Elwood Brehmer watches a bear during a trip up the remote Cottonwood Creek Trail on Sept. 19, 2015 on Skilak Lake. For any excursion, there are a few simple items hikers should bring along just in case things don't go according to plan. (Clarion file photo)

Packing for a safe day hike

A mile is a relatively short walk — until one has to walk it after a severe accident. Teeming with lakes and trails and overlapping… Continue reading

Elwood Brehmer watches a bear during a trip up the remote Cottonwood Creek Trail on Sept. 19, 2015 on Skilak Lake. For any excursion, there are a few simple items hikers should bring along just in case things don't go according to plan. (Clarion file photo)

Pool schedules and activities

Lap swim — 6:30-7:30 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, FridayIndependent water aerobics and lap swim — 7:30-10 a.m., Monday-FridayLap swim and open swim — 5-7 p.m., Monday,… Continue reading

  • May 6, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Burger recipe

Burger recipe

I thought I knew how to make the perfect burger. Now I know better.I still stand by most of my principles — making your own… Continue reading

  • May 6, 2016
  • By By ELIZABETH KARMEL
Burger recipe

Kids’ summer activities

Coed high school basketball open gym is for teens in ninth through 12th grade and goes from 5-7 p.m., Tuesdays at the Nikiski Community Recreation… Continue reading

  • May 6, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna residents Cassandra Boze, left, and Becca Satathite share a laugh just before their graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 5, 2016 in the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. Boze graduated with a Associate Degree of Appied Science in Nursing, and Satathite with an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Paramedic Technology.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna residents Cassandra Boze, left, and Becca Satathite share a laugh just before their graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 5, 2016 in the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. Boze graduated with a Associate Degree of Appied Science in Nursing, and Satathite with an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Paramedic Technology.

Progress made with play-based preschool

Enrollment for next fall is now open for the Nikiski community’s newest preschool.Parents forming the play-based cooperative have secured space for a nursery and toddler… Continue reading

  • May 5, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan

House OKs crime bill

In a 28-11 vote, the Alaska House has approved Senate Bill 91, a sweeping reform of Alaska’s criminal justice system that ends the War on… Continue reading

Borough disbands Central Peninsula Hospital service area board

Governance at Central Peninsula Hospital will go directly to the hospital’s operating board and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly.The service area will remain the same,… Continue reading

This photo take through a car windshield shows smoke rising from a wildfire rages outside of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Tuesday, May 3, 2016. The entire population of the Canadian oil sands city of Fort McMurray, has been ordered to evacuate as a wildfire whipped by winds engulfed homes and sent ash raining down on residents. (Mary Anne Sexsmith-Segato/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Wildfire in Alberta now 85,000 hectares in size

FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta (AP) — A massive wildfire raging in the Canadian province of Alberta grew to 85,000 hectares (210,035 acres) and officials said Thursday… Continue reading

  • May 5, 2016
This photo take through a car windshield shows smoke rising from a wildfire rages outside of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Tuesday, May 3, 2016. The entire population of the Canadian oil sands city of Fort McMurray, has been ordered to evacuate as a wildfire whipped by winds engulfed homes and sent ash raining down on residents. (Mary Anne Sexsmith-Segato/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Lee Leadens, 11, takes a selfie with James Adox, a children's librarian dressed as Darth Vader from "Star Wars," during an event called May the Fourth be With You on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska. Dozens of area kids swarmed the library during the event's inaugural year, said Ryanna Thurman, library assistant for information technology.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Lee Leadens, 11, takes a selfie with James Adox, a children's librarian dressed as Darth Vader from "Star Wars," during an event called May the Fourth be With You on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska. Dozens of area kids swarmed the library during the event's inaugural year, said Ryanna Thurman, library assistant for information technology.
Next generation of Cowans returns to take over Birch Ridge Golf Course

Next generation of Cowans returns to take over Birch Ridge Golf Course

The next generation of Cowan’s may have put to rest the fears of the Birch Ridge links in Soldotna being turned into a subdivision. Pat… Continue reading

Next generation of Cowans returns to take over Birch Ridge Golf Course
Friends of Ares the rescue K-9 turn out to show support

Friends of Ares the rescue K-9 turn out to show support

Ares the K-9 rescue dog has a fan club and support base in the local community ever since his funding collared his training several years… Continue reading

Friends of Ares the rescue K-9 turn out to show support
Friends of the Library bid farewell... Kenai proclaims Neda Evenson Day

Friends of the Library bid farewell… Kenai proclaims Neda Evenson Day

Jim and Nedra Evenson are leaving their homestead in Nikiski where they have resided since the late 50’s and returning to Anchorage. “We came up… Continue reading

Friends of the Library bid farewell... Kenai proclaims Neda Evenson Day

Soldotna talks budget, mill rate increase

Soldotna City Council members have begun to weigh their options for balancing the city’s budget in light of falling revenue.City Manager Mark Dixson and Finance… Continue reading

Borough, employee union reach agreement

The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration and its employees’ union have reached a new collective bargaining agreement that will last until 2019.The borough assembly approved the… Continue reading

Assembly fails grocery tax, marijuana buffers

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly failed two ordinances Tuesday: one that would have extended the nonprepared food tax and another that would have required more… Continue reading

Agency: Eagle hit plane before crash that killed 4

ANCHORAGE (AP) — A small airplane hit a bald eagle before it crashed and burst into flames just north of Anchorage last month, killing all… Continue reading

  • May 4, 2016
Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole, right, chats with a colleague after a state Senate floor session, Wednesday, May 4, 2016, in Juneau, Alaska. Coghill championed a massive criminal justice overhaul bill this session but its prospects for passing seem increasingly slim as lawmakers continue to amend and add new provisions to the bill. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)

Prospects diminish for criminal justice overhaul

JUNEAU — An Alaska lawmaker’s efforts to halt the rapid growth of the state’s prison population may not come to fruition.When it was introduced, North… Continue reading

Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole, right, chats with a colleague after a state Senate floor session, Wednesday, May 4, 2016, in Juneau, Alaska. Coghill championed a massive criminal justice overhaul bill this session but its prospects for passing seem increasingly slim as lawmakers continue to amend and add new provisions to the bill. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)

Effort to revive stalled bill with sex ed provisions falters

JUNEAU — An effort to revive a stalled education bill that limits who can teach sex education in public schools faltered in the Alaska House… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Kenai City Manager Rick Koch speaks about the benefits of belonging to a home-rule community to residents gathered at a Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.

Charter commission candidates talk home rule

Candidates running for a seat on the charter commission that could be formed after Soldotna’s special election are urging city residents to vote for a… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Kenai City Manager Rick Koch speaks about the benefits of belonging to a home-rule community to residents gathered at a Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.