Kenai Peninsula Borough

Sheree Van Natta speaks to a voter at the Kenai Mall, polling place for Precinct 3 voters, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Register by Sunday to vote in special mayoral election

The special election was necessitated by the resignation of former Mayor Charlie Pierce

Sheree Van Natta speaks to a voter at the Kenai Mall, polling place for Precinct 3 voters, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough River Center Manager Samantha Lopez presents information at a meeting discussing 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)

Assembly considers making Nikiski planning group area smaller

Organizers pushed for the boundaries of Nikiski’s advisory planning commission to match other Nikiski area designations

Kenai Peninsula Borough River Center Manager Samantha Lopez presents information at a meeting discussing 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)
People assemble Narcan kits on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, at Freedom House in Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, meeting accepted another $30,000 payment as part of a nationwide opioid settlement, which will be put toward opioid remediation in the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly accepts 2nd round of opioid settlement funds

The money comes from a nationwide settlement agreement involving major pharmaceutical companies

People assemble Narcan kits on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, at Freedom House in Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, meeting accepted another $30,000 payment as part of a nationwide opioid settlement, which will be put toward opioid remediation in the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Pete Kineen, a neighbor of the proposed Beachcomber LLC gravel pit, stands on his deck and points to where the pit could be, on May 2, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion) Pete Kineen, a neighbor of the proposed Beachcomber LLC gravel pit, stands on his deck and points to where the pit could be, on May 2, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Judge upholds denial of Anchor Point gravel pit

Decision affirms decision of KPB Planning Commission to set standards in gravel pit applications.

Pete Kineen, a neighbor of the proposed Beachcomber LLC gravel pit, stands on his deck and points to where the pit could be, on May 2, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion) Pete Kineen, a neighbor of the proposed Beachcomber LLC gravel pit, stands on his deck and points to where the pit could be, on May 2, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Regular Municipal Election informational pamphlet for the Oct. 4, 2022, election is pictured. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is considering an ordinance that would end distribution of hard copies of the pamphlet to borough box holders. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Assembly mulls nixing voter pamphlet mailers

Mailing a borough to every box holder in the Kenai Peninsula Borough costs about $30,000 each regular election

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Regular Municipal Election informational pamphlet for the Oct. 4, 2022, election is pictured. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is considering an ordinance that would end distribution of hard copies of the pamphlet to borough box holders. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman submitted a letter of resignation to the assembly after being elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska State Senate. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly looks to fill Bjorkman’s seat

Bjorkman has represented Nikiski on the assembly since 2019 and was elected to the Alaska Senate

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman submitted a letter of resignation to the assembly after being elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska State Senate. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin) Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)

Infrastructure dollars flood peninsula

Federal infrastructure bill makes available more than $232M for peninsula projects

Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin) Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)
Demonstrators hold signs supporting Justin Ruffridge and Jesse Bjorkman for state office on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Nov. 8 election results certified

The outcomes of local races for state office remain unchanged

Demonstrators hold signs supporting Justin Ruffridge and Jesse Bjorkman for state office on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

4 candidates vie for borough mayoral seat

The special election is slated for Feb. 14

The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Cyber Monday sales taxes to boost local government budgets

The ability of taxing entities to collect sales tax from online, or e-commerce, sellers is a new phenomenon

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is seen on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Residents, borough task force: Further extend Kenai Spur north

A previous extension of the road was completed in 2021 and came after years of work.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is seen on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Fishing guide Reubin Payne testifies in support of a public boat takeout facility on the Kasilof River during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15. 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly rejects resolution supporting privately owned boat takeouts

The resolution was in response to a plan by the State of Alaska to develop a drift boat takeout in the lower Kasilof River

Fishing guide Reubin Payne testifies in support of a public boat takeout facility on the Kasilof River during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15. 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship stands near a bouquet of flowers and her workspace during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough staff, assembly members honor outgoing clerk

Johni Blankenship began working in the borough clerk’s office in 1999

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship stands near a bouquet of flowers and her workspace during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Project would convert landfill methane to energy

The project would located at the Central Peninsula Landfill

The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/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 opioid grant program accepting applications through end of month

The program was launched in August and has not yet received applications

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.
The drop-off bay is seen at the Soldotna Landfill on June 27, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Assembly approves more money for borough transfer facility contracts

The Kenai Peninsula Borough needs about $654,000 more than it thought it needed

The drop-off bay is seen at the Soldotna Landfill on June 27, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Assembly members participate in a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Special mayoral election will be Feb. 14

Kenai Peninsula Borough voters will get to cast their ballots for the next borough mayor on Feb. 14 following a vote by assembly members Tuesday… Continue reading

Assembly members participate in a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship collects ballots from assembly members during a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly retains Johnson as president, makes Cox vice president

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly voted Tuesday to retain Brent Johnson and elect Tyson Cox as president and vice president, respectively. The body’s reorganization process… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship collects ballots from assembly members during a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Charlie Pierce, a Republican candidate for Alaska governor, answers a question during a debate, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. A lawsuit filed a day earlier by an employee when he was mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough accuses Pierce of “constant unwanted physical touching, sexual remarks and sexual advances.” Pierce declined comment on the lawsuit to The Associated Press, and said he didn’t plan to suspend his gubernatorial campaign. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Lawsuit details allegations of sexual harassment by former borough mayor

The suit was filed by Charlie Pierce’s former executive assistant

Charlie Pierce, a Republican candidate for Alaska governor, answers a question during a debate, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. A lawsuit filed a day earlier by an employee when he was mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough accuses Pierce of “constant unwanted physical touching, sexual remarks and sexual advances.” Pierce declined comment on the lawsuit to The Associated Press, and said he didn’t plan to suspend his gubernatorial campaign. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
From left: Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship swears in newly reelected assembly members Tyson Cox, Brent Johnson and Jesse Bjorkman during a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Election results are certified as new assembly members sworn in

Incumbents took home easy victories on both the assembly and school board

From left: Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship swears in newly reelected assembly members Tyson Cox, Brent Johnson and Jesse Bjorkman during a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)