Supporters of Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, wave signs on the side of the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, during the Alaska Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Supporters of Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, wave signs on the side of the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, during the Alaska Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Community Ride for Parking Policy Change rolls along Nikishka Beach Road in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski parents organize drive in search of looser ATV policy

Organizers are hoping to see change in the school’s parking policy to allow students to ride their ATVs or other off-road vehicles to school

The Community Ride for Parking Policy Change rolls along Nikishka Beach Road in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Briar Oden is the first to start pushing a new ambulance into the garage at the Kenai Public Safety Building in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Fire Department puts new ambulances into service

Ambulances are used for 80% of the department’s calls

Briar Oden is the first to start pushing a new ambulance into the garage at the Kenai Public Safety Building in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs Senate Bill 179, while Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, right, stands by on Aug. 13, 2024. (Photo provided by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman)

Bjorkman property tax bill signed into law

The bill cuts property taxes for farmers and prevents transfer taxes on the sale of houses

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs Senate Bill 179, while Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, right, stands by on Aug. 13, 2024. (Photo provided by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Troopers Joseph Miller Jr. and Jason Woodruff are seen as K9 Olex bites Ben Tikka in a screenshot from body camera footage taken in Kenai, Alaska, on May 24, 2024. (Photo provided by Alaska Department of Law)

Assault charges brought against 2 Soldotna troopers after man mauled, beaten during arrest

Officers approached the man after mistaking him for his cousin

Troopers Joseph Miller Jr. and Jason Woodruff are seen as K9 Olex bites Ben Tikka in a screenshot from body camera footage taken in Kenai, Alaska, on May 24, 2024. (Photo provided by Alaska Department of Law)
The Kenai Courthouse is photographed on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna man found guilty of attempted indecent viewing of minors

Isaac Davis was arrested in 2022 for photographing women and girls at Skyview Middle School pool

The Kenai Courthouse is photographed on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A ballot partition is at the Kenai No. 2 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska primary election is on Tuesday

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A ballot partition is at the Kenai No. 2 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, cities support effort for direct Seattle air route

The City of Kenai last month applied for a grant that would provide financial incentives for an air carriers to establish the route

The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Moderator Merrill Sikorski and organizer Robert Wall introduce a debate between Rep. Ben Carpenter and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, both R-Nikiski, organized by the District 8 Alaska Republican Party at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman, Carpenter meet for debate hosted by local Republicans

More than 100 people turned out to hear the Nikiski lawmakers talk policy ahead of next week’s primary election

Moderator Merrill Sikorski and organizer Robert Wall introduce a debate between Rep. Ben Carpenter and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, both R-Nikiski, organized by the District 8 Alaska Republican Party at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Voters fill out their ballots at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, Alaska on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Candidates report fundraising totals ahead of primary election

Incumbents still show strong leads in campaign fundraising in all but the race for House District 6

Voters fill out their ballots at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, Alaska on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward expands hours when alcohol may be sold

The ordinance changes code to say that alcohol cannot be sold between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Skilak Lake can be seen from Hideout Trail in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on July 5, 2020, in Alaska. (Photograph by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Air National Guard rescues 3 hunters Sunday on Kenai Peninsula

The hunters were rescued in two separate incidents

Skilak Lake can be seen from Hideout Trail in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on July 5, 2020, in Alaska. (Photograph by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Organizer Alana Martin looses the racers for the Brewery to Bathroom .5K “The Race for the Rest of Us” at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Brewery to Bathroom brings in $6,000 to combat cancer

The annual event is a sort-of parody of 5K charity runs

Organizer Alana Martin looses the racers for the Brewery to Bathroom .5K “The Race for the Rest of Us” at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Realtor of the Year Amanda Davis, center, stands with Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors President Randy Work and 2022 Realtor of the Year Natalia Aulenbacher on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo provided by Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors)

Local association names Realtor of the Year

Davis said Tuesday that she was surprised to win the award and be recognized by the people she works with

Realtor of the Year Amanda Davis, center, stands with Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors President Randy Work and 2022 Realtor of the Year Natalia Aulenbacher on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo provided by Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors)
An Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulatory marker is seen at the outlet of Skilak Lake near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River restriction on multiple hooks extended

A restriction on the use of multiple hooks on the Kenai River was extended via emergency order by the State Department of Fish and Game… Continue reading

An Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulatory marker is seen at the outlet of Skilak Lake near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Oil and Gas Association President Kara Moriarty speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Oil and Gas Association touts forecast of high production at chamber luncheon

The industry forecasts a production rate of more than 600,000 barrels a day by the early 2030s

Alaska Oil and Gas Association President Kara Moriarty speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jerry Martens holds up a 14.33 pound silver salmon on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Seward, Alaska. On Monday, that silver was the largest fish caught in the 69th Annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby and also outweighs last year’s winning catch. (Photo provided by Seward Chamber of Commerce)

Seward Silver Salmon Derby continues through Sunday

The 69th Annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby kicked off on Saturday and has already seen nearly 600 fishers participate. The derby runs every day from… Continue reading

Jerry Martens holds up a 14.33 pound silver salmon on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Seward, Alaska. On Monday, that silver was the largest fish caught in the 69th Annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby and also outweighs last year’s winning catch. (Photo provided by Seward Chamber of Commerce)
Teague Vanek barbecues salmon during Industry Appreciation Day festivities at the Kenai softball greenstrip in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Industry Appreciation Day returns Saturday

Industry Appreciation Day, an annual celebration of a selection of local industries — oil and gas, commercial fishing, tourism and health care — will return… Continue reading

Teague Vanek barbecues salmon during Industry Appreciation Day festivities at the Kenai softball greenstrip in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
City Manager Terry Eubank responds to questions during a work session of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Public Safety Building’s communications tower to see upgrades

Kenai City Council approves ‘innovative procurement’ to award contract and end delays for police radio improvements

City Manager Terry Eubank responds to questions during a work session of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)