Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Jacob Caldwell, chief executive officer of Kenai Aviation, stands at the Kenai Aviation desk at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2022<ins> in Kenai, </ins><ins>Alaska</ins>.

Kenai Aviation halts flight service due to debt

Kenai Aviation owner Joel Caldwell said in a Facebook post on Monday that all flights would cease that afternoon due to the company being “financially insolvent.”

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Jacob Caldwell, chief executive officer of Kenai Aviation, stands at the Kenai Aviation desk at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2022<ins> in Kenai, </ins><ins>Alaska</ins>.
Photos courtesy of Lisa Parker
Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame inductee Lisa Parker is pictured with Aleut’s Senior Director, Public Policy and Lands Ethan Tyler in during the Kodiak Alaska Municipal League meeting in August 2024.

Soldotna vice mayor inducted to Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame

Vice Mayor Lisa Parker was inducted to the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame on Oct. 21, making her one of 10 women inducted this year.

Photos courtesy of Lisa Parker
Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame inductee Lisa Parker is pictured with Aleut’s Senior Director, Public Policy and Lands Ethan Tyler in during the Kodiak Alaska Municipal League meeting in August 2024.
State of Alaska Department of Law logo. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Law

Kenai man indicted for sexual abuse

Aaron “Scott” Merritt was indicted by a Kenai jury for sexual abuse crimes committed between 1998 and 2002.

State of Alaska Department of Law logo. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Law
The sign at the front of Kenai River Campus’s main building as seen on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. (Photos by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula College receives federal grant

Grant funds will establish a program to support first-generation college students.

The sign at the front of Kenai River Campus’s main building as seen on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. (Photos by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Recipients of the Alaska Travel Industry Association's 2025 Annual Industry Awards celebrate their awards at ATIA's annual convention in Anchorage, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska Travel Industry Association

Seward lodging business earns industry award

Salted Roots Alaska was one of eight businesses to receive awards from the Alaska Travel Industry Association last week.

Recipients of the Alaska Travel Industry Association's 2025 Annual Industry Awards celebrate their awards at ATIA's annual convention in Anchorage, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska Travel Industry Association
New Peninsula Clarion reporter Chloe Anderson photographs bison in Yellowstone National Park on Oct. 17, 2025. Photo provided by Chloe Anderson

Photojournalist joins Clarion staff

Chloe Anderson is a new reporter for the Peninsula Clarion.

New Peninsula Clarion reporter Chloe Anderson photographs bison in Yellowstone National Park on Oct. 17, 2025. Photo provided by Chloe Anderson
A sockeye salmon is carried from the waters of Cook Inlet on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska Department of Fish and Game publishes 2025 commercial salmon summary

The 2025 commercial harvest was 41% greater than the recent 20-year annual average.

A sockeye salmon is carried from the waters of Cook Inlet on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board swears in elected members

Mica VanBuskirk and Ash-Lee Waddell were newly elected to the board in October; Patti Truesdell was reelected to her seat.

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikolaevsk School is photographed on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

School board continues consideration of Nikolaevsk charter school

The board reviewed the initial charter application on Oct. 20 and will hold another work session and a special meeting before issuing their final decision.

Nikolaevsk School is photographed on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank

Homer, Kenai football receive Division III All-State awards

Players on the Homer High School and Kenai Central High School varsity football teams were selected for Division III football awards last week. The Mariners… Continue reading

The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank
A sea otter pup rescued in Homer in the summer of 2025 receives care from the Alaska SeaLife Center and Chicago's Shedd Aquarium while being rehabilitated at ASLC in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center

Alaska SeaLife Center partners with Chicago aquarium to rehabilitate sea otter pup

The pup has reached important milestones thanks to ASLC and Shedd Aquarium’s collaborative efforts.

A sea otter pup rescued in Homer in the summer of 2025 receives care from the Alaska SeaLife Center and Chicago's Shedd Aquarium while being rehabilitated at ASLC in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center
The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank

Homer football brings home back-to-back state titles

The Mariners defeated Barrow 20-0 on Saturday, winning the state championships for the second year in a row.

The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Borough assembly swears in new members

Five new members were elected to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly this year.

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Protesters gather along the Sterling Highway and hold up signs during the “No Kings” demonstration on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

700 in Homer join nationwide ‘No Kings’ protest

At least 25 Alaska communities took part in “No Kings” day Saturday, alongside millions of protesters in over 2,600 peaceful demonstrations across the U.S.

Protesters gather along the Sterling Highway and hold up signs during the “No Kings” demonstration on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Bridget Grieme speaks during a forum with candidates for Kenai mayor and city council at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai elects new mayor

The Soldotna City Council holds the status quo, with both candidates unopposed.

Bridget Grieme speaks during a forum with candidates for Kenai mayor and city council at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A voter fills out their ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at the Anchor Point Community and Senior Center in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Preliminary borough election results favor new local election date, reveal new assembly members

Voters in a proposed Ninilchik Recreation Service Area appear to oppose the proposition that would have created the service area.

A voter fills out their ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at the Anchor Point Community and Senior Center in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
A sign along a trail to Exit Glacier marks the spot to where the toe of the glacier reached in 2010, photographed on June 22, 2018. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

2 attacked by bear near Seward

The trail was closed by the National Park Service.

A sign along a trail to Exit Glacier marks the spot to where the toe of the glacier reached in 2010, photographed on June 22, 2018. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Ash-Lee Waddell and Gayle Claus, candidates for the District 9 seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, answer questions during an election forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI AM 890 on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

South peninsula school board candidates talk funding, future of district

Ash-Lee Waddell and Gayle Claus discussed their takes on multiple issues facing the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in an election forum last week.

Ash-Lee Waddell and Gayle Claus, candidates for the District 9 seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, answer questions during an election forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI AM 890 on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A girl dressed as Snow White takes candy from a witch at the Orca Theater’s Trunk or Treat in Soldotna during Halloween in 2022.

It’s getting to look a lot like Halloween

Kenai and Soldotna will soon be alive with fall fun, trick-or-treating and other seasonal celebrations

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A girl dressed as Snow White takes candy from a witch at the Orca Theater’s Trunk or Treat in Soldotna during Halloween in 2022.
Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to spend an additional $70,000 on policing this year

The city was expected to spend roughly $3.8 million on its police department this fiscal year

Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)