Elizabeth Earl

John Riggins of Kenai holds up the silver salmon he caught on the Kenai River in Cunningham Park on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishing report: Silvers abound, trout fishing heats up

Cars packed the parking lot at Cunningham Park in Kenai on Tuesday just after noon. Down on the muddy bank below the stairs, fishermen in… Continue reading

John Riggins of Kenai holds up the silver salmon he caught on the Kenai River in Cunningham Park on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Larger commercial coho harvest sparks concern in Mat-Su

Larger commercial coho harvest sparks concern in Mat-Su

Upper Cook Inlet’s drift gillnet and east side set gillnet commercial fishermen saw a larger harvest of coho than in recent years this season. Not… Continue reading

Larger commercial coho harvest sparks concern in Mat-Su
A drift boat rests at anchor in this July 2016 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Conclusion reached in UCIDA lawsuit

The United Cook Inlet Drift Association’s lawsuit against the federal government has finally reached its conclusion, though its repercussions are far from over. Alaska U.S.… Continue reading

A drift boat rests at anchor in this July 2016 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Assembly reaches land deal on Karluk Basin

Four years after flooding led to scrambling and confusion in the Kalifornsky area, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly finally reached an agreement on how flooding… Continue reading

This map, taken from Alaska Communications’ presentation to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, shows the areas eligible for broadband expansion with the funding Alaska Communications received from the Federal Communications Commission. The company plans to expand its broadband internet services on the Kenai Peninsula in stages from 2018&

Alaska Communications plans broadband expansion on peninsula

Residents in the most rural areas of the western peninsula may get access to much better internet connections in the next few years. Alaska Communications,… Continue reading

This map, taken from Alaska Communications’ presentation to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, shows the areas eligible for broadband expansion with the funding Alaska Communications received from the Federal Communications Commission. The company plans to expand its broadband internet services on the Kenai Peninsula in stages from 2018&
Linda Hutchings (second from left), a candidate for Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor, answers a question during a forum with fellow candidates Dale Bagley (center) and Charlie Pierce (right) at the Funny River Community Center on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Mayoral candidates answer questions in forum

Education and the borough budget dominated the conversation at a forum for the three borough mayoral candidates in Funny River on Thursday. In October, Kenai… Continue reading

Linda Hutchings (second from left), a candidate for Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor, answers a question during a forum with fellow candidates Dale Bagley (center) and Charlie Pierce (right) at the Funny River Community Center on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

A look at the borough assembly and mayor races

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show that Dale Bagley represents District 4 on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. Kenai Peninsula Borough voters… Continue reading

Raindrops disturb the surface of the Kenai River as it riffles over a rock near Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Man charged with illegally guiding on Kenai River

A Soldotna-area man is facing charges relating to operating as a commercial sportfishing guide on the Kenai River without the proper permitting and licenses. Alaska… Continue reading

Raindrops disturb the surface of the Kenai River as it riffles over a rock near Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
A salmon leaps above the surface of the Kenai River as it makes its way upstream near Centennial Park on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishing report: Silvers hit Kenai Peninsula rivers, fishing improves

Despite the sunshine, the surface of Resurrection Creek was dark — an enormous school of pink and silver salmon headed up the creek colored the… Continue reading

A salmon leaps above the surface of the Kenai River as it makes its way upstream near Centennial Park on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Bed tax fails, sales tax cap goes to ballot

Kenai Peninsula voters will consider an increase to the cap on taxable sales in the borough this fall. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved a… Continue reading

Students run off some energy before taekwondo class begins at Challenge Martial Arts Studio on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017 in Nikiski, Alaska. The studio, which opened in June, offers taekwondo and kickboxing classes in a renovated studio a few doors down from the M&M Supermarket on the Kenai Spur Highway. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Couple opens taekwondo studio in Nikiski

The theme of the day in the Challenge Martial Arts taekwondo class was self-control, and the students repeated the phrase in chorus while preparing for… Continue reading

