Council member Deborah Sounart speaks during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Council member Deborah Sounart speaks during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD reverses budget cuts after Dunleavy approves one-time funding increase

The additional funding KPBSD will receive includes around $11.4 million in per-student money and $740,000 for student transportation.

Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A map shows the location of the Tustumena Lake fire (large blue circle) near Kasilof, Alaska, on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Courtesy Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection)

Updated: Kasilof fire reported at 20 acres, nearby campgrounds evacuated

The fire near Tustumena Lake in Kasilof was discovered around 3 p.m. Saturday

A map shows the location of the Tustumena Lake fire (large blue circle) near Kasilof, Alaska, on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Courtesy Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection)
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena Bishop and Gov. Mike Dunleavy discuss his veto of an education bill during a press conference March 15, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

State correspondence allotment program to continue unchanged

Alaska Supreme Court sides with state, overturns Superior Court ruling that called program ‘unconstitutional’

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena Bishop and Gov. Mike Dunleavy discuss his veto of an education bill during a press conference March 15, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Assembly member Brent Hibbert speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly tables bed tax, will pick a date for further consideration at next meeting

The resolution says that the proposed borough tax would be “up to” 12%

Assembly member Brent Hibbert speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman talks freshman legislative session, spotlights bills passed

Bjorkman spoke at a joint luncheon of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in June

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is pictured with members of the House Majority after signing the fiscal year 2025 budget bills on June 27 in Anchorage. From left to right: Reps. Stanley Wright, Tom McKay, Thomas Baker, Craig Johnson, Kevin McCabe, Julie Coulombe, and Laddie Shaw. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy signs budget with most education funding intact

Dunleavy cut nearly $12 million that was set to go to school districts, including KPBSD, in outstanding pandemic relief funds

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is pictured with members of the House Majority after signing the fiscal year 2025 budget bills on June 27 in Anchorage. From left to right: Reps. Stanley Wright, Tom McKay, Thomas Baker, Craig Johnson, Kevin McCabe, Julie Coulombe, and Laddie Shaw. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor)
Children help City of Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel cut the ribbon at an event celebrating the installation of a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Municipal Park gets new inclusive seesaw

The seesaw is located in a central location right off the main cement pathway and is low to the ground

Children help City of Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel cut the ribbon at an event celebrating the installation of a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Department of Justice Logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai man pleads guilty to threatening U.S. Senator

Sentencing is set for Oct. 1, where Graham will face up to five years in prison

U.S. Department of Justice Logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central High School stands under clear skies in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough issues contract for new KCHS concession stand

The $733,000 contract covers the cost of the construction of a new building that’s 24 feet by 36 feet

Kenai Central High School stands under clear skies in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Spring Creek employee arrested on drug smuggling allegations

Troopers say he was part of an effort to bring Suboxone strips into the facility.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
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)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Assembly approves $1.4 million contract for roof repair

An ordinance redirecting toward the project unused federal grant funding was approved by the assembly in May

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
A sign warning of a June 28, 2021, bear attack is placed at the head of the Kenai River Trail on Skilak Loop Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown bear hunting on the Kenai Peninsula closed

Brown bear hunting is managed via registration permit

A sign warning of a June 28, 2021, bear attack is placed at the head of the Kenai River Trail on Skilak Loop Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A fisher carries his net across a muddy beach during the opening day of the personal use dipnet fishery at the mouth of the Kasilof River in Alaska, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kasilof River dipnetting opens with crowded beaches, ‘decent’ fishing

Close to 100 nets were in the water at the river’s mouth at around 4 p.m.

A fisher carries his net across a muddy beach during the opening day of the personal use dipnet fishery at the mouth of the Kasilof River in Alaska, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Julia Hanson, design manager for the Sterling Safety Corridor Improvements project, answers questions and takes feedback during a town hall event at the Sterling Community Center in Sterling, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sterling Safety Corridor project leads hear from Sterling residents at 1st town hall

The corridor stretches from near Whistle Hill in Soldotna past Swanson River Road in Sterling

Julia Hanson, design manager for the Sterling Safety Corridor Improvements project, answers questions and takes feedback during a town hall event at the Sterling Community Center in Sterling, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sockeye salmon are gathered together at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Commission rejects permanent use of dipnets in Cook Inlet setnet fisheries

Emergency approval of dipnets will remain effective into September

Sockeye salmon are gathered together at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (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)

Kasilof River dipnetting area widened

The increase in area is justified by high passage of sockeye salmon on the river

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)
The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Bag limits for Kasilof River sockeye salmon doubled

Sport fishers on the Kasilof can harvest six sockeye per day and have 12 in possession once the change is effective

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Sparks glitter away as Grey Wilson, of Wilson’s Proper Edge, sharpens an ax at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘No point in cutting with dull knives’

Market fixture Wilson’s Proper Edge a unique mobile tool-sharpening service

Sparks glitter away as Grey Wilson, of Wilson’s Proper Edge, sharpens an ax at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)