News

First-grader Shea Linton, left, joined Soldotna Montessori Charter School’s new principal John DeVolld at an ice cream social event on Tuesday night at the school. The event was organized by the school’s PTO to welcome DeVolld as the new principal for the upcoming school year. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Montessori welcomes new principal for next year

Soldotna Montessori Charter School will have a new principal next year, but it’s a familiar face. John DeVolld, who is currently the assistant principal at… Continue reading

  • Apr 23, 2017
  • By KATHLEEN SORENSEN
First-grader Shea Linton, left, joined Soldotna Montessori Charter School’s new principal John DeVolld at an ice cream social event on Tuesday night at the school. The event was organized by the school’s PTO to welcome DeVolld as the new principal for the upcoming school year. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Steven Jacob, 19, from the Kuskokwim Learning Academy, practices using the jaws of life on a car with the help of instructor Bryan Crisp of the Nikiski Fire Department (right) on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at the department’s Station No. 2 in Nikiski, Alaska. Jacob and several other Western Alaska students spent the week getting basic firefighter training through Excel Alaska’s Camp Kick Ash. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Sparking an interest: Western Alaska students get schooled in firefighting skills camp

Most people won’t ever see the jaws of life in action during an accident, let alone wield the machine themselves, but that’s exactly what 15… Continue reading

Steven Jacob, 19, from the Kuskokwim Learning Academy, practices using the jaws of life on a car with the help of instructor Bryan Crisp of the Nikiski Fire Department (right) on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at the department’s Station No. 2 in Nikiski, Alaska. Jacob and several other Western Alaska students spent the week getting basic firefighter training through Excel Alaska’s Camp Kick Ash. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough to restore bank behind River Center

Borough to restore bank behind River Center

A heavily trafficked stretch of the Kenai River’s southern bank will get some restoration work in time for the sockeye season. Fishermen who have visited… Continue reading

Borough to restore bank behind River Center
Paul Sutherland of the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank holds a handful of seeds for the upcoming growing season at the food bank’s garden Thursday in Soldotna. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Bill seeks to authorize community seed-sharing for agriculturalists

A bill before the Alaska House of Representatives seeks to vindicate gardeners and farmers across the state by allowing local gardening communities to share seeds.… Continue reading

  • Apr 20, 2017
  • By KAT SORENSEN
Paul Sutherland of the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank holds a handful of seeds for the upcoming growing season at the food bank’s garden Thursday in Soldotna. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Bill would authorize individuals to get fish enhancement permits

Individual Alaskans, private companies and nonprofits could jump into the world of incubating and releasing salmon under a bill being discussed in the Legislature. House… Continue reading

This photo posted by the Alaska State Troopers shows Casey Douglas, a 39-year-old Anchorage man on the run from authorities in Sterling, Alaska since Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (Photo courtesy Alasak State Troopers)

Troopers seek Anchorage man who fled in Sterling

Alaska State Troopers are looking for an Anchorage man on the run in Sterling. Troopers pulled a car over in Sterling on Wednesday when a… Continue reading

This photo posted by the Alaska State Troopers shows Casey Douglas, a 39-year-old Anchorage man on the run from authorities in Sterling, Alaska since Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (Photo courtesy Alasak State Troopers)
Dancer the reindeer nuzzles her new baby, a female, shortly after its birth on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 in Nikiski, Alaska. The Hansen family in Nikiski has had reindeer for five years and take them around the central Kenai Peninsula for appearances at Christmastime. Any money donated by those who get their pictures with the animals is given to support homeless children, Hara Hansen said. (Photo courtesy Megan Ward)

Nikiski family welcomes reindeer calf

One Nikiski farm just got a whole lot cuter. The Hansen family welcomed a baby reindeer Tuesday when their pregnant female reindeer, Dancer, gave birth.… Continue reading

Dancer the reindeer nuzzles her new baby, a female, shortly after its birth on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 in Nikiski, Alaska. The Hansen family in Nikiski has had reindeer for five years and take them around the central Kenai Peninsula for appearances at Christmastime. Any money donated by those who get their pictures with the animals is given to support homeless children, Hara Hansen said. (Photo courtesy Megan Ward)

Governor’s bill would cut CFEC commissioners’ pay

Gov. Bill Walker has introduced a bill to trim the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. The CFEC, the state agency that manages commercial fishing limited entry… Continue reading

CIRCAC, state to evaluate old pipelines in Cook Inlet

After a turbulent spring with multiple oil and gas infrastructure failures in Cook Inlet, a citizen’s advisory group and the state agency tasked with environmental… Continue reading

KPBSD holds back on open positions

On the surface, it looks like the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District isn’t hiring, but uncertainty surrounding next year’s budget has the district posting positions… Continue reading

In this May 22, 2014 photo, Central Emergency Services firefighter Josh Thompson throws brush into a fire along Funny River Road as the group works to control the burning Funny River wildfire which consumed more than 63,000 acres of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge land. (Clarion file photo)

