News

Premera returns $25M to state reinsurance program

Alaska’s sole individual market health insurer says it has paid $25 million to the state as part of a reinsurance plan meant to stabilize the… Continue reading

Soldotna’s winter wonderland

Soldotna’s winter wonderland

There is no shortage of hot chocolate and Christmas trees on the Kenai Peninsula this holiday season, especially at Soldotna’s Christmas in the Park. On… Continue reading

Soldotna’s winter wonderland
This map, included in a report presented at Kenai’s Nov. 29 worksession on land management, highlights in blue the 353 lots of land owned by Kenai’s city government - equal to about a third of the city’s area. Policy reforms proposed at the worksession may lead to a plan for selling unused city land.

Land reforms possible for Kenai in 2018

Land policy revisions that the Kenai city council will be considering next year could bring big changes in Kenai’s dealings with those seeking to use… Continue reading

This map, included in a report presented at Kenai’s Nov. 29 worksession on land management, highlights in blue the 353 lots of land owned by Kenai’s city government - equal to about a third of the city’s area. Policy reforms proposed at the worksession may lead to a plan for selling unused city land.
This aerial photograph shows the intentional neighborhood being built by Hope Community Resources as a future community for individuals with disabilities on Oct. 31, 2017 near Sterling, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Roy Scheller/Hope Community Resources)

Hope intentional community aims for January opening

At the end of a road tucked into the woods near Sterling, a group of adults with developmental disabilities will soon find a home. A… Continue reading

This aerial photograph shows the intentional neighborhood being built by Hope Community Resources as a future community for individuals with disabilities on Oct. 31, 2017 near Sterling, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Roy Scheller/Hope Community Resources)
Police warn of phone scam

Police warn of phone scam

The Soldotna Police Department is warning people to hang up the phone in light of a new scam circulating the area. Members of the public… Continue reading

Police warn of phone scam
Crash in Turnagain Pass sends 1 to hospital

Seward man arrested for firing shots at neighbors while intoxicated

Seward man arrested for firing shots at neighbors while intoxicated A Seward man has been arrested after firing a shotgun multiple times at his neighbors… Continue reading

Crash in Turnagain Pass sends 1 to hospital
Jason Rainwater of Dutch Boy Landscaping mounts a string of Christmas lights to the edge of the Salamatof Native Association building’s roof on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. All around the central Kenai Peninsula, homes and businesses are lighting up after the Thanksgiving holiday in time for Christmas. Rainwater said the workers install the lights on a timer to come on in the morning and evening and turn off during the day. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion) 

Up on the housetop

Jason Rainwater of Dutch Boy Landscaping mounts a string of Christmas lights to the edge of the Salamatof Native Association building’s roof on Wednesday, Nov.… Continue reading

Jason Rainwater of Dutch Boy Landscaping mounts a string of Christmas lights to the edge of the Salamatof Native Association building’s roof on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. All around the central Kenai Peninsula, homes and businesses are lighting up after the Thanksgiving holiday in time for Christmas. Rainwater said the workers install the lights on a timer to come on in the morning and evening and turn off during the day. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion) 

Christmas is coming to Soldotna Creek Park

Christmas celebrations throughout the Kenai Peninsula continue this weekend with Soldotna’s Christmas in the Park on Saturday. The event, which starts at 4:30 p.m., will… Continue reading

A group of Forever Dance Alaska dancers rehearses for performances at the Forever Christmas show at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday in Kenai. The show, which will run Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., has a Christmas theme and includes all the dancers of all ages from the Soldotna-based studio. Tickets are $5 at the door. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Forever Dance Alaska rings in Christmas

Pint-sized reindeer and Tchaikovsky ballerinas will dance across the stage at Kenai Central High School on Friday and Saturday to usher in the Christmas season.… Continue reading

A group of Forever Dance Alaska dancers rehearses for performances at the Forever Christmas show at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday in Kenai. The show, which will run Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., has a Christmas theme and includes all the dancers of all ages from the Soldotna-based studio. Tickets are $5 at the door. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
In this December 2016 photo, marijuana plants grow under heat lamps at marijuana cultivation facility Croy’s Enterprises near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Soldotna works on marijuana regulations

The cannabis industry is coming to the city of Soldotna, but first, the rules and regulations need to be set, and this process starts in… Continue reading

In this December 2016 photo, marijuana plants grow under heat lamps at marijuana cultivation facility Croy’s Enterprises near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Commercial fishing vessels wait at anchor in the mouth of the Kenai River before a Saturday fishing period Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file) Commercial fishing vessels wait at anchor in the mouth of the Kenai River before a Saturday fishing period July 28 in Kenai. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

