News

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.
Photo courtesy Shona DeVolld Anna DeVolld and her sister Sara DeVolld pose with Sen. Lisa Murkowski in front of the banner that was sent to Washington, D.C. along with the Capitol Christmas Tree, Saturday, Oct. 31, in Anchorage, Alaska.

Soldotna girl lights Capitol Christmas tree

On Anna Kathleen DeVolld’s first trip to Washington, D.C., she flipped the switch that lit the 2015 Capitol Christmas tree. But the fifth-grader’s visit wasn’t… Continue reading

  • Dec 7, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo courtesy Shona DeVolld Anna DeVolld and her sister Sara DeVolld pose with Sen. Lisa Murkowski in front of the banner that was sent to Washington, D.C. along with the Capitol Christmas Tree, Saturday, Oct. 31, in Anchorage, Alaska.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Kenai resident Joyce Colbenson looks on as David Hartman, a painter, works on one of his handmade signs during the Annual Auxiliary Holiday Bazaar on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015 at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. Money raised at the bazaar went to the Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship fund.

Signs of the season

… Continue reading

  • Dec 7, 2015
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Kenai resident Joyce Colbenson looks on as David Hartman, a painter, works on one of his handmade signs during the Annual Auxiliary Holiday Bazaar on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015 at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. Money raised at the bazaar went to the Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship fund.

State considers reused medical equipment

Medicaid patients in Alaska may soon be able to get recycled wheelchairs and walkers. The Alaska State Legislature and the Alaska Department of Health and… Continue reading

Keeping it close to home

Soldotna native Dan Grimes has returned home after a lengthy career in Fairbanks as Central Emergency Services’ new deputy chief. When former Chief Chris Mokracek… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre speaks at the Kachemak Bay Rotary Club meeting on Dec. 3 at the Bidarka Inn in Homer.

Navarre to Homer: Health care process has just started

Speaking like a doctor advising a patient with high blood pressure to lose weight and exercise, in a talk to the Kachemak Bay Rotary Club… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre speaks at the Kachemak Bay Rotary Club meeting on Dec. 3 at the Bidarka Inn in Homer.

Adventure show star charged with Alaska hunting violations

ANCHORAGE — A former beauty queen who hosts an Outdoor Channel adventure show illegally shot an Alaska grizzly bear and conspired to cover up the… Continue reading

  • Dec 7, 2015
  • By Dan Joling