Victoria Petersen

A map show drought conditions through the state of Alaska for the week of Oct. 8, 2019. (U.S. Drought Monitor)

IRS offering tax relief to farmers affected by drought

The peninsula’s ongoing drought saw no changes this week.

A map show drought conditions through the state of Alaska for the week of Oct. 8, 2019. (U.S. Drought Monitor)
Victoria Petersen / Peninsula Clarion                                Newly elected assembly members Tyson Cox, Jesse Bjorkman and Brent Johnson are sworn in during Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting in Soldotna.

Assembly welcomes new members

Tyson Cox, Jesse Bjorkman and Brent Johnson will take their seats at the next meeting.

Victoria Petersen / Peninsula Clarion                                Newly elected assembly members Tyson Cox, Jesse Bjorkman and Brent Johnson are sworn in during Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting in Soldotna.
Soldotna doctor arrested on narcotics charges

Soldotna doctor arrested on narcotics charges

Authorities say Lavern Davidhizar illegally distributed large amounts of opioids and other narcotics

Soldotna doctor arrested on narcotics charges
Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion                                Areas burned by the Swan Lake Fire can be seen from Vista Trail at Upper Skilak Campground on Sunday.

Areas of Chugach forest reopen after fire

The Forest Service is urging hikers to use extreme caution when exploring burned areas of the forest

Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion                                Areas burned by the Swan Lake Fire can be seen from Vista Trail at Upper Skilak Campground on Sunday.
Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association Anne McCabe speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in support of approving employee contracts negotiated last month, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

School board OKs agreement

The agreement for a three-year contract will be effective between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2021.

Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association Anne McCabe speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in support of approving employee contracts negotiated last month, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. The school was recently shuttered and classes combined with Soldotna High School. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

State accepts SoPrep’s closure

The district may not submit a request to reopen Soldotna Prep until seven or more years have passed.

Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. The school was recently shuttered and classes combined with Soldotna High School. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion                                Smoke can be seen rising from areas scarred by the Swan Lake Fire on Sunday on Skilak Loop.

Loans available for businesses affected by Swan Lake Fire

Loans for fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and bills that can’t be paid because of the fire.

Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion                                Smoke can be seen rising from areas scarred by the Swan Lake Fire on Sunday on Skilak Loop.
Love, INC in Soldotna provides homelessness prevention and housing services to people on the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Unincorporated communities to receive state funding

An ordinance appropriating $426,303 for community projects will be considered Tuesday.

Love, INC in Soldotna provides homelessness prevention and housing services to people on the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Educators rally in front of Kenai Central High School after school ahead of a strike called on by two employee associations, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

School board to consider contract agreement

The associations and the district had been negotiating for a contract for nearly 600 days.

Educators rally in front of Kenai Central High School after school ahead of a strike called on by two employee associations, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to vote on changing service board elections to appointments

The borough has 12 service boards, of which seven boards include elected positions.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A special assembly meeting is held at the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Election results to be certified Tuesday

Three new members of the assembly will be sworn in.

A special assembly meeting is held at the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo courtesy of U.S. Drought Monitor

Peninsula drought downgraded

The area’s ongoing drought saw significant improvement this week. The drought was downgraded, according to Thursday’s updated U.S. Drought Monitor map. A majority of the… Continue reading

Photo courtesy of U.S. Drought Monitor
Soldotna City Council members are pictured on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 at Soldotna City Hall in Soldotna, Alaska. The council voted to postpone a resolution that would authorize the city manager to submit a petition to annex to the state’s Local Boundary Commission. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to see new council members, mayor

Soldotna residents should expect changes to their city council in the coming months. Tyson Cox, a current member on the Soldotna City Council, offered his… Continue reading

Soldotna City Council members are pictured on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 at Soldotna City Hall in Soldotna, Alaska. The council voted to postpone a resolution that would authorize the city manager to submit a petition to annex to the state’s Local Boundary Commission. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, at 10 Street and Glacier Avenue, on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

PFD’s impact on state wide-ranging

The check impacts many aspects of socioeconomic life in Alaska.

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, at 10 Street and Glacier Avenue, on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Soldotna City Council members are pictured on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 at Soldotna City Hall in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Early results show Carey besting Parker

Carey took in 300 votes or 54% of the vote, while Parker took in 240 votes, or 43% of the vote.

Soldotna City Council members are pictured on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 at Soldotna City Hall in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Patti Truesdell, a retired teacher, is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education. (Photo courtesy of Truesdell)

Truesdell leads Lockwood in school board race

Truesdell brought in 230 votes or 40% of the vote as of Tuesday night.

Patti Truesdell, a retired teacher, is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education. (Photo courtesy of Truesdell)
Report: Toxic chemical found in water of many Alaska towns

Report: Toxic chemical found in water of many Alaska towns

The toxin has not been found at unsafe levels in Kenai.

Report: Toxic chemical found in water of many Alaska towns
Drought downgraded, more rain needed

Drought downgraded, more rain needed

Between June 1 and Aug. 31, the city of Kenai received 1.73 inches of rainfall.

Drought downgraded, more rain needed
Educators rally in front of Kenai Central High School ahead of a strike slated to begin Tuesday, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Educators approve contract

The results were overwhelmingly in favor of the contract.

Educators rally in front of Kenai Central High School ahead of a strike slated to begin Tuesday, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Victoria Petersen / Peninsula Clarion                                 Borough Residents Against Annexation President Matthew Lay on Thursday encourages the Soldotna City Council to postpone a vote to move forward with annexation efforts until after the city has elected new council members and a new mayor.

Soldotna moves ahead with annexation, exempts K-Beach

The city council approved a substitute resolution, which removes two areas along K-Beach Road.

Victoria Petersen / Peninsula Clarion                                 Borough Residents Against Annexation President Matthew Lay on Thursday encourages the Soldotna City Council to postpone a vote to move forward with annexation efforts until after the city has elected new council members and a new mayor.