News

Soldotna introduces ordinance to continue pot ban

The Soldotna City Council has introduced an ordinance that would turn the city’s two-year moratorium on marijuana businesses into an indefinite prohibition of commercial production,… Continue reading

A wildlife scene, carved by Eric Berson, is found at The Dreamer’s Wood in Sterling. (Photos by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Chainsaw artist carves out niche

As the sun sets on the Kenai Peninsula’s busy tourist season, Eric Berson is closing up shop for the winter. You won’t be able to… Continue reading

A wildlife scene, carved by Eric Berson, is found at The Dreamer’s Wood in Sterling. (Photos by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
John Riggins of Kenai holds up the silver salmon he caught on the Kenai River in Cunningham Park on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishing report: Silvers abound, trout fishing heats up

Cars packed the parking lot at Cunningham Park in Kenai on Tuesday just after noon. Down on the muddy bank below the stairs, fishermen in… Continue reading

John Riggins of Kenai holds up the silver salmon he caught on the Kenai River in Cunningham Park on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska to provide public voter data if records fee paid

JUNEAU — Alaska’s lieutenant governor said the state will provide publicly available data to President Donald Trump’s commission investigating alleged voter fraud — for $21.… Continue reading

  • Aug 23, 2017
  • By Becky Bohrer
This image released by Bleecker Street shows Adam Driver, left, and Channing Tatum in “Logan Lucky.” (Claudette Barius/Fingerprint Releasing/Bleecker Street via AP)

Reeling it in: ‘Logan Lucky’ keeps it light, fun

“Logan Lucky” Bleecker Street Media 1 hour, 59 minutes Adam Driver is an actor I can’t really seem to warm up to, even though I… Continue reading

  • Aug 23, 2017
  • By Chris Jenness
This image released by Bleecker Street shows Adam Driver, left, and Channing Tatum in “Logan Lucky.” (Claudette Barius/Fingerprint Releasing/Bleecker Street via AP)

Kenai Peninsula United Way to close June 2018

The Kenai Peninsula United Way — a nonprofit that has supported local charities, senior centers and youth activity groups by fundraising on their behalf —… Continue reading

Larger commercial coho harvest sparks concern in Mat-Su

Larger commercial coho harvest sparks concern in Mat-Su

Upper Cook Inlet’s drift gillnet and east side set gillnet commercial fishermen saw a larger harvest of coho than in recent years this season. Not… Continue reading

Larger commercial coho harvest sparks concern in Mat-Su
Colleen Puch wishes the students on her bus good luck on their first day of school at Nikiski North Star Elementary School, marking the start of her forty fourth year as a school bus driver Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in Nikiski, Alaska. She chose to drive for one more year so she could drive her great-grandson to school, after having driven her children and grandchildren. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Year begins in Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Along the stretch of South Miller Loop Road to Nikiski North Star Elementary, students, with their families watching, patiently awaited the school bus that would… Continue reading

Colleen Puch wishes the students on her bus good luck on their first day of school at Nikiski North Star Elementary School, marking the start of her forty fourth year as a school bus driver Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in Nikiski, Alaska. She chose to drive for one more year so she could drive her great-grandson to school, after having driven her children and grandchildren. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
A drift boat rests at anchor in this July 2016 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Conclusion reached in UCIDA lawsuit

The United Cook Inlet Drift Association’s lawsuit against the federal government has finally reached its conclusion, though its repercussions are far from over. Alaska U.S.… Continue reading

A drift boat rests at anchor in this July 2016 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Four seats on the school board ballot in October

Some Kenai Peninsula Borough School District students will be braving the halls of high school for the first time this year, or greeting a new… Continue reading

Assembly reaches land deal on Karluk Basin

Four years after flooding led to scrambling and confusion in the Kalifornsky area, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly finally reached an agreement on how flooding… Continue reading

Soup’s on for Kenai Peninsula Food Bank fundraiser

On Saturday the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank will be hosting the 21st installment of its annual Soup Supper and Auction, a dinner event that food… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker, left, and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, center, smile as they complete paperwork at the state Division of Elections on Monday in Juneau. Walker and Mallott announced plans to seek re-election on Monday. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Walker, Mallott file for re-election

JUNEAU — Alaska Gov. Bill Walker on Monday announced plans to seek re-election as an independent, saying he’s focused on a vision for the state… Continue reading

  • Aug 21, 2017
  • By Becky Bohrer
Gov. Bill Walker, left, and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, center, smile as they complete paperwork at the state Division of Elections on Monday in Juneau. Walker and Mallott announced plans to seek re-election on Monday. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Drive down memory lane

Drive down memory lane

A Ford Model A pickup truck belonging to John Tichenor of Wasilla stands parked next to a line of other restored classic Ford cars and… Continue reading

