Kenai

Santa Claus is seen with a child at Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Parade, bonfire and fireworks ring in the Christmas season

Christmas comes to Kenai

Santa Claus is seen with a child at Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Finance Director Terry Eubank presents during a budget work session on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai tries again to fill city manager position

After 1st round of negotiations fall through, Kenai to pursue Eubank for role

Kenai Finance Director Terry Eubank presents during a budget work session on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
An aerial assessment document provided to Kenai City Council members shows a parcel of land near Outside Way and the Kenai Bible Church in Old Town Kenai at the toe of the bluff. The parcel is being purchased as part of a bluff stabilization project. (Map via City of Kenai)

Kenai to buy land parcel for bluff project

The project aims to stabilize about 5,000 feet of bluff on the north shore of the Kenai River

An aerial assessment document provided to Kenai City Council members shows a parcel of land near Outside Way and the Kenai Bible Church in Old Town Kenai at the toe of the bluff. The parcel is being purchased as part of a bluff stabilization project. (Map via City of Kenai)
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Kenai man indicted for murder

Kevin Lee Park was arrested in connection with a shooting last week on California Avenue

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The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

More details emerge in Kenai killing

The man accused of killing 31-year-old Stephanie Henson told police the two were friends, charging documents state

The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Roy Williams receives a dinner from a student volunteer on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at the Area-Wide Senior Dinner at Kenai Seniors Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Thankful to be together

Local seniors gather to give thanks for their community

Roy Williams receives a dinner from a student volunteer on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at the Area-Wide Senior Dinner at Kenai Seniors Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Police Chief David Ross. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai police chief offered city manager position

Current City Manager Paul Ostrander announced in September that he would not renew his contract

Kenai Police Chief David Ross. (Peninsula Clarion file)
From left: Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, Kenai City Council member Henry Knackstedt and Kenai Vice Mayor James Baisden listen to public testimony during a city council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Draft plan maps out future Kenai capital projects

The two largest projects described in the draft plan are the bluff stabilization project and the airport runway rehabilitation project

From left: Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, Kenai City Council member Henry Knackstedt and Kenai Vice Mayor James Baisden listen to public testimony during a city council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Man arrested in connection with Kenai killing

The Kenai Police Department received a report of a shooting on California Street

The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander speak at the Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai plans to hire new manager by end of month

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander announced he will not be renewing his contract with the city

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander speak at the Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner, right, swears in Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai swears in 2 new council members, Mayor Gabriel

Alex Douthit and Victoria Askin will take seats on the council

Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner, right, swears in Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign warning residents of of bluff erosion is seen here at the end of Spur View Drive in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai looks to bid bluff project in April

The project, when completed, will mark the end of decadeslong efforts by the city to stabilize about 5,000 feet of bluff

A sign warning residents of of bluff erosion is seen here at the end of Spur View Drive in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Oregon Accreditation Alliance Executive Director Scott Hayes, monitor, and Kenai Police Chief David Ross, right, field questions from the Kenai City Council regarding the department’s accreditation during a council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai PD gets accredited, is 4th in Alaska to do so

The police departments in Juneau and Soldotna also have the accreditation

Oregon Accreditation Alliance Executive Director Scott Hayes, monitor, and Kenai Police Chief David Ross, right, field questions from the Kenai City Council regarding the department’s accreditation during a council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Voting booths are set up at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Election night results on track for certification

Inclusion of absentee and questioned ballots have not changed the outcome of boroughwide races

Voting booths are set up at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, left, speaks during a “State of the City” address while Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, right, looks on at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai moves forward with city manager recruitment

The city’s current city manager job description has not been updated since 2016

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, left, speaks during a “State of the City” address while Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, right, looks on at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A mini-library contains books at Daubnespeck Park on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Take a book, leave a book

Mini-library network looks to expand

A mini-library contains books at Daubnespeck Park on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Pumpkins submitted to the pumpkin decorating contest are seen at the 5th annual Kenai Fall Pumpkin Festival in Kenai, Alaska, on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Pumpkins — on the ground and from above — to make appearance at annual festival

The Kenai Fall Pumpkin Festival is back on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.

Pumpkins submitted to the pumpkin decorating contest are seen at the 5th annual Kenai Fall Pumpkin Festival in Kenai, Alaska, on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander sits inside Kenai City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Ostrander to leave City of Kenai in January

Ostrander has served as the city manager since 2017

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander sits inside Kenai City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Carol Freas (right) helps a voter fill out absentee election materials in Kenai City Hall ahead of the Oct. 4 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Absentee voting already underway

Absentee in-person voting has been made available across the borough

Carol Freas (right) helps a voter fill out absentee election materials in Kenai City Hall ahead of the Oct. 4 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Middle School Principal Vaughn Dosko gestures toward a cart used to provide school lunch services on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Critical needs’: Security concerns and lunch lines

Safety upgrades, more space sought at Kenai Middle

Kenai Middle School Principal Vaughn Dosko gestures toward a cart used to provide school lunch services on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)