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Soldotna High School student Jaron Swanson does bridge pose Friday while in a yoga class offered during the Focus on Learning period at the end of each school day. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Namaste to end the day: Students find breath in yoga class

It would be easy for the controlled chaos of Soldotna High School’s hallways to seep into Lisa Wells’ yoga class. As the final class period… Continue reading

Soldotna High School student Jaron Swanson does bridge pose Friday while in a yoga class offered during the Focus on Learning period at the end of each school day. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Gravel pit group looks at reclamation, bonding

The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s working group on material sites is getting at the heart of the reason it was formed — to help resolve some… Continue reading

Attorney Jon Choate, left, representing the Alaska Democratic Party, and state attorney Laura Fox, discuss the ins and outs of the case after the oral arguments on Thursday as part of the Supreme Court Live event moderated by Marilyn May, center, at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Oral arguments heard in primary ballot lawsuit

Assistant Attorney General Laura Fox and Alaska Democratic Party attorney Jon Choate were tasked with answering a simple question in front of the Alaska Supreme… Continue reading

Attorney Jon Choate, left, representing the Alaska Democratic Party, and state attorney Laura Fox, discuss the ins and outs of the case after the oral arguments on Thursday as part of the Supreme Court Live event moderated by Marilyn May, center, at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Tie vote jeopardizes HEA solar project

A Homer Electric Association plan to build Alaska’s highest-capacity solar farm near HEA’s Anchor Point substation is in limbo after the cooperative’s eight directors tied… Continue reading

Schools start PEAKS testing

Students across Alaska are sitting down for the Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools (PEAKS) test over the course of the next two weeks. The test,… Continue reading

GCI plans to continue expansion project on Kenai Peninsula

One of the largest telecommunications providers in Alaska is planning to continue an expansion project on the Kenai Peninsula this year. GCI, which provides phone,… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula fifth healthiest borough in Alaska

A broad look into the health of counties nationwide placed the Kenai Peninsula into the top fifth of boroughs in Alaska. The County Health Rankings… Continue reading

A resident at Heritage Place enjoys colored strands of light during an open house of the home’s Snoezelen room on Friday, March 23 in Soldotna. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Getting the full Snoezelen experience: Heritage Place opens relaxation room

A local nursing home is giving its residents a little “me time.” Central Peninsula Hospital’s Heritage Place recently launched a Snoezelen room, which allows residents… Continue reading

A resident at Heritage Place enjoys colored strands of light during an open house of the home’s Snoezelen room on Friday, March 23 in Soldotna. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Hospital construction to proceed this summer

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the date of bid for the hospital construction project and to clarify the date of substantial… Continue reading

In this Jan. 18, 2018 photo, patchy ice floats near the mouth of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska. Most of Alaska experienced a warmer, wetter winter than average from 2017&

Alaska’s winter was warmer than average

Most of Alaska had a warmer, wetter winter than usual, and a warmer, drier summer may be on its way. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric… Continue reading

In this Jan. 18, 2018 photo, patchy ice floats near the mouth of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska. Most of Alaska experienced a warmer, wetter winter than average from 2017&
Man arrested after crashing vehicle discovered to be stolen

Troopers shoot, kill Nikolaevsk man in confrontation

A Nikolaevsk man is dead after Alaska State Troopers shot him during a confrontation Saturday. Nikolai Yakunin, 42, was pronounced dead on scene after being… Continue reading

Man arrested after crashing vehicle discovered to be stolen
Workers weigh king salmon at Coal Point Seafood Company on the Homer Spit during the annual Homer Winter King Derby on Saturday, March 24, 2018 in Homer, Alaska. More than 1,200 anglers headed out onto the waters around Homer to fish for king salmon, docking again by 6 p.m. to see where their fish landed in the rankings. The winning fish, belonging to Charlie Edwards, weighed in at 24.6 pounds. Second place went to Jerry Huff with a 20.9 pound fish, and third to Janet Donnell with a 20.75 pound fish. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Make way for the king

Though the ice is barely out, the Homer harbor buzzed with activity on Saturday as anglers hit the water for king salmon. The Homer Chamber… Continue reading

