Ashlyn O'Hara

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is seen on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to launch another shop local program

The program would provide vouchers for tourism, travel or hospitality services.

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is seen on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Seward City Council take part in a work session on Monday, June 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Screenshot)

Seward council member apologizes for antisemitic remark

Sharyl Seese made the comment during a council work session.

Members of the Seward City Council take part in a work session on Monday, June 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Then-candidates for Soldotna City Council Lisa Parker, Pamela Parker (center) and Dave Carey speak to members of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at the Soldotna Sports Complex on Sept. 11, 2019. Parker resigned her seat effective May 27. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Sweeney, Hugarte apply for Soldotna council vacancy

Pamela Parker’s successor will be selected during the council’s Wednesday meeting.

Then-candidates for Soldotna City Council Lisa Parker, Pamela Parker (center) and Dave Carey speak to members of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at the Soldotna Sports Complex on Sept. 11, 2019. Parker resigned her seat effective May 27. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly debates, approves inclusion of emergency personnel in budget

Assembly member Jesse Bjorkman proposed removing the positions from the budget.

Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Visitors interact with the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Rocky Coast Discovery Pool on May 28 in Seward. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center reports increase in visitors

The center is encouraging people to buy tickets online

Visitors interact with the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Rocky Coast Discovery Pool on May 28 in Seward. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)
Incoming KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland Testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Public to weigh in on budget at upcoming assembly meeting

Departments have been working with the borough to craft their budgets over the past several months, and have outlined their goals heading into the next fiscal year.

Incoming KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland Testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD Superintendent John O’Brien sits in his office in the George A. Navarre Administration Building, on Monday, May 24, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

A ‘second act’: O’Brien plans for life after KPBSD

Superintendent John O’Brien spoke with the Clarion about his 16 years of service in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

KPBSD Superintendent John O’Brien sits in his office in the George A. Navarre Administration Building, on Monday, May 24, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

Burn permits suspended on peninsula

Current conditions in the Kenai Peninsula Borough increase the chances of surface fires.

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)
City of Seward logo.

Animal shelter top priority among Seward City Council members

The animal shelter also emerged as a priority among a similar question asked of 10 city department heads.

City of Seward logo.
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Lovers Lane to be repaired

The city installed temporary patches on sections of Lovers Lane that were “failing” last fall.

The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs advertising COVID-19 safety protocoals stand outside the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Oct. 6, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Masks now optional at Soldotna city facilities

The Soldotna City Council will also consider the repeal of the city’s COVID-19 disaster declaration during their May 26 meeting.

Signs advertising COVID-19 safety protocoals stand outside the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Oct. 6, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A sticker given out at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, is seen on March 13, 2021. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Vaccination rates climb

As of Friday afternoon, 53.7% of Alaskans 16 and up had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

A sticker given out at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, is seen on March 13, 2021. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Not out of fear’: Kenai extends disaster declaration

Those in favor of extending the declaration said it may make the process of accepting federal funds easier and could be rescinded at a later date.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Daubenspeck Park is seen on Thursday, May 20, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai adds grant for dog park to FY22 budget

Efforts to create a dog park in Kenai have been underway for years and have mostly been driven by volunteer labor and financial donations.

Daubenspeck Park is seen on Thursday, May 20, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman (right) speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Amendment to fund outside counsel fails after heated assembly debate

The amendment was proposed in response to a discussion over two assembly members’ potential conflicts of interest.

Jesse Bjorkman (right) speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jullian Miller (left) and Alivia Howard speak during Kenai Alternative High School’s 2021 graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jullian Miller (left) and Alivia Howard speak during Kenai Alternative High School’s 2021 graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
KCHS valedictorians Abigail Moffett and Owen Rolph speak at KCHS’ graduation ceremony on Monday, May 17 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Through the good times and the bad’

After tumultuous final years, Kenai Central High School seniors receive diplomas

KCHS valedictorians Abigail Moffett and Owen Rolph speak at KCHS’ graduation ceremony on Monday, May 17 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A parking lot set to be reconstructed is seen highlighted in red at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Richards)

More heated sidewalks coming to Central Peninsula Hospital

CPH Board of Directors cited the high demand for parking spaces that comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) at health care facilities.

A parking lot set to be reconstructed is seen highlighted in red at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Richards)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to vote on budget, mill rate Wednesday

In all, the City of Kenai is projecting around $38.6 million in revenue and just under $50 million in expenditures.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration and Assembly meet for a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021.

KPBSD recruiting new staff at most schools

The district is looking to hire more than 50 new staff members for schools across the borough.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration and Assembly meet for a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021.