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Two teddy bears hide in the trees near the dropoff point for solid waste at the Sterling Transfer Site on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 near Sterling, Alaska. The attendants at the transfer site, where trash is picked up and taken to Central Peninsula Landfill, rescue stuffed animals from the trash and giving them new life in the “Sterling Zoo,” where they rest in the bushes and trees surrouding the transfer site to greet visitors throughout the summer. They go into “hibernation” in the winter, resting on a shelf to stay dry before reappearing the following summer. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

New life at the ‘Sterling Zoo’

Making a routine run to the dump is a little brighter for those headed to the Sterling Transfer Site. Stashed in the bushes, trees and… Continue reading

Two teddy bears hide in the trees near the dropoff point for solid waste at the Sterling Transfer Site on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 near Sterling, Alaska. The attendants at the transfer site, where trash is picked up and taken to Central Peninsula Landfill, rescue stuffed animals from the trash and giving them new life in the “Sterling Zoo,” where they rest in the bushes and trees surrouding the transfer site to greet visitors throughout the summer. They go into “hibernation” in the winter, resting on a shelf to stay dry before reappearing the following summer. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna continues annexation discussion

The discussion of Soldotna’s potential annexation is moving out of city council chambers. As of Sept. 1, an online forum is available for community members,… Continue reading

Body found on beach identified as Kurt Keltner

The Alaska State Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity of a body found on the north Kenai beach last week as Kurt Keltner. Keltner, who… Continue reading

A sarplaninac dog chases after Bear at the Three Friends Dog Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Sunday, September 17, 2017. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Dogs make friends at Three Friends Dog Park

For a small dog, Bear seems to be the pack leader of the 3 Friends Dog Park in Soldotna. When he runs, a crowd of… Continue reading

A sarplaninac dog chases after Bear at the Three Friends Dog Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Sunday, September 17, 2017. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Pink salmon swim up a drainage ditch at Beluga Slough on Thursday evening.

Pinks run in places never seen before in bay

All around Kachemak Bay the past weeks, people have reported large runs of pink salmon in places never seen before — at least in significant… Continue reading

Pink salmon swim up a drainage ditch at Beluga Slough on Thursday evening.

Criticism mounts against nondepartmental borough funding

The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s funding for nondepartmentals is often a popular punching bag for criticism, frequently intensifying during election season. This year is no different.… Continue reading

Sterling Elementary receives grant for community project

Sterling Elementary School is now home to an ‘Unsung Hero,’ thanks to a grant given to school principal Denise Kelly. The Voya Unsung Heroes Grant… Continue reading

Keep Cannabis Legal group leads pack for campaign spending

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show that the Kenai Peninsula Republic Women donated to Linda Hutchings' mayoral campaign in February 2017. With… Continue reading

An attendee at the Central Kenai Peninsula League of Women Voters’ forum asks a question to the panel of candidates for Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and borough mayor Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Candidates tackle social issues in packed forum

Most of the conversation among the candidates for Kenai Peninsul Borough Assembly and borough mayor has been about the budget so far, but a forum… Continue reading

An attendee at the Central Kenai Peninsula League of Women Voters’ forum asks a question to the panel of candidates for Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and borough mayor Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Betty Lou Drive is shown in this screenshot taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s online parcel viewer. The land owners on the road west of Fields Road recently petitioned the borough to ask them to stop maintaining the road because they wanted to avoid an upgrade construction project they said would “change the character” of their neighborhood. (Image courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Residents petition borough: Stop maintaining our road

A group of property owners asked the Kenai Peninsula Borough to stop maintaining their road, picking up the job themselves. The property owners on Betty… Continue reading

Betty Lou Drive is shown in this screenshot taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s online parcel viewer. The land owners on the road west of Fields Road recently petitioned the borough to ask them to stop maintaining the road because they wanted to avoid an upgrade construction project they said would “change the character” of their neighborhood. (Image courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Kenaitze tribe to host edible and medicinal plant conference

Experts on medicinal uses of the plants growing in woods and meadows throughout the Kenai Peninsula will be sharing their knowledge this weekend at the… Continue reading

Candidates for Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, from left, Brent Hibbert (District 1), Dan Castimore (District 1), Duane Bannock (District 2), Hall Smalley (District 2), Leslie Morton (District 5), and Norm Blakeley (District 5)participate in a candidate forum during a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex Wednesday. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Budget in bull’s eye for assembly candidates

Six candidates are vying for three central Kenai Peninsula seats on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. On Oct. 3, voters in assembly Districts 1, 2,… Continue reading

