News

The Reading Corner hosts a Back to School dance.

Home-schoolers dance the night away

For teens and parents of teens, one of the most common comments about life on the Kenai is, “There’s nothing for us do!” And that… Continue reading

The Reading Corner hosts a Back to School dance.
Event organizer Sharon Hale hands out Safe Kids easy to be seen hats on Walk to School day.

Stepping out: Walking kids to school

Mother Nature gave kids and their parents a break last week and provided a sunny warm autumn morning for the annual Walk to School Day.… Continue reading

Event organizer Sharon Hale hands out Safe Kids easy to be seen hats on Walk to School day.
KPBSD administrators update district Key Communicators.

Giving the keys to KPBSD Key Communicators

In the fall of 2013 the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) started what is called a Key Communicator program. “It started by asking all… Continue reading

KPBSD administrators update district Key Communicators.

Hilcorp subleases Kenai airport hangar

Hilcorp will be using a hangar on the Kenai Municipal Airport for flights to its facilities on the west side of Cook Inlet. The privately-owned… Continue reading

Leif Abel, co-owner of standard cannabis cultivation facility Greatland Ganja and a former member of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Marijuana Task Force, advocates for voters to oppose Proposition 1 in the borough’s Oct. 3 municipal regular election during a debate with former assembly president Blaine Gilman on the topic hosted by the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Proposition 1 would ban commercial cannabis operations in the borough outside city limits. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fate of borough’s cannabis industry before voters

It’s down to the wire for Kenai Peninsula Borough voters outside the cities to decide whether they want to prohibit commercial cannabis operations. Proposition 1,… Continue reading

Leif Abel, co-owner of standard cannabis cultivation facility Greatland Ganja and a former member of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Marijuana Task Force, advocates for voters to oppose Proposition 1 in the borough’s Oct. 3 municipal regular election during a debate with former assembly president Blaine Gilman on the topic hosted by the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Proposition 1 would ban commercial cannabis operations in the borough outside city limits. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer firefighters knock down small wildfire

A small wildland fire in the hills above Shirley Court appears to have been started by some sort of accelerant, Homer Volunteer Fire Department Chief… Continue reading

Nabors drilling rigs sit idle at Prudhoe Bay in this May 25 photo. State regulators are working to finalize the method for assessing oil and gas properties for tax value that they have been using for the past several years. The new regulations apply to all oil and gas properties other than the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. (Photo/Michael Dinneen/For the Journal)

State works to formalize method for assessing oil and gas properties

Some of the affected parties are raising concerns as state tax assessors are finalizing a methodology for valuing oil and gas properties other than the… Continue reading

Nabors drilling rigs sit idle at Prudhoe Bay in this May 25 photo. State regulators are working to finalize the method for assessing oil and gas properties for tax value that they have been using for the past several years. The new regulations apply to all oil and gas properties other than the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. (Photo/Michael Dinneen/For the Journal)

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio donates $80,000 to Southeast group

You might call it a titanic contribution. The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, founded in 1998 by the eponymous screen actor, announced an $80,000 grant to the… Continue reading

Sondra Stonecipher runs in the Kenai River half-marathon on Sunday, Sept. 24 near Kenai.

Kenai River Marathon makes strides

One did it using a handcycle after breaking his back seven years ago. Others competed after coaching at — or even running in — the… Continue reading

Sondra Stonecipher runs in the Kenai River half-marathon on Sunday, Sept. 24 near Kenai.

