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Scott Aleckson (left) clips wires to the ignition contacts of a model rocket while students at his model rocketry session observe in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and said he’d like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

The right stuff

Soldotna Community Schools hosted a model rocketry class with instructor Scott Aleckson at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he… Continue reading

Scott Aleckson (left) clips wires to the ignition contacts of a model rocket while students at his model rocketry session observe in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and said he’d like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Man accused of attacking woman with wooden bat

A Soldotna man faces assault charges for two separate incidents of alleged domestic violence. On March 15, Mark A. Weinberger Jr., 32, reportedly attacked a… Continue reading

Soldotna man indicted for allegedly putting woman in chokehold

A Soldotna man was indicted last week for felony assault just weeks after pleading guilty in two separate domestic violence-related cases. Matthew F. Scarito, 36,… Continue reading

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel (left) talks with Dr. Peter Hansen (right) a retirement party for Hansen hosted by Peninsula Community Health Services at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center on Thursday, March 29, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Hansen arrived in Kenai in 1967 and has practiced family medicine since in private practice, with Central Peninsula Hospital and with Peninsula Community Health Services. He plans to retire but to stay in the community and work on a book about his experiences. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Longtime Kenai doctor plans to retire

Editor's note: This article has been updated to show that Central Peninsula Hospital opened in 1971. Though the main room at Kenai Visitors and Cultural… Continue reading

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel (left) talks with Dr. Peter Hansen (right) a retirement party for Hansen hosted by Peninsula Community Health Services at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center on Thursday, March 29, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Hansen arrived in Kenai in 1967 and has practiced family medicine since in private practice, with Central Peninsula Hospital and with Peninsula Community Health Services. He plans to retire but to stay in the community and work on a book about his experiences. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
About 2 1/2 oz. of dried marijuana. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Wells Fargo forces cannabis lab closure

One of Alaska’s three marijuana testing labs has been shut down by Wells Fargo bank, leaving the state’s growers with only two options for state-mandated… Continue reading

About 2 1/2 oz. of dried marijuana. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Ruffner files to run against Seaton for House seat

A Board of Fisheries member is planning to challenge Rep. Paul Seaton (R-Homer) for his seat in the Alaska Legislature. Robert Ruffner of Kasilof filed… Continue reading

Sales tax increase back on assembly agenda

The public will have a chance to weigh in Tuesday on a proposition to ask voters whether the Kenai Peninsula Borough should raise the sales… Continue reading

ABOVE: High school students from across the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District attended the Supreme Court Live event at Kenai Central High School on Thursday, which was the culmination of nearly a month of lessons about the case and court system. LEFT: Attorney Jon Choate, left, representing the Alaska Democratic Part discusses the ins and outs of the case after the oral arguments on Thursday as part of the Supreme Court Live event moderated by Marilyn May, right at Kenai Central High School. (Photos by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska Supreme Court comes to Kenai

The Alaska Supreme Court has the final say in the case of Alaska Democratic Party versus the state of Alaska, but high school students from… Continue reading

ABOVE: High school students from across the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District attended the Supreme Court Live event at Kenai Central High School on Thursday, which was the culmination of nearly a month of lessons about the case and court system. LEFT: Attorney Jon Choate, left, representing the Alaska Democratic Part discusses the ins and outs of the case after the oral arguments on Thursday as part of the Supreme Court Live event moderated by Marilyn May, right at Kenai Central High School. (Photos by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

School board to take action on FY19 budget Monday

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will take action on the preliminary Fiscal Year 2019 general fund budget at Monday night’s meeting. Total expenditures in… Continue reading

Bypass may bump businesses, boggle bears

Plans to relocate five miles of the Sterling Highway through the hills around Cooper Landing have been under way since the 1970s, but questions about… Continue reading

Soldotna High School student Jaron Swanson does bridge pose Friday while in a yoga class offered during the Focus on Learning period at the end of each school day. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Namaste to end the day: Students find breath in yoga class

It would be easy for the controlled chaos of Soldotna High School’s hallways to seep into Lisa Wells’ yoga class. As the final class period… Continue reading

Soldotna High School student Jaron Swanson does bridge pose Friday while in a yoga class offered during the Focus on Learning period at the end of each school day. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

LIO teleconference schedule for April 2

Monday, 4:00 p.m. The Senate Resources Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss Confirmation Hearings: Orville Huntington & Al Cain, Board of Fisheries and… Continue reading

  • Mar 31, 2018
Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet wait to be set to the a processor on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Commercial salmon harvest forecasted weaker statewide

Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify that the comment period offered on the federal rule regarding halibut catch limits is post-promulgation. If… Continue reading

Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet wait to be set to the a processor on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Soldotna man arrested for vandalizing school fields

Woman who allegedly charged firefighters with van faces new assault charges

A woman facing charges for reportedly trying to run over first responders at the scene of a house fire in February was arrested last week… Continue reading

Soldotna man arrested for vandalizing school fields
Father arrested for failing to register as sex offender days after son arrested for vehicle theft

Father arrested for failing to register as sex offender days after son arrested for vehicle theft

A man was charged with perjury and repeated failure to register as a sex offender last week, just days after his son was arrested for… Continue reading

Father arrested for failing to register as sex offender days after son arrested for vehicle theft
Men accused of stealing truck lights

Men accused of stealing truck lights

Two men were charged with theft and trespassing last week after allegedly stealing $300 LED truck lights from a commercial property along Kenai Spur Highway.… Continue reading

Men accused of stealing truck lights

Gravel pit group looks at reclamation, bonding

The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s working group on material sites is getting at the heart of the reason it was formed — to help resolve some… Continue reading

Attorney Jon Choate, left, representing the Alaska Democratic Party, and state attorney Laura Fox, discuss the ins and outs of the case after the oral arguments on Thursday as part of the Supreme Court Live event moderated by Marilyn May, center, at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Oral arguments heard in primary ballot lawsuit

Assistant Attorney General Laura Fox and Alaska Democratic Party attorney Jon Choate were tasked with answering a simple question in front of the Alaska Supreme… Continue reading

Attorney Jon Choate, left, representing the Alaska Democratic Party, and state attorney Laura Fox, discuss the ins and outs of the case after the oral arguments on Thursday as part of the Supreme Court Live event moderated by Marilyn May, center, at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna postpones annexation decision to May

The Soldotna City Council postponed making any decisions on moving forward with annexation until its May 9 meeting. After a two-hour work session on Wednesday… Continue reading

  • Mar 29, 2018
  • By KAT SORENSEN

Tie vote jeopardizes HEA solar project

A Homer Electric Association plan to build Alaska’s highest-capacity solar farm near HEA’s Anchor Point substation is in limbo after the cooperative’s eight directors tied… Continue reading