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A car passes over the Deep Creek bridge as an angler tosses a line in the water on Sunday, May 28, 2018 in Ninilchik, Alaska. Despite the perfect weather and holiday weekend, few anglers dotted the banks of the Ninlichik River and Deep Creek on Sunday, in part because the number of salmon in the rivers so far is still fairly paltry. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game classified the fishing over Memorial Day weekend as poor, in part because the water temperatures are still chilly for this time of year. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Few kings to be seen in peninsula rivers, sockeye start surfacing

The weather on the lower Kenai Peninsula streams couldn’t have been more perfect this weekend, but many visitors hung closer to the grills and RVs… Continue reading

A car passes over the Deep Creek bridge as an angler tosses a line in the water on Sunday, May 28, 2018 in Ninilchik, Alaska. Despite the perfect weather and holiday weekend, few anglers dotted the banks of the Ninlichik River and Deep Creek on Sunday, in part because the number of salmon in the rivers so far is still fairly paltry. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game classified the fishing over Memorial Day weekend as poor, in part because the water temperatures are still chilly for this time of year. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
This still released by Disney and Lucasfilm shows Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) in “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” (Photo by Jonathan Olley/Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Internet trolls ruin ‘Solo’ for everyone else

‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ “George Lucas destroyed my childhood.” If you’ve never heard that particular complaint, then you’ve wisely stayed out of the whiniest… Continue reading

This still released by Disney and Lucasfilm shows Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) in “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” (Photo by Jonathan Olley/Lucasfilm Ltd.)
Beluga researcher Kim Ovitz (center, with sunglasses) and a group of volunteer whale-watchers look for belugas in the Kenai River on April 14, 2018 at Cunningham Park in Kenai, Alaska. 11 signed-up volunteers and several more casual ones helped Ovitz with her observations, which began March 15 and will continue until May 31. Her preliminary results suggest that a large portion of Cook Inlet’s estimated 328 belugas travel the Kenai River with the tides in early spring. (Photo courtesy of Rickard Sjoeberg).

Researcher finds many Cook Inlet belugas visit Kenai in spring

Editor's note: This story has been changed to clarify numbers that apply to beluga sightings, rather than individual whales. New monitoring of belugas in the… Continue reading

Beluga researcher Kim Ovitz (center, with sunglasses) and a group of volunteer whale-watchers look for belugas in the Kenai River on April 14, 2018 at Cunningham Park in Kenai, Alaska. 11 signed-up volunteers and several more casual ones helped Ovitz with her observations, which began March 15 and will continue until May 31. Her preliminary results suggest that a large portion of Cook Inlet’s estimated 328 belugas travel the Kenai River with the tides in early spring. (Photo courtesy of Rickard Sjoeberg).

Pioneer Potluck: About bears and people

Driving from Anchorage to Nikiski I was “bombing” along in my old green L.T.D., radio blaring, arm out the open window so I could feel… Continue reading

A cow moose feeds her newborn calves in the backyard of a home Tuesday in Soldotna Female moose are giving birth to calves all over Southcentral Alaska, usually twins, and will be temperamental and aggressive as they protect their young. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game advises everyone to stay clear of moose in backyards, trails and parks, even if the young appear to be orphaned. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo: Welcome to the world

Female moose are giving birth to calves all over Southcentral Alaska, usually twins, and will be temperamental and aggressive as they protect their young. The… Continue reading

A cow moose feeds her newborn calves in the backyard of a home Tuesday in Soldotna Female moose are giving birth to calves all over Southcentral Alaska, usually twins, and will be temperamental and aggressive as they protect their young. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game advises everyone to stay clear of moose in backyards, trails and parks, even if the young appear to be orphaned. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S Representative Don Young speaks to members of the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Don Young optimistic about resource economy

Alaska’s 45-year veteran of the U.S. House, Rep. Don Young, is optimistic about the future of the state’s economy with expanded natural resource extraction. “We’ve… Continue reading

U.S Representative Don Young speaks to members of the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Gravel pit group chips away at bond issues

One of the key controversies with gravel pits in the borough is who is responsible for cleaning them up after the digging, crushing and hauling… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen Saturday, May 12, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmakers call for alliance with other states on Canadian mining issues

