News

Kenai City Council fails two measures related to land dispute

A land dispute that has irritated Kenai officials, residents and would-be property developers remains a potential irritant after the Kenai city council failed two measures… Continue reading

Man missing following boat malfunction on Kenai River

A Colorado man is still missing after four boaters were ejected from an out-of-control boat on the Kenai River on Friday night. Three of the… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula gets 6 projects in capital budget

The Kenai Peninsula will get a few projects funded in the Legislature’s fiscal year 2018, the majority of which are in Seward. The Legislature approved… Continue reading

Musical duo Rio Samaya play on the River Stage during the 2017 Salmonfest in Ninilchik, Alaska on Friday, August 4, 2017. The three-day music festival concludes on Sunday night. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Salmonfest isn’t about fish

Salmonfest isn’t about the fish. Sure, the anadromous fish is ubiquitous throughout the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, where the three-day festival, which started Friday… Continue reading

Musical duo Rio Samaya play on the River Stage during the 2017 Salmonfest in Ninilchik, Alaska on Friday, August 4, 2017. The three-day music festival concludes on Sunday night. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Emily Thomas, a biological intern at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, enters vegetation data into an iPad. (Photo by Matt Bowser, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: What’s covering the Kenai Peninsula?

When most hikers reach a summit, they look out over the landscape before them to capture that point in time. They pull out their camera… Continue reading

Emily Thomas, a biological intern at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, enters vegetation data into an iPad. (Photo by Matt Bowser, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Kenai police arrest man for threatening people with stick

A Kenai man was arrested Monday after reportedly threatening employees of a local business with a stick. Around 6 a.m Monday morning Kenai Police responded… Continue reading

A family of tundra swans swim near the banks of Spruce Lake, part of the Swan Lake canoe trail system in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, on Friday north of Sterling. In the spring, tundra swans migrate to Alaska in flocks, but disperse in pairs to breed and raise young during the summer. Spruce Lake is one of more than a dozen lakes in the canoe trail system, which requires boaters to portage their canoes or kayaks between the lakes down short connecting trails. Boaters can start from the west entrance, located near Fish Lake Campground on Swan Lake Road north of Sterling, or from the east entrance, further down Swan Lake Road from the intersection with Swanson River Road. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Swan promenade

A family of tundra swans swim near the banks of Spruce Lake, part of the Swan Lake canoe trail system in the Kenai National Wildlife… Continue reading

A family of tundra swans swim near the banks of Spruce Lake, part of the Swan Lake canoe trail system in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, on Friday north of Sterling. In the spring, tundra swans migrate to Alaska in flocks, but disperse in pairs to breed and raise young during the summer. Spruce Lake is one of more than a dozen lakes in the canoe trail system, which requires boaters to portage their canoes or kayaks between the lakes down short connecting trails. Boaters can start from the west entrance, located near Fish Lake Campground on Swan Lake Road north of Sterling, or from the east entrance, further down Swan Lake Road from the intersection with Swanson River Road. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
A caribou relaxes behind Soldotna High School earlier this week. (Photo by Eric Trevino/Peninsula Clarion)

August Wildlife Viewing

A large caribou with antlers reaching high above its head could be seen on the fields of Soldotna High School, practically posing for a photo.… Continue reading

  • Aug 3, 2017
  • By KAT SORENSEN
A caribou relaxes behind Soldotna High School earlier this week. (Photo by Eric Trevino/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly approves 10-year agreement with CPH

The Kenai Peninsula Borough and Central Peninsula Hospital have a contract for the next decade. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved an operating agreement for… Continue reading

Commercial fishermen see more pinks, chums than expected

It’s been an oddly large year for chum and pink salmon in Upper Cook Inlet’s commercial fisheries. Odd-numbered years are usually pretty thin ones for… Continue reading

BlueCrest goes on temporary hiatus after tax credits halted

BlueCrest goes on temporary hiatus after tax credits halted

BlueCrest Energy Inc. is preparing to pause drilling work at its Cook Inlet oil development because the State of Alaska owes the company about $75… Continue reading

  • Aug 3, 2017
  • By ELWOOD BREHMER
  • Energy
BlueCrest goes on temporary hiatus after tax credits halted
An angler flips for sockeye salmon from the bank of the Kenai River near its confluence with Soldotna Creek on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishing report: Reds still running, some silvers showing

