News

Photo courtesy Kathy Clark Kathy Clark sits at 14,505 feet above sea level on the summit of Mount Whitney in California.

Local hiker headed for Denali, final ascent of U.S. high point

At 71 years old, Kathy Clark is preparing for a trek that will finish up her pursuit to capture the highest peak in each of… Continue reading

  • Jul 7, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo courtesy Kathy Clark Kathy Clark sits at 14,505 feet above sea level on the summit of Mount Whitney in California.
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Bradley Whitaker helps mom Sarah Whitaker chose cucumbers during their Community Supported Agriculture subscription pickup Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at Ridgeway Farms in Soldotna, Alaska. This year 66 people signed up to purchase their local weekly produce hauls at the farm, and there is still room for others to buy a spot.

Picking peppers

… Continue reading

  • Jul 6, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Bradley Whitaker helps mom Sarah Whitaker chose cucumbers during their Community Supported Agriculture subscription pickup Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at Ridgeway Farms in Soldotna, Alaska. This year 66 people signed up to purchase their local weekly produce hauls at the farm, and there is still room for others to buy a spot.

State will not require school districts to use student data in teacher evaluations

Student success is no longer a mandatory indicator of teacher performance.In June, the State Board of Education and Early Development chose to repeal the requirement,… Continue reading

  • Jul 6, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Forest Wagner, left, is shown on Flattop near Anchorage with Andy Sterns, center, and Joe Wagner, Forest's father, on June 25. (Photo courtesy Forest Wagner)

After bear mauling, UAS professor expected to make a full recovery

It’s been less than three months since University of Alaska Southeast assistant professor Forest Wagner was mauled by a bear, and he’s already back to… Continue reading

  • Jul 6, 2016
  • By LISA PHU
Forest Wagner, left, is shown on Flattop near Anchorage with Andy Sterns, center, and Joe Wagner, Forest's father, on June 25. (Photo courtesy Forest Wagner)
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Lt. Governor Byron Mallott visited the Kenai Peninsula this week and spoke to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at their joint chamber luncheon at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, July 6, 2016.

Lieutenant governor visits Kenai

Alaska’s lieutenant governor says Alaskans are starting to understand the need to raise revenue and the need to solve the state’s long-term fiscal issues.Lt. Governor… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Lt. Governor Byron Mallott visited the Kenai Peninsula this week and spoke to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at their joint chamber luncheon at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, July 6, 2016.

On eve of fifth special session, Walker done appealing to legislators

Round five starts Monday, July 11.Including last fall’s “gasline special session” when the Legislature approved a buyout of TransCanada Corp.’s interest in the Alaska LNG… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Susie Morris Baker Ben Baker, 10, of Augusta, Georgia, proudly displays two halibut that he caught with Aron Hanson (left) on a charter boat out of Homer. The possession limit for 2016 in Area 3A, which includes the central Gulf of Alaska, is two fish per person per day, with a limit of four total in possession, according to the International Pacific Halibut Commission. The average size fish caught out of the Homer port is 10.85 pounds this season, ranging between 2.6 pounds and 86.6 pounds, according to the Lower Cook Inlet sportfishing report for the week of July 6.

Promising late-run king, sockeye numbers arrive in Kenai

The Kenai River sockeye and late-run king salmon runs are both off to optimistically large starts. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game began counting… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Susie Morris Baker Ben Baker, 10, of Augusta, Georgia, proudly displays two halibut that he caught with Aron Hanson (left) on a charter boat out of Homer. The possession limit for 2016 in Area 3A, which includes the central Gulf of Alaska, is two fish per person per day, with a limit of four total in possession, according to the International Pacific Halibut Commission. The average size fish caught out of the Homer port is 10.85 pounds this season, ranging between 2.6 pounds and 86.6 pounds, according to the Lower Cook Inlet sportfishing report for the week of July 6.

Truck, ATV collide on K-beach

A collision between a four-wheeler and a pickup truck on Tuesday evening sent one person to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Around 8:45 p.m., a… Continue reading

Bear injures hiker on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

A woman hiking alone Sunday on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge’s Lower Kenai River trail was bitten on the upper leg by a brown bear.… Continue reading

A commercial fishing boat leaves the mouth of the Kenai river for a day of fishing in Cook Inlet on Monday, July 4 in Kenai.

