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Snow falls on a “vote here” sign outside of Seward City Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Seward, Alaska. Residents voted in a special election to determine whether or not to sell the city’s electric utility and to change the city’s residency requirements for city manager. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward council puts electric utility sale back on ballot

City voters in a special election defeated by just seven votes the sale of Seward Electric to HEA

Snow falls on a “vote here” sign outside of Seward City Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Seward, Alaska. Residents voted in a special election to determine whether or not to sell the city’s electric utility and to change the city’s residency requirements for city manager. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Areas cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project (bottom) can be seen above the Kenai River in Cooper Landing in this August 10, 2021, photo. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)

Bypass project costs jump, state looks for more funding

The long-planned project aims to reduce traffic congestion through Cooper Landing

Areas cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project (bottom) can be seen above the Kenai River in Cooper Landing in this August 10, 2021, photo. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

After last week’s spike, sockeye counts lag recent years

Since the start of the late run on July 1, around 393,000 sockeye have been counted by sonar

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Sunday night collision closes Seward Highway, sends 3 to hospital

The vehicle was the subject of “multiple” REDDI reports

Alaska State Troopers logo.
James Wardlow shows off a salmon filet ready to be hung and dried during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

To fillet a fish

Youth workshop showcases ways of preparing salmon

James Wardlow shows off a salmon filet ready to be hung and dried during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Owen McWilliams hangs tightly onto a mechanical salmon at the Progress Days Fair at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, July 22, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Warm weather, fair games mark 66th Progress Days

Events will continue through Sunday

Owen McWilliams hangs tightly onto a mechanical salmon at the Progress Days Fair at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, July 22, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Lisa Parker, vice mayor of Soldotna, celebrates after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Peninsula Oilers and the Mat-Su Miners on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council member looks to boost city presence at community events

The group is brainstorming ways to boost its visibility around town

Lisa Parker, vice mayor of Soldotna, celebrates after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Peninsula Oilers and the Mat-Su Miners on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A tip jar collects money for Cooper Landing Emergency Services inside the Sunrise Cafe on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to probe eastern peninsula, rather than Cooper Landing, emergency service area

The service area would need to implement a mill rate between 3.7 and 3.95, according to estimates

A tip jar collects money for Cooper Landing Emergency Services inside the Sunrise Cafe on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai river sockeye ‘good’, should continue to improve

Northern Kenai Fishing Report for July 28

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A firefighter from Cooper Landing Emergency Services refills a water tanker at the banks of the Kenai River in Cooper Landing, Alaska on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Cooper Landing considers emergency service area for region

The community is currently served by Cooper Landing Emergency Services

A firefighter from Cooper Landing Emergency Services refills a water tanker at the banks of the Kenai River in Cooper Landing, Alaska on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Kenai River sockeye bag limits to increase Friday

The change is motivated by a strong forecast of sockeye in the late run for the Kenai River

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River dipnetting to open 24 hours a day starting Friday

The change comes as a result of strong projections for the late run of sockeye salmon in the Kenai River

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers investigate a shooting scene on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at the Anchor Point Warehouse in Anchor Point, Alaska, at the store on the Sterling Highway in which an Alaska State Trooper was shot.(Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Anchor Point man convicted of attempted murder, other charges in 2021 trooper shooting

The shooting prompted an overnight manhunt

Alaska State Troopers investigate a shooting scene on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at the Anchor Point Warehouse in Anchor Point, Alaska, at the store on the Sterling Highway in which an Alaska State Trooper was shot.(Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Contestants race down the Kenai River during the 16th Annual Cooper Landing Drift Boat Regata near the Eagle Landing Resort in Cooper Landing, Alaska on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

State water monitoring project says Kenai River is safe for aquatic life

The project was developed in response to concerns about high concentrations of dissolved metals, specifically copper and zinc

Contestants race down the Kenai River during the 16th Annual Cooper Landing Drift Boat Regata near the Eagle Landing Resort in Cooper Landing, Alaska on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A photo taken from Skyline Drive at about 11:20 p.m. Saturday, July 15, 2023, shows vehicles evacuating from the Homer Spit after a tsunami warning was issued. The warning did not affect the Homer area, but sirens sounded anyway. The warning was later canceled. (Photo by Shannon Cefalu/courtesy)

Tsunami alert, mixed messages trigger evacuation in Homer

Southwest earthquake lights up peninsula phones Saturday

A photo taken from Skyline Drive at about 11:20 p.m. Saturday, July 15, 2023, shows vehicles evacuating from the Homer Spit after a tsunami warning was issued. The warning did not affect the Homer area, but sirens sounded anyway. The warning was later canceled. (Photo by Shannon Cefalu/courtesy)
Discarded items await new homes at the “Sterling Mall,” located inside the Sterling Transfer Facility on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Sterling Mall’ up and running

At the site, residents can drop off items for reuse that may otherwise end up in a borough landfill

Discarded items await new homes at the “Sterling Mall,” located inside the Sterling Transfer Facility on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Exit Glacier, as seen in August 2015 from the Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park just outside of Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Boy, 15, dies after going into cardiac arrest while hiking Harding Icefield Trail

A 15-year-old boy died Monday after going into cardiac arrest while hiking the Harding Icefield Trail in Seward, the Alaska Department of Public Safety reported… Continue reading

Exit Glacier, as seen in August 2015 from the Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park just outside of Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Resources for those seeking local office available this week

Seats on city councils, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education will be up for grabs

A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Environmental Education and Visitor Services Intern Meredith Baker helps Blake Voss, 3, paint during Fish Week at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

A fishy week of events at the refuge

Hands-on activities for kids will be available at the center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day through Saturday

Environmental Education and Visitor Services Intern Meredith Baker helps Blake Voss, 3, paint during Fish Week at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Two bald eagles perch Monday, March 14, 2022, on a tsunami warning tower on the Homer Spit. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News file)

Peninsula tsunami warning sirens to be replaced, tested in the next month

Sirens in Homer last saw use only days ago, when a Saturday night tsunami warning activated the system

Two bald eagles perch Monday, March 14, 2022, on a tsunami warning tower on the Homer Spit. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News file)