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

Anchor Point man allegedly smashes car while driving drunk; doesn’t stop

An Anchor Point man accused of drunkenly smashing his truck into two guardrails and almost causing a head-on collision has been charged with assault. Hugh… Continue reading

Mindy Rowland performs with her Fishermen at the 44th Annual Alaska Folk Festival in Centennial Hall on Monday, April 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

A brain injury took away her speech. Music helped bring it back

Wearing a purple sweater, purple skirt, black leggings and purple nail polish to match, Mindy Rowland bounded onto the stage on the first night of… Continue reading

Mindy Rowland performs with her Fishermen at the 44th Annual Alaska Folk Festival in Centennial Hall on Monday, April 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A sign warns visitors about a recent bear sighting near the Russian River on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Bears frequent the area, a highly productive sockeye salmon fishery and one of the most popular sportfisheries in the state. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Russian River Campground road construction nearly done

The construction work is almost done but the public is still advised to be careful turning from the Sterling Highway into the Russian River Campground,… Continue reading

A sign warns visitors about a recent bear sighting near the Russian River on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Bears frequent the area, a highly productive sockeye salmon fishery and one of the most popular sportfisheries in the state. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Alternative High School graduate Larissa Pittman hugs school secretary Jacquelynn Tomrdle at the high school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Kenai Alternative High School provides more flexible edcuation for students who struggled in traditional high school environments, scheduling classes around jobs, children and life circumstances to help students achieve their high school diplomas. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Alternative graduates walk own paths to diplomas

Before they all walked away with a diploma Tuesday, the administrators at Kenai Alternative High School made sure each of the students felt individually recognized.… Continue reading

Kenai Alternative High School graduate Larissa Pittman hugs school secretary Jacquelynn Tomrdle at the high school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Kenai Alternative High School provides more flexible edcuation for students who struggled in traditional high school environments, scheduling classes around jobs, children and life circumstances to help students achieve their high school diplomas. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Terry Umatum of Anchorage banks his Anchor River king salmon on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

King fishing starts off slow on Anchor River

Usually, an opportunity to harvest king salmon brings anglers thronging to the riverbanks in the spring. Not so with the Anchor River opener this year.… Continue reading

Terry Umatum of Anchorage banks his Anchor River king salmon on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
In this film still from “Deadpool 2” released by 20th Century Fox, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) leans on Blind Al (Leslie Uggams). (Photo courtesy 20th Century Fox)

‘Deadpool 2’ brings more heart amid violence

The first “Deadpool” was a bizarre movie. I was always amazed both at the fact that it was such a big hit and that they… Continue reading

In this film still from “Deadpool 2” released by 20th Century Fox, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) leans on Blind Al (Leslie Uggams). (Photo courtesy 20th Century Fox)
Sohi graduates take the next step

Sohi graduates take the next step

After a ceremony filled with song, speeches and the cheers of friends and family, 172 Soldotna High School graduates received diplomas Tuesday night. The ceremony… Continue reading

Sohi graduates take the next step

Butler running for House of Representatives

With incumbent Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski) absent from this year’s state Alaska House District 29 race for the first time since 2001, Shawn Butler of Hope… Continue reading

After accepting his diploma, River City Academy graduate Maxwell Mock shakes hands with Kenai Peninsula School Board member Marty Anderson during River City’s graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Monday, May 21, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).

River City Academy graduates nine

The nine River City Academy students who turned their tassels at a Monday afternoon graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex spoke about the… Continue reading

After accepting his diploma, River City Academy graduate Maxwell Mock shakes hands with Kenai Peninsula School Board member Marty Anderson during River City’s graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Monday, May 21, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).
Onward and upward: Kenai Central students pursue new paths

Onward and upward: Kenai Central students pursue new paths

Their aspirations are diverse, and their paths may soon diverge, but Kenai Central High Schools graduates had one last opportunity to share a moment together… Continue reading

Onward and upward: Kenai Central students pursue new paths

Two candidates so far for House seat

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct the Kenai Peninsula Borough planning group that Shawn Butler has served on. Two candidates — Ben… Continue reading

Health insurance continues adding to Kenai budget

The city of Kenai’s proposed fiscal 2019 budget includes no tax increases while it copes with rising employee health insurance costs and adds a human… Continue reading