News

Snow surrounds playground equipment at the softball greenstrip on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. The structure is being replaced this year. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to replace greenstrip playground

The park’s existing playground structure was installed in 1995 and has exceeded its usable lifespan

Snow surrounds playground equipment at the softball greenstrip on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. The structure is being replaced this year. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Brent Sass heads down the Yukon River between Ruby and Galena, Alaska, on March 13, 2020, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Only 33 mushers will participate in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod on Saturday, March 4, the smallest field ever. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)

Iditarod begins with smallest field ever

Only 33 mushers will participate in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday

Brent Sass heads down the Yukon River between Ruby and Galena, Alaska, on March 13, 2020, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Only 33 mushers will participate in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod on Saturday, March 4, the smallest field ever. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)
Map showing the proposed boundary changes for Kenai Peninsula Borough districts 2 and 3. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Assembly OKs new district boundaries

The affirmative vote marked the end of a lengthy reapportionment and redistricting process

Map showing the proposed boundary changes for Kenai Peninsula Borough districts 2 and 3. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Promotional flyer for the Indigenous Language Film Festival (Image courtesy KPBSD Title VI)

Indigenous languages featured in school film festival

The festival was designed to promote and increase the visibility of Indigenous languages

Promotional flyer for the Indigenous Language Film Festival (Image courtesy KPBSD Title VI)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Cases and hospitalizations fall statewide and in Kenai Peninsula Borough

21 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in Alaska

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
This 2019 aerial photo provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope. The Biden administration is weighing approval of a major oil project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope that supporters say represents an economic lifeline for Indigenous communities in the region but environmentalists say is counter to Biden’s climate goals. A decision on ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Willow project, in a federal oil reserve roughly the size of Indiana, could come by early March 2023. (ConocoPhillips via AP, File)

Biden faces dilemma in fight over Willow project

A decision on ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Willow project could come by early March

  • Feb 28, 2023
  • By Becky Bohrer and Matthew Brown Associated Press
  • State News
This 2019 aerial photo provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope. The Biden administration is weighing approval of a major oil project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope that supporters say represents an economic lifeline for Indigenous communities in the region but environmentalists say is counter to Biden’s climate goals. A decision on ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Willow project, in a federal oil reserve roughly the size of Indiana, could come by early March 2023. (ConocoPhillips via AP, File)
A grader moves down First Avenue in Kenai, Alaska, during a snow storm on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Snow pummels peninsula, with more to come

The advisory, in effect until 12 p.m. on Wednesday, warned of between 6 and 12 inches of snow

A grader moves down First Avenue in Kenai, Alaska, during a snow storm on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Peter Micciche (second from left) is sworn in as mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Micciche sworn in as borough mayor

Micciche received more than 50% of votes cast during the Feb. 14 special election

Peter Micciche (second from left) is sworn in as mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
LaDawn Druce asks Sen. Jesse Bjorkman a question during a town hall event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman talks state finances, fishing permit buyback at Soldotna town hall

About 25 people filed into the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Saturday, where Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, held a town hall to brief residents… Continue reading

LaDawn Druce asks Sen. Jesse Bjorkman a question during a town hall event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow is cleared from the road during the start of another major snowfall on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 outside of The Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Winter storm watch issued for Tuesday and Wednesday

A winter storm watch was issued by the National Weather Service on Monday, warning of widespread snow across the western Kenai Peninsula, in effect from… Continue reading

Snow is cleared from the road during the start of another major snowfall on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 outside of The Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Aurora borealis shine over Cooper Landing on Sunday. Feb. 26, 2023, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Virginia Morgan)

Readers submit photos of weekend’s aurora

People across Alaska were treated to a dazzling display of the aurora borealis late Sunday night and early Monday morning. The display, which was visible… Continue reading

Aurora borealis shine over Cooper Landing on Sunday. Feb. 26, 2023, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Virginia Morgan)
Seanna Swanson (front) and Kelsi Curren (rear) review a recipe for pretzels during a foods class at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Hands-on’ education equips students with vocational skills

Sparks were flying Wednesday morning at Soldotna High School, where junior Kevin Steger donned protective eyewear while applying a stick welder to a long strip… Continue reading

Seanna Swanson (front) and Kelsi Curren (rear) review a recipe for pretzels during a foods class at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
David Lorring, left, helps Moriah Hodges, right, reel in her fish at Sport Lake in Soldotna as part of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s “Salmon in the Classroom” ice fishing educational program on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish education on ice

Nearly 700 local elementary school students are going to be out fishing next week in Soldotna and Homer. Students will be fishing at Sport Lake… Continue reading

David Lorring, left, helps Moriah Hodges, right, reel in her fish at Sport Lake in Soldotna as part of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s “Salmon in the Classroom” ice fishing educational program on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Tyonek Native Corporation CEO Stephen Peskosky testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in opposition to inclusion of Tyonek in the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Size of Nikiski planning group still unsettled after assembly delays action

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday voted 6-3 to delay action on legislation that would reduce the geographic footprint of Nikiski’s Advisory Planning Commission.… Continue reading

Tyonek Native Corporation CEO Stephen Peskosky testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in opposition to inclusion of Tyonek in the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kachemak Selo Middle-High School building sits against a backdrop of the ridge separating the village from the Kenai Peninsula Borough road system Thursday, Aug. 30 in Kachemak-Selo. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Board of Ed group will focus on district’s small schools

A newly minted Kenai Peninsula Borough School District group will focus on the needs of the district’s small schools and advise the board members on… Continue reading

The Kachemak Selo Middle-High School building sits against a backdrop of the ridge separating the village from the Kenai Peninsula Borough road system Thursday, Aug. 30 in Kachemak-Selo. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Recognizable components make up this metal face seen in a sculpture by Jacob Nabholz Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Kenai Art Center, in Kenai, Alaska, as part of Metalwork & Play. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Metalwork gets time to shine

Metal is on showcase this month at the Kenai Art Center

Recognizable components make up this metal face seen in a sculpture by Jacob Nabholz Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Kenai Art Center, in Kenai, Alaska, as part of Metalwork & Play. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Peter Micciche (center) listens to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly certify the results of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election, through which he was elected mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Micciche made borough mayor

Peter Micciche is the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s new mayor following certification of the Feb. 14, 2023, special election results by the borough assembly on Tuesday.… Continue reading

Peter Micciche (center) listens to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly certify the results of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election, through which he was elected mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka shares information with Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council Chair Mike Crawford as the advisory council deliberates their position on a proposal to the Board of Fish during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory council wraps up Fish and Game recommendations

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council met Thursday to discuss their position on the final set of proposals to the Board of Fish and… Continue reading

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka shares information with Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council Chair Mike Crawford as the advisory council deliberates their position on a proposal to the Board of Fish during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Special mayor election saw 13.1% voter turnout

About 13.1% of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s more than 54,000 voters cast ballots during the Feb. 14 special mayoral election, a report published Tuesday shows.… Continue reading

A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign indicates the turn for Jim’s Landing on Skilak Lake Road on Sunday, June 13, 2021 near Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Jims’ Landing Boat Launch to close for construction

Jims’ Landing boat ramp on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, near Skilak Loop’s east entrance, will be closed for construction for much of March. According… Continue reading

A sign indicates the turn for Jim’s Landing on Skilak Lake Road on Sunday, June 13, 2021 near Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)