News

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion ConocoPhillips employees Dave Knudsen and Dean Hatch work on salvaging building frame boards. The wood will be recycled and used the ABC Pregnancy Care Center's new location on Frontage Road where they will move into in May 2015, Tuesday, September 9, 2014, in Kenai, Alaska.

Tear down to build up

With the help of community volunteers, an empty building in Kenai is being reborn. A crew of 12 volunteers from ConocoPhillips brought their hammers and… Continue reading

  • Sep 9, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion ConocoPhillips employees Dave Knudsen and Dean Hatch work on salvaging building frame boards. The wood will be recycled and used the ABC Pregnancy Care Center's new location on Frontage Road where they will move into in May 2015, Tuesday, September 9, 2014, in Kenai, Alaska.
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Mercedes Norris, Dustin Norris and Venice Norris came to the groundbreaking party for HOPE Community Resources Inc.'s new community recreation center on Tuesday, September 09, 2014, in Soldotna, Alaska. Dustin Norris helped pour the center's foundation and Mercedes Norris choses to use HOPE's resources.

HOPE’S new center underway

Underneath dripping-wet, white canopies, with bright orange loaders in the peripheral, more than 100 community members came to celebrate the groundbreaking of HOPE Community Resources… Continue reading

  • Sep 9, 2014
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Mercedes Norris, Dustin Norris and Venice Norris came to the groundbreaking party for HOPE Community Resources Inc.'s new community recreation center on Tuesday, September 09, 2014, in Soldotna, Alaska. Dustin Norris helped pour the center's foundation and Mercedes Norris choses to use HOPE's resources.
Assistant Superintendent Sean Dusek will be offered the chance to lead the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District as interim superintendent.

Dusek honored to be offered interim superintendent job

Elected officials for local schools have selected a new superintendent — for now.The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education unanimously voted to offer… Continue reading

  • Sep 9, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
Assistant Superintendent Sean Dusek will be offered the chance to lead the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District as interim superintendent.

Soldotna man dies in vehicle rollover

A vehicle rollover on Funny River Road this morning resulted in one death.Soldotna police withheld the identity of the victim until all next of kin… Continue reading

  • Sep 9, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER

Walrus populations may need protection

JUNEAU, Alaska — Researchers are trying to get a better handle on the size of the Pacific walrus population ahead of an expected decision by… Continue reading

  • Sep 9, 2014
  • By By BECKY BOHRER

Dusek selected as interim superintendent

An interim leader for local schools has been selected. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education unanimously voted to offer the position as… Continue reading

  • Sep 9, 2014
  • By Staff Report
Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion Jenna Hansen, 17, has been raising reindeer for three years in Nikiski. She organizes photo opportunities with her two reindeer, Scene of the Crash and Comet, to raise money for homeless youth. Hansen also teaches students about reindeer. At the Alaska State Fair in Palmer this summer, Hansen was awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Summer of Heroes, a partnership program between Alaska Communications and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Alaska that recognizes youth performing community service projects.

Tails of endearment

It started with Scene of the Crash, or Crash for short. Next came Comet. If Jenna Hansen had her way, she jokes that she’d probably… Continue reading

  • Sep 8, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion Jenna Hansen, 17, has been raising reindeer for three years in Nikiski. She organizes photo opportunities with her two reindeer, Scene of the Crash and Comet, to raise money for homeless youth. Hansen also teaches students about reindeer. At the Alaska State Fair in Palmer this summer, Hansen was awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Summer of Heroes, a partnership program between Alaska Communications and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Alaska that recognizes youth performing community service projects.

