Ashlyn O'Hara

Areas cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project (bottom) can be seen above the Kenai River in Cooper Landing in this August 10, 2021, photo. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)

Bypass project costs jump, state looks for more funding

The long-planned project aims to reduce traffic congestion through Cooper Landing

Areas cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project (bottom) can be seen above the Kenai River in Cooper Landing in this August 10, 2021, photo. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)
Robin Williams as Walter Finch and Al Pacino as Will Dormer in “Insomnia.” (Photo courtesy WarnerMedia)

On the Screen: Nolan disappoints in 2002’s ‘Insomnia’

In preparation of Nolan’s latest cinematic feat, “Oppenheimer,” some friends and I have been rewatching past films

Robin Williams as Walter Finch and Al Pacino as Will Dormer in “Insomnia.” (Photo courtesy WarnerMedia)
Lisa Parker, vice mayor of Soldotna, celebrates after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Peninsula Oilers and the Mat-Su Miners on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council member looks to boost city presence at community events

The group is brainstorming ways to boost its visibility around town

Lisa Parker, vice mayor of Soldotna, celebrates after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Peninsula Oilers and the Mat-Su Miners on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A tip jar collects money for Cooper Landing Emergency Services inside the Sunrise Cafe on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to probe eastern peninsula, rather than Cooper Landing, emergency service area

The service area would need to implement a mill rate between 3.7 and 3.95, according to estimates

A tip jar collects money for Cooper Landing Emergency Services inside the Sunrise Cafe on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A firefighter from Cooper Landing Emergency Services refills a water tanker at the banks of the Kenai River in Cooper Landing, Alaska on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Cooper Landing considers emergency service area for region

The community is currently served by Cooper Landing Emergency Services

A firefighter from Cooper Landing Emergency Services refills a water tanker at the banks of the Kenai River in Cooper Landing, Alaska on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers investigate a shooting scene on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at the Anchor Point Warehouse in Anchor Point, Alaska, at the store on the Sterling Highway in which an Alaska State Trooper was shot.(Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Alaska State Troopers investigate a shooting scene on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at the Anchor Point Warehouse in Anchor Point, Alaska, at the store on the Sterling Highway in which an Alaska State Trooper was shot.(Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Discarded items await new homes at the “Sterling Mall,” located inside the Sterling Transfer Facility on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Sterling Mall’ up and running

At the site, residents can drop off items for reuse that may otherwise end up in a borough landfill

Discarded items await new homes at the “Sterling Mall,” located inside the Sterling Transfer Facility on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Exit Glacier, as seen in August 2015 from the Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park just outside of Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Boy, 15, dies after going into cardiac arrest while hiking Harding Icefield Trail

A 15-year-old boy died Monday after going into cardiac arrest while hiking the Harding Icefield Trail in Seward, the Alaska Department of Public Safety reported… Continue reading

Exit Glacier, as seen in August 2015 from the Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park just outside of Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Resources for those seeking local office available this week

Seats on city councils, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education will be up for grabs

A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)

Soldotna council OKs updated field house funding plan

City administration in June told council members that an updated project cost estimate had put the field house’s total price tag at $28 million

A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)
People vote in polling booths at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly bumps vote on resolution that would ask voters whether to align state, local election days

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday voted to postpone until August a vote on legislation that would ask peninsula voters whether to align local… Continue reading

People vote in polling booths at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Cam Choy, associate professor of art at Kenai Peninsula College, works on a salmon sculpture in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum during the Kenai River Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Draft Soldotna plan brainstorms best way to bring more art to the city

Creation of a regional arts council, the incorporation of art projects into existing city grant programs and development of a way for the city to… Continue reading

Cam Choy, associate professor of art at Kenai Peninsula College, works on a salmon sculpture in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum during the Kenai River Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Brent Johnson, Bill Elam, Tyson Cox and Brent Hibebrt participate in a meeting on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. All assembly members pictured voted in favor of a resolution that supporting the separation of transgender and cisgender girl student athetes. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs resolution supporting separation of cisgender girls, other student athletes

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday voiced support for the separation of transgender and cisgender girls in high school sports. The body during its… Continue reading

From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Brent Johnson, Bill Elam, Tyson Cox and Brent Hibebrt participate in a meeting on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. All assembly members pictured voted in favor of a resolution that supporting the separation of transgender and cisgender girl student athetes. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lawyer Eric Derleth and his client Nathan Erfurth, a former Soldotna High School teacher accused of sexually abusing one of his students, submit a not guilty plea at an arraignment hearing on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Former SoHi teacher pleads not guilty to sex abuse, child pornography charges

A former Soldotna High School teacher and head of the local teachers union pleaded not guilty to more than five dozen counts of sex abuse… Continue reading

Lawyer Eric Derleth and his client Nathan Erfurth, a former Soldotna High School teacher accused of sexually abusing one of his students, submit a not guilty plea at an arraignment hearing on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Zen Kelly, Patti Truesdell, KPBSD Assistant Superintendent Kari Dendurent and Jason Tauriainen participate in a board meeting on Monday, July 10, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Some KPBSD substitute support staff to get pay raises

Some of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s substitute and temporary staff will receive raises for the upcoming school year following a vote in favor… Continue reading

From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Zen Kelly, Patti Truesdell, KPBSD Assistant Superintendent Kari Dendurent and Jason Tauriainen participate in a board meeting on Monday, July 10, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Jason Tauriainen, Matt Morse, Virginia Morgan and Beverley Romanin participate in a board meeting on Monday, July 10, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board makes final tweaks to district budget

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday updated the district’s budget to reflect new money received from the State of Alaska… Continue reading

From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Jason Tauriainen, Matt Morse, Virginia Morgan and Beverley Romanin participate in a board meeting on Monday, July 10, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy prepares to deliver opening remarks at a bill signing event at Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic on Thursday, July 6, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy signs 2 Ruffridge bills into law during Soldotna ceremony

Amid the throng of furry friends filing in and out of Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic on Thursday morning were the governor of Alaska, a state… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy prepares to deliver opening remarks at a bill signing event at Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic on Thursday, July 6, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council members Henry Knackstedt (left) and Alex Douthit (standing) speak with Kenai Vice Mayor James Baisden (right) during a council meeting at-ease on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai puts new limits on marijuana facilities in residential area; bolsters public noticing

Kenai City Council members Wednesday unanimously approved changes aimed at expanding how the city notifies residents of a commercial marijuana establishment opening in their area.… Continue reading

Kenai City Council members Henry Knackstedt (left) and Alex Douthit (standing) speak with Kenai Vice Mayor James Baisden (right) during a council meeting at-ease on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Kasilof resident survives structure fire

A Kasilof resident is alive after a Thursday structure fire rendered their residence “a total loss” the Alaska Department of Public Safety said in a… Continue reading

Alaska State Troopers logo.
AlaSkins poster dog Max greets attendees at an event celebrating AlaSkins being named Alaska Manufacturer of the Year on Thursday, July 6, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s AlaSkins named Alaska manufacturer of the year

A local business familiar for its high-quality and authentically Alaska pet treats got a treat of its own Thursday. Soldotna’s AlaSkins, owned and operated by… Continue reading

AlaSkins poster dog Max greets attendees at an event celebrating AlaSkins being named Alaska Manufacturer of the Year on Thursday, July 6, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)