Community Schools programs start Wednesday

Summer is officially gone. The leaves are yellow, the temperatures are dropping and Community Schools is back in session. The Community Schools program, which is… Continue reading

Walk, or roll, to school day

Walk, or roll, to school day

Roman, left, and Danni Finley bend the rules of Walk To School Day on Wednesday, Sept. 20 as they are carted to Redoubt Elementary along… Continue reading

Walk, or roll, to school day
Gov. Walker proposes head tax to boost state revenue

Gov. Walker proposes head tax to boost state revenue

ANCHORAGE — Gov. Bill Walker’s latest proposal for closing the gap between state revenue and spending is a limited tax on payroll wages and self-employment… Continue reading

Gov. Walker proposes head tax to boost state revenue

Kenai council to consider pallet-burning ban

At its meeting on Oct. 4, the Kenai city council will consider prohibiting burning pallets and other wood with metal fasteners on the city’s north… Continue reading

Jane Stein, the president of Bridges Community Resource Network’s board of directors, stands for a portrait at the organization’s office Friday, Sept. 22, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Stein, a longtime volunteer in the community, was recognized for her service at the annual Industry Appreciation Day with the Donald E. Gilman Award for community, governmental and civic service from the Kenai Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Practical matters

Figuring out solutions to practical needs has been a major drive in Jane Stein’s life. For example, she is excited about a new copy machine… Continue reading

Jane Stein, the president of Bridges Community Resource Network’s board of directors, stands for a portrait at the organization’s office Friday, Sept. 22, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Stein, a longtime volunteer in the community, was recognized for her service at the annual Industry Appreciation Day with the Donald E. Gilman Award for community, governmental and civic service from the Kenai Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Dan Castimore answers a question during a forum for Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidates Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Castimore is running for the District 1-Kalifornsky seat. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

One challenges incumbent for District 1 assembly seat

Voters in the Kalifornsky Beach area and part of Ridgeway have two choices for their Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly representative on Oct. 3 — one… Continue reading

Dan Castimore answers a question during a forum for Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidates Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Castimore is running for the District 1-Kalifornsky seat. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Truck spills garbage on Soldotna street

Drivers in downtown Soldotna should keep an eye out for efforts to clean up spilled garbage in the street Friday. An Alaska Waste garbage truck… Continue reading

Lily Craig shows off the silver salmon she caught on the Kenai River during the Kenai Chamber of Commerce’s first annual silver salmon derby in September 2017. (Photo courtesy Nathaniel Craig)

Silver derby wraps up with 200+ entries

With the first Kenai River Silver Salmon Derby officially closed, the Kenai Chamber of Commerce is calling it a success. The derby organizers weighed their… Continue reading

Lily Craig shows off the silver salmon she caught on the Kenai River during the Kenai Chamber of Commerce’s first annual silver salmon derby in September 2017. (Photo courtesy Nathaniel Craig)
Orthodox Church draws close to restoration goal with funding for chapel work

Orthodox Church draws close to restoration goal with funding for chapel work

Some of the square-hewn timbers of the small Russian Orthodox chapel in Old Town Kenai may be exchanged for fresh wood during a planned restoration… Continue reading

Orthodox Church draws close to restoration goal with funding for chapel work
Homer High School Athletic Director Chris Perk gets emotional as his wife, Homer teacher Saundra Hudson, nears the finish line of a mile run during the Mariner Mile fundraising event Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017 at the track in Homer, Alaska. Hudson, an active member of the Homer running community who championed for the high school track to be put in, received a head injury after she slipped on ice while running in March. Thursday’s mile was the first time she’s run since the injury six months ago. (Photo by Homer News/Megan Pacer)

Active runner returns to lifelong passion with Mariner Mile following accident

Those who know Saundra Hudson well would say that a mile race is nothing for the active member of the Homer running community. But after… Continue reading

Homer High School Athletic Director Chris Perk gets emotional as his wife, Homer teacher Saundra Hudson, nears the finish line of a mile run during the Mariner Mile fundraising event Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017 at the track in Homer, Alaska. Hudson, an active member of the Homer running community who championed for the high school track to be put in, received a head injury after she slipped on ice while running in March. Thursday’s mile was the first time she’s run since the injury six months ago. (Photo by Homer News/Megan Pacer)

Property crime increased in 2016

Statewide, certain types of crime are up, and the Kenai Peninsula’s cities mostly track with that trend. The Alaska Department of Public Safety released its… Continue reading