayor’s seat in a runoff election held Oct. 24, narrowly defeating opponent Linda Hutchings with a margin of 45 votes. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Seagulls flock to where participants in the personal use dipnet fishery fish on the north beach of the Kenai River on July 10, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska.

Borough releases draft comprehensive plan

Economic opportunity, freedom, natural resources, and strong community connections are among the things Kenai Peninsula residents value most about the area, according to the first… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Seagulls flock to where participants in the personal use dipnet fishery fish on the north beach of the Kenai River on July 10, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska.
This undated Facebook photo shows Soldotna resident Jeremy Dooley and the dog he adopted. After Dooley died suddenly in January 2016, his organs were donated and saved the lives of four people in the Pacific Northwest.

After tragic death, Soldotna man gives life through organ donation

There’s a scene that William Dooley remembers about his son Jeremy as a child. On a family visit to the Detroit Zoo, a luminous blue… Continue reading

This undated Facebook photo shows Soldotna resident Jeremy Dooley and the dog he adopted. After Dooley died suddenly in January 2016, his organs were donated and saved the lives of four people in the Pacific Northwest.
Jack Marshall visits the senior lunch at the Douglas United Methodist Church on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau man plays Santa for nearly 40 years

When Jack Marshall first donned the white gloves to spread Christmas cheer, the year was 1978. The hot gift was the Atari 2600 video game… Continue reading

Jack Marshall visits the senior lunch at the Douglas United Methodist Church on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Trooper involved in shooting identified

The Alaska State Troopers have released the name of the trooper who shot a man during a Dec. 23 standoff in Soldotna. Lt. Dane Gilmore,… Continue reading

Joint board of fish, game considers meeting

The two boards regulating fisheries and game in the state are considering a joint meeting next spring. The Joint Board, which brings together the members… Continue reading

Freedom House brings support to women seeking sobriety

Freedom House brings support to women seeking sobriety

Each woman staying at Soldotna’s Freedom House has a different story. She may have been homeless, have lost her kids, damaged relationships with friends and… Continue reading

Freedom House brings support to women seeking sobriety

East side beaches remain closed to clamming in 2018

Summer 2018 will be the fourth year in a row with no clamming on Cook Inlet’s east side beaches. The Alaska Department of Fish and… Continue reading

  • Dec 25, 2017
  • By ELIZABETH EARL and BEN BOETTGER
Halibut hang from the display rack at North Country Charters on the Homer Spit on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Commission to consider cutting halibut catch quotas

Halibut fishermen may see a reduction in the total amount of fish they’re allowed to catch in 2018. Data presented to the International Pacific Halibut… Continue reading

Halibut hang from the display rack at North Country Charters on the Homer Spit on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Aud Walaszek, Heritage Place activities coordinator introduces Bethlehem players.

A visit from Bethlehem

Revisiting Bethlehem is a local Christmas tradition that started nine years ago when Becky Moore had a Bethlehem revisited experience at a church in the… Continue reading

Aud Walaszek, Heritage Place activities coordinator introduces Bethlehem players.
Hale Holiday house on Henrich Street in Soldotna.

Lighting up the holidays

The Hale House in Soldotna on Henrich Street off Redoubt once again is over the top for holiday night lights. As an added bonus, tune… Continue reading

Hale Holiday house on Henrich Street in Soldotna.
John Walker, Commander Jerry V. Horn Memorial Post 10046 VFW places a wreath on a veteran’s grave in Soldotna.

Wreaths across America honors veterans

December 16 was the National Wreaths Across America Day. The day’s mission is to Remember, Honor and Teach, carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at… Continue reading

John Walker, Commander Jerry V. Horn Memorial Post 10046 VFW places a wreath on a veteran’s grave in Soldotna.
Orca Theatre manager Jordan Gruber makes popcorn for the next rush of movie-goers on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at the Orca Theatre on Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas at the Orca

While the muffled sounds of lightsabers buzzing and TIE fighters screaming came through one wall of the lobby and jungle drums through the other, the… Continue reading

Orca Theatre manager Jordan Gruber makes popcorn for the next rush of movie-goers on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at the Orca Theatre on Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)