Ashlyn O'Hara

Silver salmon swim in Sucker Creek on Sept. 18, 2020. (Photo by Matt Bowser/Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Workshop highlights farming risk to salmon

The number of farms in Alaska has grown by 30% over the last five years.

Silver salmon swim in Sucker Creek on Sept. 18, 2020. (Photo by Matt Bowser/Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
City of Homer staff hold a meeting in the Cowles Council Chambers at Homer City Hall in this undated photo. The chambers are being remodeled to allow COVID-safe public meetings. (Photo courtesy of City of Homer)

Homer council works to offset Jet Ski impact in Kachemak Bay

The legislation is the latest development in a controversy that began with a repeal of a regulation banning the watercraft.

City of Homer staff hold a meeting in the Cowles Council Chambers at Homer City Hall in this undated photo. The chambers are being remodeled to allow COVID-safe public meetings. (Photo courtesy of City of Homer)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board kills efforts to phase out insurance benefits for board members

Members of the board receive a monthly stipend in addition to being eligible for district insurance.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Pets of the Week Hans and Franz, as seen Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at the Homer Animal Shelter in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Mindful Paws)

Seward to begin work on new animal shelter

The need to rebuild the city’s existing animal shelter was first identified by the city in its 1999 strategic plan.

Pets of the Week Hans and Franz, as seen Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at the Homer Animal Shelter in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Mindful Paws)
Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tshibaka makes rounds on the peninsula

The former DOA head is challenging Sen. Lisa Murkowski for her Senate seat.

Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces a tourism aid initiative during a press conference on Friday, April 9, 2021, at Wings Airways Hangar in Juneau, Alaska. Dunleavy was joined by officials and business owners, including Alaska Sen. Peter Micciche (left). (Governer’s Office/Kevin Goodman)

Dunleavy announces tourism aid initiative

Dunleavy said 1.3 million tourists were expected to come to Alaska via cruise ship before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down operations.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces a tourism aid initiative during a press conference on Friday, April 9, 2021, at Wings Airways Hangar in Juneau, Alaska. Dunleavy was joined by officials and business owners, including Alaska Sen. Peter Micciche (left). (Governer’s Office/Kevin Goodman)
U.S. Rep. Don Young addresses a joint chamber luncheon at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Don Young presented with bipartisanship award

Young is the longest-serving Republican in Congressional history, having represented Alaska for almost 50 years.

U.S. Rep. Don Young addresses a joint chamber luncheon at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A screenshot of the Kenai Peninsula Borough GIS Parcel Viewer shows the different layers available, including aerial imagery. (Screenshot)

Borough, cities to get millions more in COVID relief money

Roughly $1.36 billion in federal funding is expected to flow into Alaska.

A screenshot of the Kenai Peninsula Borough GIS Parcel Viewer shows the different layers available, including aerial imagery. (Screenshot)
The Kenai City Council meets on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)

Kenai approves projects manager position

The manager will be responsible for capital projects “from inception to completion.”

The Kenai City Council meets on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai approves grace period utility payment plan

Doing nothing would have made delinquent accounts due with penalty and interest on past due amounts.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Central Peninsula Hospital Pharmacy Technician Jessica Hulet rolls a cart carrying doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine into Central Peninsula Hospital on Dec. 16 in Soldotna.
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Central Peninsula Hospital Pharmacy Technician Jessica Hulet rolls a cart carrying doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine into Central Peninsula Hospital on Dec. 16 in Soldotna.
Willy Dunne speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly votes down energy audits resolution

One of the goals of S.B. 17 is to have Alaska enter into energy service performance contracts valued at $100 million by 2026.

Willy Dunne speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Aaron Fleenor testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Boatyard, moose advocates discuss boatyard at assembly

The boatyard hopes to acquire three lots of land that separate some of the company’s discontinuous lots.

Aaron Fleenor testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow falls on studded tires on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Studded tires allowed through mid-May

The order was issued in response to extended winter conditions across the state.

Snow falls on studded tires on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion
Dr. Peter Hansen stands in front of crane operators as they lift an antique steam donkey engine at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center, July 15, 2019, in Kenai. Hansen died March 25.

Pioneering Kenai doctor remembered

Peter Hansen died on March 25 from struggles with mesothelioma.

Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion
Dr. Peter Hansen stands in front of crane operators as they lift an antique steam donkey engine at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center, July 15, 2019, in Kenai. Hansen died March 25.
Soldotna assistant football coach Eric Pomerleau checks the temperature of sophomore Joseph Whittom before summer workouts Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

District to relax mask requirement during outdoor activities

KPBSD is not keeping track of how many students are vaccinated.

Soldotna assistant football coach Eric Pomerleau checks the temperature of sophomore Joseph Whittom before summer workouts Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Jim Cockrell speaks at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Tuesday, April 6 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy taps Cockrell to head public safety

Cockrell is a former wildlife trooper and Marathon security supervisor.

Jim Cockrell speaks at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Tuesday, April 6 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central High School is seen in this 2018 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

School district to submit funding request

The $48 million the district plans to request Tuesday reflects compromises by the district and by the borough.

Kenai Central High School is seen in this 2018 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Mary Bondurant (left) and her assistant Erica Brincefield stand with an F22 pilot in front of the first F22 to land at Kenai Municipal Airport. (Photo courtesy Mary Bondurant)

Bondurant to retire as airport manager

She began working at Kenai Municipal Airport in 1998.

Mary Bondurant (left) and her assistant Erica Brincefield stand with an F22 pilot in front of the first F22 to land at Kenai Municipal Airport. (Photo courtesy Mary Bondurant)
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD opens enrollment survey

Uncertainty surrounding fall 2021 enrollment numbers has created challenges in the budget process.

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)