Kenai Peninsula College: Around Campus

KPC administrator chosen as Sitka's campus director Dr. Paula Martin has served as the assistant director for academic affairs and as an associate professor at… Continue reading

  • Sep 13, 2015
  • By Suzie Kendrick
  • Schools
ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY SEPT. 13 - In this Aug. 27, 2015 photo, Julie Diana helps a young dancer in a ballet class at Juneau Dance Theatre in Juneau, Alaska.  About 15 years ago, the San Francisco Ballet was touring Spain when principal dancer Julie Diana's partner fell and broke his foot. A dancer who had recently joined the company, Zachary "Zak" Hench, stepped in and learned the part in just three days.  It was the start of long-lasting partnership that has, most recently, brought the two to Juneau. Diana is the new executive director of Juneau Dance Theatre, and Hench is the new artistic director. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

“Fairy Tale” romance, partnership for Juneau dance teachers

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — About 15 years ago, the San Francisco Ballet was touring Spain when principal dancer Julie Diana’s partner fell and broke his… Continue reading

  • Sep 14, 2015
  • By MARY CATHERINE MARTIN
ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY SEPT. 13 - In this Aug. 27, 2015 photo, Julie Diana helps a young dancer in a ballet class at Juneau Dance Theatre in Juneau, Alaska.  About 15 years ago, the San Francisco Ballet was touring Spain when principal dancer Julie Diana's partner fell and broke his foot. A dancer who had recently joined the company, Zachary "Zak" Hench, stepped in and learned the part in just three days.  It was the start of long-lasting partnership that has, most recently, brought the two to Juneau. Diana is the new executive director of Juneau Dance Theatre, and Hench is the new artistic director. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion A runner and her dog cross the finish line at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk/Run on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015 at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska.

‘Making Strides’ in Soldotna

Dark clouds and strong wind could not stop the participants of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk/Run on Sunday afternoon. A total of 107… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion A runner and her dog cross the finish line at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk/Run on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015 at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Volunteer Carroll Knutson points out and describes several artifacts to students from Soldotna Elementary during their field trip on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 at the Soldotna Homestead Museum in Soldotna, Alaska.

Soldotna students tour museum with living homesteader

Third and fourth grade students at Soldotna Elementary explored the not-too-distant past of their state at the Soldotna Homestead Museum on Thursday. Fingers pressed up… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Volunteer Carroll Knutson points out and describes several artifacts to students from Soldotna Elementary during their field trip on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 at the Soldotna Homestead Museum in Soldotna, Alaska.

Deals herald PFD payout

Checks from the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend won’t arrive until Oct. 1, but a few businesses are planning ahead. With the return of the PFD… Continue reading

  • Sep 13, 2015
  • By PAULA ANN SOLIS

WWII-era tugboat sinks in Gastineau Channel

The 96-foot tugboat Challenger was born in August 1944 in Wilmington, California. It died about 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015. It was 71 years… Continue reading

Mountain bikes keep rolling with PsychoCross, Mark Your Improvement races

The Tsalteshi Cycle Series culminated with the PsychoCross 2015 on Saturday at Tsalteshi Trails.PsychoCross was a 14-mile loop which used some of the trails, some… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Maddy Triana (left) and Cooper Collier climb on the spider-web pyramid in Kenai Municipal Park during the park's dedicaiton on Saturday, September 12 in Kenai.

Kenai dedicates renovated Municipal Park

Standing in front of a backdrop of painted forest creatures, Kenai Vice Mayor Brian Gabriel dedicated the Kenai Municipal Park’s “Enchanted Forest” playground in a… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Maddy Triana (left) and Cooper Collier climb on the spider-web pyramid in Kenai Municipal Park during the park's dedicaiton on Saturday, September 12 in Kenai.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion A display of flags waves commemorating the Sept.11, 2001 terrorist attacks wave on Friday, Sept. 11 in front of Nikiski's Fire Station 1.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion A display of flags waves commemorating the Sept.11, 2001 terrorist attacks wave on Friday, Sept. 11 in front of Nikiski's Fire Station 1.

