News

Soldotna woman found dead in woods

A Soldotna woman was found dead on Saturday after walking into the woods on the side of the Kenai Spur Highway.Alaska State Troopers found the… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2015

Kenai man collides with road grader

Police say a drunk driver crashed into a road grader in Soldotna on Monday night.The Soldotna Police Department, Central Emergency Services and Alaska State Troopers… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2015
Firefighters stand near a piece of wreckage after a small plane slammed into a commercial building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, early Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015. Authorities say at least one person aboard died. Assistant Fire Chief Alex Boyd said there were no injuries on the ground.(AP Photo/Rachel D'Oro)

Small plane crashes into Alaska building, killing at least 1

ANCHORAGE — The pilot of a small plane that smashed into a building in downtown Anchorage on Tuesday was not authorized to fly the aircraft… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2015
  • By RACHEL D'ORO,
Firefighters stand near a piece of wreckage after a small plane slammed into a commercial building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, early Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015. Authorities say at least one person aboard died. Assistant Fire Chief Alex Boyd said there were no injuries on the ground.(AP Photo/Rachel D'Oro)
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Brenna Belluomini and Kayla White take pictures in the makeup room before their first performance in Vergine's Dance Studio Annual Recital Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska.

With her studio all grown up, Vergine says goodbye

A local dance instructor is stepping down after almost 30 years teaching dancers in Soldotna. Vergine (pronounced “Vair-geen-ay”) had her studio in an empty storefront… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Brenna Belluomini and Kayla White take pictures in the makeup room before their first performance in Vergine's Dance Studio Annual Recital Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Nicole Harmon reaches for a resistance band she will use in a rowing exercise, part of her physical therapy, on Thursday Dec. 10 at the Dena'ina Wellness Center in Kenai. Harmon's physical therapist Sabrina Royster said the exercise is "meant to help her brain re-educate the muscles of her arm to balance muscle contractions. "

Writing a new chapter

Nicole Harmon was told she would die twice within the last 12 years. Despite two extreme physical traumas, the 30-year-old Kenai woman has defied odds… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Nicole Harmon reaches for a resistance band she will use in a rowing exercise, part of her physical therapy, on Thursday Dec. 10 at the Dena'ina Wellness Center in Kenai. Harmon's physical therapist Sabrina Royster said the exercise is "meant to help her brain re-educate the muscles of her arm to balance muscle contractions. "

Sweeney’s burgled early Christmas morning

Mike Sweeney, owner of Sweeney’s Clothing in Soldotna, spent his Monday calling his insurance provider and changing the store’s locks after a Christmas morning break-in.Members… Continue reading

Stevens: Election year poses challenges for fiscal plan

It’s going to be a long five months.Before Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, starts packing for the trip to Juneau after the New Year, he stopped… Continue reading

Walker reflects on first full year in office, looks ahead

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker likened his first year in office to moving into a new house that catches fire on move-in day, with low… Continue reading

  • Dec 28, 2015
  • By Becky Bohrer
FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2014 file photo, men haul sections of whale skin and blubber, known as muktuk, as a bowhead whale is butchered in a field near Barrow, Alaska. The environment is changing and the Inuit, who consider themselves a part of it, want measures taken to protect their culture. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

Inuit link steady food supply to environment health

ANCHORAGE — Alaska Inuit hunter John Goodwin for decades has hunted oogruk, the bearded seal, a marine mammal prized for its meat, oil and hide.The… Continue reading

  • Dec 28, 2015
  • By Dan Joling
FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2014 file photo, men haul sections of whale skin and blubber, known as muktuk, as a bowhead whale is butchered in a field near Barrow, Alaska. The environment is changing and the Inuit, who consider themselves a part of it, want measures taken to protect their culture. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Jay Kane (left) and Kole McCaughey (right) manned Nikiski Fire Station 1 on Christmas Day. Usually, Christmas Day is pretty slow, and the two had plans to make a ham to celebrate.

