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Soldotna City Council candidates Lisa Parker, Pamela Parker and Dave Carey speak to members of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at the Soldotna Sports Complex on Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council hopefuls speak out

Candidates discuss annexation, economic growth and future plans.

Soldotna City Council candidates Lisa Parker, Pamela Parker and Dave Carey speak to members of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at the Soldotna Sports Complex on Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and two employee associations — The Kenai Peninsula Borough Education Association and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Education Support Association — negotiate for a new contract on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019, at the Soldotna High School Library, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Threat to union shuts down contract talks

Law enforcement was notified of the threat.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and two employee associations — The Kenai Peninsula Borough Education Association and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Education Support Association — negotiate for a new contract on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019, at the Soldotna High School Library, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Mayor Nels Anderson speaks to a crowd Tuesday March 19, 2013 during a candidate forum hosted by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at the Soldotna Sports Center. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion)

Community mourns Soldotna Mayor Nels Anderson

Anderson passed away Tuesday morning, according to a shared Facebook post from the mayor’s son.

Soldotna Mayor Nels Anderson speaks to a crowd Tuesday March 19, 2013 during a candidate forum hosted by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at the Soldotna Sports Center. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion)
The industrial area of Nikiski, featuring a refinery and currently mothballed LNG and fertilizer plants, was selected by the producer-led consortium of the Alaska LNG Project before the state took over in 2017. (Photo/File/AJOC)

Community to weigh in on LNG draft EIS Wednesday

The meeting is at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the Nikiski Recreation Center.

The industrial area of Nikiski, featuring a refinery and currently mothballed LNG and fertilizer plants, was selected by the producer-led consortium of the Alaska LNG Project before the state took over in 2017. (Photo/File/AJOC)
Courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management                                A rainbow can be seen next to rising smoke from the Swan Lake Fire in this photo released Thursday, Sept. 5.

Northern Rockies Type 2 Team takes over Swan Lake Fire

The fire experienced another day of little activity Monday.

Courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management                                A rainbow can be seen next to rising smoke from the Swan Lake Fire in this photo released Thursday, Sept. 5.
Megan Pacer / Homer News                                School employees, community members and members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education listen to a presentation on Voznesenka and Kachemak Selo schools during a Monday meeting of the school board at Homer High School.

School board hears teacher concerns on contract, health care

Several people commented that the current model for health care is not working for many teachers.

Megan Pacer / Homer News                                School employees, community members and members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education listen to a presentation on Voznesenka and Kachemak Selo schools during a Monday meeting of the school board at Homer High School.
Members of a public transportation workgroup discuss the five-year transit service plan presented by CARTS Executive Director Jennifer Beckmann and board president Gary Katsion at the Soldotna Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Local transit provider looks at opportunities for expansion

CARTS explores increasing services but needs more funding from local governments.

Members of a public transportation workgroup discuss the five-year transit service plan presented by CARTS Executive Director Jennifer Beckmann and board president Gary Katsion at the Soldotna Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Students in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District performed better than the state average on state assessments. (Graphic by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

District performance above state average

The assessments took place this spring, with about 76,400 students across the state participating.

Students in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District performed better than the state average on state assessments. (Graphic by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Burn suspension lifted

Burn suspension lifted

Permits can be obtained online at forestry.alaska.gov/burn and at local fire departments.

Burn suspension lifted
The updated Swan Lake Fire map shows the fire, which is measured to be nearly 164,000 acres, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management)

Public lands reopened as crews make progress on Swan Lake Fire

The fire is measured to be about 163,686 acres and is 37% contained.

The updated Swan Lake Fire map shows the fire, which is measured to be nearly 164,000 acres, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management)
Peninsula residents and firefighters enjoy a meal together during the first responder appreciation barbecue at Soldotna Creek Park on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Community applauds firefighting crews

The event featured free hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled salmon and homemade desserts.

