News

Nikiski battles North Road fires

Nikiski firefighters were kept busy Tuesday and into Wednesday morning with two house fires. First responders from the Nikiski Fire Department were first called out… Continue reading

Peninsula economy still better than state, economist says

The economy of the Kenai Peninsula is a little better off than the state as it heads into a year with steeper predicted job losses… Continue reading

Jeremy Anderson, former Nikiski Middle-High School student music teacher accused of sexually abusing one of his students, walks out of a Kenai courtroom Tuesday Nov. 25, 2014 in Kenai, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Sex abuse trial for former teacher postponed

The trial for a former Nikiski teacher accused of having sex with a student has been pushed back to this spring. Jeremy Anderson, 39, was… Continue reading

Jeremy Anderson, former Nikiski Middle-High School student music teacher accused of sexually abusing one of his students, walks out of a Kenai courtroom Tuesday Nov. 25, 2014 in Kenai, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion, file)

State verifies Nikiski petition to incorporate

Editor's note: This article has been corrected to show that Seldovia is a first-class city, not a home-rule city. The Local Boundary Commission is seeking… Continue reading

The blank grantite panels of a new 100-niche columbarium — a structure built to house cremated ashes — stand ready to be inscribed with names on Tuesday, Jan. 10 in the Kenai Cemetery. The columbarium’s construction finished in August 2015, and niches will be available after the Kenai city council sets a price. A tentative policy presented to the Kenai Parks and Recreation commission by Parks and Rec Director Bob Frates proposed $1000 for a columbarium niche. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to decide cemetery fees, price of new columbarium

Alaska is well-known for its high cost of living. Kenai now plans to re-evaluate one of the costs of dying. A proposal from the Kenai… Continue reading

The blank grantite panels of a new 100-niche columbarium — a structure built to house cremated ashes — stand ready to be inscribed with names on Tuesday, Jan. 10 in the Kenai Cemetery. The columbarium’s construction finished in August 2015, and niches will be available after the Kenai city council sets a price. A tentative policy presented to the Kenai Parks and Recreation commission by Parks and Rec Director Bob Frates proposed $1000 for a columbarium niche. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
In this July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska, sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet wait to be set to the a processor. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Study shows Cook Inlet sockeye harvested in Kodiak

New genetic data indicates that many of the sockeye harvested by Kodiak’s commercial fishery may originate from Cook Inlet streams. The Alaska Department of Fish… Continue reading

In this July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska, sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet wait to be set to the a processor. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
A member of the Catholic Church holds her rosary as she prays near a Planned Parenthood clinic in this Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016 in Soldotna, Alaska. Members of the church gathered at the clinic before walking to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration Building to pray after a Satanic invocation was given to open the Aug. 9 borough assembly meeting. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, File)

Invocation policy lawsuit moves to federal court

A lawsuit over the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s invocation policy has moved to a federal court. The lawsuit, Hunt v. Kenai Peninsula Borough, was filed… Continue reading

A member of the Catholic Church holds her rosary as she prays near a Planned Parenthood clinic in this Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016 in Soldotna, Alaska. Members of the church gathered at the clinic before walking to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration Building to pray after a Satanic invocation was given to open the Aug. 9 borough assembly meeting. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, File)
The moon peers through trees at the edge of Ryan's Creek on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The sun rose at 10:05 a.m. and set at 4:21 p.m. in Kenai for a total of 6 hours and 16 minutes of daylight Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Kenai residents will gain a few minutes every day in January as the sun rises a minute or two earlier and sets a minute or two later. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo: Goodnight, moon

… Continue reading

The moon peers through trees at the edge of Ryan's Creek on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The sun rose at 10:05 a.m. and set at 4:21 p.m. in Kenai for a total of 6 hours and 16 minutes of daylight Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Kenai residents will gain a few minutes every day in January as the sun rises a minute or two earlier and sets a minute or two later. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Budget would cut funds from Alaska Construction Academies

The Alaska Construction Academies might see a steep decline in funding next year if the Legislature accepts Gov. Bill Walker’s proposed budget cuts.The governor’s fiscal… Continue reading

Critics say polar bear recovery plan lacks teeth

ANCHORAGE — Five years ago, in a meeting room in Alaska, two dozen federal wildlife biologists joined other experts to begin formulating a recovery plan… Continue reading

  • Jan 9, 2017
  • By Dan Joling

Bills filed to restore PFD payout cut by governor

JUNEAU — Bills that would restore the portion of Alaskans’ oil wealth checks that were cut by Gov. Bill Walker last year were filed Monday,… Continue reading

Kasilof electrical fire caused by overloaded extension cord

An electrical fire on Sunday evening caused approximately $10,000 worth of damage to a single-family wood-frame home in Kasilof, according to Central Emergency Services Captain… Continue reading

Coast Guard rescues 4 from fishing vessel

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Coast Guard says four people have been safely airlifted from a disabled fishing vessel in heavy seas Friday. Petty Officer… Continue reading

  • Jan 8, 2017
Photo courtesy Joe Kashi The remains of the Clam Shell Lodge smolder in this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 in Clam Gulch, Alaska. The building, which had not been open since 2011, burned down Friday night.

