Soldotna reservoir to be built by Blazy

Construction on the 1 million-gallon Kalifornsky Beach Road water reservoir is set to begin immediately. Soldotna based Blazy Construction Inc. was awarded a contract by… Continue reading

  • Jun 26, 2014
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion BBranden Bornemann, environmental scientists for the of the Kenai Watershed Forum, takes a water sample at the mouth of the Kenai River for an Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and City of Kenai program that measures bacteria in the water in Kenai, Alaska.

Bacterial monitoring to continue on the Kenai, starts again on the Kasilof

The Kenai Watershed Forum has been awarded a $96,000 grant to continue monitoring bacteria in the Kenai River. The 2014 monitoring program will also include… Continue reading

  • Jun 26, 2014
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion BBranden Bornemann, environmental scientists for the of the Kenai Watershed Forum, takes a water sample at the mouth of the Kenai River for an Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and City of Kenai program that measures bacteria in the water in Kenai, Alaska.
FILE - In this Thursday, June 20, 2013 file photo, soldiers participate in a combined special operations demonstration with commandos from Jordan, Iraq and the U.S. as part of Eager Lion multinational military maneuvers, at the King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) in Amman, Jordan. The White House soon may sign off on a project to train and equip moderate Syrian rebel forces, according to Obama administration officials. The move would significantly boost U.S. support for rebels seeking military help to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. President Barack Obama is considering sending a limited number of American troops to Jordan to be part of a regional training mission that would instruct carefully screened members of the Free Syrian Army on tactics, including counterterrorism operations, the officials said.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

Obama seeks $500 million to train, equip Syrian rebels

WASHINGTON — With the conflicts in Syria and Iraq becoming increasingly intertwined against the same Sunni extremist group, President Barack Obama moved on Thursday to… Continue reading

  • Jun 26, 2014
  • By JULIE PACE
FILE - In this Thursday, June 20, 2013 file photo, soldiers participate in a combined special operations demonstration with commandos from Jordan, Iraq and the U.S. as part of Eager Lion multinational military maneuvers, at the King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) in Amman, Jordan. The White House soon may sign off on a project to train and equip moderate Syrian rebel forces, according to Obama administration officials. The move would significantly boost U.S. support for rebels seeking military help to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. President Barack Obama is considering sending a limited number of American troops to Jordan to be part of a regional training mission that would instruct carefully screened members of the Free Syrian Army on tactics, including counterterrorism operations, the officials said.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

Alaska senators take another crack at J-1 visa program

A few processing plants are finding themselves shorthanded as salmon catches increase around the state, but an item in pending U.S. Senate legislation could make… Continue reading

  • Jun 26, 2014
  • By Molly Dischner
Glenn Merrill, 45, holds Jackson Merrill in front of their broken skylight in their living room on Tuesday. A black bear climbed up on their roof and crashed through the skylight on Saturday minutes before Jackson's first birthday party.

Bear with sweet tooth crashes children’s party

A black bear with a sweet tooth crashed a little kid’s birthday party on Saturday. Literally.The uninvited guest shimmied its way up onto the roof… Continue reading

Glenn Merrill, 45, holds Jackson Merrill in front of their broken skylight in their living room on Tuesday. A black bear climbed up on their roof and crashed through the skylight on Saturday minutes before Jackson's first birthday party.
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion The brick gas-fire kiln inside the Kenai Potter's Guild. The Peninsula Art Guild terminated the lease of the potters guild after an insurance inspection found the studio uninsurable. The space will need to be cleared out by September 30.

Art guild terminates potters lease over insurance issues

After 41 years in the same space, the Kenai Potters Guild is homeless. The guild shared a space with the Peninsula Art Guild at the… Continue reading

  • Jun 25, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER and RASHAH McCHESNEY
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion The brick gas-fire kiln inside the Kenai Potter's Guild. The Peninsula Art Guild terminated the lease of the potters guild after an insurance inspection found the studio uninsurable. The space will need to be cleared out by September 30.
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion A 16-year-old girl on a motorbike was struck by a white Chevy truck when she attemped to cross Kalifornsky Beach Road between VIP Drive and Bowpicker Lane Wednesday at about 2:30 p.m. in Kenai. Alaska State Troopers said the girl sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Central Peninsula Hospital. The minor was wearing a helmet, but troopers said she did not look before she crossed the street.

