Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula College celebrates 60 years of instruction

The college celebrated its anniversary during its annual open house last week

Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
A map created within the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s parcel viewer in September 2017 displays in green the Swanson Square property and in blue the property of the Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai, Alaska. Because the properties are within 500 feet of one another, the City of Kenai has now twice rejected marijuana retail operations in Swanson Square. (Map by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion File)

Kenai PZ commission denies Canna Get Happy variance application

The proposed location is in Swanson Square next to Salvation Army along the Kenai Spur Highway

A map created within the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s parcel viewer in September 2017 displays in green the Swanson Square property and in blue the property of the Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai, Alaska. Because the properties are within 500 feet of one another, the City of Kenai has now twice rejected marijuana retail operations in Swanson Square. (Map by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion File)
Monitor Robert Begich counts the salmon pulled ashore and looks for king salmon at a test site for beach seine gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council opposes Endangered Species Act listing for chinook

The city both stated their opposition to that proposed listing, as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service’s positive finding on the requesting petition

Monitor Robert Begich counts the salmon pulled ashore and looks for king salmon at a test site for beach seine gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai awards $700,000 contract for rehabilitation of airport fire station

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the facility is at the end of its life

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Samantha Springer receives the Outstanding Individual in Tourism award at Industry Appreciation Day in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Individuals and businesses recognized at Industry Appreciation Day

The Kenai Softball Greenstrip was packed on Saturday, Aug. 17, as hundreds gathered to recognize local industries and also enjoy free food and games. The… Continue reading

Samantha Springer receives the Outstanding Individual in Tourism award at Industry Appreciation Day in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Students sit down to read books on the first day of the school year at Tustumena Elementary School in Kasilof, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Right back into the swing’

Students return to KPBSD schools for 2024-2025 year

Students sit down to read books on the first day of the school year at Tustumena Elementary School in Kasilof, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 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, KDLL candidate forum series returns

First forum with candidates for Kenai City Council is Aug. 26

Flyer for the 2024 Candidate Forum Series by KDLL 91.9 FM and the Peninsula Clarion. (Ashlyn O’Hara/KDLL 91.9)
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)

Low coho returns spur slew of bag limit reductions

A Northern Kenai Fishing Report published by the State Department of Fish and Game on Wednesday says that sockeye fishing is still slowing. The department… Continue reading

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)
Supporters of Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, wave signs on the side of the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, during the Alaska Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Supporters of Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, wave signs on the side of the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, during the Alaska Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Community Ride for Parking Policy Change rolls along Nikishka Beach Road in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski parents organize drive in search of looser ATV policy

Organizers are hoping to see change in the school’s parking policy to allow students to ride their ATVs or other off-road vehicles to school

The Community Ride for Parking Policy Change rolls along Nikishka Beach Road in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Briar Oden is the first to start pushing a new ambulance into the garage at the Kenai Public Safety Building in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Fire Department puts new ambulances into service

Ambulances are used for 80% of the department’s calls

Briar Oden is the first to start pushing a new ambulance into the garage at the Kenai Public Safety Building in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs Senate Bill 179, while Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, right, stands by on Aug. 13, 2024. (Photo provided by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman)

Bjorkman property tax bill signed into law

The bill cuts property taxes for farmers and prevents transfer taxes on the sale of houses

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs Senate Bill 179, while Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, right, stands by on Aug. 13, 2024. (Photo provided by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman)
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)
Troopers Joseph Miller Jr. and Jason Woodruff are seen as K9 Olex bites Ben Tikka in a screenshot from body camera footage taken in Kenai, Alaska, on May 24, 2024. (Photo provided by Alaska Department of Law)

Assault charges brought against 2 Soldotna troopers after man mauled, beaten during arrest

Officers approached the man after mistaking him for his cousin

Troopers Joseph Miller Jr. and Jason Woodruff are seen as K9 Olex bites Ben Tikka in a screenshot from body camera footage taken in Kenai, Alaska, on May 24, 2024. (Photo provided by Alaska Department of Law)
The Kenai Courthouse is photographed on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna man found guilty of attempted indecent viewing of minors

Isaac Davis was arrested in 2022 for photographing women and girls at Skyview Middle School pool

The Kenai Courthouse is photographed on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A ballot partition is at the Kenai No. 2 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska primary election is on Tuesday

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A ballot partition is at the Kenai No. 2 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, cities support effort for direct Seattle air route

The City of Kenai last month applied for a grant that would provide financial incentives for an air carriers to establish the route

The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Moderator Merrill Sikorski and organizer Robert Wall introduce a debate between Rep. Ben Carpenter and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, both R-Nikiski, organized by the District 8 Alaska Republican Party at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman, Carpenter meet for debate hosted by local Republicans

More than 100 people turned out to hear the Nikiski lawmakers talk policy ahead of next week’s primary election

Moderator Merrill Sikorski and organizer Robert Wall introduce a debate between Rep. Ben Carpenter and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, both R-Nikiski, organized by the District 8 Alaska Republican Party at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Voters fill out their ballots at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, Alaska on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Candidates report fundraising totals ahead of primary election

Incumbents still show strong leads in campaign fundraising in all but the race for House District 6

Voters fill out their ballots at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, Alaska on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)