CES douses three fires over weekend

The Central Emergency Services firefighters kept busy this weekend with a series of structure fires around the central Kenai Peninsula. The first call came for… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Joe Kashi The remains of the Clam Shell Lodge smolder in this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 in Clam Gulch, Alaska. The building, which had not been open since 2011, burned down Friday night.
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Don Poole measures the circumference of a mule deer's antler duing a Boone and Crockett Club and Pope and Young Club trophy measuring day on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017 at Sportsman's Warehouse in Soldotna, Alaska. Poole has been an official measurer for both clubs since 1980. Hunters brought in game they'd killed for Poole to measure and score for potential recording by the Boone and Crockett Club, now more than a century old. Store patrons and workers walked by and stopped to admire the various racks and mounted heads waiting to be measured, exchanging stories. All trophies have to be dried for at least 60 days from the date of kill and pre-measured by the owner to check that it makes minimum scores. Score sheets and instructions for measuring can be found online on the Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young websites. Trophy measuring will aslo take place Feb. 12 and March 12 from 1 p.m.- 3 p.m.

Photo: Measuring up

Don Poole measures the circumference of a mule deer's antler duing a Boone and Crockett Club and Pope and Young Club trophy measuring day on… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Don Poole measures the circumference of a mule deer's antler duing a Boone and Crockett Club and Pope and Young Club trophy measuring day on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017 at Sportsman's Warehouse in Soldotna, Alaska. Poole has been an official measurer for both clubs since 1980. Hunters brought in game they'd killed for Poole to measure and score for potential recording by the Boone and Crockett Club, now more than a century old. Store patrons and workers walked by and stopped to admire the various racks and mounted heads waiting to be measured, exchanging stories. All trophies have to be dried for at least 60 days from the date of kill and pre-measured by the owner to check that it makes minimum scores. Score sheets and instructions for measuring can be found online on the Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young websites. Trophy measuring will aslo take place Feb. 12 and March 12 from 1 p.m.- 3 p.m.

Assembly to consider advance loans before bond issuance

Two public projects may get advances from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s general fund before revenue bonds are issued to pay for them.Voters approved two bond… Continue reading

Council cracks up over catch shares

After four years of work on a Gulf of Alaska catch share program, the process was abruptly halted by Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game… Continue reading

  • Jan 8, 2017
  • By DJ SUMMERS

Kids’ business profits go to help others

The Homer Sour Girls is comprised of five sweet and business-minded girls — 8-year-olds Jocelyn Stillwell, Evelyn Sherwood, Jasmine Kupetz and Katie Miller, and10-year-old Natalia… Continue reading

  • Jan 8, 2017
  • By ANNA FROST
Photo courtesy Joe Kashi The remains of the Clam Shell Lodge continue to burn slightly where the establishment, closed in 2011, once stood in this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 in Clam Gulch, Alaska. The building burned down Friday night.

Photos: Clam Shell Lodge burns overnight

Photo courtesy Joe Kashi The remains of the Clam Shell Lodge smolder behind the former establishment’s sign in this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017… Continue reading

  • Jan 7, 2017
Photo courtesy Joe Kashi The remains of the Clam Shell Lodge continue to burn slightly where the establishment, closed in 2011, once stood in this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 in Clam Gulch, Alaska. The building burned down Friday night.
Photo courtesy John Morton, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Laurie Severe and Dan Hoffman, a wildlife research technician for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, hold a previously orphaned cygnet rescued from a Kenai Peninsula lake and relocated to Iowa in 2005. The bird, cygnet No. 69, was transferred with two siblings and is Severe's favorite. It returns every now and then to her pond in Iowa.

No place like home

Laurie Severe remembers the exact moment her favorite trumpeter swan — with which she had formed a bond stronger than that of animal and caretaker… Continue reading

Photo courtesy John Morton, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Laurie Severe and Dan Hoffman, a wildlife research technician for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, hold a previously orphaned cygnet rescued from a Kenai Peninsula lake and relocated to Iowa in 2005. The bird, cygnet No. 69, was transferred with two siblings and is Severe's favorite. It returns every now and then to her pond in Iowa.