Kenai

The intersection of Willow Street and the Kenai Spur Highway shows the stoplights were out Wednesday night as approximately 2,700 people experienced a Homer Electric Association power outage. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Outage knocks out power to much of Kenai

Power had been restored by about 9 p.m.

The intersection of Willow Street and the Kenai Spur Highway shows the stoplights were out Wednesday night as approximately 2,700 people experienced a Homer Electric Association power outage. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Children wave as Santa Claus arrives on top of a firetruck Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, at the Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Time for the season

Kenai rolls out holiday events

Children wave as Santa Claus arrives on top of a firetruck Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, at the Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel (left) swears in Kenai City Council member Deborah Sounart during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednedsay, Nov. 3, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Baisden, Sounart take seats on Kenai City Council

Both were elected during the Oct. 5 municipal election

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel (left) swears in Kenai City Council member Deborah Sounart during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednedsay, Nov. 3, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai waterfront can be seen from Old Town Kenai on April 27, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai council postpones approval of waterfront study contract

The move was to give newly elected members more time to thoroughly acquaint themselves with the project.

The Kenai waterfront can be seen from Old Town Kenai on April 27, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
The Kenai Community Library health section is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. After the Kenai City Council postponed a vote to approve a grant funding health and wellness books, community members set up a GoFundMe to support the purchase of materials. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

After cries of censorship, community raises funds for library

The Kenai City Council voted during its Oct. 20 meeting to postpone acceptance of a $1,500 grant for materials related to health and wellness.

The Kenai Community Library health section is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. After the Kenai City Council postponed a vote to approve a grant funding health and wellness books, community members set up a GoFundMe to support the purchase of materials. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A very slippery slope that we need to be careful of’

Approval of library grant postponed after Kenai council requests to preview book purchases

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Kenai Municipal Airport on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. A kiosk that will offer educational programming and interpretive products about the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is coming to the airport. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsua Clarion)

Wildlife refuge kiosk coming to airport

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge stickers, T-shirts, magnets, travel stamps and enamel pins will be available.

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Kenai Municipal Airport on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. A kiosk that will offer educational programming and interpretive products about the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is coming to the airport. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsua Clarion)
Christine Hutchison, who lives in Kenai and also serves on the Kenai Harbor Commission, testifies in support of the use of alternative treatments for COVID-19 during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Medical liberty’ petition brought to Kenai City Council

Some members of the public and Kenai City Council spoke against health mandates and in support of alternative treatments for COVID-19

Christine Hutchison, who lives in Kenai and also serves on the Kenai Harbor Commission, testifies in support of the use of alternative treatments for COVID-19 during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Vice Mayor and council member Bob Molloy (center), council member Jim Glendening (right), council member Victoria Askin (far right), and council member Henry Knackstedt (far left) participate in a work session discussing the overhaul of Kenai election codes on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska.

Kenai City Council gives sendoffs, certifies election results

Both council members-elect — Deborah Sounart and James Baisden — attended Wednesday.

Kenai Vice Mayor and council member Bob Molloy (center), council member Jim Glendening (right), council member Victoria Askin (far right), and council member Henry Knackstedt (far left) participate in a work session discussing the overhaul of Kenai election codes on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska.
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel speaks at a joint work session at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to unveil interactive map of available land

The total acreage of all land owned by the City of Kenai is roughly the same size as the City of Soldotna.

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel speaks at a joint work session at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Municipal Cemetery is seen on Thursday, Feb. 25 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai cemetery expansion slated to open in spring

The cemetery has four adult plots available and is subject to a moratorium on the selling of standard plots.

The entrance to the Kenai Municipal Cemetery is seen on Thursday, Feb. 25 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai dog park construction delayed

Efforts to create a dog park, which will be located at Daubenspeck Family Park in Kenai, have been underway for years.

Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to discuss land management plan Monday

The City of Kenai owns 369 subdivided parcels.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Erosion due to a failing stormwater pipe can be seen near Bryson Avenue in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo courtesy City of Kenai)

Bluff erosion project near Bryson Avenue nears completion

A pipe was leaking water through rusty connections.

Erosion due to a failing stormwater pipe can be seen near Bryson Avenue in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo courtesy City of Kenai)
Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Unofficial results show low turnout in cities, incumbent losses

All results are unofficial and do not include absentee, questioned and absentee ballots.

Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Matt Morse is photographed on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Matt Morse is photographed on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Clerk Jamie Heinz attends a work session of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai approves election overhaul

The new legislation more closely aligns the city with borough election code.

Kenai City Clerk Jamie Heinz attends a work session of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins the magic wheel to determine the winners of this year’s silver salmon derby at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Taking the final spin

Silver salmon derby wraps up with magic number draw.

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins the magic wheel to determine the winners of this year’s silver salmon derby at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to mull funding for water main threatened by erosion

The water main, which runs parallel to the eroding bluff, was described as an “emerging issue” by the city public works director.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Victoria Askin sits in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Election 2021: Kenai City Council candidate Victoria Askin

Askin said Kenai’s finances are one of the city’s greatest strengths.

Victoria Askin sits in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)