News

The Kenai River flows by the newly restored riverbank of Dow Island on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. A group of four property owners banded together this spring to install the extensive project to protect the bank of the island in the Kenai River from rapid erosion. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

2 charged after illegal gravel dumping in Kenai River

Two men are facing charges after dumping gravel in the Kenai River related to an erosion problem on Dow Island. The state has levied charges… Continue reading

The Kenai River flows by the newly restored riverbank of Dow Island on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. A group of four property owners banded together this spring to install the extensive project to protect the bank of the island in the Kenai River from rapid erosion. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly discusses changes to capital priority process

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is considering changes to its community engagement process for state capital project funding priorities. In the past, the borough has… Continue reading

Students dismissed 90 minutes early on Wednesday

Students will be heading home 90 minutes earlier on Wednesday. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will release all students early in order to allow… Continue reading

A participant in Sunday’s Out of the Darkness Kenai Walk adorned a bib saying who she was walking for — Mason Vig and too many students. The walk started at the Kenaitze Fishery Site in Kenai, Alaska and continued down the beach for one mile. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Community walks ‘Out of the Darkness’ for suicide awareness

Suicide rates in Alaska are at a 20-year high and it is the leading cause of death among Alaskans age 10 to 34, according to… Continue reading

A participant in Sunday’s Out of the Darkness Kenai Walk adorned a bib saying who she was walking for — Mason Vig and too many students. The walk started at the Kenaitze Fishery Site in Kenai, Alaska and continued down the beach for one mile. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Madee Knowlton chases down a steer during the steer daubing event at the Soldotna Equestrian Club’s first 9-11 Tribute Rodeo, junior division, on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 in Soldotna’s Centennial Park. In steer daubing, riders carry poles tipped with swabs dipped in mustard to tag a running steer forward of its shoulder. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

At the rodeo

Madee Knowlton chases down a steer during the steer daubing event at the Soldotna Equestrian Club’s first 9-11 Tribute Rodeo, junior division, on Saturday, Sept.… Continue reading

Madee Knowlton chases down a steer during the steer daubing event at the Soldotna Equestrian Club’s first 9-11 Tribute Rodeo, junior division, on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 in Soldotna’s Centennial Park. In steer daubing, riders carry poles tipped with swabs dipped in mustard to tag a running steer forward of its shoulder. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

American Legion looking for volunteers for 9/11 memorial

Monday marks the sixteenth year since the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, and the American Legion Post 20 is looking… Continue reading

  • Sep 9, 2017
  • By KAT SORENSEN
This map, taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s parcel viewer, shades in green the property where Ron and Deniece Isaacs were denied a permit for their marijuana business in 2016, and shades in blue the recreational property containing the softball fields that created a 500 foot buffer, measured in a straight line from the property boundary, which excluded the Isaacs’ shop. The odd shape of the buffered property prompted an unsucessful attempt by council member Bob Molloy to loosen city restrictions on proposed marijuana businesses more than 200 feet and across a road from properties that trigger setbacks. (map by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Council rejects loosening marijuana setbacks

An effort to loosen city restrictions on where marijuana businesses can locate in Kenai — which critics say has pushed businesses from the town’s commercial… Continue reading

This map, taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s parcel viewer, shades in green the property where Ron and Deniece Isaacs were denied a permit for their marijuana business in 2016, and shades in blue the recreational property containing the softball fields that created a 500 foot buffer, measured in a straight line from the property boundary, which excluded the Isaacs’ shop. The odd shape of the buffered property prompted an unsucessful attempt by council member Bob Molloy to loosen city restrictions on proposed marijuana businesses more than 200 feet and across a road from properties that trigger setbacks. (map by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Radtke, a longtime Habitat for Humanity of the Kenai Peninsula board member and volunteer, stands in front of a house Habitat for Humanity volunteers are currently building on Second Street on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Radtke is stepping down from the nonprofit chapter’s board after 20 years, though he said he still plans to stay involved. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Longtime Habitat for Humanity board member, volunteer Bill Radtke steps down

The house on Second Street in Kenai is still bare boards and concrete floor, but that doesn’t stop Bill Radtke from seeing it as the… Continue reading

Bill Radtke, a longtime Habitat for Humanity of the Kenai Peninsula board member and volunteer, stands in front of a house Habitat for Humanity volunteers are currently building on Second Street on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Radtke is stepping down from the nonprofit chapter’s board after 20 years, though he said he still plans to stay involved. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Joanna Hollier (left) shows visitor Gary Sonnevil around her apartment in Kenai's Vintage Pointe Manor during an open house in honor of the senior housing center's 25 anniversary on Thursday, September 7, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Hollier moved into the 40-unit housing complex immediately after it opened in 1992 — at the age of 67, "so I was pretty young back then," she said — and is its only remaining original resident. At the anniversary celebration, Hollier, who came to Kenai in the mid-1940s to work as an air traffic controller at the city's airport, recalled how she'd waited in line to get her room after the center opened and moved her furniture from her homestead house on Beaver Loop Road. Also attending the celebration were former Kenai mayor Pat Porter — who was director of the Kenai Senior Center in 1992 and is visiting from her current home in Texas  — then-Kenai Mayor John Williams and Kenai's then-state senator Paul Fischer. Porter, Williams, and Fischer recalled how the city had lobbyed the Alaska legislature for funds to build Vintage Pointe, including baking cookies for the Senate Finance Committee and distributing a photo of a senior woman in a bed outside during a snowy winter, holding a sign reading "Don't leave us out in the cold." (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

