A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Kenai River bag limit for sockeye salmon increased through the end of the year

The bag limit for sockeye was set to decrease to three per day and six in possession on Aug. 16.

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Fika co-owners Sierra Moskios-Schlieman and Tyler Moskios-Schlieman pose for a photograph with their Taste of Homer plaque at the 2025 HarborFest in June. (Photo courtesy of Fika Coffee Roasters)

Local coffee roastery to compete in ‘Great Alaska Coffee Roaster Competition’

The competition will take place on Sunday, Aug. 17 at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer.

Fika co-owners Sierra Moskios-Schlieman and Tyler Moskios-Schlieman pose for a photograph with their Taste of Homer plaque at the 2025 HarborFest in June. (Photo courtesy of Fika Coffee Roasters)
Kenai Peninsula District 4-H chickens are on display at the Kenai Peninsula Fair, Aug. 8-10, 2025, in Ninilchik, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Jack Money

Family fun at the fair

The Kenai Peninsula Fair was held last weekend in Ninilchik.

Kenai Peninsula District 4-H chickens are on display at the Kenai Peninsula Fair, Aug. 8-10, 2025, in Ninilchik, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Jack Money
Nathan Erfurth testifies in his own defense during his trial at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Erfurth found guilty on 28 counts for sex abuse, exploitation of a minor

The former Soldotna high school teacher and union head was convicted after six days of jury deliberations.

Nathan Erfurth testifies in his own defense during his trial at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Civil Air Patrol Cadet 1st Lt. Hugh Traugott (right) works with Cadet Airman First Class Audrey Crocker (left) during a statewide training exercise on disaster response on Aug. 9-10, 2025, in Homer, Alaska.

Civil Air Patrol practices disaster response

Homer cadets and senior members were part of a statewide exercise last weekend.

Civil Air Patrol Cadet 1st Lt. Hugh Traugott (right) works with Cadet Airman First Class Audrey Crocker (left) during a statewide training exercise on disaster response on Aug. 9-10, 2025, in Homer, Alaska.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly president, Peter Ribbens, speaks in an aside to District 8 representative and Vice President Kelly Cooper before the beginning of the Aug. 5, 2025, KPB Assembly meeting at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Voters to decide on borough sales tax cap increase

Assembly Ordinance 2025-14 aims to adjust the sales tax cap with inflation.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly president, Peter Ribbens, speaks in an aside to District 8 representative and Vice President Kelly Cooper before the beginning of the Aug. 5, 2025, KPB Assembly meeting at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
A voter fills out their ballot at the Kenai No. 2 Precinct in the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Few candidates have filed for upcoming election

The filing period for candidacy applications across all six electoral races closes at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15.

A voter fills out their ballot at the Kenai No. 2 Precinct in the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD reverses some activity stipend cuts, raises fees

The district’s final budget adopted in July called for a halving of all activity stipends.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Joel Johnson, president of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; Carrie Hourman, lead sustainability director for Dow Climate & Circularity; and Susan Sherman, executive director of the Marine Debris Foundation, sit for a panel at the Kenai River Sportfishing Association’s Kenai Classic Roundtable at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Annual Kenai Classic Roundtable to focus on Alaska king salmon

The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, in the Soldotna Field House.

Joel Johnson, president of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; Carrie Hourman, lead sustainability director for Dow Climate & Circularity; and Susan Sherman, executive director of the Marine Debris Foundation, sit for a panel at the Kenai River Sportfishing Association’s Kenai Classic Roundtable at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall is seen on a sunny Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to inventory roads, streetlights

The projects will identify the condition of the respective city infrastructure and identify possible “major deficiencies,” officials said.

Kenai City Hall is seen on a sunny Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna Field House is seen on a sunny Monday, March 31, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Grand opening for Soldotna Field House on Saturday

Though the field house will be opened this weekend, it will not open to general public operations for a couple more weeks.

The Soldotna Field House is seen on a sunny Monday, March 31, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A road closed sign stands at the Kenai River flats turnoff in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

Bridge Access pullout closed for construction

Located on the west side of Bridge Access Road, the pullout provides access to the Kenai River and flats.

A road closed sign stands at the Kenai River flats turnoff in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Traveling nurse charged with murder of 78-year-old Soldotna man

John “Skip” Dove Jr. was found on Tuesday stabbed to death in his home off Sports Lake Road north of Soldotna.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
A vintage KBBI mug, repurposed and filled with various office supplies, rests in the Homer News office window on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

KBBI seeks art submissions for annual membership mugs

The mugs will be released in October, as an incentive for the fall membership drive.

A vintage KBBI mug, repurposed and filled with various office supplies, rests in the Homer News office window on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
A map of the Johnson Tract Mine exploration project. Photo courtesy of the Center for Biological Diversity

Inletkeeper, partners file lawsuit against Cook Inlet gold mine

The Johnson Tract Mine is located on CIRI-owned lands inside Lake Clark National Park.

A map of the Johnson Tract Mine exploration project. Photo courtesy of the Center for Biological Diversity
The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Jakob Kooly, vice chair of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s tribal council, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. secretary of health and human services, speak during a press conference at the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Tribal health, nutrition discussed during U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy’s visit to Kenai

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. toured the Dena’ina Wellness Center on Thursday.

Jakob Kooly, vice chair of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s tribal council, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. secretary of health and human services, speak during a press conference at the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
This map shows the location of a magnitude 4.0 earthquake that hit about 8 miles east of Ninilchik, Alaska on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 3:45 p.m. The map also shows the intensity of the quake as reported by observers. (Map by U.S. Geological Survey)
This map shows the location of a magnitude 4.0 earthquake that hit about 8 miles east of Ninilchik, Alaska on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 3:45 p.m. The map also shows the intensity of the quake as reported by observers. (Map by U.S. Geological Survey)
A community member works with clay on a wheel in the ceramics studio at Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Homer Council on the Arts

Homer’s art scene heads into fall

Homer Council on the Arts’ activities are bursting onto the scene for all to enjoy.

A community member works with clay on a wheel in the ceramics studio at Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Homer Council on the Arts
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly gathers before the beginning fo the Aug. 5, 2025, KPB Assembly meeting at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Borough puts proposal for seasonal sales tax on hold

The proposal would increase the sales tax during summer months and reduce it during winter months.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly gathers before the beginning fo the Aug. 5, 2025, KPB Assembly meeting at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)