Life

Big Jim (left) and Little Jim show off some of the furs from a recent winter’s trapping season, circa late 1950s. (Photo courtesy of Mona Painter)

The two Jims, part two: Coming home and battling a bully

In their early days in the Cooper Landing area, the Jims needed a place to live.

Big Jim (left) and Little Jim show off some of the furs from a recent winter’s trapping season, circa late 1950s. (Photo courtesy of Mona Painter)
James “Little Jim” Dunmire (left) and James “Big Jim” O’Brien. (Photo courtesy of Mona Painter)

History Lessons: Coming in for the Landing: An Origin Story

Jim’s Landing honors two close friends: James (“Big Jim”) O’Brien and James (“Little Jim”) Dunmire.

James “Little Jim” Dunmire (left) and James “Big Jim” O’Brien. (Photo courtesy of Mona Painter)
Drew at King Country Creek cabin remains are pictured in 1999. All that remains of the last King County Creek cabin, just inland from Skilak Lake, are these well-weathered logs, which are difficult to find in the tall grass at that location. (Photo by Clark Fair)

An unusual and difficult journey to the Kenai (part 2)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second part of a two-part story about the Kings County Mining Company’s expedition to the Kenai Peninsula in 1898. Part… Continue reading

Drew at King Country Creek cabin remains are pictured in 1999. All that remains of the last King County Creek cabin, just inland from Skilak Lake, are these well-weathered logs, which are difficult to find in the tall grass at that location. (Photo by Clark Fair)
Pictured is Henry W. Rozell, one of the principal founders of the Kings County Mining Company. Rozell, shown here eight years after the expedition to the Kenai Peninsula, was the group’s treasurer. (Photo from ancestry.com)

History Lesson: An unusual and difficult journey to the Kenai

New history column kicks off with the story of Kings County Mining Company’s expedition to peninsula.

Pictured is Henry W. Rozell, one of the principal founders of the Kings County Mining Company. Rozell, shown here eight years after the expedition to the Kenai Peninsula, was the group’s treasurer. (Photo from ancestry.com)
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: Time to enjoy, not to annoy

I’m already overhearing growing concerns about whether or not the usual influx of tourists to the peninsula will be dampened due to the surging tsunami of fuel costs.

Nick Varney
Will Morrow

Dad joke fail

I think I’m losing my touch.

Will Morrow
Will Morrow (courtesy)

Everything in its place

The Great Garage Reorganization of 2020 is under way.

Will Morrow (courtesy)
Will Morrow (courtesy)

Getting old is hard to do

Based on the survey questions, I’ve apparently been old for a while now

Will Morrow (courtesy)
Will Morrow (courtesy)

When did I get wise?

When did I turn into that old guy who feels like he has to give everyone else advice?

Will Morrow (courtesy)
Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Vice President and Outreach Chair Poppy Benson collects litter from the side of the highway at the refuge in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Spring cleaning

Volunteers turn out to remove refuse from the refuge

Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Vice President and Outreach Chair Poppy Benson collects litter from the side of the highway at the refuge in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to Soldotna Public Library is seen on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai and Soldotna libraries release May event schedule

All events are still being held virtually at the Kenai Community Library.

The entrance to Soldotna Public Library is seen on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Quarantine and taxes

When the first stay-at-home mandates came out, I jumped into it with a “carpe diem” kind of energy.

  • May 18, 2020
  • By Will Morrow For the Peninsula Clarion
  • LifeCommunity
Erin Thompson is the editor of the Kenai Peninsula Clarion. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Clarion profiles: Editor Erin Thompson

Meet the Clarion news team

Erin Thompson is the editor of the Kenai Peninsula Clarion. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Maggie Winston graduated from Kenai River Campus in 2013 with an Associate of Arts in general studies and in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. (Courtesy photo)

Celebrate our students

Weekly portraits of Kenai Peninsula College students

Maggie Winston graduated from Kenai River Campus in 2013 with an Associate of Arts in general studies and in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. (Courtesy photo)
New England Patriots Deatrich Wise Jr. #91 in action against the Los Angeles Rams during NFL Super Bowl 53, Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Unhinged Alaska: The big bowl that wasn’t

By halftime they were ready to switch to the highlights of the earlier Puppy Bowl.

New England Patriots Deatrich Wise Jr. #91 in action against the Los Angeles Rams during NFL Super Bowl 53, Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
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Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Things Change

Just like nearly everyone we know here, we have a bird feeder. It supplies lots of entertainment this time of the year. Chickadees and nuthatches… Continue reading

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February — a month of love, wellness and wisdom

February — a month of love, wellness and wisdom

In all the elements, February oozes with happiness and warmth, even though it tends to be a chilly time of year. Facts: Astrological signs —… Continue reading

February — a month of love, wellness and wisdom
Lt. Ben Langham of the Kenai Police Department shares a laugh with members of the community at Ammo Can Coffee in Soldotna on Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Cops and citizens meet at local coffeehouse to discuss policing in community

With everyone relaxing on couches, sipping coffee and sharing their mutual frustration with LED headlights, the only things that separated the police from the community… Continue reading

Lt. Ben Langham of the Kenai Police Department shares a laugh with members of the community at Ammo Can Coffee in Soldotna on Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
In this Feb. 5, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots’ Tom Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime at the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game, in Houston. With five rings Tom Brady has already established himself as the most-decorated quarterback in Super Bowl history. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

Don’t tear us apart

It’s an issue that’s driving my community apart. I don’t mean the wall or the shutdown or the policies coming out of Juneau. I’m not… Continue reading

In this Feb. 5, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots’ Tom Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime at the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game, in Houston. With five rings Tom Brady has already established himself as the most-decorated quarterback in Super Bowl history. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Coffee with a cop

Coffee with a cop

In the spirit of community outreach, the Kenai and Soldotna Police and Alaska State Troopers will be holding an open discussion on Wednesday, Jan. 30… Continue reading

Coffee with a cop