News

Travis Burnett (right) takes a shot with a dart at The Place Bar and Motel on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 near Nikiski, Alaska. Burnett is part of a team that shoots darts at various bars around the central Kenai Peninsula, with his team headquartered at the Main Street Tap and Grill in Kenai. They rotate around other bars on an every-other-week basis. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

New owners take over at Nikiski’s The Place Bar

Bears peek out from various corners of the inside of the bar at The Place Bar and Motel — a wooden one from near a… Continue reading

Travis Burnett (right) takes a shot with a dart at The Place Bar and Motel on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 near Nikiski, Alaska. Burnett is part of a team that shoots darts at various bars around the central Kenai Peninsula, with his team headquartered at the Main Street Tap and Grill in Kenai. They rotate around other bars on an every-other-week basis. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Frances Leach, pictured here in this undated photo, has been named the new executive director of the United Fishermen of Alaska, effective Jan. 5, 2018. (Photo courtesy the United Fishermen of Alaska)

UFA names new executive director

The biggest commercial fishing organization in the state will have a new executive director in January. The United Fishermen of Alaska, a statewide umbrella trade… Continue reading

Frances Leach, pictured here in this undated photo, has been named the new executive director of the United Fishermen of Alaska, effective Jan. 5, 2018. (Photo courtesy the United Fishermen of Alaska)

Senate adjourns session after passing crime bill

JUNEAU — The Alaska Senate set aside constitutional concerns and approved a crime bill Friday, but it sidestepped taxes when ending the special legislative session.… Continue reading

  • Nov 11, 2017
  • By Becky Bohrer
First lady Melania Trump listens as children tell her about 3D printing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Trump visited with children taking part in programs for the children of military members at the base in Anchorage, Alaska, before flying back to Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Melania Trump visits military families

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON — Melania Trump might have been a fashion model at one time in her life, but she had no qualms ripping off… Continue reading

  • Nov 11, 2017
  • By Mark Thiessen
First lady Melania Trump listens as children tell her about 3D printing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Trump visited with children taking part in programs for the children of military members at the base in Anchorage, Alaska, before flying back to Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
This aerial photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a herd of caribou on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says her legislation to open Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling would generate $2 billion in royalties over the next decade _ with half the money going to her home state. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP)

Murkowski sees financial boon in refuge drilling

WASHINGTON — Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says her legislation to open Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling would generate $2 billion… Continue reading

  • Nov 11, 2017
  • By MATTHEW DALY
This aerial photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a herd of caribou on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says her legislation to open Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling would generate $2 billion in royalties over the next decade _ with half the money going to her home state. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP)

KESA medic treated 19 patients after Las Vegas mass shooting

A Homer-area first responder deployed by the American Red Cross to help in the aftermath of the Las Vegas mass shooting found that the best… Continue reading

Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School 2nd grade teacher Kelly Brewer helps student Levi Kirby into his judge’s robes before the class begins its mock trial of “Arthur T. Grinch” based on the Dr. Seuss classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The class has been studying civics and learning about the court process and put on a mock sentencing hearing, complete with witnesses and a jury composed of students’ parents and K-Beach Elementary Principal Nate Crabtree. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo: The youth court of Whoville

Right: Kelly Brewer’s second grade class at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School took over the courtroom for the morning to put on a mock sentencing hearing… Continue reading

Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School 2nd grade teacher Kelly Brewer helps student Levi Kirby into his judge’s robes before the class begins its mock trial of “Arthur T. Grinch” based on the Dr. Seuss classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The class has been studying civics and learning about the court process and put on a mock sentencing hearing, complete with witnesses and a jury composed of students’ parents and K-Beach Elementary Principal Nate Crabtree. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Mulling boulders: Soldotna starts talks about new feature

Soldotna Parks and Recreation is toying with the idea of adding a bouldering feature to Soldotna Creek Park to bring more activities into the park,… Continue reading

FILE - In this Tuesday, April 18, 2017, file photo, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker addresses reporters during a news conference in Juneau, Alaska. The state of Alaska will attempt to advance a multibillion dollar natural gas pipeline project with the help of interests from China. Walker said the agreement signed late Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, is with Sinopec, China Investment Corp. and the Bank of China. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Alaska signs gas pipeline project deal with China

ANCHORAGE — The state of Alaska took a major step toward realizing a long-sought pipeline to move natural gas from the North Slope to Asia,… Continue reading

