Father Rick Miles applies ashes to Pastor Karen Martin Tichenor’s forehead as they prepare for Ashes to Go! on Wednesday; Feb. 22; 2023 at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna; Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Drive-thru Ash Wednesday debuts in Soldotna

A new way to participate in Ash Wednesday debuted on the central Kenai Peninsula on Wednesday. The first “Ashes to Go!” drive-thru Ash Wednesday service… Continue reading

Father Rick Miles applies ashes to Pastor Karen Martin Tichenor’s forehead as they prepare for Ashes to Go! on Wednesday; Feb. 22; 2023 at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna; Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A City of Kenai grader moves snow from a roadway on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School snow removal gets financial boost

The Kenai Peninsula Borough will get an additional $390,000 for sanding and snow removal at school facilities following approval of the funds by borough assembly… Continue reading

A City of Kenai grader moves snow from a roadway on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow is cleared from the road during the start of another major snowfall on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 outside of The Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Snow and rain, hazardous driving conditions forecast

A winter weather advisory was issued Wednesday by the National Weather Service for Kenai, Soldotna, Homer and Cooper Landing, in effect from 12:01 a.m. until… Continue reading

Snow is cleared from the road during the start of another major snowfall on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 outside of The Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska. (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)

School board finance group mulls budget cuts

More students per teacher and the closure of school pools and theaters are among the cuts being considered by the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s… Continue reading

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)
A brewer from Arkose Brewery fills a tasting cup during Frozen RiverFest on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Frozen RiverFest sees ‘perfect’ weather, strong turnout

Hundreds turned out at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday for the 8th Annual Frozen RiverFest, put on by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce. In lightly… Continue reading

A brewer from Arkose Brewery fills a tasting cup during Frozen RiverFest on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Flowers bloom at Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna offers city manager gig to Seward’s Bower

The City of Soldotna is extending an offer of employment to Janette Bower to become the next city manager following a decision by city council… Continue reading

Flowers bloom at Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday, June 24, 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 budget debate draws attention to home-school enrollment

As the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District works to fill a projected gap between revenues and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year, fresh attention is… Continue reading

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)
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Central peninsula to celebrate Hockey Week

Hockey is being celebrated with a variety of games and events all this week run by the Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association, the Kenai River Brown… Continue reading

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Alaska Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka shares information with Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council Chair Mike Crawford as the advisory council deliberates their position on a proposal to the Board of Fish during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory council wraps up Fish and Game recommendations

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council met Thursday to discuss their position on the final set of proposals to the Board of Fish and… Continue reading

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka shares information with Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council Chair Mike Crawford as the advisory council deliberates their position on a proposal to the Board of Fish during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Eli Castro, Blake Gillis and Kaizen Fuller either celebrate victory or cry out in defeat at the end of a practice match of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate played ahead of a scheduled game at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Esports back with new games, players

High school esports, in Alaska and locally in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, are growing. More games are being played and more students are… Continue reading

Eli Castro, Blake Gillis and Kaizen Fuller either celebrate victory or cry out in defeat at the end of a practice match of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate played ahead of a scheduled game at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes presents information on the district’s fiscal year 2024 budget at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

District: Lobby lawmakers for school funding

The district is looking at a $13.1 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes presents information on the district’s fiscal year 2024 budget at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sharon Isaak speaks during a celebration of Elizabeth Peratrovich Day at the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s Tyotkas Elder Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenaitze honors ‘forerunner for racial equality’

Kenaitze Elder Center celebrates Elizabeth Peratrovich Day with speeches, drumming

Sharon Isaak speaks during a celebration of Elizabeth Peratrovich Day at the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s Tyotkas Elder Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central High School student Abby Castillo shadows Officer Megan Swangel at the Kenai Police Station in Kenai, Alaska, during Job Shadow Day on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Cadance Bitterich/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai students ‘shadow’ professionals for annual career event

KCHS program connects high schoolers to community workplaces

Kenai Central High School student Abby Castillo shadows Officer Megan Swangel at the Kenai Police Station in Kenai, Alaska, during Job Shadow Day on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Cadance Bitterich/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs supporting Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidates Peter Micciche and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings are staked in the snow at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs supporting Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidates Peter Micciche and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings are staked in the snow at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Teresa Minnich, right, waits to help voters feed their ballot into a tabulation machine at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Micciche leads mayor’s race

Election workers reported sluggish voter turnout

Teresa Minnich, right, waits to help voters feed their ballot into a tabulation machine at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
People hold flags of the participating teams of the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in this 2023 photo. (Photo provided by Matfey Reutov)
People hold flags of the participating teams of the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in this 2023 photo. (Photo provided by Matfey Reutov)
The badge for the Kenai Police Department

Kenai man charged with murdering woman in hotel room

The man is charged with one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree

The badge for the Kenai Police Department
Patrons listen to live music during Frozen RiverFest on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Frozen RiverFest to feature drinks, music and fireworks

The annual event is family friendly, despite centering on its offering of brews

Patrons listen to live music during Frozen RiverFest on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in the village at the head of Kachemack Bay. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Assembly OKs project list for state funding consideration

The list outlines work for which the borough would like financial assistance from the State of Alaska

One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in the village at the head of Kachemack Bay. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Dan Robison (on screen, bottom) presents a chart showing Alaska’s 10-year trend of negative net migration during a Soldotna City Council work session on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Screenshot)

Soldotna brainstorms how to lure new employees

It took the city 12 months to hire a new city clerk and eight months to hire a new utility operator

Dan Robison (on screen, bottom) presents a chart showing Alaska’s 10-year trend of negative net migration during a Soldotna City Council work session on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Screenshot)