52 kids participate MONOPOLY Tournament.

52 kids participate MONOPOLY Tournament.

Snow just in time for 39th Peninsula Winter Games

After the lack of winter weather canceled many of the traditional Peninsula Winter Games events, like ice slides and carvings, Mother Nature granted a little snow for the 39th Peninsula Winter Games and out came the kick sleds and ice bowling events with squeals of children having outdoor winter fun in Alaska. “Yeah Mike Crawford of the Tsalteshi Trails who with only a few hours’ notice got out the kick sleds and coordinated the races,” said Michelle Glaves, retiring executive director for the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce. “The snow arrived just in time, but we were ready snow or not. Fred Myers was in the sports arena with ice a cookie, The Study did an Amazing Race, Soldotna high volunteers painted hundreds of kid’s faces, Sportsmen’s Warehouse taught archery, Jumpin’ Junction had an obstacle course and the Food Bank had free ice cream for everyone at lunch and over 1,200 corn dogs were given away by volunteer employees from Crowley who sponsored the free lunch and dinner The winner of the kid’s MONOPOLY tournament, that 52 registered participants, was Briley Morton of Soldotna Elementary who also won the Amazing Race,” she said. Morton became the Monopoly Champion without ever owning Boardwalk or Parkplace, but had the lucky shoe as her board token. Asked if she was planning a career in real estate Briley replied, “I don’t know.” And regarding her winning strategy she also replied “I don’t know! Just lucky.” All tournament participants went home with a MONOPOLY game of their choice and Champion Briley also went home with $50 of real money. Other Table Winners were Leah English, Drew Cox, Matthew Lewis, Morgan Lemm, Matt Hagel and Gracie Buss.

The Bird TLC of Anchorage had planned to come down for the event with several live raptors to display but according to Tami Murray of the Soldotna Chamber they didn’t want to take a chance with the weather, but hope to bring the raptors back to next year’s Peninsula Winter Games. After serving 1,200 corn dogs for lunch Crowley volunteers turned around and fed nearly 1,000 folks dinner which was followed by a fantastic fireworks display. “We had lots of great volunteers, from handing out game bags, to cooking and serving corn dogs. It took over 40 volunteers to make this happen and we appreciate them all! Special thanks to the crew at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, with an already busy day with a hockey tournament and the Brown Bears adding in the Peninsula Winter Games on the same day was an amazing feat,” said Murray.

Foodbank provides free ice cream for kids at Winter Games.

Foodbank provides free ice cream for kids at Winter Games.

Crowley employees serve up over 1,200 free corn dogs.

Crowley employees serve up over 1,200 free corn dogs.

Twins have double the fun at their first Winter Games.

Twins have double the fun at their first Winter Games.

Home Depot volunteers help kids craft sleds & bird houses inside at Winter Games.

Home Depot volunteers help kids craft sleds & bird houses inside at Winter Games.

Soldotna High students painted over 200 hundred faces.

Soldotna High students painted over 200 hundred faces.

Sportsmen's Warehouse volunteer's man archery booth at Winter Games.

Sportsmen’s Warehouse volunteer’s man archery booth at Winter Games.

Puck drops at Winter Games KPHA tournament.

Puck drops at Winter Games KPHA tournament.

Kenai Chamber brought ice bowling to the Winter Games.

Kenai Chamber brought ice bowling to the Winter Games.

More in News

Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-Alaska) speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy’s veto of education funding bill puts pressure on lawmakers during final month of session

Governor also previews new bill with $560 BSA increase, plus additional funds for policy initiatives.

Brent Johnson speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly kills resolution asking for option to cap property tax increases

Alaska municipalities are required by state statute to assess all properties at their full and true value.

City of Kenai Public Works Director Scott Curtain; City of Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel; Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche; Sen. Lisa Murkowski; Col. Jeffrey Palazzini; Elaina Spraker; Adam Trombley; and Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank cut the ribbon to celebrate the start of work on the Kenai River Bluff Stabilization Project in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai bluff stabilization info meeting rescheduled for April 30

Originally, the event was scheduled for the same time as the Caring for the Kenai final presentations.

Project stakeholders cut a ribbon at the Nikiski Shelter of Hope on Friday, May 20, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Peninsula organizations awarded mental health trust grants

Three organizations, in Seldovia, Seward and Soldotna, recently received funding from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

Chickens are seen inside of a chicken house at Diamond M Ranch on Thursday, April 1, 2021, off Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna council hears call to lessen chicken restrictions

The Soldotna City Council this month heard from people calling for a… Continue reading

Mount Spurr, raised to Advisory on the Volcano Alert Level, can be seen in yellow northwest of the Kenai Peninsula. (Map courtesy Alaska Volcano Observatory/U.S. Department of the Interior)
Spurr activity ‘declined slightly’

If an eruption were to occur, there would be noticeable indicators that may provide days to weeks of additional warning.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche delivers a borough update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Micciche pushes mill rate decrease, presses state to boost education funding

Borough Mayor Peter Micciche delivered an update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
SPITwSPOTS employees speak to an attendee of the Kenai Peninsula Job and Career Fair in Kenai on Wednesday.
Job fair gathers together employers, job seekers

“That face-to-face has kind of been missing for a lot of people.”

A poster in the Native and Rural Student Center at the University of Alaska Southeast reads “Alaska is diverse, and so are our educators.” (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska holds virtual town hall to address fear and stress in changing federal landscape

Students, faculty and staff ask about protecting international students, Alaska Native programs.

Most Read