Ben Boettger

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Primary election candidates final

Kenai Peninsula voters will have a choice in the Aug. 21 primary of two Republicans running for state Senate, three candidates for the northern peninsula’s… Continue reading

Travelers check baggage with airline Ravn Alaska at the Kenai Muncipal Airport on Thursday, May 31, 2018. Kenai’s city government is seeking to raise rents that Ravn and the Kenai airport’s other airline, Grant Aviation, pay for terminal space such as their ticket counters. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai raises airport fees

The two scheduled airlines that operate from the city-owned Kenai Muncipal Airport will pay more toward its operating costs with the government’s planned increase in… Continue reading

Travelers check baggage with airline Ravn Alaska at the Kenai Muncipal Airport on Thursday, May 31, 2018. Kenai’s city government is seeking to raise rents that Ravn and the Kenai airport’s other airline, Grant Aviation, pay for terminal space such as their ticket counters. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Beluga researcher Kim Ovitz (center, with sunglasses) and a group of volunteer whale-watchers look for belugas in the Kenai River on April 14, 2018 at Cunningham Park in Kenai, Alaska. 11 signed-up volunteers and several more casual ones helped Ovitz with her observations, which began March 15 and will continue until May 31. Her preliminary results suggest that a large portion of Cook Inlet’s estimated 328 belugas travel the Kenai River with the tides in early spring. (Photo courtesy of Rickard Sjoeberg).

Researcher finds many Cook Inlet belugas visit Kenai in spring

Editor's note: This story has been changed to clarify numbers that apply to beluga sightings, rather than individual whales. New monitoring of belugas in the… Continue reading

Beluga researcher Kim Ovitz (center, with sunglasses) and a group of volunteer whale-watchers look for belugas in the Kenai River on April 14, 2018 at Cunningham Park in Kenai, Alaska. 11 signed-up volunteers and several more casual ones helped Ovitz with her observations, which began March 15 and will continue until May 31. Her preliminary results suggest that a large portion of Cook Inlet’s estimated 328 belugas travel the Kenai River with the tides in early spring. (Photo courtesy of Rickard Sjoeberg).
U.S Representative Don Young speaks to members of the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Don Young optimistic about resource economy

Alaska’s 45-year veteran of the U.S. House, Rep. Don Young, is optimistic about the future of the state’s economy with expanded natural resource extraction. “We’ve… Continue reading

U.S Representative Don Young speaks to members of the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
John Walker, Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Soldotna post, leads the color guard in retiring the colors at a Memorial Day ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park on Monday, May 28 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Retiring the colors

John Walker, Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Soldotna post, leads the color guard in retiring the colors at a Memorial Day ceremony at… Continue reading

John Walker, Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Soldotna post, leads the color guard in retiring the colors at a Memorial Day ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park on Monday, May 28 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Ruffridge picked to fill open Soldotna council seat

Soldotna narrows annexation options

The Soldotna City Council is refining controversial plans to expand the city limits as it prepares for a vote at its June 13 meeting whether… Continue reading

Ruffridge picked to fill open Soldotna council seat

Butler running for House of Representatives

With incumbent Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski) absent from this year’s state Alaska House District 29 race for the first time since 2001, Shawn Butler of Hope… Continue reading

After accepting his diploma, River City Academy graduate Maxwell Mock shakes hands with Kenai Peninsula School Board member Marty Anderson during River City’s graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Monday, May 21, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).

River City Academy graduates nine

The nine River City Academy students who turned their tassels at a Monday afternoon graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex spoke about the… Continue reading

After accepting his diploma, River City Academy graduate Maxwell Mock shakes hands with Kenai Peninsula School Board member Marty Anderson during River City’s graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Monday, May 21, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).

Health insurance continues adding to Kenai budget

The city of Kenai’s proposed fiscal 2019 budget includes no tax increases while it copes with rising employee health insurance costs and adds a human… Continue reading

Renovations underway at Eagle Rock boat launch

Renovations underway at Eagle Rock boat launch

Boats entering the Kenai River this summer from Eagle Rock boat launch will have a wider ramp into the water, but the vehicles that bring… Continue reading

Renovations underway at Eagle Rock boat launch

Spruce beetles to emerge soon

This year’s new generation of eager young spruce bark beetles may soon be emerging from the bark of local trees where they’ve spent the winter… Continue reading

A sign outside the Soldotna Blockbuster advertises a close-out sale. The video rental store will shutter its doors this week after more than two decades in operation. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Blockbuster to shut down after 24 years

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Justin Trickel's name. Tourists from the Lower 48 who come to Soldotna to… Continue reading

A sign outside the Soldotna Blockbuster advertises a close-out sale. The video rental store will shutter its doors this week after more than two decades in operation. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Alexander Van De Grift races in the Kenai Rotary Club’s 12th anual Soapbox Derby on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, Alaska. Van De Grift won a craftsmanship trophy for his car, which was sponsored by Outlaw Body and Paint. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).

