News

Test aims to reduce rates of colorectal among Alaska Natives

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A new at-home test to screen for colorectal cancer is targeting Alaska Natives, who have high rates of the disease, and… Continue reading

  • Jan 3, 2016

Pool fee proposals

The price to use Kenai Peninsula Borough School District owned pools may rise soon. Administrators are developing a proposed list of fee increases that must… Continue reading

  • Jan 2, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion The majority of Jessica Burch and John Schreiber's roof is clad in a tarp on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 in Sterling, Alaska, after a wind storm stripped a large section of their home's roof out of place.

Wind leaves Sterling home, business roofless

A severe windstorm on the Kenai Peninsula this week stole the roofs right off of a Sterling business and a house on its way through… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion The majority of Jessica Burch and John Schreiber's roof is clad in a tarp on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 in Sterling, Alaska, after a wind storm stripped a large section of their home's roof out of place.

Soldotna couple arrested following Spice bust

Three people were arrested and more than 6,000 packets of synthetic cannabis, or Spice, have been seized from a local tobacco shop and its operators… Continue reading

Missing Kenai woman’s body found near trail

The body of Iva “Mitzi” Berninger, who had been missing since Dec. 11, was found near a trail by two people riding ATVs on Friday.The… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Dr. Michael Merrick talks to a patient about her addiction as she comes in to get her perscription to Suboxone, a medicine used to treat opioid addictions, on Dec. 23, 2015 in Merrick's office in Kenai, Alaska. Kenai Peninsula doctors wrangle with access and treatment for opoid addicts.

Peninsula doctors wrangle with access, treatment for opioid addicts

Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series on opioid addiction on the Kenai Peninsula. For the first part, check the Dec. 31… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Dr. Michael Merrick talks to a patient about her addiction as she comes in to get her perscription to Suboxone, a medicine used to treat opioid addictions, on Dec. 23, 2015 in Merrick's office in Kenai, Alaska. Kenai Peninsula doctors wrangle with access and treatment for opoid addicts.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion In this July 9, 2014 file photo, commercial set gillnetters inthe Kenai and East Foreland sections of the east side setnet fishery in the Cook Inlet have their first opening of the season. A ballot initiative to ban setnetting in certain areas of the state - one that would have diproportionally affected Cook Inlet setnetters - has been ruled as unconstitutional by the Alaska Supreme Court.

Alaska Supreme Court rules setnet ban initiative unconstitutional

The Alaska Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling Thursday, declaring a ballot initiative to ban set nets in certain areas of the state unconstitutional.Calling… Continue reading

  • Dec 31, 2015
  • By DJ SUMMERS and RASHAH MCCHESNEY
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion In this July 9, 2014 file photo, commercial set gillnetters inthe Kenai and East Foreland sections of the east side setnet fishery in the Cook Inlet have their first opening of the season. A ballot initiative to ban setnetting in certain areas of the state - one that would have diproportionally affected Cook Inlet setnetters - has been ruled as unconstitutional by the Alaska Supreme Court.
Contributed photo The Soldotna DMV office is operating at limited capacity on Thursday Dec. 31, 2015 after its internet connection failed.

Soldotna DMV partially disabled due to lack of internet

The Soldotna DMV and other state offices in Kenai and Soldotna are operating in a limited capacity after their internet connections failed. While the Soldotna… Continue reading

  • Dec 31, 2015
Contributed photo The Soldotna DMV office is operating at limited capacity on Thursday Dec. 31, 2015 after its internet connection failed.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Madison Skornik, of Anchorage, Marti Delimont, of Anchorage, Stephanie Huber, of Anchorage and Kent Ployhar, of Mexico mourn the loss of Sterling resident Jon Ployhar during a memorial on Sunday Dec. 6, 2015 in Sterling, Alaska. Skornik and Huber are Jon Ployhar's neices, while Huber and Kent Ployhar are his siblings. Jon Ployhar was killed during a confrontation with an Alaska State Trooper in October.

More than 100 at memorial of man killed during fight with trooper

Those who knew Sterling resident Jon Ployhar remember his passion for used cars and conspiracy theories being surpassed by his strong sense of faith gained… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Madison Skornik, of Anchorage, Marti Delimont, of Anchorage, Stephanie Huber, of Anchorage and Kent Ployhar, of Mexico mourn the loss of Sterling resident Jon Ployhar during a memorial on Sunday Dec. 6, 2015 in Sterling, Alaska. Skornik and Huber are Jon Ployhar's neices, while Huber and Kent Ployhar are his siblings. Jon Ployhar was killed during a confrontation with an Alaska State Trooper in October.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Kalifornsky Beach Road resident Dan Sterchi on Friday Sept. 4, 2015 stands near a drainage pipe on a piece of land the borough is considering trading to a private property owner. Sterchi is adamantly opposed to the trade which he says could severely limit the borough's options for mitigating floods in the area.