Five men charged as prostitute patrons

Five men have been charged with engaging in prostitution linked to a sex trafficking case that involved a Kenai massage business. The charges are a… Continue reading

  • Sep 8, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER

Health officials confirm Alaska mumps case

FAIRBANKS (AP) — A 50-year-old Alaska woman contracted mumps in July, the first confirmed case within the state in a decade.The woman on July 11… Continue reading

  • Sep 8, 2014

Division of Insurance approves health plan rate hikes

JUNEAU — The Alaska Division of Insurance has approved rate increases of up to 40 percent for individuals who bought health insurance plans through the… Continue reading

  • Sep 8, 2014
  • By Becky Bohrer

Stolen car from Anchorage found in Kasilof

Three people were arrested in Kasilof Friday after Alaska State Troopers allege the vehicle they occupied was stolen out of Anchorage.Troopers located a gold 2001… Continue reading

  • Sep 8, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Athletes swim 500 meters for the first leg of the Tri the Kenai triathlon race Sunday at Skyview Middle School.

Athletes Tri-the-Kenai

As soon as Sharon Ehasz ran down the final hill coming out of Tsalteshi Trails, her two young sons stood and cheered her all the… Continue reading

  • Sep 7, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Athletes swim 500 meters for the first leg of the Tri the Kenai triathlon race Sunday at Skyview Middle School.

Ketchikan City Council says no to legalizing pot

KETCHIKAN (AP) — The Ketchikan City Council has voted against supporting the legalization of recreational marijuana. Council members voted on Thursday to approve a resolution… Continue reading

  • Sep 7, 2014
  • By Associated Press
The edge of the bluff encroaches on the Sterling Highway at Milepost 153.3. The edge is within 50 feet of the highway. Photo provided by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

Sterling Highway erosion project scheduled to begin in spring

Due to some extra paperwork, construction on a Sterling Highway erosion mitigation project was delayed to next construction season. The Alaska Department of Transportation and… Continue reading

  • Sep 7, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
The edge of the bluff encroaches on the Sterling Highway at Milepost 153.3. The edge is within 50 feet of the highway. Photo provided by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

Flint Hills refinery closure makes for higher-priced asphalt

As paving season peaks, getting asphalt to construction sites across Alaska has become more complicated and expensive since Flint Hills Resources closed its North Pole… Continue reading

  • Sep 7, 2014
  • By ELWOOD BREHMER
Vacant Kenai council seat filled one month before elections

Vacant Kenai council seat filled one month before elections

While regular elections are less than a month away, one seat on the Kenai City Council seats up for grabs has already been filled. Kenai… Continue reading

  • Sep 7, 2014
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Vacant Kenai council seat filled one month before elections

Drift fishermen critical of new management plan

The Cook Inlet drift fleet is largely done fishing for the summer, with a catch of more than 2 million salmon. Through Aug. 12, when… Continue reading

  • Sep 6, 2014
  • By Molly Dischner
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Brady Baker grabs his scooter and takes off during a the BMX biking competition portion of the 5th Annual Bike & Skate Challenge Saturday Sept. 6, 2014 iat the Soldotna Skate Park in Soldotna, Alaska.

5th Annual Bike and Skate competition held in Soldotna

Four boys sat on a concrete block, squinting in the direct sunlight and dripping sweat from an afternoon of jumping, flipping, spinning and wrestling steady… Continue reading

  • Sep 6, 2014
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Brady Baker grabs his scooter and takes off during a the BMX biking competition portion of the 5th Annual Bike & Skate Challenge Saturday Sept. 6, 2014 iat the Soldotna Skate Park in Soldotna, Alaska.

Federal judge rules to keep Cook Inlet out of salmon management plan

A federal judge ruled Thursday to uphold the federal decision to remove Cook Inlet from the salmon fishery management plan. Alaska has managed salmon since… Continue reading

  • Sep 6, 2014
  • By Molly Dischner
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Two sport anglers fish for silver salmon as the sun rises over the Kenai River Monday Sept. 1, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Cook Inlet sport fishermen faced newly restrictive fisheries in 2014

Kenai River sport fisheries saw several changes this summer — including a closure of the early king run, new gear restrictions and pairings with the… Continue reading

  • Sep 6, 2014
  • By MOLLY DISCHNER and RASHAH MCCHESNEY
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Two sport anglers fish for silver salmon as the sun rises over the Kenai River Monday Sept. 1, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.