Photos

Docent Carroll Knutson describes Alaska’s 1964 earthquake to visitors of the Soldotna Historical Society Museum on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. The Historical Society will be kicking off next weekend’s Soldotna Progress Days celebration on July 27 with a free community barbecue featuring several of Soldotna’s early settlers and their descendents. Knutson, whose family began homesteading about eight miles south of Soldotna in 1958, will be among those telling stories and leading tours thorugh the museum’s collection of homesteader cabins and exhibits of artifiacts. The event, from 4 p.m to 7 p.m, will also include music from Hobo Jim, a dutch oven demonstration, and children’s scavenger hunts. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Docent Carroll Knutson describes Alaska’s 1964 earthquake to visitors of the Soldotna Historical Society Museum on Tuesday in Soldotna. The Historical Society will be kicking… Continue reading

 

Angler Mark Higgins fishes the Kenai River from the stairs at Centennial Park on Monday, July 16, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. It’s the peak of the fishing season, but runs have been far below those of past years — as of Sunday, <a href="https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/index.cfm?ADFG=main.displayResults&COUNTLOCATIONID=40&SpeciesID=420" target="_blank">the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s sonar had counted a cummulative 105,819 sockeye</a> in the Kenai River this year, versus138,568 sockeye by that date in 2017. Like many anglers on the river, Higgins had an unsucessful Monday afternoon. “Chances are low, but you might as well be fishing rather than sitting in the camper,” he said. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

By Ben Boettger Peninsula Clarion… Continue reading

 

Kenai’s American Legion Post 20 drives their truck remodeled as a steam locomotive during Kenai’s Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Aboard are members of the Legion-sponsored Twins baseball team. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) Snare drummers from Kenai Central High School’s drumline perform in the Kenai’s Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) Wildland firefighters from the Alaska Division of Forestry march in Kenai’s Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

True to the Red, White and Blue

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Kenai’s American Legion Post 20 drives their truck remodeled as a steam locomotive during Kenai’s Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Aboard are members of the Legion-sponsored Twins baseball team. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) Snare drummers from Kenai Central High School’s drumline perform in the Kenai’s Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) Wildland firefighters from the Alaska Division of Forestry march in Kenai’s Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

True to the Red, White and Blue

By Ben Boettger Peninsula Clarion… Continue reading

Kenai’s American Legion Post 20 drives their truck remodeled as a steam locomotive during Kenai’s Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Aboard are members of the Legion-sponsored Twins baseball team. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) Snare drummers from Kenai Central High School’s drumline perform in the Kenai’s Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) Wildland firefighters from the Alaska Division of Forestry march in Kenai’s Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
A cow moose browses in the trees near the Homer Electric Association building on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. In the spring, female moose give birth to their calves, and are eating what they can after a long, lean winter, leading them to be somewhat defense and aggressive. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game warns people to stay away from moose this time of year. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Watch out for moose

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A cow moose browses in the trees near the Homer Electric Association building on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. In the spring, female moose give birth to their calves, and are eating what they can after a long, lean winter, leading them to be somewhat defense and aggressive. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game warns people to stay away from moose this time of year. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Glenn Beckmann of Rainproof Roofing inspects a weathered and tilting cross atop Kenai’sHoly Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church before removing it on Friday, May 4, 2018. Dorothy Gray , a Holy Assumption member and treasurer of the preservation nonprofit Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska, said the church is now looking for local craftspeople interested in making replacements for the three old crosses. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Orthodox church to get new crosses

One of the triple-armed Russian Orthodox crosses atop Kenai’s Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church was taken down by a boom-lift crew… Continue reading

Glenn Beckmann of Rainproof Roofing inspects a weathered and tilting cross atop Kenai’sHoly Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church before removing it on Friday, May 4, 2018. Dorothy Gray , a Holy Assumption member and treasurer of the preservation nonprofit Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska, said the church is now looking for local craftspeople interested in making replacements for the three old crosses. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

