Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion   In this May 24, 2014 file photo, a team of firefighters walk along a fire break near Brown's Lake in the Funny River community of Alaska. Firefighters are urging caution citing hot and dry conditions that could lead to another wildland fire during the 2015 season.

Alaska wildfire responders keeping an eye on dry conditions

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Green leaves have popped out on trees throughout interior Alaska, but the dry vegetation below is putting wildfire responders on edge. Grasses… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2015
  • By Dan Joling
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion   In this May 24, 2014 file photo, a team of firefighters walk along a fire break near Brown's Lake in the Funny River community of Alaska. Firefighters are urging caution citing hot and dry conditions that could lead to another wildland fire during the 2015 season.
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Graduating senior Ben Carstens chats with friends following commencement Wednesday, May 21, 2015, in the Nikiski Middle-High School commons area in Nikiski, Alaska.

Nikiski grads leave with ample Bulldog pride

The 48 2015 Nikiski Middle-High School graduating seniors are departing with their Bulldog spirit. Before the tassels were turned and caps tossed, Senior Class President… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Graduating senior Ben Carstens chats with friends following commencement Wednesday, May 21, 2015, in the Nikiski Middle-High School commons area in Nikiski, Alaska.

Legislature adjourns, convenes new session in Anchorage over minority objections

Alaska legislators adjourned Thursday to end the special session called by Gov. Bill Walker, immediately called their own session and the House Finance Committee later… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2015
  • By ELWOOD BREHMER

Kenai Alt grads thank accepting educators

Kenai Alternative’s 33 graduates gathered in their own gymnasium Tuesday for an honest, encouraging send off by community members and principal Loren Reese.Students attributed academic… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion In this Oct. 30, 2014 file photo, Gov. Bill Walker watches a Central Peninsula League of Women Voters forum in Soldotna, Alaska. Walker's Boards and Commission's Director resigned over an appointment she said he intended to make to the state's Board of Fisheries.

Gillis resignation was over board appointment

Karen Gillis, Gov. Bill Walker’s former director of Boards and Commissions, resigned in protest of an appointment Walker’s office said never happened.Gillis, who was named… Continue reading

  • May 20, 2015
  • By DJ SUMMERS
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion In this Oct. 30, 2014 file photo, Gov. Bill Walker watches a Central Peninsula League of Women Voters forum in Soldotna, Alaska. Walker's Boards and Commission's Director resigned over an appointment she said he intended to make to the state's Board of Fisheries.
Ben Boettger/Peininsula Clarion Graduating senior Brittany Gilman sings a solo in a performance of "Bridge over Troubled Water" during the Kenai Central High School graduation ceremony on Monday at Kenai Central High School.

Kenai Central High School students graduate

Editor's note: This story has been changed to add the missing name of KCHS graduate Riley Michael Weber to the graduate list.  The 108 members… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peininsula Clarion Graduating senior Brittany Gilman sings a solo in a performance of "Bridge over Troubled Water" during the Kenai Central High School graduation ceremony on Monday at Kenai Central High School.
Happy times as 166 Grades walk into their future with KPC degrees

Happy times as 166 Grades walk into their future with KPC degrees

Surrounded by friends and family in the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium, Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) proudly graduated 166 students at this year’s 45th annual 2015… Continue reading

Happy times as 166 Grades walk into their future with KPC degrees
The Big Tops down but so are prices at WaterWorks

The Big Tops down but so are prices at WaterWorks

The WaterWorks tent may be down at the “Y” in Soldotna, but the rubber ducky remains on her perch as the “Under the Big Top”… Continue reading

The Big Tops down but so are prices at WaterWorks
Kids collecting trash help Kenai River Spring Cleanup

Kids collecting trash help Kenai River Spring Cleanup

As the budding leaves and warmer temperatures bring promise of the summer season and hours spent enjoying the mighty Kenai River, members of our community… Continue reading

Kids collecting trash help Kenai River Spring Cleanup
Soldotna Chamber Breakfast & Benefits survey paint positive prospective

Soldotna Chamber Breakfast & Benefits survey paint positive prospective

For the second year the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce (SCC) has invited its members to a free informational breakfast and benefits program. About 238 members… Continue reading

Soldotna Chamber Breakfast & Benefits survey paint positive prospective

New fish board member named, not divulged

The deadline for Alaska Governor Bill Walker to appoint a third person to an open Board of Fisheries seat came and went Tuesday with no… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion Members of the River City Academy Class of 2015 wait for the start of their commencement ceremony Monday, May 18, 2015 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

9 earn diplomas from River City Academy

During a commencement ceremony filled with laughter and tears, River City Academy awarded high school diplomas to its largest graduating class Monday at the Soldotna… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2015
  • By Will Morrow
Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion Members of the River City Academy Class of 2015 wait for the start of their commencement ceremony Monday, May 18, 2015 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Brett Vadla slowly pilots his sailboat toward a dock on Sport Lake on Tuesday May 19, 2015 near Soldotna, Alaska.

Photo: Ahoy!

Continue reading

  • May 19, 2015
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Brett Vadla slowly pilots his sailboat toward a dock on Sport Lake on Tuesday May 19, 2015 near Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Samuel Mireles calls to a family member to join the photograph being taken after the 2015's graduating class commencement ceremony Monday, May 18, 2015, at Ninilchik School in Ninilchik, Alaska.

Ninilchik graduates say good-bye

Eight graduates turned their tassels Monday evening in the Ninilchik School gymnasium. The group of friends, who have studied, shared classrooms and participated in extracurriculars… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Samuel Mireles calls to a family member to join the photograph being taken after the 2015's graduating class commencement ceremony Monday, May 18, 2015, at Ninilchik School in Ninilchik, Alaska.

Walker won’t force Juneau as special session venue

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker said Tuesday that he doesn’t agree with legislators moving the special session from Juneau to Anchorage but won’t take steps… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2015
  • By Becky Bohrer
Photo courtesy Alaska Division of Forestry A hotspot smokes in an area near Aurora Lake on May 17, 2015 in the Funny River community near Soldotna where the Funny River wildfire burned nearly 200,000 acres of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge land. Alaska's Division of Forestry firefighters put the smoldering area out after a group of people looking for mushrooms stumbled upon the burn.

Forestry douses hot spot left over from Funny River wildfire

A group of mushroom-hunters found a smoldering holdover from the Funny River wildfire on Sunday. The 20-foot by 20-foot area was smoking when Alaska Division… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo courtesy Alaska Division of Forestry A hotspot smokes in an area near Aurora Lake on May 17, 2015 in the Funny River community near Soldotna where the Funny River wildfire burned nearly 200,000 acres of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge land. Alaska's Division of Forestry firefighters put the smoldering area out after a group of people looking for mushrooms stumbled upon the burn.

Man dies after truck collides with house near Homer

Anchor Point Emergency Medical Services and Alaska State Troopers found a South Carolina man unresponsive in his truck after responding to a call about a… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney

Trooper vehicle totaled near Soldotna

An Alaska State Trooper vehicle was involved in a wreck with another vehicle Monday on the Sterling Highway. The trooper involved, Thad Hamilton, was taken… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney

Faced with declining revenue, HEA lays off 9

Nine people were laid off from positions within the Homer Electric Association last week. Their departure represents about $1 million in savings for the company… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney