Ashlyn O'Hara

Alaska road maintenance crews conduct avalanche clearing work along the Seward Highway on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 near Girdwood, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Wintry weather causes avalanches around Southcentral

At least two avalanches, as well as excessive snow, caused road closures Friday

Alaska road maintenance crews conduct avalanche clearing work along the Seward Highway on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 near Girdwood, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference on Thursday in Juneau. (Photo courtesy Kevin Goodman, Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy reiterates budget priorities from Juneau

The governor has emphasized public safety, the PFD and education

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference on Thursday in Juneau. (Photo courtesy Kevin Goodman, Office of the Governor)
Kenai City Council member Deborah Sounart deliberates at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council member Deborah Sounart deliberates at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly member Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Split assembly voices opposition to proposed statewide sales tax

The resolution approved Tuesday opposes the implementation of a statewide sales tax in Alaska

Assembly member Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Freezing rain creates icy conditions on Wednesday, Feb. 16. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Icy conditions prompt closures across central, southern peninsula

The conditions follow several days of adverse conditions

Freezing rain creates icy conditions on Wednesday, Feb. 16. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents the borough’s new timber harvesting program to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough proposes timber sale, forest plans as part of spruce bark beetle mitigation

The program was presented to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly Tuesday

Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents the borough’s new timber harvesting program to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Fiona and Jane is held on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: “Fiona and Jane” a moving tale of female friendships and the Asian American experience

Off the Shelf is a bimonthly literature column written by the staff of The Peninsula Clarion.

A copy of Fiona and Jane is held on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce attends the March 2, 2021, borough assembly meeting at the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers at the Borough Administration Building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

First meeting of assembly gravel pit group postponed

The group was created to review the borough’s material site permitting codes

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce attends the March 2, 2021, borough assembly meeting at the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers at the Borough Administration Building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School district budget forums offered this week

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is inviting community members to give input on the district’s fiscal year 2023 budget process through four budget forums… Continue reading

KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

City of Seward says commission was not authorized to solicit public funds for project

The project would create a walking tour of historic properties in Seward

Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ryanna Thurman uses a holds locker at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Computers, Wi-Fi available for checkout at Soldotna library

The technology was made available through federal grant funds

Ryanna Thurman uses a holds locker at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow and debris from an avalanche can be seen near Mile 45 on the Seward Highway on Monday, March 29, 2021. An avalanche shut down traffic on both sides Monday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Goldie Shealy)

More snow, traffic delays expected for Southcentral

Motorists traveling on some sections of the Seward Highway should expect intermittent traffic delays of up to 45 minutes Wednesday, as state maintenance crews conduct… Continue reading

Snow and debris from an avalanche can be seen near Mile 45 on the Seward Highway on Monday, March 29, 2021. An avalanche shut down traffic on both sides Monday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Goldie Shealy)
A DHSS map shows every region of Alaska to be at "high" COVID-19 alert level. (Screenshot)

State reports 1,800 COVID cases over the weekend

The cases include some reported in peninsula communities

A DHSS map shows every region of Alaska to be at "high" COVID-19 alert level. (Screenshot)
Paper runs through the Peninsula Clarion printing press on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Clarion moves to mail delivery for some customers

The Peninsula Clarion is making changes to its delivery services for certain subscribers. In place of home delivery, editions of the Clarion will be delivered… Continue reading

Paper runs through the Peninsula Clarion printing press on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. (Photo courtesy Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Dunleavy unveils 1st bills of public safety initiative

Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveiled three pieces of legislation Friday that are part of his “People First Initiative” aimed at addressing public safety issues in Alaska.… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. (Photo courtesy Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
A sign urging caution stands on the Slaughter Ridge Trail in an area cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass, on Aug. 10 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Cooper Landing residents concerned about borough development in area

A desire by the Kenai Peninsula Borough to explore development on a chunk of land east of Cooper Landing is causing concern from some who… Continue reading

A sign urging caution stands on the Slaughter Ridge Trail in an area cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass, on Aug. 10 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Out of the Office: Catching COVID

I caught COVID a couple of weeks ago and it sucked. I’m not sure how I was exposed, or by whom, but the symptoms hit… Continue reading

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Soldotna quarterback Brandon Crowder hands to Aaron Faletoi (34) on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, before a full house at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

KCHS looks to improve Ed Hollier Field

Kenai Central High School has long wanted to build permanent restrooms and concessions facilities for its track and field. In response to limited available funds… Continue reading

Soldotna quarterback Brandon Crowder hands to Aaron Faletoi (34) on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, before a full house at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Aaron Rhoades, Charlie Pierce, Richard Derkevorkian and Jesse Bjorkman listen to testimony during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to use grant funds for COVID treatments, testing

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved a spending plan for the funds during the body’s Feb. 1 meeting

Aaron Rhoades, Charlie Pierce, Richard Derkevorkian and Jesse Bjorkman listen to testimony during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)