Editor's note: This article has been corrected to show that the bag and possession limit has been increased to 25 fish in the China Poot… Continue reading

An angler flips for sockeye salmon from the bank of the Kenai River near its confluence with Soldotna Creek on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A honeybee enjoys the flowers on the front lawn of the Soldotna Senior Center on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Jan Fena, the director of the senior center, said the plants on the front lawn are all maintained by volunteers. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Summer glory

By ELIZABETH EARL Peninsula Clarion… Continue reading

A honeybee enjoys the flowers on the front lawn of the Soldotna Senior Center on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Jan Fena, the director of the senior center, said the plants on the front lawn are all maintained by volunteers. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly debates bed tax, introduces sales tax cap increase

The Kenai Peninsula’s lodging industry is mounting opposition to the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration’s proposed bed tax. The borough assembly is considering a ballot proposition… Continue reading

Arson suspected in Nikolaevsk fire

Arson is suspected in a Sunday night structure fire in the village of Nikolaevsk. None of the home’s occupants were present at the time of… Continue reading

Alinna Granados of the Kenai Parks and Recreation Department takes down beach signs after the end of the personal use dipnet fishery on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 on Kenai’s north beach. Granados and fellow Parks and Rec employee Randy Dodge, who used a loader to pull the signs from the sand, took down signage and barriers after the beach had been cleaned of trash and fish waste earlier that morning. Alinna Granados of the Kenai Parks and Recreation Department takes down beach signs after the end of the personal use dipnet fishery on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 on Kenai’s north beach. Granados and fellow Parks and Rec employee Randy Dodge, who used a loader to pull the signs from the sand, took down signage and barriers after the beach had been cleaned of trash and fish waste earlier that morning.

Signs of the end

Signs of the end Alinna Granados of the Kenai Parks and Recreation Department takes down beach signs after the end of the personal use dipnet… Continue reading

Alinna Granados of the Kenai Parks and Recreation Department takes down beach signs after the end of the personal use dipnet fishery on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 on Kenai’s north beach. Granados and fellow Parks and Rec employee Randy Dodge, who used a loader to pull the signs from the sand, took down signage and barriers after the beach had been cleaned of trash and fish waste earlier that morning. Alinna Granados of the Kenai Parks and Recreation Department takes down beach signs after the end of the personal use dipnet fishery on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 on Kenai’s north beach. Granados and fellow Parks and Rec employee Randy Dodge, who used a loader to pull the signs from the sand, took down signage and barriers after the beach had been cleaned of trash and fish waste earlier that morning.

Health insurer files for rate decrease for Alaska market

JUNEAU — The lone insurer offering policies on Alaska’s individual health insurance market has filed for an average rate decrease of about 22 percent next… Continue reading

  • Aug 1, 2017
  • By Becky Bohrer
In this Saturday photo provided by KYUK Public Media, a gray whale killed in the Kuskokwim River is butchered and the meat and blubber distributed in Napaskiak. (Katie Basile/ KYUK Public Media via AP)

Native hunters kill whale in Kuskokwim River

ANCHORAGE — Federal officials on Tuesday were investigating the killing of a protected gray whale by Native hunters in Alaska after the massive animal strayed… Continue reading

  • Aug 1, 2017
  • By RACHEL D’ORO
In this Saturday photo provided by KYUK Public Media, a gray whale killed in the Kuskokwim River is butchered and the meat and blubber distributed in Napaskiak. (Katie Basile/ KYUK Public Media via AP)

Peninsula residents lead, contribute to state boards

The Kenai Peninsula has a number of voices on Alaska’s myriad boards and commissions. The state has about 130 active boards and commissions, which range… Continue reading

A drift gillnet fishing vessel makes its way into the Kenai River on Friday in Kenai. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Commercial fishermen harvest 1.8M sockeye so far, no fishing Tuesday

Upper Cook Inlet’s commercial drift gillnet commercial fishermen got to fish throughout the waters of the central district during their regular period Monday. It’s the… Continue reading

A drift gillnet fishing vessel makes its way into the Kenai River on Friday in Kenai. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)