Girl suffers broken leg in truck/motorbike collision

A 16-year-old girl riding a motorbike sustained non-life threatening injuries after a truck hit her when she attempted to cross Kalifornsky Beach Road Wednesday afternoon.… Continue reading

  • Jun 25, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion A 16-year-old girl on a motorbike was struck by a white Chevy truck when she attemped to cross Kalifornsky Beach Road between VIP Drive and Bowpicker Lane Wednesday at about 2:30 p.m. in Kenai. Alaska State Troopers said the girl sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Central Peninsula Hospital. The minor was wearing a helmet, but troopers said she did not look before she crossed the street.

Rushin’ the rushing Russian

The battle has begun on the Russian River where an unexpectedly large run of sockeye salmon prompted managers to loosen restrictions on fishing the early… Continue reading

Fishing still strong on Russian river

Sockeye Reports of sockeye salmon catches on the Russian River are still ranging between “good and excellent” two weeks after the opening of the fishery,… Continue reading

DOT&PF shares progress in highway study

How many lanes should there be? How should the lanes be divided? What are environmental concerns? Is lighting an option? How much room is available… Continue reading

  • Jun 25, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI

Groups petition to list yellow cedar

ANCHORAGE (AP) — Four conservation groups have petitioned the Interior Department to list an iconic Alaska tree as threatened or endangered because of climate change.Yellow… Continue reading

  • Jun 25, 2014

Judge requires CIFF to reimburse state for lawsuit costs

ANCHORAGE — A judge ruled Wednesday that a commercial fishing group should pay part of the State’s cost for the lawsuit regarding management of the… Continue reading

  • Jun 25, 2014
  • By Molly Dischner

Soldotna adds proposition to fall ballot

During the regular election this fall, Soldotna residents will vote on how their municipal officials and candidates will be required to disclose personal finances. At… Continue reading

  • Jun 25, 2014
  • By Kelly Sullivan

Business news

The Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce will host a joint luncheon at noon on July 8 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Gov. Sean… Continue reading

  • Jun 25, 2014
14th Annual Air Faire features Military Appreciation Day & WWII aircraft

14th Annual Air Faire features Military Appreciation Day & WWII aircraft

Alaskan flyboys & girls had a nice window in the weather for the 14th Annual Kenai Peninsula Air Fair and Military Appreciation Day June, 14th,… Continue reading

14th Annual Air Faire features Military Appreciation Day & WWII aircraft
Fur, Fins, Feathers, Flowers & Fun at Soldotna Creek Park

Fur, Fins, Feathers, Flowers & Fun at Soldotna Creek Park

Happy campers rain or shine at Soldotna Creek Park as the science of the Kenai River becomes fun and games for kids under the tutelage… Continue reading

Fur, Fins, Feathers, Flowers & Fun at Soldotna Creek Park
Three day celebration opens Dena'ina Wellness Center

Three day celebration opens Dena’ina Wellness Center

The decades-long dream of an integrated health care facility for the Kenaitze Indian Tribe is now a beautiful reality in Old Town Kenai. Last week… Continue reading

Three day celebration opens Dena'ina Wellness Center
Home Gallery has great Grand Opening

Home Gallery has great Grand Opening

Much of the furniture that has made our houses our homes on the Peninsula has come from Lee Cassel who for more than four decades… Continue reading

Home Gallery has great Grand Opening
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Megan Schaafsma makes a sandwich at Odie's Deli Wednesday June 18, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska. Schaafsma is buying the business from longtime owner Melodie Symington who first opened the deli in 2005. Schaafsma will take over both the Kenai Airport and Soldotna locations.

Odie’s ownership stays local

While ownership of Odie’s Deli has changed hands, customers should not expect anything different from either location in Soldotna and Kenai. Melodie Symington, who first… Continue reading

  • Jun 18, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Megan Schaafsma makes a sandwich at Odie's Deli Wednesday June 18, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska. Schaafsma is buying the business from longtime owner Melodie Symington who first opened the deli in 2005. Schaafsma will take over both the Kenai Airport and Soldotna locations.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Matt Schilf, of Kenai, points to a spot on a large map of a portion of Kenai near the home of a missing Kenai family Tuesday June 24, 2014 in Kenai, Alaska.  Schilf and 14 others spent the bulk of the day searching in the woods for signs of the family.

Community volunteers search for missing family

A month has passed since Brandon Jividen, Rebecca Adams and her two daughters, Michelle Hundley and Jaracca Hundley, vanished from their home in Kenai. While… Continue reading

  • Jun 24, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Matt Schilf, of Kenai, points to a spot on a large map of a portion of Kenai near the home of a missing Kenai family Tuesday June 24, 2014 in Kenai, Alaska.  Schilf and 14 others spent the bulk of the day searching in the woods for signs of the family.