government

KPBSD Board of Education member Patti Truesdell speaks during a town hall meeting hosted by three Kenai Peninsula legislators in the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Chambers in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Education hot topic at local legislative town hall

More than 100 people attended a three-hour meeting where 46 spoke.

 

The Soldotna Field House is seen on a sunny Monday, March 31, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Field house work session set for April 9

A grand opening for the facility is slated for Aug. 16.

 

Kimberly Powell, coach of the Soldotna High School soccer team, speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Girls soccer, Homeless Connect receive Soldotna mini grants

Both received $1,000 to assist with operating expenses.

 

Seward City Hall is seen under cloudy skies in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward adds full-time staffer for recently restarted teen rec room

Seward’s Parks and Recreation Department reclaimed responsibility for teen programming at the start of this year.

Seward City Hall is seen under cloudy skies in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Best shows off a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai awards contract to develop Parks and Rec master plan

The document is expected to guide the next 20 years of outdoors and recreation development in the city.

Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Best shows off a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough Clerk Michele Turner administers an oath of office to Leslie Morton after Morton was appointed as the new Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly representative for Sterling and Funny River during an assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Morton appointed to assembly’s Sterling and Funny River seat

A vacancy on the assembly was created when Rep. Bill Elam resigned after winning election to the Alaska Legislature in November.

Borough Clerk Michele Turner administers an oath of office to Leslie Morton after Morton was appointed as the new Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly representative for Sterling and Funny River during an assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

8 candidates file for assembly’s Sterling and Funny River seat

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly will hear from the candidates and select an appointee on Tuesday.

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenaitze Tribal Council member Mary Ann Mills, Secretary Ronette Stanton and Chair Bernadine Atchison participate in a joint work session of the Kenai City Council and Kenaitze Tribal Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai, Kenaitze hold joint work session and share updates

Much of the meeting centered on brief updates on the largest projects underway.

Kenaitze Tribal Council member Mary Ann Mills, Secretary Ronette Stanton and Chair Bernadine Atchison participate in a joint work session of the Kenai City Council and Kenaitze Tribal Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate Majority Caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

As session starts, senators discuss legislative priorities

The Alaska Senate majority and minority held separate press conferences Tuesday.

Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate Majority Caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank speaks during a work session of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai adopts capital project plan

The plan includes funding for the airport, city infrastructure and roadways.

Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank speaks during a work session of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Elam prepares for freshman legislative session

He’s excited to get onto the floor and start legislating.

Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Bjorkman readies for start of legislative session

His priorities this year won’t look much different from those of his freshman legislative session.

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Member Jordan Chilson speaks in support of an ordinance that would establish a residential property tax exemption during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna defines legislative priorities for upcoming session

Roof replacement, signalization study and road improvements top the list.

Member Jordan Chilson speaks in support of an ordinance that would establish a residential property tax exemption during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Project Manager Jason Graf points to a map while answering questions from attendees on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Open House at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna PZ Commission gets 1st look at draft Riverfront Redevelopment zoning plan

The draft document describes a new riverfront mixed-use district.

Project Manager Jason Graf points to a map while answering questions from attendees on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Open House at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School Student Council President Emma Glassmaker and executive board members Cammy Kincaid and Will Klein speak to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna gives 1st student council presentation to borough assembly

The presentation period was created during the assembly’s June 4 meeting.

Soldotna High School Student Council President Emma Glassmaker and executive board members Cammy Kincaid and Will Klein speak to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough taking applications to fill assembly seat vacated by Elam

Elam resigned his position after winning election in November to the Alaska House of Representatives.

Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Patricia Bouton speaks in opposition to a proposed ordinance to modify public comment to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly kills ordinance that would have cut one public comment period

Opposition was brought forward by several last month when the ordinance was introduced.

Patricia Bouton speaks in opposition to a proposed ordinance to modify public comment to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly President Peter Ribbens speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to act on ordinances at Tuesday meeting

The legislation addresses public meeting comments, civil fine accrual, and a rezoning petition

Assembly President Peter Ribbens speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward City Hall is seen under cloudy skies in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward council approves 2025 and 2026 budget

The move comes after a series of public hearings

Seward City Hall is seen under cloudy skies in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)