Kenai

Snow is cleared from a parking lot at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai accepts airport grant funds for snow removal equipment, new master plan

Ordinances were approved on a shortened timeline to meet Federal Aviation Administration deadline

Snow is cleared from a parking lot at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign directs voters at Soldotna City Hall during the special Field House election on March 5, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign directs voters at Soldotna City Hall during the special Field House election on March 5, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The badge for the Kenai Police Department

Kenai resident arrested on arson, burglary charges

No one was in the home and moderate fire damage and significant smoke damage occurred, officials said

The badge for the Kenai Police Department
A sign marks Kenai’s Field of Flowers in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai’s Field of Flowers returns to bloom

The field went unplanted last year to rehabilitate the space

A sign marks Kenai’s Field of Flowers in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldona Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 31. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ruffridge updates chambers on legislative efforts

He discussed the successes of his freshman session in the Alaska Legislature

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldona Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 31. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections is photographed at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections is photographed at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Alexis Alamillo, of Anchorage, carries a sockeye salmon caught in a dipnet from the mouth of the Kenai River on Wednesday.

Kenai River dipnetting now open 24 hours a day

The liberalization of fishing regulation was effective starting Thursday evening

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Alexis Alamillo, of Anchorage, carries a sockeye salmon caught in a dipnet from the mouth of the Kenai River on Wednesday.
Lisa Parker, vice mayor of Soldotna, celebrates after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Peninsula Oilers and the Mat-Su Miners on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

King of the River food drive extended, Kenai takes lead

The winning city’s mayor will throw the opening pitch at a Peninsula Oilers game

Lisa Parker, vice mayor of Soldotna, celebrates after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Peninsula Oilers and the Mat-Su Miners on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Drummers perform during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenaitze tribe celebrates 10 years of ‘far-fetched dream’ at wellness center

Community members recognized the work done at the Dena’ina Wellness Center over the past decade

Drummers perform during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Safeway is seen on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai and Soldotna Safeways may be sold under proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger

The local stores will be sold to CS Wholesale Grocers only if the merger overcomes suit from the FTC

The Kenai Safeway is seen on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Gina Plank processes sockeye salmon caught on the first day of Kenai River dipnetting with her table set up on the bank of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River open for dipnetting

As of Tuesday, a total of 226,000 sockeye had been counted in the Kenai River’s late run

Gina Plank processes sockeye salmon caught on the first day of Kenai River dipnetting with her table set up on the bank of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy pictured with members of the House majority after signing the fiscal year 2025 budget bills, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska. From left to right: Reps. Stanley Wright, Tom McKay, Thomas Baker, Craig Johnson, Kevin McCabe, Julie Coulombe and Laddie Shaw. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy pictured with members of the House majority after signing the fiscal year 2025 budget bills, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska. From left to right: Reps. Stanley Wright, Tom McKay, Thomas Baker, Craig Johnson, Kevin McCabe, Julie Coulombe and Laddie Shaw. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor)
A map created within the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s parcel viewer in September 2017 displays in green the Swanson Square property and in blue the property of the Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai, Alaska. Because the properties are within 500 feet of one another, the City of Kenai has now twice rejected marijuana retail operations in Swanson Square. (Map by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion File)

Kenai resolution asks state not to issue license for proposed marijuana retailer

City council previously rejected a marijuana retailer at the same property in 2017

A map created within the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s parcel viewer in September 2017 displays in green the Swanson Square property and in blue the property of the Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai, Alaska. Because the properties are within 500 feet of one another, the City of Kenai has now twice rejected marijuana retail operations in Swanson Square. (Map by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion File)
The Soldotna Little League proceeds down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, during the Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Celebrating Independence in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Fourth of July Parade

The Soldotna Little League proceeds down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, during the Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Lisa Parker, vice mayor of Soldotna, celebrates after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Peninsula Oilers and the Mat-Su Miners on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

Kenai and Soldotna square off once more in ‘King of the River Food Drive’

Food can be donated at the food bank or at either city’s chamber of commerce

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Lisa Parker, vice mayor of Soldotna, celebrates after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Peninsula Oilers and the Mat-Su Miners on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Potter’s Guild’s annual exhibition, “Clay on Display,” is seen at the Kenai Art Center on Tuesday.

Expression in a teapot at July art center show

Kenai Art Center’s annual pottery show takes front gallery, with memories of Japan featured in the back

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Potter’s Guild’s annual exhibition, “Clay on Display,” is seen at the Kenai Art Center on Tuesday.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Attendees take food from a buffet during the grand opening of Siam Noodles and Food in Kenai on Tuesday.

Soldotna Thai restaurant expands to Kenai

The restaurant is next to Jersey Subs in Kenai where Thai Town used to be located

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Attendees take food from a buffet during the grand opening of Siam Noodles and Food in Kenai on Tuesday.
Council member Deborah Sounart speaks during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Council member Deborah Sounart speaks during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman talks freshman legislative session, spotlights bills passed

Bjorkman spoke at a joint luncheon of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in June

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Children help City of Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel cut the ribbon at an event celebrating the installation of a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Municipal Park gets new inclusive seesaw

The seesaw is located in a central location right off the main cement pathway and is low to the ground

Children help City of Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel cut the ribbon at an event celebrating the installation of a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)