A little skill, a lot of patience

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… Continue reading

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)
A Central Emergency Services firefighter emerges from a burning home on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 off of Poppy Lane near Kalifornsky Beach Road. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) 

No injuries in home fire near Kalifornsky Beach Road

There were no injuries reported from a home fire near Kalifornsky Beach Road on Tuesday afternoon. No one was in the home when it burned… Continue reading

A Central Emergency Services firefighter emerges from a burning home on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 off of Poppy Lane near Kalifornsky Beach Road. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) 
Scott Aleckson (left) clips wires to the ignition contacts of a model rocket while students at his model rocketry session observe in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and said he’d like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

The right stuff

Soldotna Community Schools hosted a model rocketry class with instructor Scott Aleckson at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna on Saturday. Aleckson said he… Continue reading

Scott Aleckson (left) clips wires to the ignition contacts of a model rocket while students at his model rocketry session observe in the parking lot of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, May 31, 2018. Aleckson said he made and launched his first plastic, balsa wood, and cardboard rocket as a 4th grade student at Soldotna Elementary School. Since then he’s built a custom launch system, he said, “with recycled electronics and a lot of soldering time.” Aleckson taught Saturday’s rocketry class through the Soldotna Community Schools program, and said he’d like to continue spreading the hobby. “If I could get a model rocket club going, that’d be great,” he said. “Stuff like this is much more fun in a group.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Kate’s Flowers and Gifts florist Kate Mastres arranges a bouquet at the shop on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. Wednesday was a busy day for the shop, with the Valentine’s Day holiday. Mastres said she had been at the shop until 3:30 a.m. Wednesday morning preparing for the next day and arrived at 10 a.m. The shop does custom bouquets as well as some pre-designed ones, she said. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Roses are red, violets are blue

Wednesday was a busy day for Kate’s Flowers and Gifts in Soldotna. Florist Kate Mastres, who started the shop with the help of her parents… Continue reading

Kate’s Flowers and Gifts florist Kate Mastres arranges a bouquet at the shop on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. Wednesday was a busy day for the shop, with the Valentine’s Day holiday. Mastres said she had been at the shop until 3:30 a.m. Wednesday morning preparing for the next day and arrived at 10 a.m. The shop does custom bouquets as well as some pre-designed ones, she said. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
With the shop’s distinctive painted cieling panels above her, barrista Sarah Rawson steams milk to make a latte at Kaladi Brother’s Coffee during a busy evening on Saturday, Jan. 13 in Soldotna. Rawson and fellow barrista Hallie Riddall practiced latte art — creating designs by carefully and precisely pouring steamed milk into coffee — between serving customers Saturday evening. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kaladi’s Krew

With the shop’s distinctive painted ceiling panels above her, barista Sarah Rawson steams milk to make a latte at Kaladi Brother’s Coffee during a busy… Continue reading

With the shop’s distinctive painted cieling panels above her, barrista Sarah Rawson steams milk to make a latte at Kaladi Brother’s Coffee during a busy evening on Saturday, Jan. 13 in Soldotna. Rawson and fellow barrista Hallie Riddall practiced latte art — creating designs by carefully and precisely pouring steamed milk into coffee — between serving customers Saturday evening. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Gabriel Dravis sticks a gumdrop on to the gingerbread house he built from graham crackers, frosting, and candy in Stacy Tronnier’s first and second grade class at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science on Friday, Dec. 15 in Kenai, Alaska. Three first and second grade classes at Kaleido- scope made gingerbread houses on Friday to take home for display and/or eating. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Graham cracker architects

Three first and second grade classes at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Sciences made gingerbread houses on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 to take home for display… Continue reading

