News

Local girl shops for less fortunate

One Kenai Peninsula girl is taking the act of Christmas shopping a step further this year and is asking for the community’s help. Sydney Jeffries… Continue reading

Photo by Elwood Brehmer/Alaska Journal of Commerce The Seward Coal Loading facility.

Permit to address coal spilled in Resurrection Bay

The Seward Coal Loading Facility has applied for a permit that will cover coal falling into Resurrection Bay. The permit, which is being reviewed by… Continue reading

Photo by Elwood Brehmer/Alaska Journal of Commerce The Seward Coal Loading facility.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clairon Riding a haywagon through a residential Kenai neighborhood, Mountain View Elementary Principal Karl Kircher (left) leans over to read a Christmas carol while singing with students, their families and other members of the community. Mountain View students and staff went caroling through a neighborhood near the school before warming up at a bonfire with hotdogs and hot chocolate Friday.

Photo: Songs of the season

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  • Dec 12, 2015
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clairon Riding a haywagon through a residential Kenai neighborhood, Mountain View Elementary Principal Karl Kircher (left) leans over to read a Christmas carol while singing with students, their families and other members of the community. Mountain View students and staff went caroling through a neighborhood near the school before warming up at a bonfire with hotdogs and hot chocolate Friday.

Marijuana Task Force postpones regulation decision

Comments and discussion stretched late into the night at the borough’s first Marijuana Task Force meeting after the statewide marijuana regulations came out.The task force… Continue reading

Fairbanks Four supporters rally in front of the Rabinowitz Courthouse in Fairbanks, Alaska, Friday morning, Dec. 11, 2015. A hearing originally scheduled for Friday on the proposed settlement between state prosecutors and the four men seeking exoneration of their murder convictions was canceled. The Four, George Frese, Kevin Pease, Eugene Vent and Marvin Roberts were convicted in the 1997 killing of John Hartman. Roberts was released on parole earlier this year. The other three men remain in custody. (Eric Engman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Governor considers pardons in Fairbanks Four case

ANCHORAGE — Alaska Gov. Bill Walker is considering whether to grant pardons or clemency to four indigenous men convicted In the 1997 death of a… Continue reading

  • Dec 12, 2015
  • By Rachel D'oro
Fairbanks Four supporters rally in front of the Rabinowitz Courthouse in Fairbanks, Alaska, Friday morning, Dec. 11, 2015. A hearing originally scheduled for Friday on the proposed settlement between state prosecutors and the four men seeking exoneration of their murder convictions was canceled. The Four, George Frese, Kevin Pease, Eugene Vent and Marvin Roberts were convicted in the 1997 killing of John Hartman. Roberts was released on parole earlier this year. The other three men remain in custody. (Eric Engman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Three central Kenai departments respond to house fire

The Kenai Fire Department, Central Emergency Services and the Nikiski Fire Department responded to a residential fire in the Thompson subdivision Friday afternoon. The call… Continue reading

  • Dec 11, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan

DOC prepares to clean house

The Alaska Criminal Justice Commission released a slew of recommendations Thursday aimed at improving Alaska’s justice system and cutting costs. Formed by Senate Bill 64… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Steve Noble (right), the vice president of engineering consulting firm DOWL, explained the details of the Sterling Highway improvement project to the public at an open house Wednesday at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center in Soldotna.

Sterling Highway to include wildlife infrastructure

The Sterling Highway through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge may soon be a little more wildlife-friendly. As a part of the resurfacing and road improvement… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Steve Noble (right), the vice president of engineering consulting firm DOWL, explained the details of the Sterling Highway improvement project to the public at an open house Wednesday at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center in Soldotna.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Cristal Barton rubs the chin of her 35-year-old horse Major outside the house she shares with her mother Kim Garretson on Nov. 4, 2015 in Kenai. On Tuesday Garretson appealled the Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission's denial of her permit to keep Major on her property in exception to Kenai's livestock code. The Kenai City Council, acting as a board of adjustment, will issue a decision within 30 days.

Kenai considers therapy horse in city

On Tuesday Kenai city council members heard the case for allowing a horse on a Kenai lot in exception to zoning code for an autistic… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Cristal Barton rubs the chin of her 35-year-old horse Major outside the house she shares with her mother Kim Garretson on Nov. 4, 2015 in Kenai. On Tuesday Garretson appealled the Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission's denial of her permit to keep Major on her property in exception to Kenai's livestock code. The Kenai City Council, acting as a board of adjustment, will issue a decision within 30 days.

