Kenai Peninsula Borough

Pollworkers Carol Louthan, center, and Harmony Bolden work at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Absentee in-person voting starts Monday for Oct. 4 election

The Soldotna Prep School building has ballot styles for all Kenai Peninsula Borough precincts

Pollworkers Carol Louthan, center, and Harmony Bolden work at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)

Special election for mayor could take place as early as January

A special election is necessitated by Charlie Pierce’s resignation — as his current term does not expire until the end of next year

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly candidates Tyson Cox and Brent Johnson listen to Don Boston speak during a forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly candidates talk borough issues

3rd Clarion/KDLL forum features candidates for Soldotna, central peninsula

From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly candidates Tyson Cox and Brent Johnson listen to Don Boston speak during a forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly members convene for a special meeting on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly statement: Borough investigated harassment complaint against Pierce

The allegations were found to be ‘credible’, the borough said Sunday

Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly members convene for a special meeting on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, Soldotna City Council candidates Lisa Parker, Dave Carey, Garrett Dominick and Erick Hugarte participate in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

3rd Clarion/KDLL forum is Monday

Monday’s forum will spotlight some candidates running for seats on the assembly

From left, Soldotna City Council candidates Lisa Parker, Dave Carey, Garrett Dominick and Erick Hugarte participate in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Mike Navarre testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Mike Navarre to step in as interim borough mayor

Navarre will take over from sitting Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce, who resigned on Aug. 26

Mike Navarre testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Jesse Bjorkman (center) speaks while Aaron Rhoades (right) looks on during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough legal recommends special mayoral election

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Legal Department is recommending that assembly members call a special election to finish out the remainder of Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce’s… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Jesse Bjorkman (center) speaks while Aaron Rhoades (right) looks on during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly members participate during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to revisit gravel pit legislation

A proposed ordinance would overhaul borough code addressing material site permits

Assembly members participate during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
As measured by the CDC, dispensing rate reflects the number of prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons per year. While the United States’ dispensing rate peaked at 81.3 in 2012, the Kenai Peninsula’s rate was 100 or higher every year between 2001 and 2015. Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara.

Borough creates grant program to distribute opioid settlement funds

The Kenai Peninsula Borough will offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for opioid remediation using funds it expects to receive through a federal… Continue reading

As measured by the CDC, dispensing rate reflects the number of prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons per year. While the United States’ dispensing rate peaked at 81.3 in 2012, the Kenai Peninsula’s rate was 100 or higher every year between 2001 and 2015. Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara.
A closeup of one of the marijuana plants at Greatland Ganja in Kasilof, Alaska, as seen on March 19, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly streamlines process for marijuana establishment license applications

License applications will now go straight to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly for consideration

A closeup of one of the marijuana plants at Greatland Ganja in Kasilof, Alaska, as seen on March 19, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Polls open for early voting

Early voting started on Aug. 1 and is available through Aug. 15

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion file Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on July 6.

Local leaders voice support for LNG project

Local municipalities are making their support for the Alaska LNG Project known

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion file Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on July 6.
Central Emergency Services Fire Chief Roy Browning stands in the agency’s ambulance supply room on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Maxed out’ CES seeks new Soldotna station

Voters to decide on $16.5 million bond question on the Oct. 4 municipal ballot

Central Emergency Services Fire Chief Roy Browning stands in the agency’s ambulance supply room on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Robert Ruffner fields questions from attendees at a meeting to discuss the potential boundaries of a Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seeking more local say, Nikiski residents pursue advisory planning commission

A group of Nikiski residents are pushing for more local say in borough land decisions that affect their community. Residents have successfully petitioned to create… Continue reading

Robert Ruffner fields questions from attendees at a meeting to discuss the potential boundaries of a Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Hospital to expand surgery services

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members approved the hospital’s purchase of the Surgery Center of Kenai

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Slash is piled at the City of Kenai’s slash disposal site on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough will use $300,000 in general funds to set up temporary slash disposal sites in multiple communities throughout the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs $300k for borough slash sites

The move is in response to the ongoing spruce bark beetle outbreak

Slash is piled at the City of Kenai’s slash disposal site on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough will use $300,000 in general funds to set up temporary slash disposal sites in multiple communities throughout the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna, borough to continue 911 dispatch partnership

The assembly approved an agreement Tuesday

Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly members participate during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Another renewable energy company seeks to set up peninsula solar farm

Utopian Power wants to build a two-megawatt solar farm on a 40-acre chunk of land owned by the borough

Assembly members participate during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Tyson Cox, left, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Penisula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs pay bumps for planning commissioners

The 14-member body is responsible for the “systematic development and betterment” of the borough

Tyson Cox, left, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Penisula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly mulls bond for new CES fire station

Replacement of the current station is estimated to cost $16.5 million

Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)