Ana Monyahan presents on behalf of the Soldotna Silver Salmon Swim Team, seeking a mini grant from the Soldotna City Council during their meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna awards mini grants to Silver Salmon Swim Team, Way Out Women

The grant provide funding to civic programs, services and events

Ana Monyahan presents on behalf of the Soldotna Silver Salmon Swim Team, seeking a mini grant from the Soldotna City Council during their meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council expresses opposition to Endangered Species listing for chinook

The letter comes only a week after Kenai’s city council made the same move

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Angel Patterson-Moe and Natalie Norris stand in front of one of their Red Eye Rides vehicles in Seward, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Red Eye Rides to launch new route from Kenai to Seward or Anchorage

The shuttle service has been ferrying people up and down the Seward Highway since 2022

Angel Patterson-Moe and Natalie Norris stand in front of one of their Red Eye Rides vehicles in Seward, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A peace crane sculpture stands at the heart of the Kenai Peninsula Peace Crane Garden Trails in Soldotna on Wednesday.

From mundane to spiritual

Peace Crane Garden expands with two new structures

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A peace crane sculpture stands at the heart of the Kenai Peninsula Peace Crane Garden Trails in Soldotna on Wednesday.
Kenai City Council member Deborah Sounart, left, and candidate Sovala Kisena participate in the KDLL 91.9 FM/Peninsula Clarion 2024 Candidate Forum Series on Monday, at the Kenai Community Library . (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Forum series debuts with Kenai City Council candidates

Kenai voters will this year cast ballots for two candidates to fill the two open seats

Kenai City Council member Deborah Sounart, left, and candidate Sovala Kisena participate in the KDLL 91.9 FM/Peninsula Clarion 2024 Candidate Forum Series on Monday, at the Kenai Community Library . (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer City Hall. (Homer News file photo)
Homer City Hall. (Homer News file photo)
Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula College celebrates 60 years of instruction

The college celebrated its anniversary during its annual open house last week

Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections 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 at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
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 PZ commission denies Canna Get Happy variance application

The proposed location is in Swanson Square next to Salvation Army along the Kenai Spur Highway

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)
Monitor Robert Begich counts the salmon pulled ashore and looks for king salmon at a test site for beach seine gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council opposes Endangered Species Act listing for chinook

The city both stated their opposition to that proposed listing, as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service’s positive finding on the requesting petition

Monitor Robert Begich counts the salmon pulled ashore and looks for king salmon at a test site for beach seine gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai awards $700,000 contract for rehabilitation of airport fire station

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the facility is at the end of its life

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Samantha Springer receives the Outstanding Individual in Tourism award at Industry Appreciation Day in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Individuals and businesses recognized at Industry Appreciation Day

The Kenai Softball Greenstrip was packed on Saturday, Aug. 17, as hundreds gathered to recognize local industries and also enjoy free food and games. The… Continue reading

Samantha Springer receives the Outstanding Individual in Tourism award at Industry Appreciation Day in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Students sit down to read books on the first day of the school year at Tustumena Elementary School in Kasilof, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Right back into the swing’

Students return to KPBSD schools for 2024-2025 year

Students sit down to read books on the first day of the school year at Tustumena Elementary School in Kasilof, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Flyer for the 2024 Candidate Forum Series by KDLL 91.9 FM and the Peninsula Clarion. (Ashlyn O’Hara/KDLL 91.9)

Clarion, KDLL candidate forum series returns

First forum with candidates for Kenai City Council is Aug. 26

Flyer for the 2024 Candidate Forum Series by KDLL 91.9 FM and the Peninsula Clarion. (Ashlyn O’Hara/KDLL 91.9)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Low coho returns spur slew of bag limit reductions

A Northern Kenai Fishing Report published by the State Department of Fish and Game on Wednesday says that sockeye fishing is still slowing. The department… Continue reading

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Supporters of Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, wave signs on the side of the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, during the Alaska Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Supporters of Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, wave signs on the side of the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, during the Alaska Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Community Ride for Parking Policy Change rolls along Nikishka Beach Road in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski parents organize drive in search of looser ATV policy

Organizers are hoping to see change in the school’s parking policy to allow students to ride their ATVs or other off-road vehicles to school

The Community Ride for Parking Policy Change rolls along Nikishka Beach Road in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Briar Oden is the first to start pushing a new ambulance into the garage at the Kenai Public Safety Building in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Fire Department puts new ambulances into service

Ambulances are used for 80% of the department’s calls

Briar Oden is the first to start pushing a new ambulance into the garage at the Kenai Public Safety Building in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs Senate Bill 179, while Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, right, stands by on Aug. 13, 2024. (Photo provided by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman)

Bjorkman property tax bill signed into law

The bill cuts property taxes for farmers and prevents transfer taxes on the sale of houses

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs Senate Bill 179, while Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, right, stands by on Aug. 13, 2024. (Photo provided by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)