Kenai

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Father Andrew Thomas of Kenai's Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church speaks to the small congregation gathered for Divine Liturgy in the St. Nicholas Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 19 in Kenai. Behind him stands Father Victor Nick of Ninilchik. "There is no other church like this in Alaska," Father Thomas said of the chapel, which was built in 1906 over the graves of three missionary monks who came to the Kenai area in the mid-1800s.

Divine Liturgy for St. Nicholas held in Kenai’s historic chapel

The rough wooden interior of St. Nicholas chapel was lit by a hissing gas lantern as Father Andrew Thomas, priest of Kenai’s Holy Assumption of… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Father Andrew Thomas of Kenai's Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church speaks to the small congregation gathered for Divine Liturgy in the St. Nicholas Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 19 in Kenai. Behind him stands Father Victor Nick of Ninilchik. "There is no other church like this in Alaska," Father Thomas said of the chapel, which was built in 1906 over the graves of three missionary monks who came to the Kenai area in the mid-1800s.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Electrician Richard Cutter crawls through the roof space of Kenai's Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church while installing a new fire supression system on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Kenai.

Kenai Russian Orthodox Church gets new fire supression system

A system designed to extinguish fires without damaging the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church’s collection of icons, art, and archived documents… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Electrician Richard Cutter crawls through the roof space of Kenai's Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church while installing a new fire supression system on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Kenai.

Kenai airport commission hears further details of PRL airship

With a first-generation hybrid airship planned to start work in 2019 for transportation and contracting company PRL Logistics, both the airship’s range of missions and… Continue reading

This map of the city-owned wooded strip between the Kenai Spur Highway and Lawton Drive shows Kenai city manager Paul Ostrander's compromise in a land use debate between residents to the south seeking to preserve the strip as a buffer from the highway and business owners who've sought to develop it. Under Ostrander's plan, which the Kenai city council will discuss in a May 15 worksession, the blue areas would remain in city ownership while the yellow areas would be put out to bid for private acquisition. This map was taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough's parcel viewer and modified by the Peninsula Clarion with information from the Kenai City Council.

Lawton Acres plan to be discussed

The 30-year debate over Kenai’s Lawton Acres — a wooded city-owned strip by the Kenai Spur Highway that business owners have sought to develop and… Continue reading

This map of the city-owned wooded strip between the Kenai Spur Highway and Lawton Drive shows Kenai city manager Paul Ostrander's compromise in a land use debate between residents to the south seeking to preserve the strip as a buffer from the highway and business owners who've sought to develop it. Under Ostrander's plan, which the Kenai city council will discuss in a May 15 worksession, the blue areas would remain in city ownership while the yellow areas would be put out to bid for private acquisition. This map was taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough's parcel viewer and modified by the Peninsula Clarion with information from the Kenai City Council.

Kenai planning and zoning commission passes comprehensive plan

The Kenai City Council’s vote is now the last requirement before the city’s new comprehensive plan becomes final, following the draft plan’s unanimous approval from… Continue reading

This satellite map provided by the City of Kenai and modified by the Peninsula Clarion highlights in green the two property parcels that Kenai administrators plan to rezone as commercial. The Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted against the rezone on Wednesday. In the future, the city council will hold a final vote on the rezone.

Kenai Planning and Zoning supports new airport zone, rejects commercializing 2 Spur highway lots

When Kenai’s airport rezone plan goes to the city council for a final vote, one measure will have the blessing of the Planning and Zoning… Continue reading

This satellite map provided by the City of Kenai and modified by the Peninsula Clarion highlights in green the two property parcels that Kenai administrators plan to rezone as commercial. The Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted against the rezone on Wednesday. In the future, the city council will hold a final vote on the rezone.

Kenai Airport land policy irks some locals

Much of what is now central Kenai was a military airfield during the 1940s and ‘50s. One of its legacies is a large holding of… Continue reading

Kenai council manages land

At their Wednesday meeting the Kenai City Council held two closed executive sessions about purchases of city land. One was an ongoing issue — the… Continue reading

Possible Lawton Acres sale brings up old arguments

Possible Lawton Acres sale brings up old arguments

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to remove a potentially misleading reference to the clearcutting of the Spur-fronting lot bought by dentist Todd Wortham.… Continue reading

Possible Lawton Acres sale brings up old arguments

PRL Logistics seeks to buy Kenai-owned mansion

The Anchorage-based contracting and transportation company PRL Logistics is offering to buy a four-story, 7,556-square foot mansion on Kenai’s south beach from its owners, Kenai’s… Continue reading

Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion Ron Hyde, CEO of PRL Logistics, Inc. stands with wife Suzy Hyde in front of a map that was found during the company's renovation of a Kenai Landing cannery. Hyde expects to begin operating out of the new Kenai branch in about a month.