Fire season shaping up to have later start

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the list of entities collaborating on a fule break being… Continue reading

In this May 22, 2014 photo, Central Emergency Services firefighter Josh Thompson throws brush into a fire along Funny River Road as the group works to control the burning Funny River wildfire which consumed more than 63,000 acres of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge land. (Clarion file photo)
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Jim Kingrey, power plant superintendent for the Homer Electric Association, gives a tour of the company's Soldotna Combustion Turbine Plant Wednesday October 8, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

HEA showcases newest power plant

From the Sterling Highway, it is nearly impossible to hear the low hum of the Homer Electric Association’s combustion turbine plant over the steady roar… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Jim Kingrey, power plant superintendent for the Homer Electric Association, gives a tour of the company's Soldotna Combustion Turbine Plant Wednesday October 8, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.
In this undated photo, crew members haul scallops up onto the deck of a fishing vessel from a dredge. Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff have been researching the increasing incidence of a condition called “weak meats” in Alaska scallops, which makes the product unmarketable. (Photo courtesy the Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Researchers identify widespread parasite in Alaska scallops

A lot of Alaska’s scallops are sick, and scientists are trying to figure out why. Alaska’s scallop fishery is a small one — in recent… Continue reading

In this undated photo, crew members haul scallops up onto the deck of a fishing vessel from a dredge. Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff have been researching the increasing incidence of a condition called “weak meats” in Alaska scallops, which makes the product unmarketable. (Photo courtesy the Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Bill looks to fund education with raffle

The Alaska Senate is recruiting lady luck to help fund education with a raffle that residents can enter using their Permanent Fund Dividends. Senate Bill… Continue reading

Orion Brandon, a 2-year-old from Sterling, visits the Kenai Fire Station for a free car-seat check up provided by Safe Kids Kenai Peninsula on Monday, April 17, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Jane Fellman, of Safe Kids and Central Peninsula Hospital, weighs Brandon to ensure he’s in the right size car seat. Safe Kids is offering another check on Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Nikiski Fire Station. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Nothing beats safe seats

Orion Brandon, a 2-year-old from Sterling, visits the Kenai Fire Station for a free car-seat check up provided by Safe Kids Kenai Peninsula on Monday,… Continue reading

Orion Brandon, a 2-year-old from Sterling, visits the Kenai Fire Station for a free car-seat check up provided by Safe Kids Kenai Peninsula on Monday, April 17, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Jane Fellman, of Safe Kids and Central Peninsula Hospital, weighs Brandon to ensure he’s in the right size car seat. Safe Kids is offering another check on Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Nikiski Fire Station. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

HEA prices to drop in 2016

Homer Electric Association will decrease its rates starting January 1, 2016, while an unresolved proposal that may raise them remains suspended until July. The cost… Continue reading

HEA seeks to recoup costs for Bradley Lake power transmission

Homer Electric Association is requesting a temporary 3.25 percent rate increase, effective in February, to recover what it says is a significant loss from transmitting… Continue reading

Graphic by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion This map, taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Parcel Viewer and modified by the Peninsula Clarion with information from Homer Electric Association's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license application for the Grant Lake Hydroelectric project, shows the existing route of the Iditarod National Historic Trail in blue and HEA's proposed reroute of the trail in pink, as well as the powerhouse and water-diversion tunnel HEA plans to build.

Officials consider recreational impact of HEA’s Grant Lake hydroelectric project

In one possible future, a footbridge may cross Grant Creek about a half mile from Grant Lake, its source in the hills above Moose Pass.… Continue reading

Graphic by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion This map, taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Parcel Viewer and modified by the Peninsula Clarion with information from Homer Electric Association's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license application for the Grant Lake Hydroelectric project, shows the existing route of the Iditarod National Historic Trail in blue and HEA's proposed reroute of the trail in pink, as well as the powerhouse and water-diversion tunnel HEA plans to build.
A Pelton waterwheel, similar to those that spin Bradley Lake's two turbines, sits in a storage area on Friday, April 15 at the Bradley Lake power station. Created in the 1870s, Pelton wheels have an efficient paddle design that can extract almost all energy from a flow of water. This wheel was removed from the turbine due to stress at the base of the paddles.

Bradley Lake maintenence complete

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct an annual rate orginally described as a monthly rate. Since 1991 the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Plant… Continue reading

A Pelton waterwheel, similar to those that spin Bradley Lake's two turbines, sits in a storage area on Friday, April 15 at the Bradley Lake power station. Created in the 1870s, Pelton wheels have an efficient paddle design that can extract almost all energy from a flow of water. This wheel was removed from the turbine due to stress at the base of the paddles.

State prepares for Cook Inlet lease sale

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Oil and Gas will start taking bids in June for 9.95 million acres of oil and gas… Continue reading