Renter beware

Ylka Ortega finally achieved a lifelong dream of living in Homer in March of 2014. Originally from California, she moved first to Anchorage and then… Continue reading

Walker to address LNG conference, responds to ExxonMobil CEO

Gov. Bill Walker is off to Asia to wave Alaska’s flag at a big liquefied natural gas conference in Tokyo. Deputy Natural Resources Commissioner Marty… Continue reading

  • Sep 11, 2015
  • By Tim Bradner

State gives gloomy outlook for gasline session this fall

PALMER — Gov. Bill Walker will not call a special legislative session to ratify Alaska LNG Project agreements unless there’s progress made quickly on several… Continue reading

  • Sep 12, 2015
  • By Tim Bradner
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  A 9/11 Memorial outside of Nikiski's Fire Station 1, Wednesday September 11, 2013 in Nikiski, Alaska.

Peninsula agencies to commemorate Sept. 11

Area emergency responders and a local sports team will remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, with commemorative activities Friday. The Nikiski Fire Department… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  A 9/11 Memorial outside of Nikiski's Fire Station 1, Wednesday September 11, 2013 in Nikiski, Alaska.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Leslie Fazio (background) and Laura Beeson point out positive messages on the "Wall of Hope" they had high school students create as part of the new statewide Suicide Prevention Week, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska.

Statewide suicide prevention week well-received

This month, Governor Bill Walker recognized the fact that Alaska’s suicide rate is dangerously high by instituting a statewide Suicide Prevention Week, and local schools… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Leslie Fazio (background) and Laura Beeson point out positive messages on the "Wall of Hope" they had high school students create as part of the new statewide Suicide Prevention Week, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska.

Kenai River Ranch development plans advance

As plans materialize for development on the Kenai River Ranch property, residents are caught between concerns of access and conservation. The Kenai River Ranch, located… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  A caribou runs through neighborhood near Binkley Street on Thursday Sept. 10, 2015 in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  A caribou runs through neighborhood near Binkley Street on Thursday Sept. 10, 2015 in Soldotna, Alaska.
The Ninilchik General Store, now Ninilchik Trading, pictured before its expansion is finished. Owner Jim Clark is seeking an exemption on his liquor from the Kenai Peninsula Borough after a nearby church refused to issue a letter of non-refusal for the permit.

Ninilchik Trading hits roadblock with liquor license

Jim Clark didn’t expect significant opposition to his license to sell alcohol at his store in Ninilchik. Clark, the owner of Echo Lake Meats in… Continue reading

The Ninilchik General Store, now Ninilchik Trading, pictured before its expansion is finished. Owner Jim Clark is seeking an exemption on his liquor from the Kenai Peninsula Borough after a nearby church refused to issue a letter of non-refusal for the permit.
Clarion file photo

Soldotna council looks at Arc Lake campfires, borough ballot initiative

During what Mayor Nels Anderson called the “shortest meeting ever,” Soldotna City Council members unanimously approved ordinances allowing fires at Arc Lake park, adding money… Continue reading

  • Sep 9, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Clarion file photo
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion U.S Olympic Women's Sevens Rugby player Alev Kelter (in red cap) directs a scrum made of Mountain View Elementary students and her team mates Amy Naber and Meya Bizer during a presentation on Wednesday, September 9 at Mountain View Elementary School.

The ruck stops here: Olympic rugby team visits Mountain View Elementary

Mountain View Elementary students learned some vocabulary words on Wednesday morning — “ruck,” “scrum,” “scrum-half,” “prop-forward,” and “grubber” were a few of them. Their teachers… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion U.S Olympic Women's Sevens Rugby player Alev Kelter (in red cap) directs a scrum made of Mountain View Elementary students and her team mates Amy Naber and Meya Bizer during a presentation on Wednesday, September 9 at Mountain View Elementary School.

Juneau museum asks for public’s help figuring out who’s who

JUNEAU (AP) — They’re a who’s who of Juneau.We just don’t know who they are.At the end of this month, the Juneau-Douglas City Museum will… Continue reading