Coast Guard event looks back at freighter grounding

KODIAK (AP) — Just over 10 years ago, a ship carrying soybeans went aground in Makushin Bay on Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Chain during… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2014
  • By JULIE HERRMANN
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Smoke from the Funny River Fire reached more than 8,000 feet in the air Tuesday May 20, 2014 as the fire burned more than 7,000 acres of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge land in 24 hours. The line of fire stretched more than 10 miles long from Funny River Road to Tustumena Lake on the Kenai Peninsula.

Remembering the fire

Editor's note: A woman in this article was identified by an incorrect last name. Erik Huebsch's wife is Catherine Cassidy.  When the Funny River wildfire broke… Continue reading

  • Dec 27, 2014
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Smoke from the Funny River Fire reached more than 8,000 feet in the air Tuesday May 20, 2014 as the fire burned more than 7,000 acres of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge land in 24 hours. The line of fire stretched more than 10 miles long from Funny River Road to Tustumena Lake on the Kenai Peninsula.

Business news

■ The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce’s annual community awards celebration is at noon Jan. 13 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. RSVP to 262-9814. Chamber… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2014

Alaska court rules bison can roam freely on Kodiak

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The buffalo can roam freely again on Kodiak Island.The state Board of Game had previously decided that free-ranging bison were considered… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2014

With oil prices dropping, Walker stops spending on mega-projects

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — With oil prices dropping, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has halted new spending on six high-profile projects, pending further review. Walker issued… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2014
FILE -- In this March 9, 2009 file photo, freeway traffic slows to a crawl along I-5 northbound near Everett, Wash. Many of the chemicals spread on highways to help winter drivers can damage the environment. Researchers at Washington State University are working on environmentally friendly ways that use less salt to reduce snow and ice on roads. (AP Photo/The Herald, Kevin Nortz, File)

WSU studies green winter road technology

SPOKANE, Wash. — Researchers at Washington State University are working on environmentally friendly ways that use less salt to reduce snow and ice on roads.Their… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2014
  • By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
FILE -- In this March 9, 2009 file photo, freeway traffic slows to a crawl along I-5 northbound near Everett, Wash. Many of the chemicals spread on highways to help winter drivers can damage the environment. Researchers at Washington State University are working on environmentally friendly ways that use less salt to reduce snow and ice on roads. (AP Photo/The Herald, Kevin Nortz, File)
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Kenai police officers Jay Sjogren and Alex Prins demonstrate a manuever during a Teens on Target self defense class on Thursday Dec. 11, 2014 in Kenai, Alaska.

Teens on Target teaches firearm use and self-defense to teenage girls

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note the model of assault rifle that the teens were using. It is an AR-15.  Kenai Police… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Kenai police officers Jay Sjogren and Alex Prins demonstrate a manuever during a Teens on Target self defense class on Thursday Dec. 11, 2014 in Kenai, Alaska.

More than $25,000 raised for mother, daughter after Christmas Day wreck

Well-wishers have donated more than $25,000 in 24 hours to an Anchor Point woman and her 11-year-old daughter who were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries following… Continue reading

  • Dec 26, 2014
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by IAN FOLEY/ Peninsula Clarion The Kenai Animal Shelter's after hours drop-off kennels will be closed later this month.

Kenai to close drop-off kennels at animal shelter

The Kenai Animal Shelter’s after hours drop-off kennels will no longer be available for use as of December 31. The outdoor kennels, which have been… Continue reading

  • Dec 27, 2014
  • By IAN FOLEY
Photo by IAN FOLEY/ Peninsula Clarion The Kenai Animal Shelter's after hours drop-off kennels will be closed later this month.

Lawmakers call on Walker to reign in budget

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska’s legislative leaders are calling in Gov. Bill Walker to immediately address budget worries brought on by the falling price of oil.Legislative… Continue reading

  • Dec 27, 2014
  • By Dan Joling
Soldotna designated Purple Heart City

Soldotna designated Purple Heart City

At the December 10th Soldotna City Council meeting members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) that included 93-year-old Soldotna resident Bill Fields,… Continue reading

Soldotna designated Purple Heart City
Redoubt El Grocery Grab yields 1,114 lbs. plus $1,000 for Food Bank holiday boxes

Redoubt El Grocery Grab yields 1,114 lbs. plus $1,000 for Food Bank holiday boxes

Several years ago Sharon Hale at Redoubt Elementary School started a holiday food collection called the “Great Redoubt Grocery Grab!” The idea was to let… Continue reading

Redoubt El Grocery Grab yields 1,114 lbs. plus $1,000 for Food Bank holiday boxes

Unwrap Soldotna yields $1,000 shopping spree for local family

Shopping locally paid huge Holiday dividend for the Evans family of Soldotna who collected $1,000 in Chamber Bucks at the December 16th Soldotna Chamber of… Continue reading

Toys for Tots makes record breaking buy

Toys for Tots makes record breaking buy

Sunday afternoon December 14th, just ten days before Santa’s departure from the North Pole some U.S. Marines and Toys for Tots volunteers slid through the… Continue reading

Toys for Tots makes record breaking buy
Kelly Hepler

Fish and Game staffer lands prominent South Dakota job using a ‘working title.’

An employee in the commissioner’s office of Alaska Department of Fish and Game landed a position as the head of South Dakota’s Fish, Game and… Continue reading

  • Dec 24, 2014
  • By Rashah McChesney
Kelly Hepler

Anchorage non-profit targeted by thieves

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Anchorage nonprofit that helps people with disabilities has been contending with thefts and vandalism during the Christmas season. The ARC… Continue reading

  • Dec 25, 2014
  • By Associated Press
Clarion file photo Paul Vass and Julie Wendt drive down Bore Tide Drive during an October 2013 tour of the Kalifornsky area subdivision in which they live and raise livestock on a small farm. The couple suffered and estimated $30,000 in damage to their livestock and home during the month's long groundwater-flooding event that peaked from weekend rains

K-Beach flooding area sees slow progress

Next month will mark a year since the Kalifornsky flooding was declared a federal disaster and many impacted residents are still feeling the effects of… Continue reading

  • Dec 25, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Clarion file photo Paul Vass and Julie Wendt drive down Bore Tide Drive during an October 2013 tour of the Kalifornsky area subdivision in which they live and raise livestock on a small farm. The couple suffered and estimated $30,000 in damage to their livestock and home during the month's long groundwater-flooding event that peaked from weekend rains

Soldotna man charged with posession of child pornography and online solicitation of a minor

State troopers arrested a Soldotna man after he was accused of exchanging explicit text and photo messages with a 14-year-old girl. He told officers that… Continue reading

Audit: Systemic problems in Alaska’s Corrections Department

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An audit of the Alaska Department of Corrections has identified systemic problems, including an inadequate mechanism for reviewing inmate deaths and… Continue reading

  • Dec 24, 2014
  • By The Associated Press