Soldotna

Rotary Park reopens after black bear sighting

The 52-acre Rotary Park on Funny River Road in Soldotna is open again. The park reopened Thursday after being temporarily closed due to bear activity.… Continue reading

Soldotna council strengthens code on using phone while driving

Motorists making their way through Soldotna can now be found in violation of the city’s code for using their phones for anything other than an… Continue reading

Soldotna passes budget, mill rate; talks capital projects

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Mayor Pete Sprague's name. The Soldotna City Council passed the town’s operating budget… Continue reading

Glenn Fowler of excavation company Fowler’s Dirt Works, left, and Doug Bass of Bass Werks Welding, right, scope out the underside of Alaska Railroad rail car 602 on Thursday, June 8, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. The rail car was placed onto a set of trucks, the wheels underneath the car, where it will be fixed in place an eventually turned into a coffee house. Mary Krull hopes to open the coffee house and a beer and wine bar/restaurant in a second rail car by next year. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna area woman plans to open businesses in railroad cars

When Soldotna area resident Mary Krull began her journey toward filling a niche in the business community, she wasn’t actually thinking about what kind of… Continue reading

Glenn Fowler of excavation company Fowler’s Dirt Works, left, and Doug Bass of Bass Werks Welding, right, scope out the underside of Alaska Railroad rail car 602 on Thursday, June 8, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. The rail car was placed onto a set of trucks, the wheels underneath the car, where it will be fixed in place an eventually turned into a coffee house. Mary Krull hopes to open the coffee house and a beer and wine bar/restaurant in a second rail car by next year. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)
Musicians play on the stage of Soldotna Creek Park during last year’s Kenai River Festival on June 10, 2016 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River Fest continues rich traditions, creates new ones

Coming into its 27th year, the annual Kenai River Festival in Soldotna has more than come into its own. Set to take place Friday through… Continue reading

Musicians play on the stage of Soldotna Creek Park during last year’s Kenai River Festival on June 10, 2016 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna campgrounds to open, accept credit cards for first time

It’s time break out the tent poles and hot dog skewers — Soldotna’s campgrounds will open for business on Monday. City Manager Mark Dixson said… Continue reading

Three Friends Dog Park on track for summer completion

Three Friends Dog Park on track for summer completion

By the end of this summer, Soldotna residents will be able to say that Aspen Park has really gone to the dogs. That’s because the… Continue reading

Three Friends Dog Park on track for summer completion
Kara Johnston makes her way through a bouldering route on River City Wellness Center’s new climbing wall on Saturday, April 8, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Rock wall offers new ascent for peninsula climbers

Local climbers gained a new foothold on the central peninsula April 8 with the opening of an indoor bouldering wall in Soldotna’s River City Wellness… Continue reading

Kara Johnston makes her way through a bouldering route on River City Wellness Center’s new climbing wall on Saturday, April 8, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska.
Nathan Beck works his way across a bouldering wall he co-designed, with Ed Schmitt, at the River City Wellness Center gym on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. The new wall, featuring stylized landscape art by Kaitlin Vadla, will have a grand opening on Saturday, April 8 from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. Admission will be $20.

Climb on

… Continue reading

Nathan Beck works his way across a bouldering wall he co-designed, with Ed Schmitt, at the River City Wellness Center gym on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. The new wall, featuring stylized landscape art by Kaitlin Vadla, will have a grand opening on Saturday, April 8 from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. Admission will be $20.
Grave markers stand in Kenai’s cemetery on Friday, March 17, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. With the number of open plots in the cemetery shrinking, the Kenai City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a moratorium on purchasing graves in advance for those still living. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai passes moratorium on grave reservations

Kenai’s cemetery plots can belong only to the dead, following the Kenai City Council’s unanimous decision on Wednesday to put a moratorium on gravesite reservations… Continue reading

Grave markers stand in Kenai’s cemetery on Friday, March 17, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. With the number of open plots in the cemetery shrinking, the Kenai City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a moratorium on purchasing graves in advance for those still living. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)