The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

First hooligan catches reported by anglers

Northern Kenai Fishing Report, May 5, 2023

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Curator Barnabas Firth (right) tells stories of artworks by Norman Lowell to attendees of the invitational gathering on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the Norman Lowell Art Gallery in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo by Delcenia Cosman

Norman Lowell gallery open for the season

At the top of a winding, tree-lined gravel road above the Sterling Highway lies a hidden community treasure. The Norman Lowell Gallery, located between Homer… Continue reading

Curator Barnabas Firth (right) tells stories of artworks by Norman Lowell to attendees of the invitational gathering on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the Norman Lowell Art Gallery in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo by Delcenia Cosman
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland, center, addresses the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during a budget work session on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs max school funding

The borough will contribute $54.8 million to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District for fiscal year 2024

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland, center, addresses the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during a budget work session on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Potholes are seen on Wildwood Drive on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Jurisdictions clash over Wildwood Drive repairs

The city spends between $10,000 and $20,000 annually on Wildwood Drive maintenance

Potholes are seen on Wildwood Drive on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dustin Aaronson, who owns Copy Cats Printing and Design in Kenai, speaks in support of a storefront improvement program during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dustin Aaronson, who owns Copy Cats Printing and Design in Kenai, speaks in support of a storefront improvement program during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

7 votes kill Seward utility sale

The decision not to sell the City of Seward’s electric utility to Homer Electric Association came down to just seven votes, unofficial final election results… Continue reading

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)
First Place Winner Paxton McKnight, of Cook Inlet Academy, is introduced by Merrill Sikorski at the Caring for the Kenai Awards Celebration held during a Joint Chamber Luncheon on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Chambers honor Caring for the Kenai finalists

The contest challenges peninsula students to devise ways to improve the environment or prepare for a natural disaster

First Place Winner Paxton McKnight, of Cook Inlet Academy, is introduced by Merrill Sikorski at the Caring for the Kenai Awards Celebration held during a Joint Chamber Luncheon on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Poster for Kenai Peninsula Trout Unlimited Fishing Gear Swap. (Courtesy Kenai Peninsula Trout Unlimited)

Trout Unlimited to host fishing gear swap May 13

Gear can be dropped off and sold at the event for commission or just donated

Poster for Kenai Peninsula Trout Unlimited Fishing Gear Swap. (Courtesy Kenai Peninsula Trout Unlimited)
Renovations made to the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers are seen on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough assembly to resume meeings in Homer, Seward

The decision came after residents in those communities asked to be included in the body’s meeting schedule

Renovations made to the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers are seen on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai River Sportfishing Association offices in Soldotna, Alaska, are seen on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KRSA debuts community-wide river cleanup

For years, the organization has hosted the Kid’s Kenai River Clean-Up but muddy conditions led to that event’s cancellation this year

The Kenai River Sportfishing Association offices in Soldotna, Alaska, are seen on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Voters weigh in on future of Seward electric utility

This story has been updated with the latest results. A majority of Seward residents on Tuesday voted in favor of the city selling its electric… Continue reading

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)
“The Creation,” by Elias S., is a massive structure composed of bright colors seen on Friday, April 28, 2023, part of Brick by Brick at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A bunch of bricks

Kenai Community Library hosts second annual Lego contest

“The Creation,” by Elias S., is a massive structure composed of bright colors seen on Friday, April 28, 2023, part of Brick by Brick at the Kenai Community Library 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 briefed on remote learning opportunities

Members of the school board’s small schools committee were briefed Monday about the kinds of remote learning opportunities made available to students. The committee, officially… 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)
The Alaska Capitol is photographed in January 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file)

School funding tops district’s priority list

“Parental rights” legislation and defined benefit plans were also among concerns discussed

The Alaska Capitol is photographed in January 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, left, addresses constituents during a town hall event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman lumber bill heads to governor’s desk

Senate Bill 87 aims to make locally milled lumber more widely available for the construction of housing in Alaska

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, left, addresses constituents during a town hall event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Upper Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone can be seen on this map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Image via fisheries.noaa.gov)

NOAA to hear public comment about Cook Inlet salmon management

The hearing will be held online as a webinar May 18

Upper Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone can be seen on this map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Image via fisheries.noaa.gov)
Harper Leck, 3, watches as her line and weight sink into the water at an Alaska Department of Fish and Game-stocked fish pond at the annual Sports and Rec Trade Show at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Sunday, April 29, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion file)

Sport, Rec Trade Show returns this weekend

Somewhere around 120 vendors are participating this year

Harper Leck, 3, watches as her line and weight sink into the water at an Alaska Department of Fish and Game-stocked fish pond at the annual Sports and Rec Trade Show at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Sunday, April 29, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion file)
Shonathin Hoskins opens at the season’s first Levitt Amp music series in Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Levitt AMP roster set for Soldotna music series

26 artists will perform across 13 weeks, from June 7 until Aug. 30

Shonathin Hoskins opens at the season’s first Levitt Amp music series in Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council members Deborah Sounar, left, and Teea Winger review budget documents during a work session on Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council makes headway on draft city budget

Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank and Kenai Controller Lana Metcalf presented to city council members

Kenai City Council members Deborah Sounar, left, and Teea Winger review budget documents during a work session on Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Charlie Stephens sits with a copy of his book, "Passion Over Pain" on Monday, May 1, 2023, in the Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Telling his story

Local author looks back at cancer and recovery

Charlie Stephens sits with a copy of his book, "Passion Over Pain" on Monday, May 1, 2023, in the Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)