Logistics company renovates 100-year-old Kenai cannery

Months of renovations and $2 million later, PRL Logistics Inc. CEO Ron Hyde said he expects to be open for business in Kenai in about… Continue reading

Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion Ron Hyde, CEO of PRL Logistics, Inc. stands with wife Suzy Hyde in front of a map that was found during the company's renovation of a Kenai Landing cannery. Hyde expects to begin operating out of the new Kenai branch in about a month.
The Kenai Rocks group is placing painted rocks throughout Kenai and asking those who find them to post their find on the group’s Facebook page before hiding the rock again or keeping the rock. (Photo Courtesy Amanda Marshall) The Kenai Rocks group is placing painted rocks throughout Kenai and asking those who find them to post their find on the group’s Facebook page before hiding the rock again or keeping the rock. (Photo Courtesy Amanda Marshall)

Between a rock and a fun place

In the search for happiness, leave no stone unturned, or leave no rock unpainted. A new group, Kenai Rocks, wants to cure the boredom of… Continue reading

The Kenai Rocks group is placing painted rocks throughout Kenai and asking those who find them to post their find on the group’s Facebook page before hiding the rock again or keeping the rock. (Photo Courtesy Amanda Marshall) The Kenai Rocks group is placing painted rocks throughout Kenai and asking those who find them to post their find on the group’s Facebook page before hiding the rock again or keeping the rock. (Photo Courtesy Amanda Marshall)
The facade of Kenai’s former Regal Kambe Cinema — now known as Kenai Cinema after being purchased by Ashland, Oregon-based Coming Attractions Theatres — shows signs of impending changes on Monday, May 8, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska.

Kenai movie theatre to see changes

Kenai’s Regal Kambe theater has changed owners — from the nationwide Regal Entertainment Group to the northwest regional chain Coming Attractions Theatres — and will… Continue reading

The facade of Kenai’s former Regal Kambe Cinema — now known as Kenai Cinema after being purchased by Ashland, Oregon-based Coming Attractions Theatres — shows signs of impending changes on Monday, May 8, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska.
A firework explodes in the sky above the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center during the finale of this year’s Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration on Nov. 25, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska. Kenai ultimately decided not to extend the use period for fireworks or allow sales within the city. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai firework ordinance fizzles

Legal fireworks in Kenai will remain confined to the 48 hours between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 and the city will stay closed to firework… Continue reading

A firework explodes in the sky above the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center during the finale of this year’s Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration on Nov. 25, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska. Kenai ultimately decided not to extend the use period for fireworks or allow sales within the city. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai may extend firework usage

Whether to expand sale and use of fireworks will be tackled on the Kenai City Council’s Wednesday night agenda. Kenai allows residents to shoot off… Continue reading

Use caution with New Year’s fireworks

As in years past, the sky over Kenai will likely be lit with fireworks as 2016 ends on Saturday night. The cheerful boom and sparkle… Continue reading

Image courtesy of PRL Logistics and Straightline Aviation This computer-generated illustration shows Lockheed Martin's LMH-1 hybrid aircraft, which transportation company PRL Logistics plans to base in Kenai in 2019.

Hybrid aircraft to be based in Kenai

By 2019, people looking south across Kenai’s river flats or standing on its beach might occasionally see a giant, three-lobed ovoid rise into the air… Continue reading

Image courtesy of PRL Logistics and Straightline Aviation This computer-generated illustration shows Lockheed Martin's LMH-1 hybrid aircraft, which transportation company PRL Logistics plans to base in Kenai in 2019.
Kenai-based airship may arrive in 2019

Kenai-based airship may arrive in 2019

Possibilities that a new airship design may bring to Kenai include a $10 million hangar, science educational activities, local jobs and a chance to fly… Continue reading

Kenai-based airship may arrive in 2019

Kenai donates 5 lots to Habitat for Humanity

The central Kenai Peninsula chapter of Habitat for Humanity will build a house in Kenai every two years until 2026, using five properties the Kenai… Continue reading

Nathan Beck works his way across a bouldering wall he co-designed, with Ed Schmitt, at the River City Wellness Center gym on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. The new wall, featuring stylized landscape art by Kaitlin Vadla, will have a grand opening on Saturday, April 8 from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. Admission will be $20.

Climb on

… Continue reading

Nathan Beck works his way across a bouldering wall he co-designed, with Ed Schmitt, at the River City Wellness Center gym on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. The new wall, featuring stylized landscape art by Kaitlin Vadla, will have a grand opening on Saturday, April 8 from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. Admission will be $20.