Sports

The author unloading helicopter H551 on Mt. Hoffman, Yosemite National Park. (Photo by NPS)

Learning the ropes on the Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program

It’s a sunny day in May 2020 at the Crane Flat Helibase. Myself and four other “rookie” (new) rappelers have undergone days’ worth of ground… Continue reading

The author unloading helicopter H551 on Mt. Hoffman, Yosemite National Park. (Photo by NPS)
Ninilchik’s Justin Trail drives to the basket against Kenai Central on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik boys take top seed into Interior Conference tournament

The Ninilchik boys basketball team takes the top seed and an undefeated overall record into the Interior Conference tournament today through Saturday in Tok. The… Continue reading

Ninilchik’s Justin Trail drives to the basket against Kenai Central on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Brand-new Peninsula Conference tourney debuts

Staff report The brand-new Peninsula Conference basketball tournament will make its debut Thursday through Saturday at Kenai Central High School. Last season, Class 3A Kenai… Continue reading

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Hoops roundup: Lumen Christi sweeps Peninsula Conference titles again, Nanwalek boys clinch historic state berth

Lumen Christi swept the Peninsula Conference titles for the second straight year Friday at the conference tournament at Lumen Christi in Anchorage. The Archangels boys… Continue reading

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Ninilchik's Justin Trail saves the ball in front of Kenai Central's Luke Armstrong and Eli McCubbins on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik boys top Kenai, complete perfect regular season

The visiting Ninilchik boys basketball team defeated Kenai Central 70-37 on Saturday in nonconference action to finish the regular season 21-0. “It means a lot… Continue reading

Ninilchik's Justin Trail saves the ball in front of Kenai Central's Luke Armstrong and Eli McCubbins on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Mt. Chiginagak on Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge 30 miles southeast of Ugashik. (Photo by B. Wishnek/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Protecting Alaska from invasive species: A common goal near and far

Many regard Alaska for its wild and free landscapes and its importance to fish, wildlife, plants and people. However, while most Alaska landscapes are wild… Continue reading

Mt. Chiginagak on Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge 30 miles southeast of Ugashik. (Photo by B. Wishnek/USFWS)
Seward's Lena Jagielski passes under pressure from Jolie Widaman, Katelyn Morrison and Adarra Hagelund on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hoops roundup: SoHi sweeps Seward on senior night

The Soldotna girls and boys basketball teams celebrated senior night Thursday at Soldotna High School by sweeping Seward in nonconference action. The Soldotna girls topped… Continue reading

Seward's Lena Jagielski passes under pressure from Jolie Widaman, Katelyn Morrison and Adarra Hagelund on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Peninsula to celebrate Hockey Week

The Kenai River Brown Bears, Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association and RedLine Sports are teaming up to celebrate USA Hockey’s Hockey Week Across America. Hockey Week… Continue reading

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My mom Alex Botello, my aunt Melissa Botello, myself, and my aunt Kim Davis take a photo in Talkeetna on Friday Feb. 25, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Chasing the lights

My mom loves looking up at the night sky. When we were kids, she’d wake my sister and me up and make us watch a… Continue reading

My mom Alex Botello, my aunt Melissa Botello, myself, and my aunt Kim Davis take a photo in Talkeetna on Friday Feb. 25, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
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SoHi C hoops teams topple CIA

The host Cook Inlet Academy girls and boys basketball teams lost games to Soldotna’s C team Tuesday as the Eagles tuned up for this weekend’s… Continue reading

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Ninilchik boys move to 19-0

The Ninilchik boys basketball team moved to 19-0 with a nonconference, 81-56 victory late Saturday over host Unalaska. The Wolverines jumped out to a 17-7… Continue reading

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Soldotna's Hudson Metcalf and Kenai Central's John Grossl wrestle at 182 pounds Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, at Kenai Central High School. Metcalf would pin Grossl. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Mousasi stops Vanderford, retains middleweight title

Staff report Austin Vanderford, a 2008 graduate of Ninilchik School, took the first loss of his pro mixed martial arts career Friday in Dublin, Ireland,… Continue reading

Soldotna's Hudson Metcalf and Kenai Central's John Grossl wrestle at 182 pounds Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, at Kenai Central High School. Metcalf would pin Grossl. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Nick Stevens and Minnesota Magicians defenseman Evan Tanos battle for the puck in front of Minnesota Magicians goalie Josh Seeley on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears, Magicians split weekend series

The Kenai River Brown Bears split a weekend series with the Minnesota Magicians in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Nick Stevens and Minnesota Magicians defenseman Evan Tanos battle for the puck in front of Minnesota Magicians goalie Josh Seeley on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central's Logan Satathite dribbles against Soldotna's Josie Sheridan on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hoops roundup: Soldotna sweeps Kenai

The visiting Soldotna girls and boys basketball teams swept Kenai Central on Friday in nonconference play. The SoHi girls (8-12 overall) got revenge for an… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Logan Satathite dribbles against Soldotna's Josie Sheridan on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Kenai captures state ski hardware

The Kenai Central ski teams took home a bunch of hardware from the state ski meet at Birch Hill in Fairbanks on Saturday. Both the… Continue reading

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Chad Moore, left, and Travis Temple, right, prepare for the 2022 Iron Dog snow machine race. (Photo provided by Travis Temple)

Soldotna’s Kishbaugh takes 6th in Iron Dog

The Kenai Peninsula has a finisher in the Iron Dog again. For the first time since Soldotna’s Cory Davis won the cross-country snowmachine race in… Continue reading

Chad Moore, left, and Travis Temple, right, prepare for the 2022 Iron Dog snow machine race. (Photo provided by Travis Temple)
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Brown Bears to host Magicians

Staff report The Kenai River Brown Bears will host the Minnesota Magicians on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex… Continue reading

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Boonstra leads area at state skiing

Kenai Central junior Jayna Boonstra led the Kenai Peninsula at the opening day of the state ski meet Thursday at Birch Hill in Fairbanks. Boonstra… Continue reading

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Mt. Redoubt can be seen across Cook Inlet from Diamond Ridge on the Marathon Ski Trail on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Out of the Office: Falling in love with Diamond Ridge and winter

Since winter lasts from October to May on Diamond Ridge, you’d better love winter.

Mt. Redoubt can be seen across Cook Inlet from Diamond Ridge on the Marathon Ski Trail on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A recently hatched rufous-tailed hummingbird with one more egg to hatch. (Photo by T. Eskelin/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: A mother’s work is never done

Bird nerd, bird geek and bird brain are just a few of the accolades I have acquired over the years. Of course, these labels were… Continue reading

A recently hatched rufous-tailed hummingbird with one more egg to hatch. (Photo by T. Eskelin/USFWS)