Peninsula residents and firefighters enjoy a meal together during the first responder appreciation barbecue at Soldotna Creek Park on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A single-use plastic bag hangs on a driftwood branch at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit on Oct. 5,2018, in Homer, Alaska. It appeared someone had reused the bag to collect dog poop but then left the bag on the beach. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Plastic bag ban proposition is back before Homer voters

Anchorage, Soldotna, Kodiak, Hooper Bay, Bethel, Palmer, Unalaska and Wasilla have also banned bags.

  • Sep 9, 2019
  • By Lori Evans For the Homer News
A single-use plastic bag hangs on a driftwood branch at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit on Oct. 5,2018, in Homer, Alaska. It appeared someone had reused the bag to collect dog poop but then left the bag on the beach. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion                                Construction equipment can be seen on the Sterling Highway on Saturday.

Construction crews on Sterling Highway making up for lost time

Closures caused by the Swan Lake Fire hindered progress for about two weeks

Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion                                Construction equipment can be seen on the Sterling Highway on Saturday.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District employees hold signs for a fair contract at Thursday’s special board of education meeting, May 16, 2019, In Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

School board to mull educators’ contract proposal

The proposal will be considered by the school board Monday.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District employees hold signs for a fair contract at Thursday’s special board of education meeting, May 16, 2019, In Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Megan Pacer/Homer News                                A harbor seal swims into the waters of Kachemak Bay after being released back into the wild by the Alaska SeaLife Center on Thursday at Bishop’s Beach in Homer. The center released two harbor seals Thursday after rehabilitating them through the Wildlife Response Program. The seals were found neglected on Homer area beaches along Kachemak Bay this May.

Harbor seals released by SeaLife Center into Kachemak Bay

Ugashik “ Uggy” and Charley Fritz were found neglected by their mothers.

Megan Pacer/Homer News                                A harbor seal swims into the waters of Kachemak Bay after being released back into the wild by the Alaska SeaLife Center on Thursday at Bishop’s Beach in Homer. The center released two harbor seals Thursday after rehabilitating them through the Wildlife Response Program. The seals were found neglected on Homer area beaches along Kachemak Bay this May.
A map provided by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows areas of Alaska experiencing drought conditions. (Image courtesy U.S. Drought Monitor)

Drought conditions stay, despite some rain

More rain fell the first three days of September than in the entire month of August.

A map provided by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows areas of Alaska experiencing drought conditions. (Image courtesy U.S. Drought Monitor)
Troopers release statistics from latest DUI enforcement campaign

Troopers release statistics from latest DUI enforcement campaign

State and wildlife troopers issued 1186 citations between Aug. 14 and Sept. 2

Troopers release statistics from latest DUI enforcement campaign
Mark Thiessen / associated press                                 Vic Fischer (left), Meda DeWitt (center) and Aaron Welterlen, leaders of an effort to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy, await paperwork at the Alaska Division of Elections office in Anchorage on Thursday. Recall organizers say they submitted 49,006 signatures in an attempt to force the recall election of the first-term governor.

Recall Dunleavy campaign submits 49,000 signatures

If the application is certified, it would trigger another signature-gathering phase.

  • Sep 6, 2019
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
Mark Thiessen / associated press                                 Vic Fischer (left), Meda DeWitt (center) and Aaron Welterlen, leaders of an effort to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy, await paperwork at the Alaska Division of Elections office in Anchorage on Thursday. Recall organizers say they submitted 49,006 signatures in an attempt to force the recall election of the first-term governor.
Sterling man arrested in 2001 sexual assault case

Sterling man arrested in 2001 sexual assault case

Authorities say DNA from the sexual assault kit matched the man’s DNA profile

Sterling man arrested in 2001 sexual assault case
Victoria Petersen / Peninsula Clarion                                 A message opposing annexation is visible on an electronic sign at Lucky Raven Tobacco, located inside one of the proposed areas for annexation near Soldotna on Thursday.

Community to weigh in on Soldotna annexation

The city is holding a public hearing at 2 p.m., Saturday at Soldotna High School.

Victoria Petersen / Peninsula Clarion                                 A message opposing annexation is visible on an electronic sign at Lucky Raven Tobacco, located inside one of the proposed areas for annexation near Soldotna on Thursday.