As council looks to public for Cook Inlet salmon plan, UCIDA stays wary

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is looking for input from Cook Inlet fishermen on how it should develop a management plan for the area’s… Continue reading

Commercial fishing vessels wait at anchor in the mouth of the Kenai River before a Saturday fishing period Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file) Commercial fishing vessels wait at anchor in the mouth of the Kenai River before a Saturday fishing period July 28 in Kenai. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Soldotna starts search for new city manager

The city of Soldotna is hiring a new city manager. The job opening, which was posted to the city’s website on Monday, details the general… Continue reading

Kenai Fire Department firefighter Scott Summers leads a group of Kenai River Brown Bears hockey players who are blinded with blackout masks during a tour and training demonstration at the Kenai Emergency Operations Center on the Kenai Municipal Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Kenai Fire Department firefighters walked the Brown Bears players through some of the training and tools firefighters use to give them an idea of what a career in fire response is like. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River Brown Bears get a taste of firefighting

The Kenai River Brown Bears hockey players are used to wearing a lot of gear, but running through the training drills at the Kenai Fire… Continue reading

Kenai Fire Department firefighter Scott Summers leads a group of Kenai River Brown Bears hockey players who are blinded with blackout masks during a tour and training demonstration at the Kenai Emergency Operations Center on the Kenai Municipal Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Kenai Fire Department firefighters walked the Brown Bears players through some of the training and tools firefighters use to give them an idea of what a career in fire response is like. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Crime Stoppers launch app, seek more community involvement

Editor's note: This article has been corrected to show that Peninsula Crime Stoppers is 35 years old. Though it has celebrated its 35th birthday, the… Continue reading

Owner Jeanie Carter of the Curiosity Shop poses among her merchandise on Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Like many small business owners in Kenai and Soldotna, Carter said the Thanksgiving weekend drew a lot of customers to her store, which offers gifts with local history that aren’t available in larger chain stores. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Gift-seekers visit local businesses on Thanksgiving weekend

A very chilly Black Friday found crowds peering into handmade pottery mugs, flipping through racks of hand-sewn scarves and jackets and chatting with artists at… Continue reading

Owner Jeanie Carter of the Curiosity Shop poses among her merchandise on Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Like many small business owners in Kenai and Soldotna, Carter said the Thanksgiving weekend drew a lot of customers to her store, which offers gifts with local history that aren’t available in larger chain stores. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly approves sale of land in Seward floodplain

After a prolonged debate and opposition from the borough administration and the Planning Commission, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved the sale of a small… Continue reading

Mist rises over the broken ice on the bank of the Kenai River just downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai River downstream of the bridge was completely frozen Sunday morning. The weekend brought deep freezing temperatures to the central Kenai Peninsula, plunging to -4 degrees Fahrenheit Sunday morning with a high of 17 degrees during the day. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures to increase tomorrow and continue in the upper 20s and low 30s through the week, with increased chances of snow through Thursday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Icy sunrise

Mist rises over the broken ice on the bank of the Kenai River just downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017… Continue reading

Mist rises over the broken ice on the bank of the Kenai River just downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai River downstream of the bridge was completely frozen Sunday morning. The weekend brought deep freezing temperatures to the central Kenai Peninsula, plunging to -4 degrees Fahrenheit Sunday morning with a high of 17 degrees during the day. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures to increase tomorrow and continue in the upper 20s and low 30s through the week, with increased chances of snow through Thursday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Report says 6 percent of patients account for $148M in ER spending

About 6,600 people in the state accounted for $148 million in hospital emergency department spending in 2016, or about 6 percent of total patients that… Continue reading

Local author shares empathy and family history

At Friday’s annual post-Thanksgiving gifts bazaar, Mary Haakenson Perry sat among the local merchants and craftspeople in Kenai’s Challenger Learning Center. Her table held copies… Continue reading

In this Nov. 13, 2017, photo, Cliff Cook stands next to his pick-up truck in downtown Eagle River, Alaska. Cook, who started the Eagle River Community Patrol in early November, 2017, said the patrol is needed due to a recent increase in crime in the area. (Matt Tunseth/Chugiak-Eagle River Star via AP)

Eagle River man starts community patrol

EAGLE RIVER — On his own time and his own dime, an Eagle River man has recently started driving around town as part of a… Continue reading

In this Nov. 13, 2017, photo, Cliff Cook stands next to his pick-up truck in downtown Eagle River, Alaska. Cook, who started the Eagle River Community Patrol in early November, 2017, said the patrol is needed due to a recent increase in crime in the area. (Matt Tunseth/Chugiak-Eagle River Star via AP)