News

Chelsea Samora of Kenai holds her newborn daughter, Zoe, whose Jan. 3 birthday makes her the first baby born in Central Peninsula Hospital in 2018. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

CPH’s first 2018 baby born Wednesday

If her first day is any indication, Zoe Rae Samora is going to be an early bird. The newborn was born 11 days before her… Continue reading

Chelsea Samora of Kenai holds her newborn daughter, Zoe, whose Jan. 3 birthday makes her the first baby born in Central Peninsula Hospital in 2018. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
In April 2017 Hilcorp’s Bruce Platform, pictured here, was shut in along with its neighboring platform Anna after the later released a sheen from its flaring system that turned out to be roughly three gallons of natural gas condensate. The incident was one of the 2017 hydrocarbon leaks from Cook Inlet’s aging platforms and pipelines that prompted the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council to begin an overview of Cook Inlet oil and gas infrastructure, leading to recommendations for preventing future leaks. (Photo courtesy of Ground Truth Trekking.)

CIRCAC studying pipeline leaks

After 2017 began with a natural gas leak in Cook Inlet, local spill prevention experts are preparing a comprehensive look at Cook Inlet’s aging oil… Continue reading

In April 2017 Hilcorp’s Bruce Platform, pictured here, was shut in along with its neighboring platform Anna after the later released a sheen from its flaring system that turned out to be roughly three gallons of natural gas condensate. The incident was one of the 2017 hydrocarbon leaks from Cook Inlet’s aging platforms and pipelines that prompted the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council to begin an overview of Cook Inlet oil and gas infrastructure, leading to recommendations for preventing future leaks. (Photo courtesy of Ground Truth Trekking.)
In this Sept. 5, 2012, file photo, Ahpun, a female polar bear, strolls around her cage at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska. The popular polar bear died unexpectedly on New Year’s Eve the zoo said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Dan Joling, File)

Polar bear Ahpun dies after nearly 20 years at Alaska Zoo

ANCHORAGE (AP) — A beloved polar bear at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage has died. A zookeeper Sunday found Ahpun, who was about 20 years… Continue reading

  • Jan 2, 2018
In this Sept. 5, 2012, file photo, Ahpun, a female polar bear, strolls around her cage at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska. The popular polar bear died unexpectedly on New Year’s Eve the zoo said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Dan Joling, File)

PEAKS test adds writing analysis portion

The Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools, or PEAKS, test will feature a new prompt in the English language arts section for grades four through nine… Continue reading

“I’m entering the new year with a new career, so I’m going to try to nail it. Nail this job.” — Kenai Firefighter Jesse Tauriainen, 31, of Nikiski

What’s your New Year’s Resolution?

In celebration of the New Year, the Clarion staff asked community members what their New Year’s resolutions are or what they hope 2018 has in… Continue reading

“I’m entering the new year with a new career, so I’m going to try to nail it. Nail this job.” — Kenai Firefighter Jesse Tauriainen, 31, of Nikiski
Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Since the start of the school year, the Kenai Central High School choir has been singing. From the chambers during Borough Assembly meeting, to Soldotna… Continue reading

Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Kenai bluff project gained ground in 2017

In 2017, the mile of bluff between Old Town Kenai and the Kenai River mouth may have receded three feet — the amount of ground… Continue reading

This draft design shows just one of the many options that Soldotna could explore for the remodel of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Tim Dillon and an advisory committee created by the Soldotna City Council hopes to present 95 percent completed designs to the council in the first quarter of 2018. (Photo courtesy of Tim Dillon)

Making strides: Soldotna Sports Complex remodel drawings expected in 2018

Throughout 2017, the remodel the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex hasn’t been a sprint to the finish line, but progress on the proposed field house has… Continue reading

  • Dec 31, 2017
  • By KAT SORENSEN
This draft design shows just one of the many options that Soldotna could explore for the remodel of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Tim Dillon and an advisory committee created by the Soldotna City Council hopes to present 95 percent completed designs to the council in the first quarter of 2018. (Photo courtesy of Tim Dillon)
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