Drive down memory lane
This map, taken from Alaska Communications’ presentation to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, shows the areas eligible for broadband expansion with the funding Alaska Communications received from the Federal Communications Commission. The company plans to expand its broadband internet services on the Kenai Peninsula in stages from 2018&

Alaska Communications plans broadband expansion on peninsula

Residents in the most rural areas of the western peninsula may get access to much better internet connections in the next few years. Alaska Communications,… Continue reading

This map, taken from Alaska Communications’ presentation to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, shows the areas eligible for broadband expansion with the funding Alaska Communications received from the Federal Communications Commission. The company plans to expand its broadband internet services on the Kenai Peninsula in stages from 2018&
With Central Emergency Services’ Shawn Killian playing catcher, Soldotna Police Department disapatcher Tammy Goggia swings at an oncoming ball during a charity softball game for the Nikiski Children’s Fund between local law enforcers and firefighters on Thursday, August 18 at Kenai’s Oiler’s Field. Law enforcement won the game 17-7, but made no arrests for stolen bases. The Nikiski Children’s Fund, founded last year by Carlee Rizzo, makes money available to to teachers and other community members to fill needs they see for local children. Rizzo said the group has more fundraisers planned for the future, such as a show in September by the rock trio No Small Children.

Police put out firefighters

Putting out the fire With Central Emergency Services’ Shawn Killian playing catcher, Soldotna Police Department disapatcher Tammy Goggia swings at an oncoming ball during a… Continue reading

With Central Emergency Services’ Shawn Killian playing catcher, Soldotna Police Department disapatcher Tammy Goggia swings at an oncoming ball during a charity softball game for the Nikiski Children’s Fund between local law enforcers and firefighters on Thursday, August 18 at Kenai’s Oiler’s Field. Law enforcement won the game 17-7, but made no arrests for stolen bases. The Nikiski Children’s Fund, founded last year by Carlee Rizzo, makes money available to to teachers and other community members to fill needs they see for local children. Rizzo said the group has more fundraisers planned for the future, such as a show in September by the rock trio No Small Children.
South Peninsula Hospital CEO Robert Letson poses for a photo in front of the hospital’s Bartlett Street entrance on July 9, 2016, for SPH’s 60th Anniversary Party. (Homer News file photo, Anna Frost)

South Peninsula Hospital CEO will retire next summer

South Peninsula Hospital CEO Bob Letson is leaving Homer after nearly a decade. What he’ll remember most from his time here are all the expanded… Continue reading

South Peninsula Hospital CEO Robert Letson poses for a photo in front of the hospital’s Bartlett Street entrance on July 9, 2016, for SPH’s 60th Anniversary Party. (Homer News file photo, Anna Frost)
(Left to right) Kalista, Shaunzi and Kimbra Clements crouch in a patch of low bush cranberries Aug. 15, 2016 on Tsalteshi Trails’ Wolverine Trail in Soldotna, Alaska during the Harvest Moon Festival. (Clarion File Photo)

Celebrating on this harvest moon

The harvest moon marks the end of the growing season as the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox which marks the start of fall. This… Continue reading

(Left to right) Kalista, Shaunzi and Kimbra Clements crouch in a patch of low bush cranberries Aug. 15, 2016 on Tsalteshi Trails’ Wolverine Trail in Soldotna, Alaska during the Harvest Moon Festival. (Clarion File Photo)
Linda Hutchings (second from left), a candidate for Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor, answers a question during a forum with fellow candidates Dale Bagley (center) and Charlie Pierce (right) at the Funny River Community Center on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Mayoral candidates answer questions in forum

Education and the borough budget dominated the conversation at a forum for the three borough mayoral candidates in Funny River on Thursday. In October, Kenai… Continue reading

Linda Hutchings (second from left), a candidate for Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor, answers a question during a forum with fellow candidates Dale Bagley (center) and Charlie Pierce (right) at the Funny River Community Center on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A blueberry bush on the Lost Lake Trail near Seward, Alaska is adorned with berries on Thursday, August 17, 2017. The Winterberry project is looking for volunteers to monitor the berries they see with a focus on lowbush cranberry, crowberry, prickly rose and highbush cranberry, although all berries, even blueberries, may be monitored. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Wanted: Berry pickers for new Winterberry project from UAF

Berry season is here, and so is an opportunity for local berry pickers to contribute information from their picking trips to the National Science Foundation’s… Continue reading

A blueberry bush on the Lost Lake Trail near Seward, Alaska is adorned with berries on Thursday, August 17, 2017. The Winterberry project is looking for volunteers to monitor the berries they see with a focus on lowbush cranberry, crowberry, prickly rose and highbush cranberry, although all berries, even blueberries, may be monitored. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)