News

A drift gillnet fishing vessel makes its way into the Kenai River on Friday in Kenai. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Commercial fishermen harvest 1.8M sockeye so far, no fishing Tuesday

Upper Cook Inlet’s commercial drift gillnet commercial fishermen got to fish throughout the waters of the central district during their regular period Monday. It’s the… Continue reading

A drift gillnet fishing vessel makes its way into the Kenai River on Friday in Kenai. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Man charged with stealing, burning car

A Kenai man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a car and setting it on fire. Kenai Police Department officers arrested Kenny Kitchen, 25, of… Continue reading

Soldotna man, 18, arrested for holding 14-year-old against her will

A Soldotna-area man was arrested Saturday after allegedly holding a 14-year-old girl against her will, firing shots at two people in a truck and threatening… Continue reading

Kenai Superior Court Judge Anna Moran (right) offers congratulations and advice to newly installed Superior Court Judge Jennifer Wells (left) during Wells’ installation ceremony Thursday, July 27, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Wells, a 22-year veteran of the Alaska court system, replaces former Superior Court Judge Carl Bauman, who retired in February. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Jennifer Wells installed as Kenai Superior Court judge

Judging by the number of attorneys making their way into Courtroom 1 in the Kenai Courthouse on a Thursday afternoon, the installation of Superior Court… Continue reading

Kenai Superior Court Judge Anna Moran (right) offers congratulations and advice to newly installed Superior Court Judge Jennifer Wells (left) during Wells’ installation ceremony Thursday, July 27, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Wells, a 22-year veteran of the Alaska court system, replaces former Superior Court Judge Carl Bauman, who retired in February. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A couple chats at a table at the 50th Kenai Central High School Class of 1967 reunion at the Kenai Senior Center on Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The reunion was organized to mark the ‘67 graduating class’s reunion, though classes from the ’60s, ’50s and the days of the Territorial School before that were also welcome. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Photos: 50 years later, KCHS grads reunite

Most of the attendees at the 50th Kenai Central High School class of 1967 reunion wore black and white printouts of their own yearbook photos… Continue reading

A couple chats at a table at the 50th Kenai Central High School Class of 1967 reunion at the Kenai Senior Center on Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The reunion was organized to mark the ‘67 graduating class’s reunion, though classes from the ’60s, ’50s and the days of the Territorial School before that were also welcome. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
In this July 2016 photo, a commercial drift gillnet boat makes its way out of the Kenai River early in the morning in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Kenai sockeye run late, biologists say

Cook Inlet east side set gillnet fishermen and drift gillnet fishermen will get their first chance to fish in more than a week on Saturday.… Continue reading

In this July 2016 photo, a commercial drift gillnet boat makes its way out of the Kenai River early in the morning in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
The muddy sand of the south Kenai beach traps Armin Schmidt’s pickup truck on Thursday, July 27, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Schmidt, a commercial set gillnet fisherman, was driving the truck Wednesday when it sank into the spongy mud in the intertidal area of the south Kenai beach near the jersey barrier designating the legal personal-use dipnet area. He was working with the city of Kenai’s Parks and Recreation Department, which coordinates the dipnet, to get it it out Thursday. No one was hurt in the incident. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Owner, Kenai Parks and Rec work to retrieve truck stuck in south beach

Update, 7/28/17, 1 p.m.: The truck's owner was able to pull the vehicle out of the beach with the help of other private commercial set… Continue reading

The muddy sand of the south Kenai beach traps Armin Schmidt’s pickup truck on Thursday, July 27, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Schmidt, a commercial set gillnet fisherman, was driving the truck Wednesday when it sank into the spongy mud in the intertidal area of the south Kenai beach near the jersey barrier designating the legal personal-use dipnet area. He was working with the city of Kenai’s Parks and Recreation Department, which coordinates the dipnet, to get it it out Thursday. No one was hurt in the incident. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Voters cast their ballots at the Kasilof Fire Station on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Step on up, take a seat

With 42 elected offices opening up this fall, Kenai Peninsula residents will have ample opportunity to get involved in local governments. On October 3, voters… Continue reading

Voters cast their ballots at the Kasilof Fire Station on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Fish waste accumulates along the tide line at the Kenai River’s north beach on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska. The City of Kenai rakes the waste out to ocean every night and local groups contribute to cleanup efforts, but the waste still builds up on the tideline when the water washes it back in. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Properly get rid of your fish waste this weekend