25 years in Vintage Pointe

Joanna Hollier (left) shows visitor Gary Sonnevil around her apartment in Kenai's Vintage Pointe Manor during an open house in honor of the senior housing… Continue reading

Joanna Hollier (left) shows visitor Gary Sonnevil around her apartment in Kenai's Vintage Pointe Manor during an open house in honor of the senior housing center's 25 anniversary on Thursday, September 7, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Hollier moved into the 40-unit housing complex immediately after it opened in 1992 — at the age of 67, "so I was pretty young back then," she said — and is its only remaining original resident. At the anniversary celebration, Hollier, who came to Kenai in the mid-1940s to work as an air traffic controller at the city's airport, recalled how she'd waited in line to get her room after the center opened and moved her furniture from her homestead house on Beaver Loop Road. Also attending the celebration were former Kenai mayor Pat Porter — who was director of the Kenai Senior Center in 1992 and is visiting from her current home in Texas  — then-Kenai Mayor John Williams and Kenai's then-state senator Paul Fischer. Porter, Williams, and Fischer recalled how the city had lobbyed the Alaska legislature for funds to build Vintage Pointe, including baking cookies for the Senate Finance Committee and distributing a photo of a senior woman in a bed outside during a snowy winter, holding a sign reading "Don't leave us out in the cold." (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Railbelt utilities make progress to pool resources

Leaders of Alaska’s largest electric utilities hope to have a green light from state regulators to form new infrastructure management companies in a little more… Continue reading

Local organization, restaurant plan teddy bear donation drive

A local organization is asking the community to donate teddy bears for kids in need this month. Bear Hugs, a community organization that distributes backpacks… Continue reading

Ordinance would exempt freight hauling from sales tax

If the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approves an ordinance amending the sales tax code, freight haulers will again be exempt from paying. Freight haulers like… Continue reading

Alaska delegation reacts to Trump’s suspension of DACA

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the federal government will end a program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in… Continue reading

Dale Bagley, Linda Hutchings and Charlie Pierce listen to a question during a forum for borough mayoral candidates Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Visitors Center. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Mayoral candidates tout experience at forum

The three candidates for borough mayor are leaning hard on their past experience to garner votes in next month’s election. With less than a month… Continue reading

Dale Bagley, Linda Hutchings and Charlie Pierce listen to a question during a forum for borough mayoral candidates Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Visitors Center. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Schaefer withdraws from assembly race

One of the candidates for District 2 on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is withdrawing from the race. Jill Schaefer, who currently represents District 2… Continue reading

In this December 2016 photo, cars wend their way northward along the Seward Highway near Hope, Alaska. In response to difficulties with emergency response during accidents on the highway corridor, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is working on the logistics for a service area specifically to provide emergency services to the approximately 113 miles of highway in the borough east of Cooper Landing. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Assembly introduces ordinance for highway service area budget

A few more of the blanks are being filled in for the East Peninsula Highway Emergency Service Area, including a proposed budget. The Kenai Peninsula… Continue reading

In this December 2016 photo, cars wend their way northward along the Seward Highway near Hope, Alaska. In response to difficulties with emergency response during accidents on the highway corridor, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is working on the logistics for a service area specifically to provide emergency services to the approximately 113 miles of highway in the borough east of Cooper Landing. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
A tea ceremony in Akita with local students participating. (Photos courtesy of Yasuko Lehtinen)

Students return from Akita Sister City Youth conference

Following the amazing performance of the Kanto Performers from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Sister City of Akita, Japan during this summer’s Progress Days, Yasuko Lehtinen… Continue reading

A tea ceremony in Akita with local students participating. (Photos courtesy of Yasuko Lehtinen)
Shayne Pond and Marjorie Dempster receive big checks from the Central Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary.

Hospital honors volunteers, awards scholarships

Central Peninsula Hospital honored its many volunteers with a summer barbecue August 16 and the auxiliary presented two CPH employees with $2,500 scholarships to continue… Continue reading

Shayne Pond and Marjorie Dempster receive big checks from the Central Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary.
Happy smiles from JBER kids who had a free day of guided fishing on the Kenai.

Hooking kids on fishing

August 16 saw nearly 100 youth from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) and Kenai Peninsula Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have the opportunity to go fishing… Continue reading

Happy smiles from JBER kids who had a free day of guided fishing on the Kenai.
Wind and waves High winds churn up the surface of Skilak Lake and blow in a mixture of clouds and blue sky Sunday in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Skilak Lake, about 15 miles long and up to four miles wide in places, is one of the largest in Alaska and can be extremely dangerous to boaters when the wind is high. From the hills above the lake Sunday, whitecapped waves appeared and large breakers were visible on the shores. The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation advises staying off the lake when the winds are high if possible. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Wind and waves

High winds churn up the surface of Skilak Lake and blow in a mixture of clouds and blue sky Sunday in the Kenai National Wildlife… Continue reading

Wind and waves High winds churn up the surface of Skilak Lake and blow in a mixture of clouds and blue sky Sunday in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Skilak Lake, about 15 miles long and up to four miles wide in places, is one of the largest in Alaska and can be extremely dangerous to boaters when the wind is high. From the hills above the lake Sunday, whitecapped waves appeared and large breakers were visible on the shores. The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation advises staying off the lake when the winds are high if possible. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)