Gabriel Dravis sticks a gumdrop on to the gingerbread house he built from graham crackers, frosting, and candy in Stacy Tronnier’s first and second grade class at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science on Friday, Dec. 15 in Kenai, Alaska. Three first and second grade classes at Kaleido- scope made gingerbread houses on Friday to take home for display and/or eating. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Jason Rainwater of Dutch Boy Landscaping mounts a string of Christmas lights to the edge of the Salamatof Native Association building’s roof on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. All around the central Kenai Peninsula, homes and businesses are lighting up after the Thanksgiving holiday in time for Christmas. Rainwater said the workers install the lights on a timer to come on in the morning and evening and turn off during the day. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion) 

Up on the housetop

Jason Rainwater of Dutch Boy Landscaping mounts a string of Christmas lights to the edge of the Salamatof Native Association building’s roof on Wednesday, Nov.… Continue reading

Jason Rainwater of Dutch Boy Landscaping mounts a string of Christmas lights to the edge of the Salamatof Native Association building’s roof on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. All around the central Kenai Peninsula, homes and businesses are lighting up after the Thanksgiving holiday in time for Christmas. Rainwater said the workers install the lights on a timer to come on in the morning and evening and turn off during the day. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion) 
Mist rises over the broken ice on the bank of the Kenai River just downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai River downstream of the bridge was completely frozen Sunday morning. The weekend brought deep freezing temperatures to the central Kenai Peninsula, plunging to -4 degrees Fahrenheit Sunday morning with a high of 17 degrees during the day. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures to increase tomorrow and continue in the upper 20s and low 30s through the week, with increased chances of snow through Thursday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Icy sunrise

Mist rises over the broken ice on the bank of the Kenai River just downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017… Continue reading

Mist rises over the broken ice on the bank of the Kenai River just downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai River downstream of the bridge was completely frozen Sunday morning. The weekend brought deep freezing temperatures to the central Kenai Peninsula, plunging to -4 degrees Fahrenheit Sunday morning with a high of 17 degrees during the day. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures to increase tomorrow and continue in the upper 20s and low 30s through the week, with increased chances of snow through Thursday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Dawson Lockwood lets off a shot at a flying clay target through filtering snow during an event at the Snowshoe Gun Club on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. A group of shooters gathered at the shooting range Sunday as part of the club’s annual Thanksgiving event, which features “Annie Oakley” trap shooting game as well as several other events. Despite the snow, a number of people turned out to try the shooting games and to enjoy the warm central building on a chilly Sunday afternoon. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Target practice

Dawson Lockwood lets off a shot at a flying clay target through filtering snow during an event at the Snowshoe Gun Club on Sunday in… Continue reading

Dawson Lockwood lets off a shot at a flying clay target through filtering snow during an event at the Snowshoe Gun Club on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. A group of shooters gathered at the shooting range Sunday as part of the club’s annual Thanksgiving event, which features “Annie Oakley” trap shooting game as well as several other events. Despite the snow, a number of people turned out to try the shooting games and to enjoy the warm central building on a chilly Sunday afternoon. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A goalie from Soldotna High School’s Soldotna Stars hockey team prepares to block a teammate’s shot during a practice on Monday, Nov. 13 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Approaching the goal

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A goalie from Soldotna High School’s Soldotna Stars hockey team prepares to block a teammate’s shot during a practice on Monday, Nov. 13 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
A crew from Gebhardt Construction puts metal siding on a Kenai building — erected as office space in 1968 but vacant since the mid-1980s, and now set to open in early 2018 as an Extreme Fun Center amusement hall and arcade — on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. John Schweiger, whose company Coming Attractions Theatres has owned the building and the adjacent Kenai Cinema since May, said crews are finishing the exterior before colder weather sets in, and will spend the winter refurbishing the inside, so the center “will hopefully be open for spring break.” Coming Attractions is “about 80 to 90 percent” through the process of deciding what attractions the center will feature, Schweiger said. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai arcade in progress

A crew from Gebhardt Construction puts metal siding on a Kenai building — erected as office space in 1968 but vacant since the mid-1980s, and… Continue reading