Kenai Rotary holds 12th soapbox derby

By BEN BOETTGER Peninsula Clarion… Continue reading

Alexander Van De Grift races in the Kenai Rotary Club’s 12th anual Soapbox Derby on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, Alaska. Van De Grift won a craftsmanship trophy for his car, which was sponsored by Outlaw Body and Paint. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary first-graders Maddi Redder (left) and Brayden Gregory prepare to rig a beam to a shop crane during their class’ field trip to Alaska Crane Consultants on Monday, May 7, 2018 on Kalifornsky Beach road. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Students try their hands at heavy equipment at Alaska Crane Consultants

Kristi Felchle’s first grade class at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary added a hands-on element to their recent lesson about work and the community: Taking a field… Continue reading

Kalifornsky Beach Elementary first-graders Maddi Redder (left) and Brayden Gregory prepare to rig a beam to a shop crane during their class’ field trip to Alaska Crane Consultants on Monday, May 7, 2018 on Kalifornsky Beach road. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai’s non-council work sessions to remain unrecorded

Kenai’s non-council work sessions to remain unrecorded

Kenai’s government will continue to not record work session meetings of its Planning and Zoning Commission and joint work sessions between its other commissions and… Continue reading

Kenai’s non-council work sessions to remain unrecorded

Ruffner drops out of House race

Kasilof resident Robert Ruffner announced in a Facebook post Friday morning that he’s dropping out of the race for the Alaska House of Representatives seat… Continue reading

This July 1, 2017 photo shows the current end of the Kenai Spur Highway near Captain Cook State Recreation Area north of Nikiski, and the informal ATV trail that continues to the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Grey Cliffs and Moose Point subdivisions. On Thursday the Federal Highway Administration found that the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s plan for an 8 mile gravel extention of the road wouldn’t significantly impact the surrounding wetland environment, finishing the project’s envirnomental permiting. (Photo courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration).

North road extension environmental permitting finished

The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s plan to extend the Kenai Spur Highway north of Nikiski received its last piece of environmental permitting when Federal Highway Administration… Continue reading

This July 1, 2017 photo shows the current end of the Kenai Spur Highway near Captain Cook State Recreation Area north of Nikiski, and the informal ATV trail that continues to the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Grey Cliffs and Moose Point subdivisions. On Thursday the Federal Highway Administration found that the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s plan for an 8 mile gravel extention of the road wouldn’t significantly impact the surrounding wetland environment, finishing the project’s envirnomental permiting. (Photo courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration).

Hilcorp sole bidder for Cook Inlet hydrocarbon leases

Cook Inlet’s largest oil and gas extractor, Houston, Texas-based Hilcorp, will be leasing an additional 16,636 acres of state subsurface mineral rights after it was… Continue reading

Borough and municipalities contest revenue changes

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct Soldotna's yearly sales tax revenue.  City managers from around the Kenai Peninsula said Kenai Peninsula Borough… Continue reading

Glenn Beckmann of Rainproof Roofing inspects a weathered and tilting cross atop Kenai’sHoly Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church before removing it on Friday, May 4, 2018. Dorothy Gray , a Holy Assumption member and treasurer of the preservation nonprofit Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska, said the church is now looking for local craftspeople interested in making replacements for the three old crosses. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Orthodox church to get new crosses

One of the triple-armed Russian Orthodox crosses atop Kenai’s Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church was taken down by a boom-lift crew… Continue reading

Glenn Beckmann of Rainproof Roofing inspects a weathered and tilting cross atop Kenai’sHoly Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church before removing it on Friday, May 4, 2018. Dorothy Gray , a Holy Assumption member and treasurer of the preservation nonprofit Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska, said the church is now looking for local craftspeople interested in making replacements for the three old crosses. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)