Students run off some energy before taekwondo class begins at Challenge Martial Arts Studio on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017 in Nikiski, Alaska. The studio, which opened in June, offers taekwondo and kickboxing classes in a renovated studio a few doors down from the M&M Supermarket on the Kenai Spur Highway. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Commercial fishing boats sit anchored near the mouth of the Kenai River on Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Commercialset gillnet fishermen and drift gillnet fishermen were able to go out for a fishing period Saturday after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game opened an additional period from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Most commercial fishing ends Monday

Most commercial fishing in Upper Cook Inlet ended Monday, with the set gillnet fishermen in the Kasilof section getting one extra day Tuesday. The east… Continue reading

Commercial fishing boats sit anchored near the mouth of the Kenai River on Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Commercialset gillnet fishermen and drift gillnet fishermen were able to go out for a fishing period Saturday after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game opened an additional period from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Welles to resign from assembly

Assembly member Stan Welles has submitted his resignation from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. Welles submitted his resignation in a resolution to be considered by… Continue reading

Raindrops disturb the surface of the Kenai River as it riffles over a rock near Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 near Soldotna, Alaska. The family of a man who went missing after falling into the Kenai River near Soldotna last week is still searching the water and banks downstream for traces of him and plans to continue the search Thursday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Missing man’s family continue search on Kenai River

The family of a man who went missing on the Kenai River last week coordinated a search effort on the river Wednesday to look for… Continue reading

Raindrops disturb the surface of the Kenai River as it riffles over a rock near Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 near Soldotna, Alaska. The family of a man who went missing after falling into the Kenai River near Soldotna last week is still searching the water and banks downstream for traces of him and plans to continue the search Thursday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Fireweed blooms on the banks of the Kenai River in Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Though fireweed is not Alaska’s state flower, the pink blossoms are ubiquitous across the fields of the Kenai Peninsula and elsewhere in the state in the late summer months. The flower actually ranges all across northern North America, growing from sea level up to the alpine zone everywhere from Alaska to Arizona, according to the U.S. Forest Service.The name comes from the perennial plant’s ability to quickly colonize and take over former burn area, according to the Forest Service. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo: Signals of summer

Signals of summer Fireweed blooms on the banks of the Kenai River in Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Though… Continue reading

Fireweed blooms on the banks of the Kenai River in Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Though fireweed is not Alaska’s state flower, the pink blossoms are ubiquitous across the fields of the Kenai Peninsula and elsewhere in the state in the late summer months. The flower actually ranges all across northern North America, growing from sea level up to the alpine zone everywhere from Alaska to Arizona, according to the U.S. Forest Service.The name comes from the perennial plant’s ability to quickly colonize and take over former burn area, according to the Forest Service. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Jordan Goldthwaite, 15, caught this 75 pound halibut Monday, Aug. 7, 2017 while fishing out of Homer, Alaska on his fathers boat, Dad’s Dream. (Photo courtesy Frank Goldthwaite)

Fishing report: River traffic quiets as sockeye taper off, silvers begin

The crowds on the Kenai River fishing docks have thinned out for the time being as the river’s salmon runs transition from red to silver.… Continue reading

Jordan Goldthwaite, 15, caught this 75 pound halibut Monday, Aug. 7, 2017 while fishing out of Homer, Alaska on his fathers boat, Dad’s Dream. (Photo courtesy Frank Goldthwaite)

Nature photographer focuses on hard-to-see birds, plants

From deep in the trees comes the voice of a bird. Even without looking up from his fishing, George Kirsch can identify it by the… Continue reading

A sign warns visitors about a recent bear sighting near the Russian River on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Bears frequent the area, a highly productive sockeye salmon fishery and one of the most popular sportfisheries in the state. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Look out for bears at Russian River

As salmon crowd into the Russian River, so do the people — and the bears. A black bear was spotted at the Russian River Falls… Continue reading

A sign warns visitors about a recent bear sighting near the Russian River on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Bears frequent the area, a highly productive sockeye salmon fishery and one of the most popular sportfisheries in the state. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula gets 6 projects in capital budget

The Kenai Peninsula will get a few projects funded in the Legislature’s fiscal year 2018, the majority of which are in Seward. The Legislature approved… Continue reading

Long live the Salmon Run Series

Long live the Salmon Run Series

The sun peeked through the July clouds just long enough for me and 100 other people to run a few miles through the woods on… Continue reading

Long live the Salmon Run Series