For the first time in more than a decade on the Kenai Peninsula, wildlife managers have a recent brown bear population estimate to inform their game management decisions.

Ted Spraker, chairman of the Alaska Board of Game, said he suspects the new number — more than twice the old estimate — will increase hunting opportunities on the Peninsula.

“This is what a lot of people have been looking for who are interested in maybe hunting brown bears on the Kenai,” Spraker said.

For cross-country skiing on the Kenai Peninsula, the Tsalteshi Trails, North Peninsula Recreation Area and Kenai National Wildlife Refuge trails are holding up well, despite the fluctuations in weather.

The best trails at Tsalteshi are the Wolverine, Squirrel, Owl and Rabbit, said Bill Holt, trail maintenance manager.

“The Wolverine’s been holding up real well just because it hasn’t gotten real icy underneath,” he said.

In fact, Holt said, all the trails are in good condition. He planned to groom them Thursday night, and they all have classic tracks set.

Cyndi and Craig Ramm opened the Corner Café in Soldotna not long ago. They said they want to use more than 75 percent organic ingredients and, when possible, buy local produce.

“We don’t want to support a big company out of Seattle,” Cyndi Ramm said. “We want to support the business down the road.”

For cafés and restaurants, though, buying local often costs more and the required produce quantities may still be growing when the order is placed, said Mykel’s Restaurant & Lounge Owner and Manager Alice Kerkvliet.

Kenai City Manager Rick Koch will write to Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Cora Campbell to ask that the city’s dipnet fishery not be pushed to a 24-hour opening like it was last year. All members of the Kenai City Council agreed to add their signatures to the letter at its meeting Wednesday night.

“It just puts the city at a hardship,” Mayor Pat Porter said. “It comes without warning.”