Maritime industry largest employer on peninsula

The Kenai Peninsula’s economy depends even more on the ocean and rivers than is apparent on paper. Some are obvious: fishing, shipping and marine fishing… Continue reading

A commercial fishing boat leaves the mouth of the Kenai river for a day of fishing in Cook Inlet on Monday, July 4 in Kenai.

Troopers suspend search for Nome man, volunteers continue looking

The Alaska State Troopers suspended the active search and rescue for a missing Nome man on July 4 pending any new leads, according to the… Continue reading

  • Jul 5, 2016
  • By LISA PHU

Nikiski man arraigned on additional theft charges

A Nikiski man accused of multiple thefts in the Nikiski and Sterling areas was arraigned on five more felony charges Tuesday in Kenai Superior Court.Brandon… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Alfred Port films the procession of antique cars in Kenai's Fourth of July Parade on Monday, July 4, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska.

The 4th of July in Kenai

Some came to honor those who have served and are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, some came to show off their sewing skills and… Continue reading

  • Jul 4, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Alfred Port films the procession of antique cars in Kenai's Fourth of July Parade on Monday, July 4, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska.

Borough to extend gas line in Funny River

More residents of the Funny River area will soon have access to natural gas in their homes.The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved a resolution at… Continue reading

State rejects 2016 Prudhoe plan

The state Division of Oil and Gas has officially rejected BP’s 2016 operational plan for Prudhoe Bay, but is extending last year’s plan until Nov.… Continue reading

  • Jul 4, 2016
  • By ELWOOD BREHMER

The 4th of July in Kenai

To see more images from Kenai's Fourth of July parade and festivities visit: http://peninsulaclarion.com/slideshow/2016-07-04/4th-of-july-in-kenai#slide-1… Continue reading

  • Jul 4, 2016
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Fiocla Wilson listens to Evelyne Boulett reminisce about growing up a friend the Wilson family Thursday, June 30, 2016, at Heritage Place in Soldotna, Alaska.

Kenaitze Tribe’s oldest member turns 100

Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s oldest member is now also one of Alaska’s few known centenarians. Fiocla Wilson turned 100 years old Thursday, and celebrated with as… Continue reading

  • Jul 3, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Fiocla Wilson listens to Evelyne Boulett reminisce about growing up a friend the Wilson family Thursday, June 30, 2016, at Heritage Place in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Stephanie Queen (left), the director of economic development and planning for the City of Soldotna, listens to citizens' concerns about the city's possible annexation of areas currently outside the city boundaries at a public meeting at the Don Gilman River Center in Soldotna, Alaska on Thursday, June 30, 2016.

Soldotna hosts annexation open house

The public got a chance to weigh in on the city of Soldotna’s initial annexation study at an open house Thursday.The city has been debating… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Stephanie Queen (left), the director of economic development and planning for the City of Soldotna, listens to citizens' concerns about the city's possible annexation of areas currently outside the city boundaries at a public meeting at the Don Gilman River Center in Soldotna, Alaska on Thursday, June 30, 2016.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion A recently-installed "no drones" sign warns hobby drone owners not to fly at the Fourth Street Park on Friday, July 1 in Kenai. Kenai administrators have posted the signs in city parks near the airport to discourage drone pilots from flying where they may endanger incoming planes.

Kenai airport takes caution against drones

Three public areas near the Kenai Municipal airport have received new signage dealing with a new problem: remote-controlled hobby drones that city and airport officials… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion A recently-installed "no drones" sign warns hobby drone owners not to fly at the Fourth Street Park on Friday, July 1 in Kenai. Kenai administrators have posted the signs in city parks near the airport to discourage drone pilots from flying where they may endanger incoming planes.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Scaffolding surrounds the fascade of Kenai Middle School during its summer-long asbestos removal treatment on Thursday, June 30 in Kenai. Asbestos fire-proofing material is being taken from its roof beams and disposed of in the Kenai Peninsula Borough landfill.

Kenai middle school getting new roof, losing asbestos

When students and teachers abandoned Kenai Middle School for the summer, construction crews moved in. Asbestos fire retardant is being removed from the school roof’s… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Scaffolding surrounds the fascade of Kenai Middle School during its summer-long asbestos removal treatment on Thursday, June 30 in Kenai. Asbestos fire-proofing material is being taken from its roof beams and disposed of in the Kenai Peninsula Borough landfill.