Central Peninsula first responders spend quiet Christmas Day at stations

Editor's Note: This story has been edited to correct the spelling of Kole McCaughey's and Justin Horton's names.  Other than the carols ringing from a… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Jay Kane (left) and Kole McCaughey (right) manned Nikiski Fire Station 1 on Christmas Day. Usually, Christmas Day is pretty slow, and the two had plans to make a ham to celebrate.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Ted Nichols, 12, and his father John Nichols, of Chugiak, dig for clams at Whiskey Gulch Saturday May 17, 2014 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The two were targetting razor clams.

Eastside Cook Inlet clams to remain closed

Clams on the eastside Cook Inlet beaches will remain off-limits for sport and personal use clamming in 2016 after a 2015 survey showed continued low… Continue reading

  • Dec 27, 2015
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Ted Nichols, 12, and his father John Nichols, of Chugiak, dig for clams at Whiskey Gulch Saturday May 17, 2014 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The two were targetting razor clams.
Photo courtesy Alaska Aerial Media Two endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales, as shown from an image captured by an unmanned aircraft system last August, stranded in the Turnagain Arm on the mudflats.

Drones to help spot stranded belugas

When the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales strand, it can be a guessing game as to how many and how old they are. The National… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Alaska Aerial Media Two endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales, as shown from an image captured by an unmanned aircraft system last August, stranded in the Turnagain Arm on the mudflats.

Fights shape up over taxes, spending, revenue

There seems little doubt that the 2016 state legislative session will be pretty ugly. The money situation is getting worse and there’s no reason to… Continue reading

  • Dec 26, 2015
  • By Tim Bradner
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion A plastic Christmas tree stands in the main cafeteria of the Wildwood Correctional Complex as yellow-suited inmates line up for dinner on Friday, Dec. 25.

Wildwood inmates see acts of kindness, charity on holiday

For the 200 or so people living in Kenai’s Wildwood Correctional Complex, the Christmas season began with visits from community groups and ended with dinner… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion A plastic Christmas tree stands in the main cafeteria of the Wildwood Correctional Complex as yellow-suited inmates line up for dinner on Friday, Dec. 25.
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Jack Sinclair, the former Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation supervisor for the Kenai Peninsula, has taken over the executive director position at the Kenai Watershed Forum.

Jack Sinclair to head Kenai Watershed Forum

As the new head of the Kenai Watershed forum, there is a lot to learn, but Jack Sinclair said he’s up to the task.Sinclair has… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Jack Sinclair, the former Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation supervisor for the Kenai Peninsula, has taken over the executive director position at the Kenai Watershed Forum.

Strip club owner found guilty of dumping waste in harbor

KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — The owner of a crabbing boat that was converted into a floating strip club off the shore of an Alaskan island… Continue reading

  • Dec 26, 2015

State, municipal leaders discuss pension system debts

KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — State and municipal leaders are in talks to change Alaska’s multi-billion-dollar pension system.Local leaders attended a meeting last week in Juneau… Continue reading

  • Dec 26, 2015

Judge sides with Kodiak radio station in records request

KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — A judge has ordered the city of Kodiak to release records related to an encounter between three police officers and an… Continue reading

  • Dec 26, 2015

Borough employees, local organizations ramp up donation drives

Every Christmas, the employees of the Kenai Peninsula Borough adopt a few families for a few weeks. For the duration of the holiday season, the… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Sen. Dan Sullivan gave a rundown of his first year in Washington, D.C., to a large crowd at the joint Kenai and Soldotna chamber luncheon Wednesday at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center.

Sullivan focuses on economy, regulation reform

Economics, regulation and the military ruled the conversation during Sen. Dan Sullivan’s speech to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce luncheon on Wednesday.… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Sen. Dan Sullivan gave a rundown of his first year in Washington, D.C., to a large crowd at the joint Kenai and Soldotna chamber luncheon Wednesday at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center.