Workers weigh king salmon at Coal Point Seafood Company on the Homer Spit during the annual Homer Winter King Derby on Saturday, March 24, 2018 in Homer, Alaska. More than 1,200 anglers headed out onto the waters around Homer to fish for king salmon, docking again by 6 p.m. to see where their fish landed in the rankings. The winning fish, belonging to Charlie Edwards, weighed in at 24.6 pounds. Second place went to Jerry Huff with a 20.9 pound fish, and third to Janet Donnell with a 20.75 pound fish. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
This undated photo shows Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Manager Andy Loranger enjoying the Kenai Peninsula summer. Loranger was recently named 2018 national wildlife refuge manager of the year by the National Wildlife Refuge Association, a nonprofit supporting the federal wildlife refuge system. (Photo courtesy the National Wildlife Refuge Association)

Kenai refuge manager wins national recognition

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge’s manager has been selected as the best refuge manager in the country for 2018. The National Wildlife Refuge Association named… Continue reading

This undated photo shows Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Manager Andy Loranger enjoying the Kenai Peninsula summer. Loranger was recently named 2018 national wildlife refuge manager of the year by the National Wildlife Refuge Association, a nonprofit supporting the federal wildlife refuge system. (Photo courtesy the National Wildlife Refuge Association)

Soldotna to consider banning plastic bags

Soldotna may see an influx of reusable grocery totes this November, with the introduction of a new ordinance banning plastic shopping bags. The ordinance, sponsored… Continue reading

Community members walked from Christ Lutheran Church, along the Kenai Spur Highway, to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna on Saturday as part of the national March for Our Lives rally, which took place in cities and towns across the country in support of gun control laws. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Community members ‘March for Our Lives’

Talk of gun violence has graced many front, opinion and nation pages in newspapers across the country since a 19-year-old killed 17 students and teachers… Continue reading

Community members walked from Christ Lutheran Church, along the Kenai Spur Highway, to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna on Saturday as part of the national March for Our Lives rally, which took place in cities and towns across the country in support of gun control laws. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
It’s a Rock and Roll Dance weekend at the Kenai Central High School Auditorium.

Forever Dance rocks on!

By any performing arts standards across the nation the new Forever Dance Studio is amazing. The dream of Darcy and Aaron Swanson, who a few… Continue reading

It’s a Rock and Roll Dance weekend at the Kenai Central High School Auditorium.
Dresses line the walls of Soldotna Prep School Friday for Cinderella’s Closet, a program that provides free prom dresses and accessories to girls throughout the school district. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Cinderella’s Closet opens its doors

The floral printed dress with an empire waist and halter top looked great on Nikiski junior Diana Narimanidze, eliciting a chorus of “oohs” and “ahhs”… Continue reading

Dresses line the walls of Soldotna Prep School Friday for Cinderella’s Closet, a program that provides free prom dresses and accessories to girls throughout the school district. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Slushy conditions don’t dampen the luck of the Irish for CPGH.

Wearing o’ the green

The 27th annual St. Patrick’s Parade, the longest continual running St. Patrick’s Day parade in Alaska, got off to a cloudy, slushy start Saturday but… Continue reading

Slushy conditions don’t dampen the luck of the Irish for CPGH.
Chris Pepper (right) and Shaylon Cochran (left) stare into the distance during a rehearsal for Triumvirate Theatre’s production of “Forrest Guppy” on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. Pepper plays Forrest Guppy, a parody of the main character from the classic film “Forrest Gump,” in the comedy parody of the film. The theater troupe last put on the dinner theater production in 2010. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Triumvirate revisits ‘Forrest Guppy’

All the actors in “Forrest Guppy” can turn accents on and off like kitchen faucets. During a rehearsal Tuesday, thick Alabama accents, bright “tourist” tones,… Continue reading

Chris Pepper (right) and Shaylon Cochran (left) stare into the distance during a rehearsal for Triumvirate Theatre’s production of “Forrest Guppy” on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. Pepper plays Forrest Guppy, a parody of the main character from the classic film “Forrest Gump,” in the comedy parody of the film. The theater troupe last put on the dinner theater production in 2010. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish board takes on hatchery issues

Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify that the board of fisheries did not form a formal committe on hatcheries but rather agreed… Continue reading