News

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Several barrel racers warm up before the combined barrel racing and bull riding competition, "Beauty and the Beast," on Friday night during the Progress Days Rodeo at the Soldotna Rodeo Grounds.

Holy Cow

One moment, Devin Malutin held his hand high in the air, clinging to a bucking bull while cheers from the stands spurred him on. The… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Several barrel racers warm up before the combined barrel racing and bull riding competition, "Beauty and the Beast," on Friday night during the Progress Days Rodeo at the Soldotna Rodeo Grounds.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Wary of zombies, humans Elizabeth Lisenby (front) and Nyia Peters (back) scurry across an open area during a round of Humans versus Zombies at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, July 24.

Humans versus Zombies at Soldotna Library

This summer, youth programs at the Soldotna Public Library are educating local students not only through reading, but also with hands-on activities that teach practical… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Wary of zombies, humans Elizabeth Lisenby (front) and Nyia Peters (back) scurry across an open area during a round of Humans versus Zombies at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, July 24.
This undated photo provided by the University of Nevada Reno, shows smoke from the King Fire in a view north across Lake Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. University researchers are helping federal forest and range managers expand the use of cameras to spot wildfires at Lake Tahoe to the tops of mountains in remote parts of northeast and central Nevada, including one north of Battle Mountain that gave an early warning of a fire more than 100 miles away in Oregon. (University of Nevada Reno via AP)

Wildfire watching: Rangers in towers are out, cameras are in

RENO, Nev. — For decades, forest rangers in wooden towers across the West scanned the horizon with binoculars for smoke that could signal the start… Continue reading

  • Jul 26, 2015
  • By SCOTT SONNER
This undated photo provided by the University of Nevada Reno, shows smoke from the King Fire in a view north across Lake Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. University researchers are helping federal forest and range managers expand the use of cameras to spot wildfires at Lake Tahoe to the tops of mountains in remote parts of northeast and central Nevada, including one north of Battle Mountain that gave an early warning of a fire more than 100 miles away in Oregon. (University of Nevada Reno via AP)

Marijuana legal, but finances remain in black market

Conrad Daley, executive director of the Alaska Cannabis Grower’s Association, tried to get his organization a bank account for months, and has yet to keep… Continue reading

  • Jul 26, 2015
  • By DJ SUMMERS

Soldotna mobile food vendor regulations approved

Mobile food vendors looking to set up shop in Soldotna have a ne set of regulations developed by the city.Changes the Soldotna City Council approved… Continue reading

  • Jul 25, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan

Fish and Game loosens Kenai River king restrictions

A healthy Kenai River king salmon run is translating to more fish for everyone, while highlighting management concerns from east side setnetters. The Alaska Department… Continue reading

  • Jul 25, 2015
  • By DJ SUMMERS

Fish and Game lifts bait restriction for Kenai River kings

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has lifted the bait restriction in the Kenai River sport king salmon fishery.According to a press release from… Continue reading

  • Jul 24, 2015

Teen passenger dies in Cooper Landing highway crash

COOPER LANDING (AP) — A 15-year-old Eagle River girl died Thursday in a rollover crash in Cooper Landing.Alaska State Troopers say Megan Frenzel was a… Continue reading

  • Jul 24, 2015

An Outdoor View: On filling the freezer

Author’s note: This column first appeared in the Clarion on July 25, 2014. With sockeye salmon now plentiful hereabouts, it bears repeating. — LP  … Continue reading

Soldotna man, passenger not injured in plane crash

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating a plane crash after a Soldotna resident and his passenger hiked out from the… Continue reading

Soldotna enters contract with one mixed martial arts promoter

“6 or 5 Times Productions” has been chosen as the sole promoter for Mixed Martial Arts competitions to be held at the Soldotna Regional Sports… Continue reading

  • Jul 23, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan

Shell allowed limited offshore oil drilling

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Obama administration has given Royal Dutch Shell PLC approval to begin limited exploratory oil drilling off Alaska’s northwest coast. The two… Continue reading

  • Jul 23, 2015
  • By KEVIN FREKING and DAN JOLING

Scientists say people prefer fat

WASHINGTON — Move over sweet and salty: Researchers say we have a distinct and basic taste for fat, too.But it’s nowhere near as delicious as… Continue reading

  • Jul 23, 2015
  • By By SETH BORENSTEIN
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Joshua Berson, 8, scrapes bark off his father's log in preparation for the Sawfest Chainsaw Carving Competition on Thursday evening at Stanley Chrysler in Soldotna, Alaska. Berson's father, Eric Berson of The Dreamer's Woods in Sterling, is one of several participant's in this year's Sawfest, which will last from Thursday through Sunday as part of the Progress Days festival.

