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Newly appointed Soldotna City Council member Chera Wackler (center) participates in her first council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council appoints Wackler to vacancy

In all, four people threw their hat in the ring for consideration for the term

Newly appointed Soldotna City Council member Chera Wackler (center) participates in her first council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dr. April Walgenbach stands in one of the examination rooms at Peninsula Community Health Services Eye Clinic in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

SoHi grad leads eye clinic at PCHS

Throughout her education, Dr. April Walgenbach said she always intended to return to her hometown

Dr. April Walgenbach stands in one of the examination rooms at Peninsula Community Health Services Eye Clinic in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who has held the seat since 2019, was elected to the Alaska Senate last year. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who has held the seat since 2019, was elected to the Alaska Senate last year. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Kenai/Prince William Sound Superintendent Jack Blackwell fields questions about the Kasilof River Drift Boat Retrieval project at the Gilman River Center on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Construction of Kasilof boat retrieval to begin this summer

Efforts to build a public takeout facility on the lower Kasilof River began in 2011

Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Kenai/Prince William Sound Superintendent Jack Blackwell fields questions about the Kasilof River Drift Boat Retrieval project at the Gilman River Center on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Angie Brennan directs swimmers as they prepare for a workout set during a Top of the World Swimming practice on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. Brennan will be in the water instructing for Adult Learn to Swim. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Adult swim lessons return next month

Adult Learn to Swim is for any non-swimmer or beginner swimmer 18 or older who would like to learn the basics of swimming

Angie Brennan directs swimmers as they prepare for a workout set during a Top of the World Swimming practice on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. Brennan will be in the water instructing for Adult Learn to Swim. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education convenes on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School district forecasts $13.1M budget deficit

The deficit stems from total expenditures exceeding anticipated revenue and a reduction in funding from the State of Alaska

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education convenes on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Statewide cases and hospitalizations up

That makes the largest increase reported since Sept. 14

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Anthime “Baked Alaska” Gionet, who livestreamed himself storming the U.S. Capitol in Jan. 6, arrives at federal court in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Capitol riot far-right internet personality gets 60 days

Gionet incriminated himself and other rioters with the video that he streamed to a live audience of roughly 16,000 followers

  • Jan 10, 2023
  • By Michael Kunzelman Associated Press
  • State News
Anthime “Baked Alaska” Gionet, who livestreamed himself storming the U.S. Capitol in Jan. 6, arrives at federal court in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Shawnda O’Brien, the just-departed state Director of the Division of Public Assistance, talks Dec. 27 about the problems that are resulting in months-long backlogs in processing applications for benefits commonly referred to as food stamps. Her departure as director was announced Monday following weeks of widespread media coverage about the backlog that is expected to take additional months to resolve. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Head of state’s troubled food stamps program replaced

Director of the Division of Public Assistance departs in wake of months-long backlog.

Shawnda O’Brien, the just-departed state Director of the Division of Public Assistance, talks Dec. 27 about the problems that are resulting in months-long backlogs in processing applications for benefits commonly referred to as food stamps. Her departure as director was announced Monday following weeks of widespread media coverage about the backlog that is expected to take additional months to resolve. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Megan Pacer / Homer News file
Grace Fleming of Seward competes in the seal hop March 7, 2020, during the Kachemak Bay Traditional Games, a Native Youth Olympics invitational, at Homer High School.

Native Youth Olympics Invitational to kick off season this weekend

Native Youth Olympics are a series of events derived from traditional Alaska Native feats of athleticism

Megan Pacer / Homer News file
Grace Fleming of Seward competes in the seal hop March 7, 2020, during the Kachemak Bay Traditional Games, a Native Youth Olympics invitational, at Homer High School.
The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory Committee supports expansion of wolverine hunting, rejects trapping restrictions

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee met Monday

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sheree Van Natta speaks to a voter at the Kenai Mall, polling place for Precinct 3 voters, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Register by Sunday to vote in special mayoral election

The special election was necessitated by the resignation of former Mayor Charlie Pierce

Sheree Van Natta speaks to a voter at the Kenai Mall, polling place for Precinct 3 voters, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign warning of crossing moose is seen on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Study analyzes moose-vehicle collision risks, with results that could be used to improve road safety

Now a new study has quantified collisions and produced statistical analysis

  • Jan 9, 2023
  • By Yereth Rosen Alaska Beacon
  • State News
A sign warning of crossing moose is seen on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Alaska State Capitol is photographed in Juneau, Alaska. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Anchorage Democrat meets residency rules, judge says

The challenge was brought by Republican Liz Vazquez, who lost the Anchorage House race to Armstrong

The Alaska State Capitol is photographed in Juneau, Alaska. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A new sign welcomes people to the City of Soldotna stands near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Kenai River on May 1, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to use $20k grant for arts and culture master plan

The council last summer approved legislation supporting the creation of the master plan

A new sign welcomes people to the City of Soldotna stands near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Kenai River on May 1, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council members thank outgoing council member Justin Ruffridge for his years of service to the city during a council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska.. Ruffridge was elected last month to the Alaska Legislature. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

4 vie for vacant Soldotna council seat

City council members will interview applicants Wednesday

Soldotna City Council members thank outgoing council member Justin Ruffridge for his years of service to the city during a council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska.. Ruffridge was elected last month to the Alaska Legislature. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

City manager to take over parking rules in Kenai

Kenai Municipal Code currently prohibits parking on city streets between 4-8 a.m. from Oct. 1 to May 1 of the following year

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A rainbow trout is released in a restocking event at the 21st annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration in Kasilof on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game taking public comment on stocking plan for local waters

The 2023 Stocking Plan outlines the locations, numbers, sizes and life stages for each species of fish that will be stocked

A rainbow trout is released in a restocking event at the 21st annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration in Kasilof on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
This photo shows the TikTok icon on a phone screen. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Gov. Dunleavy bans TikTok from state devices

Alaska is the 22nd state to take action against the social media platform for perceived security risks

This photo shows the TikTok icon on a phone screen. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
In this Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 photo, a black bear checks out his surroundings in Granite Basin in Juneau, Alaska. The National Park Service is proposing a rule that would prohibit bear baiting in national preserves in Alaska, the latest in a dispute over what animal rights supporters call a cruel practice. The park service said Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 it is proposing a rule barring bear baiting in national preserves in Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Hunter bear bait ban proposed for Alaska national preserves

The agency will be taking public comments on the proposal

  • Jan 7, 2023
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
  • State News
In this Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 photo, a black bear checks out his surroundings in Granite Basin in Juneau, Alaska. The National Park Service is proposing a rule that would prohibit bear baiting in national preserves in Alaska, the latest in a dispute over what animal rights supporters call a cruel practice. The park service said Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 it is proposing a rule barring bear baiting in national preserves in Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)