Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche points to where the disconnected baler ram has bent piping at the Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, advocates seek path forward for recycling after baler failure

The borough needs to measure whether its actions are really reducing the impact of solid waste on the planet, mayor says.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche points to where the disconnected baler ram has bent piping at the Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference director Erin Coughlin Hollowell (right) welcomes attendees to the opening panel on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Registration open for Kachemak Bay Writers Conference

The 2025 conference will be held May 17-20 at Kachemak Bay Campus

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference director Erin Coughlin Hollowell (right) welcomes attendees to the opening panel on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
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Anchor River floods again

A ice dam on the Anchor River caused another flooding incident on Monday.

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Marty Askin and Brian Gabriel inspect a displayed model of a traditional Dena’ina home called a nichil during the grand reopening of the cultural center at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai visitor center revitalizes peninsula’s ‘rich history’

The vision for the space describes monthly rotation of exhibits and a speaker series.

Marty Askin and Brian Gabriel inspect a displayed model of a traditional Dena’ina home called a nichil during the grand reopening of the cultural center at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers badge. File photo.

Updated: Arson, burning charges dismissed in Homer fire case

Kimberly Ketter, 41, was arrested on Jan. 4 for several charges including arson.

Alaska State Troopers badge. File photo.
The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai man arrested after allegedly aiming shotgun into traffic

Multiple parents who were dropping children at nearby Mountain View Elementary reported the man, police said.

The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward Deputy Fire Chief Katherine McCoy stands for a photo with Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites and Assistant State Fire Marshal Mark Brauneis after McCoy was presented the 2024 Ken Akerley Fire Service Leadership Award at Seward Fire Department in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites)

Seward deputy fire chief earns state leadership award

Katherine McCoy this month received the 2024 Ken Akerley Fire Service Leadership Award.

Seward Deputy Fire Chief Katherine McCoy stands for a photo with Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites and Assistant State Fire Marshal Mark Brauneis after McCoy was presented the 2024 Ken Akerley Fire Service Leadership Award at Seward Fire Department in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites)
Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Elam prepares for freshman legislative session

He’s excited to get onto the floor and start legislating.

Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Bjorkman readies for start of legislative session

His priorities this year won’t look much different from those of his freshman legislative session.

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Tim Daugharty speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD launches conversation on $17 million deficit

The district says overcoming the deficit without heavy cuts would require a substantial increase to the BSA.

Tim Daugharty speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Member Jordan Chilson speaks in support of an ordinance that would establish a residential property tax exemption during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna defines legislative priorities for upcoming session

Roof replacement, signalization study and road improvements top the list.

Member Jordan Chilson speaks in support of an ordinance that would establish a residential property tax exemption during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/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)

HEA extends contract with Enstar

HEA also plans to reduce its annual consumption of natural gas by approximately 21% over the next three years.

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)
Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough accepts fishery disaster funds, calls for proclamation of fishery disaster

The funding stems from fishery disasters that were first recognized and allocated in 2022.

Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Students embrace Aubrie Ellis after she was named National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025 by the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals at Mountain View Elementary School in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mountain View assistant principal earns national recognition

Aubrie Ellis named Alaska’s National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025.

Students embrace Aubrie Ellis after she was named National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025 by the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals at Mountain View Elementary School in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Project Manager Jason Graf points to a map while answering questions from attendees on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Open House at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna PZ Commission gets 1st look at draft Riverfront Redevelopment zoning plan

The draft document describes a new riverfront mixed-use district.

Project Manager Jason Graf points to a map while answering questions from attendees on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Open House at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Company in talks to helm Alaska pipeline project says LNG is key to ‘global energy transition’

Glenfarne Group said they had entered into an agreement with AGDC to develop the Alaska LNG Project.

Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

New York-based company in talks to develop Alaska LNG Pipeline

Though the state declined to name the partner, a statement from New York-based Glenfarne Group on Wednesday said they had entered into an exclusive agreement with AGDC for development of the project.

Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes travelers to the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State population climbs slightly, Kenai Peninsula continues growth

That increase is much larger than the increases reported in recent years.

A sign welcomes travelers to the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A chart shows the unemployment rate of Alaska compared to that of the United States, included in data from the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development announcing job growth for 2024. (Courtesy Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)

Alaska added 7,700 jobs in 2024

The number exceeds the department’s projection of 5,400 published in its “Alaska Economic Trends” in January of last year

A chart shows the unemployment rate of Alaska compared to that of the United States, included in data from the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development announcing job growth for 2024. (Courtesy Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
Soldotna High School Student Council President Emma Glassmaker and executive board members Cammy Kincaid and Will Klein speak to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna gives 1st student council presentation to borough assembly

The presentation period was created during the assembly’s June 4 meeting.

Soldotna High School Student Council President Emma Glassmaker and executive board members Cammy Kincaid and Will Klein speak to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)