Assembly, public debate alcohol setback rule

Two teenagers, eight community members and a lawyer turned out for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s heated discussion of the alcohol setback rule Tuesday night.… Continue reading

Walker proposes big fix, including income tax, to solve state's budget woes

Walker proposes big fix, including income tax, to solve state’s budget woes

Gov. Bill Walker has proposed the biggest changes to Alaska’s system of taxes and revenue since Jay Hammond signed legislation eliminating the state’s income tax… Continue reading

Walker proposes big fix, including income tax, to solve state's budget woes
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion (Left) Nancy Cranston, Susan Smalley, Hal Smalley enjoy sit down together and eat the biscuits and gravy they cooked Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, at Kenai Alternative High School in Kenai, Alaska.

The most important meal: Kenai Alternative breakfasts feed students for 20 years

For nearly two decades, Kenai Alternative High School students have been eating their home cooked morning meal at school. While the dates of origin range… Continue reading

  • Dec 9, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion (Left) Nancy Cranston, Susan Smalley, Hal Smalley enjoy sit down together and eat the biscuits and gravy they cooked Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, at Kenai Alternative High School in Kenai, Alaska.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Longtime pilot Dave Cochran glances out of a window while talking to a reporter on Friday Dec. 4, 2015 in Soldotna, Alaska. Cochran was given the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award during a ceremony at the Soldotna airport. He has flown more than 22,000 miles in the 70 years since he became a licensed pilot.

Pilot receives Wright Brothers award

Pilot and mechanic David Cochran has spent the majority of his long life in aviation. On Friday Cochran was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Longtime pilot Dave Cochran glances out of a window while talking to a reporter on Friday Dec. 4, 2015 in Soldotna, Alaska. Cochran was given the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award during a ceremony at the Soldotna airport. He has flown more than 22,000 miles in the 70 years since he became a licensed pilot.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Alaska Board of Fisheries members John Jensen and Tom Kluberton hear committee testimony during the triennial Upper Cook Inlet meeting Thursday Feb. 6, 2014 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Fish board won’t meet on peninsula

The 2017 Upper Cook Inlet meeting of the Alaska Board of Fisheries will be held in Anchorage, as planned and as usual. The board made… Continue reading

  • Dec 8, 2015
  • By DJ SUMMERS
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Alaska Board of Fisheries members John Jensen and Tom Kluberton hear committee testimony during the triennial Upper Cook Inlet meeting Thursday Feb. 6, 2014 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Board of Education approves digital program for world languages

The teaching of world languages in local classrooms is taking a digital turn. Kenai Peninsula Borough School District students enrolled in Spanish, French, Russian or… Continue reading

  • Dec 8, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Nine-year-old David Price, left, and his 10-year-old brother, Arther Price, experiment with Crisco in a plastic bag and a tray of cold water to learn about how marine animals keep warm on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 at the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska. The boys participated in the center's STEAM Ahead Homeschool Program, taught by Director of Educational Operations Summer Lazenby.

Photo: Layer up

… Continue reading

  • Dec 8, 2015
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Nine-year-old David Price, left, and his 10-year-old brother, Arther Price, experiment with Crisco in a plastic bag and a tray of cold water to learn about how marine animals keep warm on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 at the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska. The boys participated in the center's STEAM Ahead Homeschool Program, taught by Director of Educational Operations Summer Lazenby.

Troopers investigate Soldotna house fire

Alaska State Troopers are investigating the circumstances of a small house fire in Soldotna.Troopers and Central Emergency Services responded to a report of a fire… Continue reading

  • Dec 8, 2015

Alaska predicts sharp oil tax decline amid low prices

JUNEAU — The state of Alaska is projecting revenue from oil and gas production taxes at $172 million this year, a dramatic drop from two… Continue reading

  • Dec 8, 2015
  • By Becky Bohrer

Kenai gets stricter junk car code

To avoid being defined as junk, vehicles in Kenai now need to meet conditions including having registration within the past six months. Although the Kenai… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Cristal Barton rubs the neck of her horse Major outside the house she shares with her mother Kim Garretson on Nov. 4, 2015 in Kenai. The Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission denied Garretson a conditional use permit needed to legally keep Major in Kenai; she will appeal the decision on Dec. 8. Because Barton is autistic and the horse is prescribed as treatment, denying the permit may be discrimination under the Fair Housing Act.

Disabled Kenai resident, neighbors, city fight over horse kept in neighborhood yard

Editor's note: This story has been changed to state that the Disability Law Center of Alaska will represent Garretson in her Dec. 8 appeal to… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Cristal Barton rubs the neck of her horse Major outside the house she shares with her mother Kim Garretson on Nov. 4, 2015 in Kenai. The Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission denied Garretson a conditional use permit needed to legally keep Major in Kenai; she will appeal the decision on Dec. 8. Because Barton is autistic and the horse is prescribed as treatment, denying the permit may be discrimination under the Fair Housing Act.