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Lemon Creek Correctional Center pictured on April 13, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska prisoners to be sent out of state

Prisons are almost at capacity.

Lemon Creek Correctional Center pictured on April 13, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Community health services available this month

Community health services available this month

Residents can prepare for flu season, discard old medications or donate blood.

Community health services available this month
A map shows the Swanson River Road and Swan Lake Road woodcutting areas. (Image courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Wildlife refuge woodcutting permits available

Cutting is limited to trees that are dead and downed within the designated permit areas.

A map shows the Swanson River Road and Swan Lake Road woodcutting areas. (Image courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
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 finalizes its priorities

The board unanimously passed their 2020 state and federal legislative priorities.

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)
Voter turnout for municipal elections in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, 1991 to 2019, from Kenai Peninsula Borough Election History, in Kenai, Alaska. (Graphic by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Voters largely skip municipal polls

Turnout was lowest since 2012.

Voter turnout for municipal elections in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, 1991 to 2019, from Kenai Peninsula Borough Election History, in Kenai, Alaska. (Graphic by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
File

Schools briefs for the week of Sept. 14-20

What’s happening this week

File
In this Empire file photo, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen, left, speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire in April 2016. Attending the interview with Johnsen is University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor Rick Caulfield. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

No confidence vote, delay shake up University of Alaska

Consolidation backtrack.

In this Empire file photo, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen, left, speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire in April 2016. Attending the interview with Johnsen is University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor Rick Caulfield. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
As climate series wraps up, focus is on solutions

As climate series wraps up, focus is on solutions

The series, hosted by Cook Inletkeeper and KenaiChange, has had six meetings in recent months.

As climate series wraps up, focus is on solutions
Photos by Joey Klecka / Peninsula Clarion A variety of clay kitchenware sits on display at the “Clay on Display” exhibit Wednesday at the Kenai Fine Art Center.

A hobby of a lifetime

“Clay on Display” returns to Kenai arts center

Photos by Joey Klecka / Peninsula Clarion A variety of clay kitchenware sits on display at the “Clay on Display” exhibit Wednesday at the Kenai Fine Art Center.
SEITC Chair Rob Sanderson Jr., center, and Reuben George, of the Sacred Trust, Tsleil-Waututh Nation at the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission meeting at the Lummi Reservation in Ferndale, Wash. (Courtesy photo | Jeff Gibbs)

Indigenous meeting declares ‘salmon emergency’

Meeting of tribes from US and Canada calls for action.

SEITC Chair Rob Sanderson Jr., center, and Reuben George, of the Sacred Trust, Tsleil-Waututh Nation at the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission meeting at the Lummi Reservation in Ferndale, Wash. (Courtesy photo | Jeff Gibbs)
Joey Klecka / Peninsula Clarion The youth cast of “Frozen Jr.” rehearses a scene Wednesday at the Triumvirate North theater in Kenai.

52 ‘Frozen’ kids keep Triumvirate cool

Youth bring Disney hit to life

Joey Klecka / Peninsula Clarion The youth cast of “Frozen Jr.” rehearses a scene Wednesday at the Triumvirate North theater in Kenai.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Service board elections vote delayed

The vote was moved to November in order to allow the service area boards to weigh in.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
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.
Esau Sinnok of Shishmaref, Alaska, speaks at a news conference after the Alaska Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska, in a lawsuit that claims state policy on fossil fuels is harming the constitutional right of young Alaskans to a safe climate. Sinnok and 15 other Alaska youths in 2017 sued the state, claiming that human-caused greenhouse gas emission leading to climate change is creating long-term, dangerous health effects. They lost in Superior Court, but appealed to Alaska’s highest court. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

State Supreme Court hears youth climate suit

16 youth claim long-term effects of climate change will interfere with their constitutional rights.

  • Oct 9, 2019
  • By Dan Joling Associated Press
Esau Sinnok of Shishmaref, Alaska, speaks at a news conference after the Alaska Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska, in a lawsuit that claims state policy on fossil fuels is harming the constitutional right of young Alaskans to a safe climate. Sinnok and 15 other Alaska youths in 2017 sued the state, claiming that human-caused greenhouse gas emission leading to climate change is creating long-term, dangerous health effects. They lost in Superior Court, but appealed to Alaska’s highest court. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
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)
(Marc Lester / Anchorage Daily News From left, Bristol Bay Reserve Association Board member Mike LaRussa, Bristol Bay Native Association President/CEO Ralph Andersen, Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association Executive Director Andy Wink, United Tribes of Bristol Bay Deputy Director Lindsay Layland, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Norm Van Vactor, and Robin Samuelson of Bristol Bay Native Corporation, make statements Tuesday at the Federal Courthouse in Anchorage. Critics of the Pebble Mine planned near headwaters of a major Alaska salmon fishery are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saying EPA improperly withdrew proposed restrictions on development in that region. via AP)

EPA sued over mine restrictions

The lawsuit alleges EPA has failed to provide a “reasoned explanation” for its change in position.

  • Oct 8, 2019
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
(Marc Lester / Anchorage Daily News From left, Bristol Bay Reserve Association Board member Mike LaRussa, Bristol Bay Native Association President/CEO Ralph Andersen, Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association Executive Director Andy Wink, United Tribes of Bristol Bay Deputy Director Lindsay Layland, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Norm Van Vactor, and Robin Samuelson of Bristol Bay Native Corporation, make statements Tuesday at the Federal Courthouse in Anchorage. Critics of the Pebble Mine planned near headwaters of a major Alaska salmon fishery are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saying EPA improperly withdrew proposed restrictions on development in that region. via AP)