Conflict, controversy haunt K-Beach flooding solutions

With rubber boots up to his knees and only a gray sweatshirt to protect him from the cool drizzle, Dan Sterchi crashed through waist-high weeds… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Kalifornsky Beach Road resident Dan Sterchi on Friday Sept. 4, 2015 stands near a drainage pipe on a piece of land the borough is considering trading to a private property owner. Sterchi is adamantly opposed to the trade which he says could severely limit the borough's options for mitigating floods in the area.
Protestors critical of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association prepare to launch onto the Kenai River from Swiftwater Park in Soldotna Wednesday. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion)

Protest of Kenai River Sportfishing Association launched

A group of boats gathered in protest on the Kenai River at the riverfront home of a sport fishing activist Bob Penney Wednesday. As dozens… Continue reading

  • Aug 19, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Protestors critical of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association prepare to launch onto the Kenai River from Swiftwater Park in Soldotna Wednesday. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion)
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion The tail of a crashed plane sits the woods on Saturday, August 22 at a crash site near South Cohoe Loop Road.

Kasilof plane crash report describes final descent

Witness reports of what they saw and heard moments before an August plane crash that killed two Kasilof residents are included in a preliminary report… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion The tail of a crashed plane sits the woods on Saturday, August 22 at a crash site near South Cohoe Loop Road.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion A Welsh Corgi talks a walk with its trainer on Saturday July 11, 2015 during the Kenai Kennel Club's annual dog show in Soldotna, Alaska.

Hundreds compete at Kenai Kennel Club dog show

It seems to rain at least once a weekend during every Kenai Kennel Club dog show, organizers and participants said. The 2015 show was no… Continue reading

  • Jul 12, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion A Welsh Corgi talks a walk with its trainer on Saturday July 11, 2015 during the Kenai Kennel Club's annual dog show in Soldotna, Alaska.

Birdsong returns after Card Street Fire

This article has been changed to correct the species of a bird and to identify the US Fish and Wildlife Service as the agency Mariah… Continue reading

Clarion file photo In this June 9 file photo, Kenai Police Sgts. Scott McBride (left) and Jay Sjogren review a map with Lisa Jaegar from the Mat-Su Search and Rescue Dogs on Borgen Av. in Kenai. Two rescue dog teams along with agents with the FBI are searching the wooded area north of Wildwood Correctional Facility for a Kenai family of four missing since May 27.

Remains found near home of missing Kenai family

Kenai police may have found the remains of a family that has been missing from the area for 10 months. Police were called Saturday evening… Continue reading

  • Mar 22, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Clarion file photo In this June 9 file photo, Kenai Police Sgts. Scott McBride (left) and Jay Sjogren review a map with Lisa Jaegar from the Mat-Su Search and Rescue Dogs on Borgen Av. in Kenai. Two rescue dog teams along with agents with the FBI are searching the wooded area north of Wildwood Correctional Facility for a Kenai family of four missing since May 27.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Lisa Hundley and Paul Karella blow bubbles on Saturday April 4, 2015 during a memorial for Hundley's daughter-in-law Rebecca Adams and grandchildren Michelle Hundley and Jaracca Hundley who were found dead in a field near their home in Kenai, Alaska.

Community members gather to remember Kenai mother, children

For a few short minutes Saturday, a field near the Kenai Central High School auditorium was filled with bubbles symbolizing the loss of a Kenai… Continue reading

  • Apr 4, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Lisa Hundley and Paul Karella blow bubbles on Saturday April 4, 2015 during a memorial for Hundley's daughter-in-law Rebecca Adams and grandchildren Michelle Hundley and Jaracca Hundley who were found dead in a field near their home in Kenai, Alaska.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Several kids played tag in the empty bleachers during the 36th Annual Kenai Peninsula Home Show on March 28, 2015 at the Soldotna Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.

[Photo] Home Sweet Home

… Continue reading

  • Mar 28, 2015
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Several kids played tag in the empty bleachers during the 36th Annual Kenai Peninsula Home Show on March 28, 2015 at the Soldotna Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Dr. Sarah Spencer of the Ninilchik Community Clinic demonstrates how to equip a vial of naloxone, an overdose rescue medication, into an injectable pen. She sends many of her opiate addict patients home with one in case of an emergency.

Opioid addicts face stigma even while seeking treatment

Editor's note: This is part one of a two-part series on opioid addiction on the Kenai Peninsula. For the second part of the series, check… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Dr. Sarah Spencer of the Ninilchik Community Clinic demonstrates how to equip a vial of naloxone, an overdose rescue medication, into an injectable pen. She sends many of her opiate addict patients home with one in case of an emergency.

About 7,700 Alaskans have enrolled in expanded Medicaid

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A state health department official says that since the state expanded Medicaid to cover more lower-income Alaskans on Sept. 1, about… Continue reading

  • Dec 30, 2015
  • By Becky Bohrer

Kenai woman killed in Bridge Access crash

A Kenai woman died Tuesday night in a two-vehicle crash on Bridge Access Road.Kenai Police Chief Gus Sandahl said his department and Kenai Fire responded… Continue reading