Kenai Peninsula College’s Kenai River Campus is set to become the most technologically advanced training facility in the university system. The new Career and Technical Education Center, scheduled to open in August, will house a state-of-the-art oil water separator. The two-story device will replace the college’s old separator. It simulates real-world process technology scenarios.

Ultimately, the separator will strengthen an already popular program, said KPC director Gary J. Turner.

The Soldotna City Council announced Wednesday during a brief special meeting a vacancy in the office of the mayor. Soldotna Mayor Peter Micciche’s resignation was effective as of 5 p.m.

The council declared an April 2 special election to replace Micciche. The interim mayor will serve for the remainder of Micciche’s term, which expires on Oct. 2014. Vice Mayor Brenda Hartman will handle mayoral duties until a new mayor is elected.

Micciche personally requested Hartman to fill the role.

The Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund granted preliminary approval to fund two projects aimed at protecting fish habitats on the Kenai Peninsula.

The Sport Fisheries Division of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game aims to eradicate northern pike in western portion of Soldotna Creek. Fish and Game will treat the drainage in two to three phases, said fisheries biologist Robert Massengill.

“(Fish and Game) will work through the entire project covering costs, but the bulk of funding for the first part comes from Sustainable Salmon,” Massengill said.

Jedidiah R. McGlasson, of Nikiski, who is on probation for his role in the death of a Wisconsin college student in 2010, pleaded not guilty to a DUI charge Friday at the Kenai Courthouse.

Kenai Police arrested McGlasson early morning Christmas Eve after he failed to stop at a stop sign. McGlasson had a preliminary blood-alcohol reading of .078 and was arrested after failing field sobriety tests, said Sgt. Ben Langham.

The legal blood-alcohol limit in Alaska is .08 percent.