government

Cam Choy, associate professor of art at Kenai Peninsula College, works on a salmon sculpture in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum during the Kenai River Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Draft Soldotna plan brainstorms best way to bring more art to the city

Creation of a regional arts council, the incorporation of art projects into existing city grant programs and development of a way for the city to… Continue reading

Cam Choy, associate professor of art at Kenai Peninsula College, works on a salmon sculpture in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum during the Kenai River Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Brent Johnson, Bill Elam, Tyson Cox and Brent Hibebrt participate in a meeting on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. All assembly members pictured voted in favor of a resolution that supporting the separation of transgender and cisgender girl student athetes. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs resolution supporting separation of cisgender girls, other student athletes

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday voiced support for the separation of transgender and cisgender girls in high school sports. The body during its… Continue reading

From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Brent Johnson, Bill Elam, Tyson Cox and Brent Hibebrt participate in a meeting on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. All assembly members pictured voted in favor of a resolution that supporting the separation of transgender and cisgender girl student athetes. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy prepares to deliver opening remarks at a bill signing event at Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic on Thursday, July 6, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy signs 2 Ruffridge bills into law during Soldotna ceremony

Amid the throng of furry friends filing in and out of Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic on Thursday morning were the governor of Alaska, a state… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy prepares to deliver opening remarks at a bill signing event at Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic on Thursday, July 6, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council members Henry Knackstedt (left) and Alex Douthit (standing) speak with Kenai Vice Mayor James Baisden (right) during a council meeting at-ease on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai puts new limits on marijuana facilities in residential area; bolsters public noticing

Kenai City Council members Wednesday unanimously approved changes aimed at expanding how the city notifies residents of a commercial marijuana establishment opening in their area.… Continue reading

Kenai City Council members Henry Knackstedt (left) and Alex Douthit (standing) speak with Kenai Vice Mayor James Baisden (right) during a council meeting at-ease on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly takes down ZipMart structure

The dilapidated ZipMart building in Sterling was demolished last week, capping monthslong efforts to mitigate a structure the Kenai Peninsula Borough called a public safety… Continue reading

Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward offers city manager gig to Sorensen

Sorensen currently serves as the executive director of the Seward Chamber of Commerce

Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)

Field house tops Soldotna’s capital priority list

Soldotna City Council members Wednesday got their first look at the lineup of capital projects the city expects to fund in the upcoming fiscal year,… Continue reading

A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)
Signs direct visitors at the City of Seward’s city hall annex on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward City Council ponders path forward for electric utility

Seward-area residents interested in serving on a newly formed city committee that will help plan the future of the city’s electric utility will have two… Continue reading

Signs direct visitors at the City of Seward’s city hall annex on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5, 2021, municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough proposes changes to write-in candidate rules

The changes are being proposed in response to questions that came up after the most recent special mayoral election

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5, 2021, municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Devil’s Creek Trail in Chugach National Forest, seen June 15, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly backs expanded use of e-bikes in Chugach

The nonbinding resolution calls for class I and II electronic bicycles to be allowed on the forest’s nonmotorized trails, roads and other areas

The Devil’s Creek Trail in Chugach National Forest, seen June 15, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs ZipMart demolition

The building, located on Swanson River Road, started to collapse earlier this year

Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna, Alaska, is seen on June 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Assembly strengthens borough protections against malfeasance

Legislation overhauls the sections of borough code that discuss employee protection, surety bonds, liability for conduct and indemnification

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna, Alaska, is seen on June 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)
A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)
Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank (left) and Kenai Controller Lana Metcalf (right) present budget information during a city council work session on Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai adopts budget, staff recruitment strategies

The city expects there to be a general fund surplus of about $436,000 in fiscal year 2025

Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank (left) and Kenai Controller Lana Metcalf (right) present budget information during a city council work session on Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is seen on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai cuts ties with out-of-state marketing firm

Council members expressed skepticism about the firm’s performance

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is seen on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes, left, testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during a budget work session on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly passes borough budget

The document fully funds borough schools and includes a decrease in property taxes

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes, left, testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during a budget work session on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Assembly shrinks borough planning commission

The planning commission is responsible for planning the “systemic development and betterment” of the borough

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

5 vying for Seward city manager gig

The Seward City Council will convene for a special city council meeting on June 12 to review candidates’ applications

Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough.

Assembly to consider emergency service area for Cooper Landing

Borough legislation creating the service area is subject to voter approval

Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Two new cars purchased by the Soldotna Senior Center to support its Meals on Wheels program are parked outside of the center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.(Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

Soldotna budget defunds area senior center

The unanimous vote came after multiple people expressed concerns about how the center operates

Two new cars purchased by the Soldotna Senior Center to support its Meals on Wheels program are parked outside of the center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.(Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)