PHOTO: Ready, set, scrape!

… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Joshua Berson, 8, scrapes bark off his father's log in preparation for the Sawfest Chainsaw Carving Competition on Thursday evening at Stanley Chrysler in Soldotna, Alaska. Berson's father, Eric Berson of The Dreamer's Woods in Sterling, is one of several participant's in this year's Sawfest, which will last from Thursday through Sunday as part of the Progress Days festival.

Fishing report: All eyes on the Kenai as sockeye numbers build, king fishing steady

Angling eyes are on the Kenai River this week as sockeye numbers are building and king salmon fishing remains steady. Alaska Department of Fish and… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Art Baker twitches his hook at the end of a drift by pulling out the line with his hand on the bank of the Kenai, behind the Kenai River Center in Soldotna, on Tuesday, July 21.

Sockeye fishing makes anglers twitchy

While dipnetters swarm the Kenai Peninsula’s beaches to wrestle fish out of the surf, anglers take to the riverbanks to practice a less athletic but… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Art Baker twitches his hook at the end of a drift by pulling out the line with his hand on the bank of the Kenai, behind the Kenai River Center in Soldotna, on Tuesday, July 21.
Courtesy photo/Alaska Department of Natural Resrouces This map from a naming application shows the location of an unnamed lake on the Kenai Peninsula, 31 miles northeast of Nikiski and less than 2 miles from the Cook Inlet. The proposed name is Regaey Lake.

Local landowners apply to name lake

A Kenai family looking to christen a previously unnamed lake near Moose Point has found the process does not come without difficulties. Kenai resident Joan… Continue reading

Courtesy photo/Alaska Department of Natural Resrouces This map from a naming application shows the location of an unnamed lake on the Kenai Peninsula, 31 miles northeast of Nikiski and less than 2 miles from the Cook Inlet. The proposed name is Regaey Lake.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Sam Gotter (left) nets a sockeye pulled in by Pat Homer (right) on the Kenai River in Soldotna on Tuesday, July 21.

Photo: Nothing but net

… Continue reading

  • Jul 22, 2015
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Sam Gotter (left) nets a sockeye pulled in by Pat Homer (right) on the Kenai River in Soldotna on Tuesday, July 21.

Associations, school district still at impasse

Collective bargaining between the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and the Kenai Peninsula Education and Kenai Peninsula Support associations remains at an impasse.The three entities… Continue reading

  • Jul 22, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
This June 2015 photo provided by the University of Alaska Museum of the North, shows a close-up view of a neck vertebra from a elasmosaur fossil exposed in the cliff in the Talkeetna Mountains in Alaska. Researchers have confirmed the discovery of a marine reptile fossil in the Talkeetna Mountains, the University of Alaska Museum of the North announced Wednesday, July 22, 2015. (Patrick Druckenmiller/University of Alaska Museum via AP)

Collector finds marine reptile fossil in mountains of Alaska

ANCHORAGE — Researchers have confirmed the discovery of a marine reptile fossil in the Talkeetna Mountains, the University of Alaska Museum of the North announced… Continue reading

  • Jul 22, 2015
  • By Dan Joling
This June 2015 photo provided by the University of Alaska Museum of the North, shows a close-up view of a neck vertebra from a elasmosaur fossil exposed in the cliff in the Talkeetna Mountains in Alaska. Researchers have confirmed the discovery of a marine reptile fossil in the Talkeetna Mountains, the University of Alaska Museum of the North announced Wednesday, July 22, 2015. (Patrick Druckenmiller/University of Alaska Museum via AP)