The community attends the first Wednesday Market at Soldotna Creek Park on May 26, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Music in the park back after yearlong hiatus

The free concert series kicks off following last week’s opening of the Soldotna Wednesday Market.

The community attends the first Wednesday Market at Soldotna Creek Park on May 26, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Seward fisherman assisted after falling into Resurrection Bay

The man was walking through the water in his waders and stepped into a drop-off in the bay.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche (R-Soldotna) lays a poppy flower on a remberance wreath with his family during the Memorial Day ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, May 31, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A true expression of selfless service’

Community gathers to honor the fallen in Memorial Day service

Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche (R-Soldotna) lays a poppy flower on a remberance wreath with his family during the Memorial Day ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, May 31, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A newborn harbor seal is found and transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Photo by the Alaska SeaLife Center)

Newborn seal pup transported to SeaLife Center in critical condition

The male harbor seal pup appeared to be abandoned at birth.

A newborn harbor seal is found and transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Photo by the Alaska SeaLife Center)
The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

Burn suspension lifted on Kenai Peninsula

Burn permits were suspended on May 24 because of weather conditions.

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)
Kids take part in Boys & Girls Club summer activities in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula)

Grants issued for youth summer camps

Many summer camps on the central Kenai Peninsula were either scaled back or canceled altogether because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kids take part in Boys & Girls Club summer activities in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula)
This photo taken Beryl Air pilot Stephanie Greer on Friday, May 21, over Grewingk Glacier and Glacier Spit shows the mesodinium rubrum bloom to the left as contrasted with the normal ocean water of Kachemak Bay near Homer. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Greer/Beryl Air)

Plankton bloom brings red hues to Kachemak Bay

Though plankton turned Kachemak Bay pale red, the bloom isn’t harmful, scientists say.

This photo taken Beryl Air pilot Stephanie Greer on Friday, May 21, over Grewingk Glacier and Glacier Spit shows the mesodinium rubrum bloom to the left as contrasted with the normal ocean water of Kachemak Bay near Homer. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Greer/Beryl Air)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna City Council votes to repeal emergency declaration and utility relief

The disaster declaration was enacted on March 19, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Jasper Webb from Kenai shows off his Iron Man kite during the first Kenai Kite Festival on the Kenai North Beach in Alaska on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Festival to takeoff Saturday

Last year’s event was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jasper Webb from Kenai shows off his Iron Man kite during the first Kenai Kite Festival on the Kenai North Beach in Alaska on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Residents line the Sterling Highway, in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office to oppose Pebble mine on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Corps: Appeal review for Pebble mine could take over a year

A November decision determined the proposed Pebble mine was “contrary to the public interest.”

Residents line the Sterling Highway, in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office to oppose Pebble mine on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management offered the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines at the walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska COVID-19 cases reach lows not seen since last summer

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced 45 new cases on Thursday.

The Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management offered the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines at the walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
People walk through a pared down version of the Homer Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Homer Farmers Market reopens with new director, more booths

Changes include new market director, relaxation of COVID-19 safety policies and return of craft and hot-foot vendors.

People walk through a pared down version of the Homer Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Incoming KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland Testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Public to weigh in on budget at upcoming assembly meeting

Departments have been working with the borough to craft their budgets over the past several months, and have outlined their goals heading into the next fiscal year.

Incoming KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland Testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Fire Department offers the Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines at its mobile clinic during the first day of the Wednesday Market in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Wednesday Markets now include free walk-in vaccines

Dr. Anne Zink, chief medical officer for the state, made a trip to Soldotna on Wednesday as part of the “Sleeves Up for Summer” campaign.

The Kenai Fire Department offers the Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines at its mobile clinic during the first day of the Wednesday Market in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Primavera is a classic springtime pasta dish that features fresh foraged fiddleheads. Photographed on Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

On the strawberry patch: Alaska primavera

Fresh fiddleheads add an Alaska twist to this pasta classic.

Alaska Primavera is a classic springtime pasta dish that features fresh foraged fiddleheads. Photographed on Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Tthe Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, Alaska, is pictured on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Wildlife Refuge to open its doors for summer

The refuge has been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic for over a year.

Tthe Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, Alaska, is pictured on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Nikiski woman trampled by mother moose

Never approach a calf moose or come between a cow and calf moose, troopers said.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
KPBSD Superintendent John O’Brien sits in his office in the George A. Navarre Administration Building, on Monday, May 24, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

A ‘second act’: O’Brien plans for life after KPBSD

Superintendent John O’Brien spoke with the Clarion about his 16 years of service in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

KPBSD Superintendent John O’Brien sits in his office in the George A. Navarre Administration Building, on Monday, May 24, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

Burn permits suspended on peninsula

Current conditions in the Kenai Peninsula Borough increase the chances of surface fires.

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)