Ashlyn O'Hara

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

Soldotna identifies hazards in mitigation plan

The city last adopted a hazard mitigation plan in 2016.

The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
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Sterling man sentenced for 2001 sexual assault and kidnapping

The man was sentenced to serve 37 years in prison.

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Matt Conner (left) and Amber Kraxberger-Linson demonstrate how to tie flies during a remote workshop on Friday, March 26, 2021, in Alaska. (Screenshot)

A crash course in fly-fishing

The tutorial was presented by the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in partnership with the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.

Matt Conner (left) and Amber Kraxberger-Linson demonstrate how to tie flies during a remote workshop on Friday, March 26, 2021, in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Pike prey on rearing salmon. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

State, refuge to tackle invasive pike problem

The species threatens native fish populations in the area, including rainbow trout and juvenile salmon.

Pike prey on rearing salmon. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
Ryanna Thurman (right) speaks to a library employee at the Soldotna Public Library on Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna library plans read by the river installation

The library hopes to install a “StoryWalk” in Soldotna Creek Park this summer

Ryanna Thurman (right) speaks to a library employee at the Soldotna Public Library on Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dr. Brett Watson presents the findings of a study he and others conducted through the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Screenshot)

Benefits from commercial fishing mostly affect fishers’ hometowns, UAA study finds

The study aimed to answer the question: What are the short-run economic impacts of commercial fisheries on local economies?

Dr. Brett Watson presents the findings of a study he and others conducted through the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Screenshot)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: 145 new cases

Affected peninsula communities include Soldotna with six cases and Kenai with one case.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
RN Rachel Verba (right) administers a dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Dr. Chris Michelson on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Bruce Richards/CPH)

Several hundred vaccination slots still open

Appointments are available at multiple central peninsula clinics.

RN Rachel Verba (right) administers a dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Dr. Chris Michelson on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Bruce Richards/CPH)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: 210 new cases

Affected peninsula communities include Kenai with three cases and Soldotna with one case.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Ninilchik is seen in November of 2020. (File)

Ninilchik clinic offers innovative addiction treatment

As part of its MAT program, the clinic offers monthly injections of buprenorphine to people struggling with addiction.

Ninilchik is seen in November of 2020. (File)

More large vaccine clinics planned for the central peninsula

As of Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., there were multiple large-scale vaccine clinics planned on the central peninsula.

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD to save teaching positions with federal funds

Through the federal CARES Act, the district received about $2.3 million in original ESSER funds.

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

1 in 5 eligible borough residents fully vaccinated

More than half of peninsula seniors are fully vaccinated.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
James Baisden (left), Charlie Pierce (middle) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) attend a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Baisden to retire, step down as chief of staff

Baisden has served as borough Mayor Charlie Pierce’s chief of staff since 2018.

James Baisden (left), Charlie Pierce (middle) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) attend a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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Seward advances with new city manager candidate

The council voiced their unanimous support for Janette Bower on Monday

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COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: 178 new COVID-19 cases

The state also reported 11 new hospitalizations and two new deaths among Alaska residents.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

1 in 4 eligible Alaskans are fully vaccinated

In the Kenai Peninsula Borough, just over one in five residents over the age of 16 — 21.2% — are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and… Continue reading

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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First, dial 9-0-7

Alaskans will need to start dialing 907 when placing local phone calls

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Kaitlin Vadla, Kenai regional director of Cook Inletkeeper, facilitates the final community Drawdown: Climate Series event, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

DIY save the planet: Cook Inletkeeper unveils ‘Climate ActionKit’

The kit is an all-in-one guide to saving the planet through community action

Kaitlin Vadla, Kenai regional director of Cook Inletkeeper, facilitates the final community Drawdown: Climate Series event, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: 52 new cases

The borough is considered to be at intermediate risk level.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)