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Joel Isaak speaks during a Celebration of Life for Dr. Alan Boraas at Kenai Peninsula College on Jan. 17, 2020. Isaak was named deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development on Friday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Local Dena’ina linguist named DEED deputy commissioner

Joel Isaak teaches Dena’ina at Kenai Peninsula College and works as a linguist for the Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Joel Isaak speaks during a Celebration of Life for Dr. Alan Boraas at Kenai Peninsula College on Jan. 17, 2020. Isaak was named deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development on Friday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Airplane wreckage sits in brush on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, near Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo via National Transportation Safety Board)

Dash-cam video shows plane inverted, spinning before Anchor Point crash

The Dec. 8 crash killed 2

Airplane wreckage sits in brush on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, near Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo via National Transportation Safety Board)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Former Soldotna-based trooper sentenced for attempted sexual abuse of a minor

63-year-old Vance Peronto was sentenced to eight years in prison with four suspended

Alaska State Troopers logo.
From left: Kylie Wilcox, Bernard Wilcox and Milton Wilcox sit behind the books Milton teaches as humanities at Kenai Classical School on Wednesday in Kenai. Kylie’s New Year’s resolution for 2024 is to read all of the book’s on Milton’s high school syllabus. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Reading with New Year’s resolve

Soldotna woman resolves to read the books on her husband’s class syllabi

From left: Kylie Wilcox, Bernard Wilcox and Milton Wilcox sit behind the books Milton teaches as humanities at Kenai Classical School on Wednesday in Kenai. Kylie’s New Year’s resolution for 2024 is to read all of the book’s on Milton’s high school syllabus. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers flank the casket of Kenai Police Officer John Watson during a memorial service on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003 in Kenai, Alaska. (Joseph Robertia/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai marks 20 years since death of police officer killed in the line of duty

Police Officer John Watson was killed while responding to a domestic violence call on Christmas Day

Alaska State Troopers flank the casket of Kenai Police Officer John Watson during a memorial service on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003 in Kenai, Alaska. (Joseph Robertia/Peninsula Clarion)
Mount Redoubt volcano can be seen across Cook Inlet from the shores of South Kenai Beach, in Kenai, Alaska, on April 10, 2022. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources in January reported demand for Cook Inlet gas could outpace supply as early as 2027 without additional development in the basin’s active fields. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Mayors’ coalition to assess energy needs as Cook Inlet natural gas shortage looms

The group includes peninsula borough and city mayors

Mount Redoubt volcano can be seen across Cook Inlet from the shores of South Kenai Beach, in Kenai, Alaska, on April 10, 2022. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources in January reported demand for Cook Inlet gas could outpace supply as early as 2027 without additional development in the basin’s active fields. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A vehicle is surrounded by avalanche debris along the Seward Highway on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Christmas Eve avalanche severs travel along Seward Highway

The road was closed for several hours

A vehicle is surrounded by avalanche debris along the Seward Highway on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
A moose is seen on Murwood Avenue in Soldotna Alaska on Tuesday, Oct 25, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Man attacked by moose on Soldotna trail

A man was injured after a “run-in” with a moose at Tsalteshi Trails near the Wolverine Trailhead near Kalifornsky Beach Road

A moose is seen on Murwood Avenue in Soldotna Alaska on Tuesday, Oct 25, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Multiple agencies respond to reports of employee with handgun in borough building

35-year old Lucas Thein was arrested on unrelated domestic assault charges

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
An array of Christmas lights brighten up the night outside the home of Gary Hale in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A season for lights

Residents brighten up the night with elaborate Christmas decorations

An array of Christmas lights brighten up the night outside the home of Gary Hale in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A spruce tree seeps sap outside of the Kenai Post Office on Friday, July 2, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to fell more beetle-killed trees

The trees are especially vulnerable to wildfires and are prone to falling over during high wind events

A spruce tree seeps sap outside of the Kenai Post Office on Friday, July 2, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council OKs new personal property tax exemption

The ordinance takes effect Jan. 19

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward man acquitted in 2019 double-homicide case

The man was accused of shooting and killing 28-year-old Dustin Marx and 40-year-old Michael White inside of their van

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai resident Barbara Kennedy testifies in support of allowing more city residents to own chickens during a city council meeting on Wednesday, Feb.1, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai again debates future of remote participation in city meetings

The discussion comes two months after a hacker disrupted a council meeting

Kenai resident Barbara Kennedy testifies in support of allowing more city residents to own chickens during a city council meeting on Wednesday, Feb.1, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Luminaria light the path of the Third Annual StarLight StarBright winter solstice skiing fundraiser at the Kenai Golf Course in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Illuminating the darkest night

StarLight StarBright winter solstice skiing fundraiser benefits the American Cancer Society

Luminaria light the path of the Third Annual StarLight StarBright winter solstice skiing fundraiser at the Kenai Golf Course in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on February 26, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)

Kenai resident pleads guilty to 2020 homicide

He was sentenced to 70 years, with 35 suspended

Kenai Courthouse is photographed on February 26, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Soldotna city council members, staff and residents break ground on the Soldotna Field House project on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula groups among Rasmuson grant awardees

The City of Soldotna, Love INC and Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiatives will receive $770,000 in grant funds

Soldotna city council members, staff and residents break ground on the Soldotna Field House project on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Santa Claus joins children for some hockey action during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai on Monday.

Skating with Santa

Santa Claus arrived on an ATV and hit the ice himself, skating, playing hockey and greeting children

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Santa Claus joins children for some hockey action during A Day with the Clauses festivities at Daubenspeck Park in Kenai on Monday.
Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Madyson Knudsen a bandage at the Kenai Public Health Center after the 10-year-old received her first COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

Department of Health urges flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines

Only 18.5% of Alaskans have received a flu vaccine as of last week

Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Madyson Knudsen a bandage at the Kenai Public Health Center after the 10-year-old received her first COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Cassidi Cameron, left, and Tim Dillon stand in Dillon’s office at the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District on Dec. 12 near Kenai.

KPEDD director prepares to pass the torch

Tim Dillon to step down as head of the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District at the end of the month

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Cassidi Cameron, left, and Tim Dillon stand in Dillon’s office at the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District on Dec. 12 near Kenai.