A group of Alaska lawmakers wants to team up with Montana and other U.S.-Canada border states in a push to protect Southeast watersheds they say… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen Saturday, May 12, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
John Walker, Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Soldotna post, leads the color guard in retiring the colors at a Memorial Day ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park on Monday, May 28 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Retiring the colors

John Walker, Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Soldotna post, leads the color guard in retiring the colors at a Memorial Day ceremony at… Continue reading

John Walker, Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Soldotna post, leads the color guard in retiring the colors at a Memorial Day ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park on Monday, May 28 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Construction pauses for Memorial Day

Memorial Day travelers on the Kenai Peninsula won’t have to worry about construction traffic delays. The work on the major construction projects around the central… Continue reading

FILE - In this Aug. 1943 file photo, a bugler sounds taps during a memorial service while a group of G.I.s visit the graves of comrades who fell in the reconquest of Attu Island, part of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. May 30, 2018 will mark the 75th anniversary of American forces recapturing Attu Island in Alaska’s Aleutian chain from Japanese forces. It was the only World War II battle fought on North American soil. (AP Photo, File)

Soldiers recall carnage of Alaska WWII battle 75 years later

ANCHORAGE — William Roy Dover’s memory of the World War II battle is as sharp as it was 75 years ago, even though it’s been… Continue reading

  • May 28, 2018
  • By Mark Thiessen
FILE - In this Aug. 1943 file photo, a bugler sounds taps during a memorial service while a group of G.I.s visit the graves of comrades who fell in the reconquest of Attu Island, part of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. May 30, 2018 will mark the 75th anniversary of American forces recapturing Attu Island in Alaska’s Aleutian chain from Japanese forces. It was the only World War II battle fought on North American soil. (AP Photo, File)

Homer asks voters to approve sales tax boost to pay for new police station

The city of Homer is again asking residents to approve funding for a new police station — one the Homer Police Department says is badly… Continue reading

Cadence Cooper, a 6th grade student at Tustumena Elementary, inspects a plant by the side of a trail behind the school on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Elementary classes clean up, improve nearby trails

Almost as soon as they made it through the back gate at Tustumena Elementary School, Shonia Werner’s sixth-grade students were scampering down the trail in… Continue reading

Cadence Cooper, a 6th grade student at Tustumena Elementary, inspects a plant by the side of a trail behind the school on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Ruffridge picked to fill open Soldotna council seat

Soldotna narrows annexation options

The Soldotna City Council is refining controversial plans to expand the city limits as it prepares for a vote at its June 13 meeting whether… Continue reading

Ruffridge picked to fill open Soldotna council seat

State juggles Medicaid payments to stretch out funding

The state will juggle payments to health care providers for the next five weeks, delaying some payments and stretching out its limited Medicaid funding until… Continue reading

  • May 26, 2018
  • By Larry Persily
A Connections Homeschool graduate’s cap warns about the dangers of growing up at the program’s graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 24, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. The program, administered through the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, graduated 58 students this year. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Connections graduates move ahead

One of the hallmarks of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Connections Homeschool graduation is that many of the students graduating together are just meeting… Continue reading

A Connections Homeschool graduate’s cap warns about the dangers of growing up at the program’s graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 24, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. The program, administered through the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, graduated 58 students this year. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Common problems can lead to deck collapses

Common problems can lead to deck collapses

The weather is finally warm enough on the central Kenai Peninsula to sit outside in the evening without being wrapped in multiple layers. For many… Continue reading

Common problems can lead to deck collapses

Federal program runs short of money for health care internet

A reduction in federal subsidy payments for internet services essential to rural health care providers could shift almost $500,000 in costs this year to the… Continue reading

  • May 25, 2018
  • By Larry Persily
The mountains loom over a grocery store on the Sterling Highway on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. The Sterling Highway, the main corridor to and from the Kenai Peninsula, winds through the little community of Cooper Landing, often bringing dense traffic and car accidents with it, particularly in the summer. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Assembly asks DOT to lower Cooper Landing area speed limit

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly has asked the state to consider dropping the speed limit on the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing, but it’s not… Continue reading

The mountains loom over a grocery store on the Sterling Highway on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. The Sterling Highway, the main corridor to and from the Kenai Peninsula, winds through the little community of Cooper Landing, often bringing dense traffic and car accidents with it, particularly in the summer. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Swimming the Russian River

I went to the Russian River last week. I had this urge to be in water. Not the mucky brown water of the inlet, which… Continue reading