News

Firefighters keep Tyonek blaze away from oil and gas facilities

Firefighters have kept the wind-driven Tyonek fire on Cook Inlet’s west side away from the Beluga gas field and Chugach Electric Association’s Beluga power plant… Continue reading

  • May 23, 2014
  • By Tim Bradner

For those uninterested in kings, options abound

Trout Fishing for rainbow and Dolly Varden trout on the Kenai River between the mouth of the river and Torpedo Hole, Jason Pawluk, assistant management… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Elizabeth McGlothen chose to give her mother a yellow rose recognizing she helped her get through her high school years, Tuesday, May 22, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Skyview grads face being last to graduate from closing school

At Skyview High School’s final graduation ceremony, every student crossing the stage was cheered for. But students say that is just how Skyview operates. Kierstyn… Continue reading

  • May 22, 2014
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Elizabeth McGlothen chose to give her mother a yellow rose recognizing she helped her get through her high school years, Tuesday, May 22, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
River City Academy graduate Kiowa Richardson gives a theatrical valedictorian speech at the school's graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

River City graduates a ‘diverse’ group

In the darkened arena of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, six soon-to-be River City Academy high school graduates-to-be gathered.They waited there for the 6 p.m.… Continue reading

  • May 22, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
River City Academy graduate Kiowa Richardson gives a theatrical valedictorian speech at the school's graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

Celebrating those who served

A handful of events are happening on the Kenai Peninsula this Memorial Day weekend to honor U.S. troops, veterans and fallen heroes. For those planning… Continue reading

  • May 22, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Hunter Sundberg, 11, looks to get his footing on a rock wall built in the garage of Natalie and Nic Larson in Soldotna. The Larson's started teaching rock climbing sessions to several kids in March and are accepting new students for summer sessions beginning June 9.

Rock climbers build confidence

Hunter Sundberg held on to a sloped rock wall trying to figure out his next move. With gravity working against him and his arms tiring… Continue reading

  • May 22, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Hunter Sundberg, 11, looks to get his footing on a rock wall built in the garage of Natalie and Nic Larson in Soldotna. The Larson's started teaching rock climbing sessions to several kids in March and are accepting new students for summer sessions beginning June 9.
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/Peninsula Clarion Smoke plumes fill the sky along the Sterling Highway near Kasilof on Tuesday from a wildfire that started near Funny River Monday evening.

Wildfire has not jumped Funny River road

A wall of dense smoke engulfed portions of the Kenai Peninsula Tuesday as a fire that started near the Funny River Horse Trail late Monday… Continue reading

  • May 20, 2014
  • By Rashah McChesney and Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/Peninsula Clarion Smoke plumes fill the sky along the Sterling Highway near Kasilof on Tuesday from a wildfire that started near Funny River Monday evening.

Funny River Horse Trail fire grows to 7,000 acres

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Funny River Horse Trail wildfire has spread to 7,000 acres and moved to the west and east along the shores… Continue reading

  • May 20, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Chris Casares and Tralessa Mahan helped to clean and organize classrooms for outgoing Skyview High School teachers on the last day of school Wednesday May 21, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

End of the year

As smoke from the fire burning south of Soldotna filled the sky Wednesday, smiles and laughter from students ready for summer brightened the halls, classrooms… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2014
  • By Rashah McChesney and Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Chris Casares and Tralessa Mahan helped to clean and organize classrooms for outgoing Skyview High School teachers on the last day of school Wednesday May 21, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Pebble sues EPA over attempt to veto mine

The Pebble Limited Partnership took the Environmental Protection Agency to court May 21 and claimed the agency is illegally overstepping its bounds by attempting to… Continue reading

  • May 22, 2014
  • By ELWOOD BREHMER
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna High graduate Malyq McElroy shows pictures of his mother he put on the back of his cap at his graduation at the Regional Sports Complex Monday. His mother passed away when he was nine and his grandmother has raised him since.

Humor characterizes Sohi 2014 class

The Soldotna High School class of 2014 had one more good-natured prank for their Principal Todd Syverson at their graduation ceremony at the Regional Sports… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna High graduate Malyq McElroy shows pictures of his mother he put on the back of his cap at his graduation at the Regional Sports Complex Monday. His mother passed away when he was nine and his grandmother has raised him since.

Kenai council debates legislative process

An ordinance that would have changed how the Kenai City Council and city administration handle the legislative process failed at Tuesday’s meeting. With no public… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Kai Lamprecht tests reels at Trustworthy Hardware after breaking his own on a lake fishing trip Wednesday May 21, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska. Lamprecht said he was fishing for trout on Kelly Lake in Soldotna when he hooked something larger, he thinks it was a pike, and managed to damage his reel.

King season starts slow

The season is starting off slow, but anglers targeting king salmon are making their way down the Kenai Peninsula for a Memorial Day weekend of… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Kai Lamprecht tests reels at Trustworthy Hardware after breaking his own on a lake fishing trip Wednesday May 21, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska. Lamprecht said he was fishing for trout on Kelly Lake in Soldotna when he hooked something larger, he thinks it was a pike, and managed to damage his reel.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion The sky above many portions of Kasilof glowed orange Wednesday May 21, 2014 as the Funny River Fire continued to burn a more than 10 mile strip of land stretching from Funny River Road in Soldotna down to Tustumena Lake. Firefighters estimate that more than 20,000 acres have been burned in the blaze.

Funny River wildfire doubles to 44,000-acres

It has been three days since the first report of a five acre wildfire on a horse trail off of Funny River Road. The blaze… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER and RASHAH McCHESNEY
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion The sky above many portions of Kasilof glowed orange Wednesday May 21, 2014 as the Funny River Fire continued to burn a more than 10 mile strip of land stretching from Funny River Road in Soldotna down to Tustumena Lake. Firefighters estimate that more than 20,000 acres have been burned in the blaze.

Tyonek fire burns 3 structures

Firefighters have determined the 1,500-acre Tyonek fire had consumed, officials reported on Wednesday. The fire destroyed a cabin and two outbuildings, fire spokesman Pete Buist… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2014
  • By The Associated Press

Residents ask for action

A discussion about high groundwater issues flooded the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting Tuesday night.Public comment about non-agenda topics sparked a conversation about the affects… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI

Graduates take Wings

Salena Pena was not done with school just yet. Included in her graduation ceremony, was her final assignment for speech class. It was about a… Continue reading

  • May 20, 2014
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Kalee Brusven "just did it," graduated from Kenai Alternative High School in Kenai on Monday, as her mortarboard says. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/PeninsulaClarion

Graduating class is ‘family’

Forty-two students sat together with their family Monday evening in the Kenai Alternative High School gym in Kenai. Well, they sat with one of their… Continue reading

  • May 20, 2014
  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
Kalee Brusven "just did it," graduated from Kenai Alternative High School in Kenai on Monday, as her mortarboard says. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/PeninsulaClarion

Man arrested for shooting gun out of moving vehicle

An Anchorage man is in jail after Alaska State Troopers allege he fired gunshots from a moving vehicle in the direction of houses while intoxicated… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Emergency crews stage at the end of the runway in Tyonek Monday afternoon. The blaze grew to 80 acres by Monday evening.

Crews see progress as Tyonek fire moves west

Update: 12:20 p.m. The wildfire in Tyonek spread to 350 acres as of Tuesday morning but fire crews made progress in building a fire line… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Emergency crews stage at the end of the runway in Tyonek Monday afternoon. The blaze grew to 80 acres by Monday evening.