Ashlyn O'Hara

Vendors sell locally grown and crafted products at the Soldotna Saturday Farmers Market during the 2019 season. (Photo provided)

Soldotna to observe Farmers Market Week

The city’s market convenes every Saturday

Vendors sell locally grown and crafted products at the Soldotna Saturday Farmers Market during the 2019 season. (Photo provided)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, holds a copy of House Bill 123, providing state recognition for Alaska’s 229 federally recognized Native tribes, at an event hosted by the Alaska Federation of Natives in Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Photo provided by the Alaska Federation of Natives)

Bill recognizing Alaska Native Tribes signed into law

The bill serves as the first formal recognition of Alaska’s Indigenous people

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, holds a copy of House Bill 123, providing state recognition for Alaska’s 229 federally recognized Native tribes, at an event hosted by the Alaska Federation of Natives in Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Photo provided by the Alaska Federation of Natives)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
A construction crew works near the entrance of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on June 14.

Soldotna council puts field house on city’s Oct. 4 ballot

Voters will decide whether or not the city should incur up to $15 million in debt for the project

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
A construction crew works near the entrance of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on June 14.
A stretch of the Seward Highway is pictured in this undated photo from a presentation by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. A planned project to rehabilitate parts of the highway has drawn protests from members of the Moose Pass community. (Photo via the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Moose Pass highway project draws community protest

The project area is about 10.5 miles of the Seward Highway from Mileposts 36.6 to Milepost 25.5

A stretch of the Seward Highway is pictured in this undated photo from a presentation by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. A planned project to rehabilitate parts of the highway has drawn protests from members of the Moose Pass community. (Photo via the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Kenai council calls for 2022 east side setnet fishery season

There are more than 400 permit holders in Upper Cook Inlet’s East Side Setnet fishery

A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Riders with Alaska C&C Horse Adventures participate in the 65th annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Progress on parade

Community turns out for annual Soldotna celebration

Riders with Alaska C&C Horse Adventures participate in the 65th annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The banks of the Kenai River can be seen on July 14, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Streambank project cost-share program accepting applications

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is accepting applications for the program through 5 p.m. on Sept. 30

The banks of the Kenai River can be seen on July 14, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, and Nancy Dahlstrom sit in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Friday, July 22, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy brings reelection bid to Kenai Peninsula

He emerged as the top fundraiser in the race, per new campaign finance data filed this week

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, and Nancy Dahlstrom sit in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Friday, July 22, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kristen Stearns fishes at North Kenai Beach on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery to open 24 hours per day

The department increased the sport fishing bag and possession limits also

Kristen Stearns fishes at North Kenai Beach on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Robert Ruffner fields questions from attendees at a meeting to discuss the potential boundaries of a Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seeking more local say, Nikiski residents pursue advisory planning commission

A group of Nikiski residents are pushing for more local say in borough land decisions that affect their community. Residents have successfully petitioned to create… Continue reading

Robert Ruffner fields questions from attendees at a meeting to discuss the potential boundaries of a Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Local candidates report campaign cash as election approaches

New data filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission reflects money raised by candidates between Feb. 2 and July 15

Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A new interactive map allows users to input their address and receive their polling location, precinct and new district. (Image via Alaska Division of Elections)

Alaska unveils interactive map with voter districting information

The Alaska Division of Elections on Tuesday unveiled a new interactive map that allows users to input their address and receive their polling location, precinct… Continue reading

A new interactive map allows users to input their address and receive their polling location, precinct and new district. (Image via Alaska Division of Elections)
A construction crew works near the entrance of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council to consider field house bond

The development of an indoor recreational facility has been decades in the making

A construction crew works near the entrance of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

State announces new king salmon fishery closures

The closures affect the Kenai and Kasilof rivers, as well as Cook Inlet

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Flowers bloom at Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna moving forward with arts and culture plan

Arts and culture is a priority identified in Soldotna’s “Envision Soldotna 2030” plan

Flowers bloom at Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces Friday, July 16, 2022, that 2022 most PFD payments will be distributed on Sept. 20. (Screenshot)

Dunleavy: PFD payments coming Sept. 20

The rollout date is about a month earlier than when payments are typically distributed

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces Friday, July 16, 2022, that 2022 most PFD payments will be distributed on Sept. 20. (Screenshot)
Isaac Kolesar testifies before the Soldotna City Council during a council meeting on Wednesday, July 12, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. Many attendees voiced their thoughts on a performance given by a drag queen in Soldotna Creek Park last month. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Community takes debate over drag performance to Soldotna council

Backlash has been building since late June over a video, about 10 seconds long, taken at the 2022 Soldotna Pride in the Park

Isaac Kolesar testifies before the Soldotna City Council during a council meeting on Wednesday, July 12, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. Many attendees voiced their thoughts on a performance given by a drag queen in Soldotna Creek Park last month. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The sun shines on the Kenai Mountains in Turnagain Arm on Saturday, July 9, 2022 near Anchorage, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Simple gifts

It’s always humbling to be reminded of what we take for granted in this life. When faced with the prospect of having to drive to… Continue reading

The sun shines on the Kenai Mountains in Turnagain Arm on Saturday, July 9, 2022 near Anchorage, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Hospital to expand surgery services

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members approved the hospital’s purchase of the Surgery Center of Kenai

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Vicke Kukowski (left) and Kathy Romain (right) unveil a plaque dedicating the Kenai Senior Center’s greenhouse to Bill Osborn during a ceremony on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Senior Center dedicates greenhouse

Tucked snugly next to the Kenai Senior Center is a greenhouse brimming with lush cucumber plants and black gardening boxes. On Tuesday afternoon, pale gray… Continue reading

Vicke Kukowski (left) and Kathy Romain (right) unveil a plaque dedicating the Kenai Senior Center’s greenhouse to Bill Osborn during a ceremony on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)