Candidates for Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, from left, Brent Hibbert (District 1), Dan Castimore (District 1), Duane Bannock (District 2), Hall Smalley (District 2), Leslie Morton (District 5), and Norm Blakeley (District 5)participate in a candidate forum during a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex Wednesday. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai man sentenced to 63 months for dealing meth

A Kenai man was sentenced to 63 months in prison after being convicted of trafficking methamphetamines and having a gun following a felony conviction. U.S.… Continue reading

Report: Troopers recover body on north Kenai beach

Alaska State Troopers recovered a body near the mouth of the Kenai River on Tuesday afternoon. Troopers responded to a report that someone had found… Continue reading

Overdose-reducing drug could come to schools

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has the opportunity to obtain Narcan, a brand of the drug naloxone which temporarily blocks or reverses the effects… Continue reading

A ceramic bear sculpture by potter Laura Faeo rests atop a pedestal in the Kenai Fine Art Center on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The sculpture, along with a number of other paintings, sculptures, photographs and other art works, will be available for purchase either through silent bidding or outcry auction at the center’s annual Harvest Art Auction, scheduled for Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. Silent bidding began Thursday and will run until the event on Sept. 30, when the outcry auction will take place. The funds go to support the art center’s activities throughout the year. Tickets for the event are $30 and include appetizers, desserts, music and door prizes. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo: Art in anticipation

A ceramic bear sculpture by potter Laura Faeo rests atop a pedestal in the Kenai Fine Art Center on Thursday in Kenai. The sculpture, along… Continue reading

A ceramic bear sculpture by potter Laura Faeo rests atop a pedestal in the Kenai Fine Art Center on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The sculpture, along with a number of other paintings, sculptures, photographs and other art works, will be available for purchase either through silent bidding or outcry auction at the center’s annual Harvest Art Auction, scheduled for Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. Silent bidding began Thursday and will run until the event on Sept. 30, when the outcry auction will take place. The funds go to support the art center’s activities throughout the year. Tickets for the event are $30 and include appetizers, desserts, music and door prizes. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Mallott rejects salmon habitat ballot initiative

Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott denied an application on Sept. 12 to put a voter initiative on the 2018 statewide ballot that would have tightened the… Continue reading

In this Sept. 9, 2016 photo, Rep. Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski) speaks at a flagpole dedication ceremony at the Nikiski Senior Center in Nikiski, Alaska. Chenault filed a letter of intent Tuesday to seek office in October 2018 and said he was gauging statewide support for a run for governor. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Chenault tests waters for gubernatorial bid

Nikiski’s state legislator is looking for support for a run for state governor. Rep. Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski) announced his intention to run in October 2018 in… Continue reading

In this Sept. 9, 2016 photo, Rep. Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski) speaks at a flagpole dedication ceremony at the Nikiski Senior Center in Nikiski, Alaska. Chenault filed a letter of intent Tuesday to seek office in October 2018 and said he was gauging statewide support for a run for governor. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Not forgotten Small American flags dot the lawn alongside the Kenai Spur Highway on Monday in Kenai. The American Legion post in Kenai placed 2,996 flags on the greenway between Frontage Road and the highway, one for each person killed in coordinated terrorist attacks on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. The display added to the Kenai Fire Department’s display of 343 flags on the corner of Willow and Main streets in honor of the firefighters killed in the line of duty trying to rescue people from the burning World Trade Center towers. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Remembering 9/11’s victims

Small American flags dot the lawn alongside the Kenai Spur Highway on Monday in Kenai. The American Legion post in Kenai placed the flags early… Continue reading

Not forgotten Small American flags dot the lawn alongside the Kenai Spur Highway on Monday in Kenai. The American Legion post in Kenai placed 2,996 flags on the greenway between Frontage Road and the highway, one for each person killed in coordinated terrorist attacks on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. The display added to the Kenai Fire Department’s display of 343 flags on the corner of Willow and Main streets in honor of the firefighters killed in the line of duty trying to rescue people from the burning World Trade Center towers. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai River flows by the newly restored riverbank of Dow Island on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. A group of four property owners banded together this spring to install the extensive project to protect the bank of the island in the Kenai River from rapid erosion. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

2 charged after illegal gravel dumping in Kenai River

Two men are facing charges after dumping gravel in the Kenai River related to an erosion problem on Dow Island. The state has levied charges… Continue reading

The Kenai River flows by the newly restored riverbank of Dow Island on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. A group of four property owners banded together this spring to install the extensive project to protect the bank of the island in the Kenai River from rapid erosion. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)