Soldotna

Anastasia Scollon (left) and Willow King (right) stand in The Goods + Sustainable Grocery and Where it’s At mindful food and drink on Monday, May 16, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Sustainable shopping finds new home in Soldotna

The Collective used to operate out of Cook Inletkeeper’s Community Action Studio

Anastasia Scollon (left) and Willow King (right) stand in The Goods + Sustainable Grocery and Where it’s At mindful food and drink on Monday, May 16, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Graduates throw their caps into the air at the end of Soldotna High School’s commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘We never fell down’

Soldotna High School honors more than 100 graduates

Graduates throw their caps into the air at the end of Soldotna High School’s commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Informatin about Cook Inletkeeper is displayed next to artwork for sale as part of the "ART Sale 258" at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Biden admin cancels Cook Inlet lease sale

The lease sale would have opened more than 1 million acres of Cook Inlet to oil and gas development

Informatin about Cook Inletkeeper is displayed next to artwork for sale as part of the "ART Sale 258" at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Teslas charge at Alaska’s first Tesla Supercharger station on Saturday, April 30, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tesla Supercharger brings high-speed EV charging to Soldotna

Teslas from around the state charged at the Soldotna station on Saturday

Teslas charge at Alaska’s first Tesla Supercharger station on Saturday, April 30, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council members convene for a work session to discuss how the city should use federal COVID-19 recovery funds on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council brainstorms use of federal relief funds

Re-treeing and a boost for local arts programs were among the ideas floated Wednesday

Soldotna City Council members convene for a work session to discuss how the city should use federal COVID-19 recovery funds on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Spruce trees infested with beetles can be seen on July 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Beetle kill work to shut down Soldotna campgrounds beginning Sunday

Centennial and Swiftwater campgrounds will be closed to the public while hazard trees are removed

Spruce trees infested with beetles can be seen on July 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council member Justin Ruffridge attends a city council meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna voices support for Triumvirate fundraising efforts

The move comes weeks after a veto of financial backing from the city for the show

Soldotna City Council member Justin Ruffridge attends a city council meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Shanon Davis and Monique Burgin of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce hand out candy during the Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Parade in Soldotna on March 17, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna chamber gears up for bustling summer season

Executive Director Shanon Davis provided a quarterly update Wednesday

Shanon Davis and Monique Burgin of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce hand out candy during the Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Parade in Soldotna on March 17, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council voices support for continued use of Zoom

The city implemented two-way video conferencing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen (center) speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna gets green light to tackle beetle-killed trees

The work will be done independently of delayed federal funding

Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen (center) speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Veto of Triumvirate funds sustained

Divided Soldotna council upholds mayoral veto of money for the troupe’s production of ‘Tarzan’

The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A spruce bark beetle is seen on the underside of a piece of bark taken from logs stacked near Central Peninsula Landfill on Thursday, July 1, 2021, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to consider using city funds for tree removal

Legislation would pave the way for the city to use some of its own money to conduct work ahead of summer

A spruce bark beetle is seen on the underside of a piece of bark taken from logs stacked near Central Peninsula Landfill on Thursday, July 1, 2021, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly participate in a meeting on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tautfest appointed to borough planning commission

Her appointment caps a monthslong process to fill the vacancy

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly participate in a meeting on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Central Peninsula Hospital to get new CEO this summer

Shaun Keef will replace outgoing CEO Rick Davis, who plans to retire June 30

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna resident Karyn Griffin, seen here, has joined the list of candidates vying for Alaska’s newly vacant seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat was formerly held by Rep. Don Young, who died March 18, 2022, after nearly 50 years in office. (Photo courtesy Karyn Griffin)

Soldotna resident joins bid for US House seat

Karyn Griffin said she is mostly running to raise awareness about different issues

Soldotna resident Karyn Griffin, seen here, has joined the list of candidates vying for Alaska’s newly vacant seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat was formerly held by Rep. Don Young, who died March 18, 2022, after nearly 50 years in office. (Photo courtesy Karyn Griffin)
Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings attends a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Farnsworth-Hutchings was one of two names submitted for the Soldotna seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission after a monthslong standoff between the city and borough mayor over the appointment. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Monthslong commission delay could end next week

Tautfest’s appointment, if approved, would cap a 10-month process to fill the vacancy

Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings attends a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Farnsworth-Hutchings was one of two names submitted for the Soldotna seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission after a monthslong standoff between the city and borough mayor over the appointment. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna mayor vetoes financial support for Triumvirate production

The council voted to use up to $25,000 to support an outdoor community theater production

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna mulls parks and rec changes

Soldotna parks and rec board would get bigger, meet more often under proposal

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Joe Rizzo, Triumvirate Theatre executive director, testifies at the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna offers financial support for summer Triumvirate production

The Soldotna City Council approved the use of some federal relief funds for the summer show

Joe Rizzo, Triumvirate Theatre executive director, testifies at the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council member Justin Ruffridge speaks at the city council meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Ruffridge, who also owns Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and has helped spearhead multiple COVID-19 response efforts on the central Kenai Peninsula, said it was important to acknowledge the repeal of mask recommendations for “celebration’s sake.” (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna fully repeals masking recommendations for city buildings

The city has changed its guidelines multiple times over the course of the pandemic

Soldotna City Council member Justin Ruffridge speaks at the city council meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Ruffridge, who also owns Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and has helped spearhead multiple COVID-19 response efforts on the central Kenai Peninsula, said it was important to acknowledge the repeal of mask recommendations for “celebration’s sake.” (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)