A crew from Gebhardt Construction puts metal siding on a Kenai building — erected as office space in 1968 but vacant since the mid-1980s, and now set to open in early 2018 as an Extreme Fun Center amusement hall and arcade — on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. John Schweiger, whose company Coming Attractions Theatres has owned the building and the adjacent Kenai Cinema since May, said crews are finishing the exterior before colder weather sets in, and will spend the winter refurbishing the inside, so the center “will hopefully be open for spring break.” Coming Attractions is “about 80 to 90 percent” through the process of deciding what attractions the center will feature, Schweiger said. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
A lynx looks out of the mural that artist Suzie Shrivener finished painting on Saturday over a store-front window at the Peninsula Center Mall, photographed on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Shrivener, who began painting about two years ago after an injury, did the latex paint and airbrushed mural — her first — after setting up a display of her work in the mall’s nearby showcase. She offered the mural to the mall for free to get experience in window painting. “Painting’s relatively new to me, so to work on something that big, I didn’t know how it would turn out,” Shrivener said. “I didn’t know what would happen, but I thought it was a good opportunity.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Mural finished at Peninsula Center Mall

This Tuesday photograph shows the mural that artist Suzie Shrivener finished painting Saturday over a store-front window at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna. Shrivener,… Continue reading

A lynx looks out of the mural that artist Suzie Shrivener finished painting on Saturday over a store-front window at the Peninsula Center Mall, photographed on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Shrivener, who began painting about two years ago after an injury, did the latex paint and airbrushed mural — her first — after setting up a display of her work in the mall’s nearby showcase. She offered the mural to the mall for free to get experience in window painting. “Painting’s relatively new to me, so to work on something that big, I didn’t know how it would turn out,” Shrivener said. “I didn’t know what would happen, but I thought it was a good opportunity.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
A car crosses the David E. Douthit Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Kenai River through dense fog on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. A heavy fog rolled over the western Kenai Peninsula Tuesday evening, resulting in cancelled flights in and out of the Kenai Municipal Airport and ensconcing Halloween trick-or-treaters in an eerie mist colored orange or white by the streetlamps. By morning, the fog had thinned and the temperature dropped to the high 20s, with some fog predicted to continue in the morning and evening through Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fogged in

A car crosses the David E. Douthit Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Kenai River through dense fog on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska.… Continue reading

A car crosses the David E. Douthit Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Kenai River through dense fog on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. A heavy fog rolled over the western Kenai Peninsula Tuesday evening, resulting in cancelled flights in and out of the Kenai Municipal Airport and ensconcing Halloween trick-or-treaters in an eerie mist colored orange or white by the streetlamps. By morning, the fog had thinned and the temperature dropped to the high 20s, with some fog predicted to continue in the morning and evening through Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Bird bath Crows bathe in rainwater puddling in the gutter alongside Trading Bay Road on Wednesday in Kenai. Tuesday morning brought a little wet snow accumulation to the central Kenai Peninsula, but by midafternoon, temperatures had warmed and taken the snow with them, turning the precipitation to rain. The rain continued throughout Wednesday with temperatures hanging around 40. The National Weather Service is forecasting the rain to continue through Friday morning with highs staying around the mid- to upper 40s. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Birdbath

Crows bathe in rainwater pudding in the gutter alongside Trading Bay Road on Wednesday in Kenai. Tuesday morning brought a little wet snow accumulation to… Continue reading

Bird bath Crows bathe in rainwater puddling in the gutter alongside Trading Bay Road on Wednesday in Kenai. Tuesday morning brought a little wet snow accumulation to the central Kenai Peninsula, but by midafternoon, temperatures had warmed and taken the snow with them, turning the precipitation to rain. The rain continued throughout Wednesday with temperatures hanging around 40. The National Weather Service is forecasting the rain to continue through Friday morning with highs staying around the mid- to upper 40s. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)