Kenai Peninsula

Alaska SeaLife Center
A sea otter pup rescued in Homer is being cared for at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward.

Sea otter pup found in Homer recovering at Alaska SeaLife Center

The Alaska SeaLife Center recently overcame major financial setbacks spurred by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Alaska SeaLife Center
A sea otter pup rescued in Homer is being cared for at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward.
Wildwood Correctional Center in Kenai, Alaska, is seen in this undated photo. (Alaska Department of Corrections)

Peninsula correctional facilities see few COVID cases

Wildwood Correctional Facility in Kenai had zero active cases among inmates as of Wednesday, and Spring Creek Correctional Facility had one active case as of Dec. 8.

Wildwood Correctional Center in Kenai, Alaska, is seen in this undated photo. (Alaska Department of Corrections)
Seward junior Lydia Jacoby swims in August 2019 at the Speedo Junior National Championships in Stanford, California. (Photo by Jack Spitser)

Improving through challenging times

Seward junior swimmer Jacoby wins national title at U.S. Open

Seward junior Lydia Jacoby swims in August 2019 at the Speedo Junior National Championships in Stanford, California. (Photo by Jack Spitser)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
City of Kenai greenlights “People Counter Project”

City of Kenai greenlights “People Counter Project”

The city will use $135,000 in federal CARES money to purchase cameras and other equipment.

City of Kenai greenlights “People Counter Project”
From a perch on Lunch Mountain, a hiker enjoys the sunshine and the view of Tutka Bay on the Tutka Backdoor Trail in Kachemak Bay State Park. (Photo by Clark Fair for the Peninsula Clarion)

How Alaska’s state parks came to be

Kachemak Bay State Park and Alaska State Parks have golden anniversary

From a perch on Lunch Mountain, a hiker enjoys the sunshine and the view of Tutka Bay on the Tutka Backdoor Trail in Kachemak Bay State Park. (Photo by Clark Fair for the Peninsula Clarion)
Gary Turner, who recently announced his plans to retire as director of Kenai Peninsula College, addresses the crowd during KPC’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Kenai River Campus on Aug. 25, 2014. (Photo courtesy Gary Turner/KPC)

Kenai Peninsula College head announces retirement

Director Gary Turner will exit at the end of the 2021 academic year

Gary Turner, who recently announced his plans to retire as director of Kenai Peninsula College, addresses the crowd during KPC’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Kenai River Campus on Aug. 25, 2014. (Photo courtesy Gary Turner/KPC)
Almost like being there

Almost like being there

Refuge exhibit uses virtual reality to transport users to wilderness

Almost like being there
A fire crew can be seen here at a containment line for the Swan Lake Fire in this undated photo. (Courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management)

Fire crew’s departure highlights different wildfire season

With fire season winding down, state sends firefigthers south

A fire crew can be seen here at a containment line for the Swan Lake Fire in this undated photo. (Courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management)
Alaska State Troopers badge

Man found dead after apparent bear mauling

Troopers received a report that a Hope man who set out to clear a trail had not returned home.

Alaska State Troopers badge
A sign detailing the store’s mask policy is seen here outside Safeway in Soldotna on July 21, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

From ‘stupid’ to ‘a very good idea’

Local customers bring a variety of opinions to new face-mask policies at retailers.

A sign detailing the store’s mask policy is seen here outside Safeway in Soldotna on July 21, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Limiting the catch

Kenai Peninsula seafood industry sees relatively few out-of-state COVID cases

Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Chinook salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Kings fishing further restricted

Officials say king salmon runs have significantly underperformed preseason expectations.

Chinook salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
A rescued harbor seal pups is seen at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward in this undated photo. (Courtesy Chloe Rossman/Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center on life support?

The aquarium is expecting a decline in visitor revenue of nearly 70% this year.

A rescued harbor seal pups is seen at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward in this undated photo. (Courtesy Chloe Rossman/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Noah and Eddie Land of Grace Acres Farm in Kasilof set out produce Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at the Farmers Fresh Market at Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Freshness times 2

DoubleUp program helps seniors, families eat healthy

Noah and Eddie Land of Grace Acres Farm in Kasilof set out produce Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at the Farmers Fresh Market at Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

State lifts burn suspension

Residents may now obtain permits for burn barrels as well as for small and large-scale brush fires.

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)
In this July 20, 2013 file photo, several thousand dipnetters converged onto the mouth of the Kenai River to catch a share of the late run of sockeye salmon headed into the river in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney)

Dipnetters banned from retaining kings

Dipnetting on the Kenai River opens Friday.

In this July 20, 2013 file photo, several thousand dipnetters converged onto the mouth of the Kenai River to catch a share of the late run of sockeye salmon headed into the river in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney)
A young volunteer chases three piglets named Mary Hamkins, Petunia and Sir Oinks-a-lot through a race during the pig races at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Kenai Peninsula Fair canceled this year

Cotton candy, carnival rides and racing pigs will have to wait for another summer, according to the board of directors for the Kenai Peninsula Fair.… Continue reading

A young volunteer chases three piglets named Mary Hamkins, Petunia and Sir Oinks-a-lot through a race during the pig races at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Robin Richardson, right, and her coworker Ellen Paffie from Georgia get ready for the night shift at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York on May 7, 2020. (Photo courtesy Robin Richardson)

Soldotna nurse joins COVID-19 fight at New York hospital

Richardson cared for 53 critically ill COVID-19 patients. Only two of those patients lived.

Robin Richardson, right, and her coworker Ellen Paffie from Georgia get ready for the night shift at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York on May 7, 2020. (Photo courtesy Robin Richardson)
‘Crowning jewel’

‘Crowning jewel’

Iron Mike statue unveiled at Soldotna Creek Park

‘Crowning jewel’