News

Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion New Kenai City Planner Francis Krizmanich sits at his desk at city hall last Thursday. Krizmanich moved to Kenai from Aspen, Colorado, where he spent the last 17 years as a planning consultant to the city.

New Kenai city planner welcomes citizen input

The City of Kenai’s new city planner has converted from a tourist to a local.Francis Krizmanich, 58, and his wife Betsy first visited Alaska this… Continue reading

  • Feb 17, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion New Kenai City Planner Francis Krizmanich sits at his desk at city hall last Thursday. Krizmanich moved to Kenai from Aspen, Colorado, where he spent the last 17 years as a planning consultant to the city.
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Connie Moore from Ashford, Washington plays catch with her grandkids Eli and Mia Settlemyer (ages 4 and 2) at the north beach in Kenai Monday. Moore said she didn't expect weather like this in Alaska when she came up to visit. Light snow in the morning turned to partly sunny skies and a high temperature of 25 degrees Monday.

Photo: Beach weather

… Continue reading

  • Feb 17, 2014
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Connie Moore from Ashford, Washington plays catch with her grandkids Eli and Mia Settlemyer (ages 4 and 2) at the north beach in Kenai Monday. Moore said she didn't expect weather like this in Alaska when she came up to visit. Light snow in the morning turned to partly sunny skies and a high temperature of 25 degrees Monday.

Project draws attention to renewable energy goal

JUNEAU — In 2010, the state adopted an energy policy that, among other things, set a goal of having 50 percent Alaska’s electric generation come… Continue reading

  • Feb 17, 2014
  • By Becky Bohrer
Mark Choate, a former Juneau school board member, addresses protestors on the steps of the state Capitol for a "Save Our Schools" rally to speak out against a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow public money to be used for private and religious schools on Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Public education supporters hold rally at Capitol

JUNEAU (AP) — Opponents of a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow public money to be used for private and religious schools rallied in front… Continue reading

  • Feb 17, 2014
Mark Choate, a former Juneau school board member, addresses protestors on the steps of the state Capitol for a "Save Our Schools" rally to speak out against a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow public money to be used for private and religious schools on Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Parnell defends actions on refinery closure

FAIRBANKS (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell said critics of his administration’s actions in a North Pole oil refinery’s impending closure don’t see behind-the-scenes work that… Continue reading

  • Feb 17, 2014

Enrollment remains steady

Five weeks into the 2014 spring semester, KPC’s overall enrollment is up 2.8 percent in student headcount and 0.8 percent in credit hours compared to… Continue reading

Schools briefs

School board to meet The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. in the borough building at 148 N. Binkley… Continue reading

Reps. Kurt Olson, R-Kenai, and House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski listen to David Caswell talk about making the Honor and Remember Flag a national symbol to recognize those who have died as a result of serving in the U.S. military. The representatives heard from a handful of central peninsula residents on Saturday at a town hall meeting in Soldotna. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

Locals get face time with representatives

Local representatives listened to central Kenai Peninsula residents’ concerns and comments about various state and peninsula issues at a town hall meeting Saturday.About one dozen… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
Reps. Kurt Olson, R-Kenai, and House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski listen to David Caswell talk about making the Honor and Remember Flag a national symbol to recognize those who have died as a result of serving in the U.S. military. The representatives heard from a handful of central peninsula residents on Saturday at a town hall meeting in Soldotna. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

Concealed carry on campus?

Fittingly, the bill introduced Friday that would prohibit the University of Alaska Board of Regents from banning concealed weapons on campus actually is the result… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By MATT WOOLBRIGHT

Skepticism dooms study of rail link to North Slope

FAIRBANKS (AP) — A North Pole legislator wants money to see whether a railroad extension to far northern Alaska is feasible, but his colleagues dismissed… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By Associated Press

Exploration off 38%, producing mines strong

JUNEAU — Mining is good for Alaska’s economy, but while the state’s six producing mines are holding up well, and some even expanding, a sharp… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By Tim Bradner
Mountain View Elementary School music teacher Jonathan Dillon sits next to student Harley Farabee before the bus takes off for its afternoon route. Teachers from the Kenai school joined students for their bus rides to promote bus safety and good bus behavior on Wednesday. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

Promoting bus kindness

Mountain View Elementary School teachers spent a little extra time with students on Wednesday by riding the bus routes with the kids.Assistant Principal Karl Kircher… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
Mountain View Elementary School music teacher Jonathan Dillon sits next to student Harley Farabee before the bus takes off for its afternoon route. Teachers from the Kenai school joined students for their bus rides to promote bus safety and good bus behavior on Wednesday. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

Lots of tools available for entrepreneurs

Low interest rates, helpful banks and a variety of tools for entrepreneurs are helping foster new business on the Kenai Peninsula.The success of small businesses… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By Molly Dischner
Tourism industry expects record season

Tourism industry expects record season

Get ready for another busy tourist season in the Kenai Peninsula.Projections for 2014 have called for another 2 percent increase with an estimated 500,000 Peninsula… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Tourism industry expects record season
Peninsula Clarion file photo

With new development, housing market heating up

Increased oil and gas activity are driving the central Kenai Peninsula real estate market, according to local realtors.“Overall, we’re seeing an increase in productivity, we’re… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By Molly Dischner
Peninsula Clarion file photo
Peninsula Clarion file photo Tugs pull the Spartan 151 jack-up drilling rig up Cook Inlet in August 2011. New oil and gas development in the inlet, along with major projects planned for the area, could mean a boom for the Kenai Peninsula economy.

Energy industry projects expected to bring economic boom to area

In the fall of 2013 a wave of announcements for development in the Nikiski industrial area began making its way to shore.With Nikiski as the… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
Peninsula Clarion file photo Tugs pull the Spartan 151 jack-up drilling rig up Cook Inlet in August 2011. New oil and gas development in the inlet, along with major projects planned for the area, could mean a boom for the Kenai Peninsula economy.
Clarion file photo Dr. Craig Humphreys talks about how the O-arm takes the 3D images it produces as a spine surgery aid in late July 2011 at Central Peninsula Hospital. Health care is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Kenai Peninsula economy.

Kenai Peninsula economic outlook slowed, but steady

While job growth has risen steadily that past few years, a state economist predicts a slight decrease in job growth for the Kenai Peninsula in… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Clarion file photo Dr. Craig Humphreys talks about how the O-arm takes the 3D images it produces as a spine surgery aid in late July 2011 at Central Peninsula Hospital. Health care is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Kenai Peninsula economy.

Support businesses see growth, need laborers

Alongside the increased oil and gas exploration and production in the Cook Inlet, support companies on the Kenai Peninsula have been growing, creating a strong… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
Illustration of proposed mini roundabout at Binkley Street and Wilson Lane. Rendering provided by the City of Soldotna.

Soldotna residents talk roundabouts with city officials

The City of Soldotna invited the public to an open house on Tuesday night to discuss road rehabilitation plans for Binkley Street. Questions and comments… Continue reading

  • Feb 15, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
Illustration of proposed mini roundabout at Binkley Street and Wilson Lane. Rendering provided by the City of Soldotna.
Photo by Jeff Helminak Soldotna High School's Addison Downing climbs a big hill near the start of Friday's boys five-kilometer freestyle at the Region III Nordic Ski Championships at Tsalteshi Trails.

Photo: Making tracks

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  • Feb 15, 2014
Photo by Jeff Helminak Soldotna High School's Addison Downing climbs a big hill near the start of Friday's boys five-kilometer freestyle at the Region III Nordic Ski Championships at Tsalteshi Trails.