FILE - In this Tuesday, April 18, 2017, file photo, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker addresses reporters during a news conference in Juneau, Alaska. The state of Alaska will attempt to advance a multibillion dollar natural gas pipeline project with the help of interests from China. Walker said the agreement signed late Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, is with Sinopec, China Investment Corp. and the Bank of China. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Furie defers 2017 drilling for want of tax credit payment

Cook Inlet gas producer Furie Operating Alaska is blaming its scuttled 2017 drilling season on a technical problem and the Alaska government’s nonpayment of incentive… Continue reading

Crash in Turnagain Pass sends 1 to hospital

Report says meth use up across state

Alongside the national conversation over the opioid epidemic, Alaskan health professionals are seeing a rise in methamphetamine use. A study released Tuesday by the Alaska… Continue reading

Crash in Turnagain Pass sends 1 to hospital
A crew from Gebhardt Construction puts metal siding on a Kenai building — erected as office space in 1968 but vacant since the mid-1980s, and now set to open in early 2018 as an Extreme Fun Center amusement hall and arcade — on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. John Schweiger, whose company Coming Attractions Theatres has owned the building and the adjacent Kenai Cinema since May, said crews are finishing the exterior before colder weather sets in, and will spend the winter refurbishing the inside, so the center “will hopefully be open for spring break.” Coming Attractions is “about 80 to 90 percent” through the process of deciding what attractions the center will feature, Schweiger said. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai arcade in progress

A crew from Gebhardt Construction puts metal siding on a Kenai building — erected as office space in 1968 but vacant since the mid-1980s, and… Continue reading

A crew from Gebhardt Construction puts metal siding on a Kenai building — erected as office space in 1968 but vacant since the mid-1980s, and now set to open in early 2018 as an Extreme Fun Center amusement hall and arcade — on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. John Schweiger, whose company Coming Attractions Theatres has owned the building and the adjacent Kenai Cinema since May, said crews are finishing the exterior before colder weather sets in, and will spend the winter refurbishing the inside, so the center “will hopefully be open for spring break.” Coming Attractions is “about 80 to 90 percent” through the process of deciding what attractions the center will feature, Schweiger said. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

District talks replacement standards

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is exploring guidelines for repairs, replacements and improvements to standardize practices for the district. During Board of Education work… Continue reading

HEA shoots for 2018 solar project completion

Homer Electric Association is hoping to have its small-scale solar project online by the end of the 2018 construction season, said HEA Director of Power,… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Keep Your Airspeed Up’ tells a big story

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Keep Your Airspeed Up’ tells a big story

In things of great importance, you stand on the shoulders of giants. Those who came before you gave you a boost to get you where… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Keep Your Airspeed Up’ tells a big story
Anya Hondel rehearses a scene for the upcoming Soldotna High School musical Cinderella, which starts its run at the school’s auditorium tonight through Saturday with performances starting at 6:30 p.m. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Cinderella goes steampunk

On the surface, Soldotna High School’s rendition of Cinderella may seem a little off. Instead of a fireplace, there is a boiler room and instead… Continue reading

Anya Hondel rehearses a scene for the upcoming Soldotna High School musical Cinderella, which starts its run at the school’s auditorium tonight through Saturday with performances starting at 6:30 p.m. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Poet’s Corner: Quiet Mind, Peaceful Heart

Quiet Mind, Peaceful Heart By Bonnie Marie Playle, Soldotna Wow, what a combination, both can be attained without medication. Try meditation! To have a quiet… Continue reading

  • Nov 8, 2017
  • By Bonnie Marie Playle
The new Everything Bagels has more of everything you love on a bagel.

Finding the Bagel Lady

A year and a half ago, Pamela Parker, now known as the “Bagel Lady,” taught herself how to make an authentic New York-style bagel that… Continue reading

The new Everything Bagels has more of everything you love on a bagel.
Biker Si of Peninsula Harley hands out sweets at Boys & Girls Club Trunk or Treat.

Treating the tricksters

For kids of the Central Peninsula there was no shortage of Halloween activities or candies. And parents certainly got their money’s worth from this year’s… Continue reading

Biker Si of Peninsula Harley hands out sweets at Boys & Girls Club Trunk or Treat.
The pages of Harry Potter books come to life at Kenai Library.

Kenai Library is ‘Literary Haunted’

The Halloween weekend saw many fun and scary events on the Peninsula, including the Kenai Community Library where the fun loving staff created a “Literary… Continue reading

The pages of Harry Potter books come to life at Kenai Library.