Ashlyn O'Hara

Soldotna City Attorney Brooks Chandler (center) discussess how Soldotna Creek Park can and cannot be used by members of the public during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna drag debate heats up; city describes path forthward

Concerns over a June drag performance in Soldotna Creek Park escalated at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Soldotna City Council, where testimony on the performance… Continue reading

Soldotna City Attorney Brooks Chandler (center) discussess how Soldotna Creek Park can and cannot be used by members of the public during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shanon Davis presents a quarterly update to the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Chamber: Soldotna businesses hit by worker shortages

Visitor numbers were strong, but businesses struggled with worker shortages throughout Soldotna this summer. That’s the way Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shanon Davis… Continue reading

Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shanon Davis presents a quarterly update to the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Courtesy Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Invasive green crabs now present in Alaska

Alaska’s fish and game experts are keeping their eyes on a new aquatic invasive species that was newly detected in Southeast last month. Live European… Continue reading

Courtesy Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough gets $20k more to run Oct. 4 election

The Kenai Peninsula Borough needs about $20,000 more than expected to cover higher payroll costs and custodial services associated with this fall’s election. Borough assembly… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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Borough voters to decide on reapportionment, school maintenance in Oct. 4 municipal election

As if there isn’t enough going on with elections this year, Kenai Peninsula voters will decide this fall whether or not to support multiple ballot… Continue reading

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Chugiak High School’s Cameron Peterson (right) leads the girls varsity pack at the 2022 Ted McKenney XC Running Invitational at Tsalteshi Trails at Skyview Middle School on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

McKenney Invite welcomes over 25 schools

Kenai’s Boonstra, Homer’s McDonough lead area runners

Chugiak High School’s Cameron Peterson (right) leads the girls varsity pack at the 2022 Ted McKenney XC Running Invitational at Tsalteshi Trails at Skyview Middle School on Saturday, Aug. 20, 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 to review mini grant applications next week

Soldotna City Council members will convene earlier than usual Wednesday to mull over applications submitted for the city’s mini grant program. Applications to that program,… Continue reading

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)
Voters cast ballots in Alaska’s special general and regular primary elections at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Division of Elections data: Primary turnout higher than previous elections

Turnout among central Kenai Peninsula voters in Tuesday’s primary election was higher than in the 2020, 2018 and 2016 state primaries, data from the Alaska… Continue reading

Voters cast ballots in Alaska’s special general and regular primary elections at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
People camp above a river on Sunday, July 31, 2022 near Hope, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Festival season

Something nobody told me about Alaska is how many festivals there are in the summer. Having moved to the Kenai Peninsula in the middle of… Continue reading

People camp above a river on Sunday, July 31, 2022 near Hope, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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School district extends meal program deadline amid confusion

Credit for breakfast and lunch meals will be provided as needed to students in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District through Sept. 6, the district… Continue reading

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U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks at the Kenai Classic Roundtable at Kenai Peninsula College on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bycatch stirs debate at fisheries roundtable

Bycatch was the issue du jour at Wednesday’s annual Kenai Classic Roundtable on Fisheries. Hosted at Kenai Peninsula College by the Kenai River Sportfishing Association,… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks at the Kenai Classic Roundtable at Kenai Peninsula College on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ive. (Photo via Amazon.com)

Off the Shelf: A familiar folktale

“The Snow Child” tells a whimsical, yet supremely real tale of heartache on the Last Frontier

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ive. (Photo via Amazon.com)
Braeden Garrett holds signs supporting Alaska House of Representatives candidate Justin Ruffridge at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Ruffridge, Babcock lead in early primary results

Unofficial preliminary primary election results showed significant margins between the first- and second-place candidates

Braeden Garrett holds signs supporting Alaska House of Representatives candidate Justin Ruffridge at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
2022 gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce walks in the 65th annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Saturday, July 23, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce among leaders in governor’s race

Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy leads the pack overall

2022 gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce walks in the 65th annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Saturday, July 23, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Pollworkers Carol Louthan (center) and Harmony Bolden (right) work at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Local voters cast ballots, try out ranked choice

Locally, multiple candidates have their sights set on seats in the Alaska Legislature.

Pollworkers Carol Louthan (center) and Harmony Bolden (right) work at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly members participate during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to revisit gravel pit legislation

A proposed ordinance would overhaul borough code addressing material site permits

Assembly members participate during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Campaign signs decorate the outside of Paradisos Restaurant on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Campaign signs decorate the outside of Paradisos Restaurant on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
As measured by the CDC, dispensing rate reflects the number of prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons per year. While the United States’ dispensing rate peaked at 81.3 in 2012, the Kenai Peninsula’s rate was 100 or higher every year between 2001 and 2015. Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara.

Borough creates grant program to distribute opioid settlement funds

The Kenai Peninsula Borough will offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for opioid remediation using funds it expects to receive through a federal… Continue reading

As measured by the CDC, dispensing rate reflects the number of prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons per year. While the United States’ dispensing rate peaked at 81.3 in 2012, the Kenai Peninsula’s rate was 100 or higher every year between 2001 and 2015. Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara.
Kenai Peninsula School District Superintendent Clayton Holland stand near the entrance to the district’s Soldotna offices on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Academics, staff recruitment among district priorities for upcoming school year

The superintendent is ready to see KPBSD return to the district’s pre-COVID-19 academic performance

Kenai Peninsula School District Superintendent Clayton Holland stand near the entrance to the district’s Soldotna offices on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Local candidates report support from state PACs

Labor unions and the National Education Association are among the groups putting money into Kenai Peninsula state election races

Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)