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Mount Spurr, raised to advisory on the Volcano Alert Level, can be seen in yellow northwest of the Kenai Peninsula. (Map courtesy Alaska Volcano Observatory/U.S. Department of the Interior)

Seismic activity at Mount Spurr prompts ‘advisory’ status, no eruption imminent

The mountain is located across Cook Inlet north of the Kenai Peninsula

Mount Spurr, raised to advisory on the Volcano Alert Level, can be seen in yellow northwest of the Kenai Peninsula. (Map courtesy Alaska Volcano Observatory/U.S. Department of the Interior)
Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion Alaska State House District 7 candidate Ron Gillham, left, and Rep. Justin Ruffridge participate in the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday.

Ruffridge, Gillham talk school funding, natural gas pipeline and state finance at forum

Justin Ruffridge and Ron Gillham, the two candidates for the District 7 seat in the Alaska House of Representatives, met Monday to discuss education, energy… Continue reading

Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion Alaska State House District 7 candidate Ron Gillham, left, and Rep. Justin Ruffridge participate in the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday.
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)

CFEC to again consider dipnets as gear for commercial setnet fisheries

The commission is responding to “new petitions” for the gear to be added

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)
Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board, district explore effects and uses of generative AI

AI advocate spoke to KPBSD Board of Education and teachers last week

Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Administrative Secretary Nikkol Sipes administers oaths of office to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Kelley Cizek and Sarah Douthit on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Cizek was reelected to represent Sterling and Funny River, Douthit was elected to represent Kenai during the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Education swears in members, assigns leadership roles

The board held to a status quo organization

Administrative Secretary Nikkol Sipes administers oaths of office to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Kelley Cizek and Sarah Douthit on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Cizek was reelected to represent Sterling and Funny River, Douthit was elected to represent Kenai during the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Downed trees are seen in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in September 2020. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Refuge opens for firewood collection Tuesday

Only trees that are dead and down within designated areas may be cut

Downed trees are seen in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in September 2020. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Metal reinforcements line the front of the Kenai Bluff at North Kenai Beach, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Construction of expanded seawall underway at Kenai Beach

The work is being undertaken by a group of property owners, with blessing from the City of Kenai

Metal reinforcements line the front of the Kenai Bluff at North Kenai Beach, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Clerk Johni Blankenship, right, administers oaths of office to Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings and Jordan Chilson during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna certifies election results

Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings and Jordan Chilson reelected to city council

Soldotna City Clerk Johni Blankenship, right, administers oaths of office to Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings and Jordan Chilson during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski), left, and Alaska House Rep. Ben Carpenter (R-Nikiski) participate in the Senate District D candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman, Carpenter talk economy, energy, education at forum

Whoever is elected to the seat will serve a four-year term ending in January 2029

Alaska State Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski), left, and Alaska House Rep. Ben Carpenter (R-Nikiski) participate in the Senate District D candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A voter fills out their ballot at the Kenai No. 2 Precinct in the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Campaign spending picks up ahead of general election

Electoral candidates were required to file disclosure forms 30 days before the election

A voter fills out their ballot at the Kenai No. 2 Precinct in the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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Lord wins mayor’s race

The Election Canvass Board certified City of Homer election results on Friday

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Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Spend plan moves forward for 2021 and 2022 setnet fishery disasters

The National Marine Fisheries Service in June allocated $11,484,675 to address losses from the 2021 and 2022 fisheries

Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough Clerk Michele Turner administers oaths of office to Cindy Ecklund and James Baisden during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. Ecklund was reelected and Baisden was elected to the assembly during the Oct. 1 election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough assembly certifies election; Baisden and Ecklund are sworn in

Cindy Ecklund won reelection; James Baisden was newly elected

Borough Clerk Michele Turner administers oaths of office to Cindy Ecklund and James Baisden during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. Ecklund was reelected and Baisden was elected to the assembly during the Oct. 1 election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Well over 50 people enjoy the Nikiski Pool during a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the North Peninsula Recreation Service Area in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly adds funds to project to replace Nikiski Pool water line

Increased complexities stem from a lack of information about how the pool’s water systems are put together

Well over 50 people enjoy the Nikiski Pool during a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the North Peninsula Recreation Service Area in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A spruce bark beetle is seen on the underside of a piece of bark taken from logs stacked near Central Peninsula Landfill on Thursday, July 1, 2021, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Prescribed burns will produce visible smoke near highways

Burns are part of ongoing spruce beetle mitigation efforts

A spruce bark beetle is seen on the underside of a piece of bark taken from logs stacked near Central Peninsula Landfill on Thursday, July 1, 2021, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game comments on local proposals to Board of Fisheries ahead of work session

The requests ask the board hear fishing regulation proposals outside of their three-year cycle

Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Lisa Gabriel, left, watches as beach seine nets are pulled from the waters of Cook Inlet at a test site for the gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Council throws support behind beach seine request to Board of Fisheries

Agenda change requests are proposals to the board to hear an issue outside of the board’s three-year cycle

Lisa Gabriel, left, watches as beach seine nets are pulled from the waters of Cook Inlet at a test site for the gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A bike rack and repair station are seen outside of the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to install bike racks, repair stations

Kenai River Marathon proceeds will fund the project

A bike rack and repair station are seen outside of the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Flyer for the 2024 Candidate Forum Series by KDLL 91.9 FM and the Peninsula Clarion. (Ashlyn O’Hara/KDLL 91.9)

Clarion and KDLL forums return this month for state races

Senate District D forum set for Monday with Bjorkman and Carpenter

Flyer for the 2024 Candidate Forum Series by KDLL 91.9 FM and the Peninsula Clarion. (Ashlyn O’Hara/KDLL 91.9)
Board of Education candidate Sarah Douthit and her supporters wave signs at the side of the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Uncontested races define municipal election

Preliminary results show few surprises, little support for South Peninsula Hospital bond

Board of Education candidate Sarah Douthit and her supporters wave signs at the side of the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)