News

This map, taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s parcel viewer, shades in green the property where Ron and Deniece Isaacs were denied a permit for their marijuana business in 2016, and shades in blue the recreational property containing the softball fields that created a 500 foot buffer, measured in a straight line from the property boundary, which excluded the Isaacs’ shop. The odd shape of the buffered property prompted an unsucessful attempt by council member Bob Molloy to loosen city restrictions on proposed marijuana businesses more than 200 feet and across a road from properties that trigger setbacks. (map by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Council rejects loosening marijuana setbacks

An effort to loosen city restrictions on where marijuana businesses can locate in Kenai — which critics say has pushed businesses from the town’s commercial… Continue reading

This map, taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s parcel viewer, shades in green the property where Ron and Deniece Isaacs were denied a permit for their marijuana business in 2016, and shades in blue the recreational property containing the softball fields that created a 500 foot buffer, measured in a straight line from the property boundary, which excluded the Isaacs’ shop. The odd shape of the buffered property prompted an unsucessful attempt by council member Bob Molloy to loosen city restrictions on proposed marijuana businesses more than 200 feet and across a road from properties that trigger setbacks. (map by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Radtke, a longtime Habitat for Humanity of the Kenai Peninsula board member and volunteer, stands in front of a house Habitat for Humanity volunteers are currently building on Second Street on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Radtke is stepping down from the nonprofit chapter’s board after 20 years, though he said he still plans to stay involved. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Longtime Habitat for Humanity board member, volunteer Bill Radtke steps down

The house on Second Street in Kenai is still bare boards and concrete floor, but that doesn’t stop Bill Radtke from seeing it as the… Continue reading

Bill Radtke, a longtime Habitat for Humanity of the Kenai Peninsula board member and volunteer, stands in front of a house Habitat for Humanity volunteers are currently building on Second Street on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Radtke is stepping down from the nonprofit chapter’s board after 20 years, though he said he still plans to stay involved. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Railbelt utilities make progress to pool resources

Leaders of Alaska’s largest electric utilities hope to have a green light from state regulators to form new infrastructure management companies in a little more… Continue reading

Local organization, restaurant plan teddy bear donation drive

A local organization is asking the community to donate teddy bears for kids in need this month. Bear Hugs, a community organization that distributes backpacks… Continue reading

Ordinance would exempt freight hauling from sales tax

If the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approves an ordinance amending the sales tax code, freight haulers will again be exempt from paying. Freight haulers like… Continue reading

Alaska delegation reacts to Trump’s suspension of DACA

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the federal government will end a program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in… Continue reading

Dale Bagley, Linda Hutchings and Charlie Pierce listen to a question during a forum for borough mayoral candidates Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Visitors Center. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Mayoral candidates tout experience at forum

The three candidates for borough mayor are leaning hard on their past experience to garner votes in next month’s election. With less than a month… Continue reading

Dale Bagley, Linda Hutchings and Charlie Pierce listen to a question during a forum for borough mayoral candidates Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Visitors Center. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Schaefer withdraws from assembly race

One of the candidates for District 2 on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is withdrawing from the race. Jill Schaefer, who currently represents District 2… Continue reading

In this December 2016 photo, cars wend their way northward along the Seward Highway near Hope, Alaska. In response to difficulties with emergency response during accidents on the highway corridor, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is working on the logistics for a service area specifically to provide emergency services to the approximately 113 miles of highway in the borough east of Cooper Landing. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Assembly introduces ordinance for highway service area budget

A few more of the blanks are being filled in for the East Peninsula Highway Emergency Service Area, including a proposed budget. The Kenai Peninsula… Continue reading

In this December 2016 photo, cars wend their way northward along the Seward Highway near Hope, Alaska. In response to difficulties with emergency response during accidents on the highway corridor, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is working on the logistics for a service area specifically to provide emergency services to the approximately 113 miles of highway in the borough east of Cooper Landing. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
A tea ceremony in Akita with local students participating. (Photos courtesy of Yasuko Lehtinen)

Students return from Akita Sister City Youth conference

Following the amazing performance of the Kanto Performers from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Sister City of Akita, Japan during this summer’s Progress Days, Yasuko Lehtinen… Continue reading

A tea ceremony in Akita with local students participating. (Photos courtesy of Yasuko Lehtinen)
Shayne Pond and Marjorie Dempster receive big checks from the Central Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary.

