Around the Peninsula

Adult scholarships available

Three adult scholarships are available in Soldotna for adult academic or vocational education or retraining for the 2009-2010 school year.

Two scholarships, made possible by a grant from Mae Ciechanski, will be for $2,000 and one for $1,000.

Applicants must be residents of Soldotna or be graduates of a Soldotna school.

Applications, which are due by Wednesday, are available at Soldotna City Hall, Soldotna and Skyview high schools, Cook Inlet Academy, River City Academy High, Kenai Peninsula College or online at www.ci.soldotna.ak.us.

Developmental screenings offered

Frontier Community Services will hold free developmental screenings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 24 at its office at in the Red Diamond Center on Kalifornsky Beach Road. Children newborn to age 3 years old may participate by appointment only. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 714-6647.

Wildfire season under way

Wildfire season has begun and burning permits are required in most areas for open burning of brush, grass, slash, and yard debris. Although many areas still have snow cover, it's important to understand that nearly all early-season wildfires on the Kenai Peninsula burn around patches of snow, catching people off guard, according to the Division of Forestry. Cured, dry grass becomes ignitable within a day of being exposed to sun and wind. As the snow begins to melt, fire awareness should rise.

Ongoing slash burning must be permitted.

Information about burning permits is available on Forestry's Web site, forestry.alaska.gov/burn.

Permits for small pile burning are available online. Large burns require an inspection prior to permitting; to schedule an appointment, call 260-4260 or 907-235-7734.