The final weekend of the Kenai River personal-use dipnet fishery kicks off Friday. With sockeye salmon passage increasing into the Kenai River — nearly 72,000… Continue reading

Fish waste accumulates along the tide line at the Kenai River’s north beach on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska. The City of Kenai rakes the waste out to ocean every night and local groups contribute to cleanup efforts, but the waste still builds up on the tideline when the water washes it back in. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Recent high school graduates from throughout Alaska are working closely with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski through the summer internship program, which lasts until August 4 and exposes the interns to the day-to-day life in a senator’s office. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office)

Young Alaskans shadow Murkowski on Capitol Hill

From the outside, Capitol Hill seems like a hectic place this summer, but a group of ten recent Alaska high school graduates are experiencing it… Continue reading

Recent high school graduates from throughout Alaska are working closely with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski through the summer internship program, which lasts until August 4 and exposes the interns to the day-to-day life in a senator’s office. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office)

East side setnets, drifters closed again Thursday

Commercial fishermen in Upper Cook Inlet’s central district will stay on the beaches again Thursday to allow more sockeye to enter the Kenai River. The… Continue reading

AirBNB hosted over 15,000 on peninsula last year

When the river is crowded, Fred Meyer is packed and traffic is backed up, it’s a sure sign that tourist season on the Kenai Peninsula… Continue reading

US Senate looks to renew ‘Frankenfish’ import ban

With support from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Congress is preparing to renew a ban on the importation of genetically engineered salmon. On Friday, the U.S. Senate… Continue reading

In this July 2016 photo, anglers cast their lines into the Kenai River from the bank above the Sterling Highway Bridge in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Sportfishing licenses jump in 2016

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sold nearly 50,000 more sportfishing licenses and stamps and hunting licenses in 2016 than it did in 2015,… Continue reading

In this July 2016 photo, anglers cast their lines into the Kenai River from the bank above the Sterling Highway Bridge in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

More sockeye enter Kenai, Thursday commercial opening still on table

More sockeye salmon passed the sonar into the Kenai River on Monday, but it’s still up in the air whether commercial fishermen will go out… Continue reading

Summer attire

Summer attire

Summer fashion A caribou grazes along the side of the Forest Lane in Soldotna on Friday. The coat of the caribou changes with the seasons. During… Continue reading

Summer attire

Peninsula represented at Acceleration Academy

Alaska Native students from across the state are continuing their education this summer through several programs at the University of Alaska Anchorage in conjunction with… Continue reading

Kendra Stevenson, a Connections homeschool student, works at the front desk of the Blue Moose Bed and Biscuit this summer in Soldotna, Alaska. Stevenson was one of six students that participated in a summer work program through Peninsula Community Health Services for high school students with disabilities to gain work experience. (Photo courtesy Margaret Mercer)

Students pick up job skills with summer work program

Instead of sleeping in and relaxing over summer vacation, Seth Meyer got up at 4 a.m. to learn the art of making bagels. The Kenai… Continue reading

Kendra Stevenson, a Connections homeschool student, works at the front desk of the Blue Moose Bed and Biscuit this summer in Soldotna, Alaska. Stevenson was one of six students that participated in a summer work program through Peninsula Community Health Services for high school students with disabilities to gain work experience. (Photo courtesy Margaret Mercer)

Kenai Fire responds to fewer boat accidents this dipnet season

The Kenai Fire Department hasn’t had to rescue as many swamped boats in the Kenai River personal-use dipnet fishery this year as last year. So… Continue reading

In this photo submitted to Fish for the Future, a young angler holds up the king salmon he caught and released. Fish for the Future, a program begun by two central Kenai Peninsula guides, offers prizes for people who submit photographs of king salmon they caught and released on the Kenai and Kasilof rivers in June and July as a way to encourage people to release fish and conserve the fishery over time. (Photo courtesy Fish for the Future)

‘Fish for the Future’ program seeks to encourage catch and release for kings

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Mark Wackler's name. Nearly every day this summer, someone has posted a photo… Continue reading

In this photo submitted to Fish for the Future, a young angler holds up the king salmon he caught and released. Fish for the Future, a program begun by two central Kenai Peninsula guides, offers prizes for people who submit photographs of king salmon they caught and released on the Kenai and Kasilof rivers in June and July as a way to encourage people to release fish and conserve the fishery over time. (Photo courtesy Fish for the Future)