Hospital honors volunteers, awards scholarships

Central Peninsula Hospital honored its many volunteers with a summer barbecue August 16 and the auxiliary presented two CPH employees with $2,500 scholarships to continue… Continue reading

Shayne Pond and Marjorie Dempster receive big checks from the Central Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary.
Happy smiles from JBER kids who had a free day of guided fishing on the Kenai.

Hooking kids on fishing

August 16 saw nearly 100 youth from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) and Kenai Peninsula Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have the opportunity to go fishing… Continue reading

Happy smiles from JBER kids who had a free day of guided fishing on the Kenai.
Wind and waves High winds churn up the surface of Skilak Lake and blow in a mixture of clouds and blue sky Sunday in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Skilak Lake, about 15 miles long and up to four miles wide in places, is one of the largest in Alaska and can be extremely dangerous to boaters when the wind is high. From the hills above the lake Sunday, whitecapped waves appeared and large breakers were visible on the shores. The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation advises staying off the lake when the winds are high if possible. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Wind and waves

High winds churn up the surface of Skilak Lake and blow in a mixture of clouds and blue sky Sunday in the Kenai National Wildlife… Continue reading

Wind and waves High winds churn up the surface of Skilak Lake and blow in a mixture of clouds and blue sky Sunday in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Skilak Lake, about 15 miles long and up to four miles wide in places, is one of the largest in Alaska and can be extremely dangerous to boaters when the wind is high. From the hills above the lake Sunday, whitecapped waves appeared and large breakers were visible on the shores. The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation advises staying off the lake when the winds are high if possible. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Sterling man arrested for drug charges

A Sterling man, Dennis Backstrom, was charged with controlled substance misconduct and theft after being arrested by Kenai police Sunday morning in the parking lot… Continue reading

By the numbers: KPEDD delves into economic data

Although most of the Kenai Peninsula’s demographic metrics stayed level in 2016 — population grew slightly and schools performed well — overall business activity fell… Continue reading

First-year PEAKS results show peninsula students ahead of state

The first year’s results of the state’s new standardized public school assessments show that students in general aren’t doing as well as they could, but… Continue reading

Kenai Lions Club hosts annual rubber duck race

Kenai Lions Club hosts annual rubber duck race

Of the approximately 650 to 700 yellow rubber ducks floating down the Kenai River on Monday morning — released upstream of Kenai’s Cunningham Park by… Continue reading

Kenai Lions Club hosts annual rubber duck race

New school bus system faces hiccups on first week

Reading social media last week after the start of the Kenai Peninsula Borough school year, a reader might have thought kids got transported to school… Continue reading

Summer marijuana boom continues with sales high

In just one month, the state of Alaska has collected a third of the marijuana tax revenue it recouped in the entire last fiscal year.… Continue reading

This August 2016 photo shows Skilak Lake with Mt. Redoubt in the background on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. The state of Alaska is engaged in two lawsuits at the federal level with national implications, one of which involves a set of rules for hunting on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, finalized in March 2016. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Two state lawsuits hold national implications

The state of Alaska is caught up in two fish and wildlife-related lawsuits in federal courts that could set precedents around the nation for years… Continue reading

This August 2016 photo shows Skilak Lake with Mt. Redoubt in the background on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. The state of Alaska is engaged in two lawsuits at the federal level with national implications, one of which involves a set of rules for hunting on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, finalized in March 2016. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)