Ashlyn O'Hara

The waters of Prince William Sound are seen from Whittier, Alaska, in March 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Grant would boost Alaska, peninsula mariculture

Mariculture refers to marine farming or aquaculture in marine environments.

The waters of Prince William Sound are seen from Whittier, Alaska, in March 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

COVID hurdles prompt district to expand early release days

In all, the change will result in an additional loss of 4.5 hours of school time.

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Community Library health section is seen on Oct. 26. After the Kenai City Council postponed a vote to approve a grant funding health and wellness books, community members set up a GoFundMe to support the purchase of materials.

Council OKs library grant at the center of censorship controversy

The new council gave unanimous approval to the legislation on Wednesday.

Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Community Library health section is seen on Oct. 26. After the Kenai City Council postponed a vote to approve a grant funding health and wellness books, community members set up a GoFundMe to support the purchase of materials.
Rep. Ben Carpenter facilitates a town hall in Nikiski, Alaska, about a new cold weather shelter in the community on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Organizers respond to community concerns over Nikiski shelter

The shelter is located off the Kenai Spur Highway in Nikiski and has been years in the making.

Rep. Ben Carpenter facilitates a town hall in Nikiski, Alaska, about a new cold weather shelter in the community on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about the proposed State of Alaska fiscal year 2023 operating and capital budget on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy releases $11 billion budget plan

The Kenai Bluff Stabilization project is among those that would receive funding

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about the proposed State of Alaska fiscal year 2023 operating and capital budget on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
Kenai Watershed Forum Education Specialist Megan Pike, left, explains how rivers impact their surroundings during a demonstration given at the Donald E. Gilman River Center on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘You’re in this watershed’

Demonstration table shows how water affects peninsula geography.

Kenai Watershed Forum Education Specialist Megan Pike, left, explains how rivers impact their surroundings during a demonstration given at the Donald E. Gilman River Center on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A polar bear is displayed inside of the Kenai Municipal Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Airport in final phases of sand storage project

The approximately 5,600-square-foot building is slated for completion in the spring or summer of 2022.

A polar bear is displayed inside of the Kenai Municipal Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveils the “People First Iniative,” a sweeping effort to target domestic violence and sexual assault, missing and murdered Indigenous persons, human sex trafficking, foster care and homelessness, in a Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 press conference in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

‘This state should be involved in the safety of its people’

Governor unveils effort to tackle domestic violence and sexual assault, missing and murdered Indigenous persons, human sex trafficking, foster care and homelessness

Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveils the “People First Iniative,” a sweeping effort to target domestic violence and sexual assault, missing and murdered Indigenous persons, human sex trafficking, foster care and homelessness, in a Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 press conference in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
This Sept. 7, 2007, file photo shows Royal Caribbean’s “Radiance of the Seas” docked in Seward, Alaska. Gov. Mike Dunleavy during a press conference Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, proposed $5 million in new funding for Alaska’s tourism industry with money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz, File)

State seeks to give tourism boost with federal funds

The funds, from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, will be included in the governor’s fiscal year 2023 budget.

This Sept. 7, 2007, file photo shows Royal Caribbean’s “Radiance of the Seas” docked in Seward, Alaska. Gov. Mike Dunleavy during a press conference Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, proposed $5 million in new funding for Alaska’s tourism industry with money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz, File)
Sabine Poux anchors KDLL’s evening news show on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. KDLL will add a reporter to its staff through the Report for America program. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

A new voice for the peninsula

New radio reporter to bring expanded community news coverage.

Sabine Poux anchors KDLL’s evening news show on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. KDLL will add a reporter to its staff through the Report for America program. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Volunteers at the Alaska SeaLife Center feed a milk and electrolyte mix to a beluga calf, rescued on Sept. 30, 2017, after being stranded in Trading Bay, on Friday, Oct. 6 in Seward, Alaska. The calf, dubbed Tyonek, and a second stranded beluga sent to the Alaska SeaLife Center were featured in a study published last month in the scientific journal Polar Research. (Courtesy photo)

A tale of 2 cetaceans

Study analyzes outcomes for stranded beluga calves rehabilitated at SeaLife Center.

Volunteers at the Alaska SeaLife Center feed a milk and electrolyte mix to a beluga calf, rescued on Sept. 30, 2017, after being stranded in Trading Bay, on Friday, Oct. 6 in Seward, Alaska. The calf, dubbed Tyonek, and a second stranded beluga sent to the Alaska SeaLife Center were featured in a study published last month in the scientific journal Polar Research. (Courtesy photo)
One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 in the village at the head of Kachemack Bay. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Borough awards contract for K-Selo design report

The bid award will cover a programming phase, value analysis and cost estimate in a not-to-exceed amount of $125,000.

One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 in the village at the head of Kachemack Bay. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Informatin about Cook Inletkeeper is displayed next to artwork for sale as part of the “ART Sale 258” at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Artists raise awareness about inlet lease sale

The proposed Lease Sale 258 includes about 224 blocks covering more than 1 million acres of seafloor.

Informatin about Cook Inletkeeper is displayed next to artwork for sale as part of the “ART Sale 258” at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara)

Assembly approves sweeping changes to planning commission

The changes come after months of contention over the process for approving new members to the commission.

Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara)
Assembly Vice President Brent Hibbert prepares to vote on legislation during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly nixes in-person Seward, Homer meetings

Supporters said the meetings offer the opportunity for assembly members to make important in-person connections.

Assembly Vice President Brent Hibbert prepares to vote on legislation during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Lawmakers, school board talk Juneau priorities

Lawmakers were invited for an “open discussion” about the upcoming legislative session.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel (left) and Kenai City Council Member Henry Knackstedt speak at a joint work session at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council defeats efforts to extend review of land management plan

The proposal would have divided the plan into four chunks that each of the city’s commissions would review one at a time.

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel (left) and Kenai City Council Member Henry Knackstedt speak at a joint work session at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna offers COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Cases continue downward trend

Alaska remained at a high COVID transmission alert level Monday.

A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna offers COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Terry Eubank (left) and Paul Ostrander address the Kenai City Council during a budget work session on Saturday, April 24, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to use remaining CARES Act funds for public safety payroll

The city has about $63,000 that needs to be spent by the end of the year

Terry Eubank (left) and Paul Ostrander address the Kenai City Council during a budget work session on Saturday, April 24, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)