The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is seen on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai chamber announces new director

Brett Perry has lived in Soldotna for five years

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is seen on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The sun sets on a backroad near Kalifornsky Beach Road on Dec. 21, 2021. New regulations allowing all-purpose vehicles on some roads go into effect Jan. 1, 2022. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kalifornsky land group at risk of becoming ‘inactive’

The Kalifornsky Advisory Planning Commission currently only has one active member

The sun sets on a backroad near Kalifornsky Beach Road on Dec. 21, 2021. New regulations allowing all-purpose vehicles on some roads go into effect Jan. 1, 2022. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Clarion file

Tsalteshi to pilot Backyard Ultra race

Competitors must consecutively run a loop of 4.167 miles in less than one hour

Clarion file
A trailer containing mail for the lower Kenai Peninsula burns on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, on the Seward Highway north of the Seward-Sterling Highway intersection, Alaska. (Photo provided, U.S. Postal Service)

Trailer fire destroys USPS mail headed to peninsula

Fire in semi-tractor trailer destroys mail bound for some Southern Kenai Peninsula towns.

A trailer containing mail for the lower Kenai Peninsula burns on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, on the Seward Highway north of the Seward-Sterling Highway intersection, Alaska. (Photo provided, U.S. Postal Service)
Caring for the Kenai logo. (Image courtesy Merrill Sikorski)

Caring for the Kenai announces winners

A natural disaster preparedness digital app created by a Cook Inlet Academy sophomore took the top prize

Caring for the Kenai logo. (Image courtesy Merrill Sikorski)
The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council voices support for continued use of Zoom

The city implemented two-way video conferencing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Juneau residents line up with legislators for a picture and a cheer during a Go Blue Day Rally for National Child Abuse Prevention Month at the Capitol on Friday, April 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Orgs to host event highlighting child abuse prevention

The event honors Child Abuse Prevention Month, a nationwide campaign to spread awareness about childhood neglect

Juneau residents line up with legislators for a picture and a cheer during a Go Blue Day Rally for National Child Abuse Prevention Month at the Capitol on Friday, April 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Economic forum to spotlight Alaska Natives

The Alaska Native Economic Future Forum will provide resources and feature topics of interest to the Indigenous community

Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
The Norwegian Bliss arrives Monday in Juneau, the first cruise of the 2022 season.

2022 cruise season begins in Juneau

Visitors and Juneau locals alike were excited for the arrival

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
The Norwegian Bliss arrives Monday in Juneau, the first cruise of the 2022 season.
Renewable IPP CEO Jenn Miller presents information about solar power during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Proposed solar farm could receive tax exemptions

The assembly will consider whether or not to offer tax exemptions for independent power producers

Renewable IPP CEO Jenn Miller presents information about solar power during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Charlie Pierce stands in his home on Thursday, March 11, 2022, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska Republican Party endorses Pierce/Grunwald ticket

The party has also endorsed incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy

Charlie Pierce stands in his home on Thursday, March 11, 2022, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Steve M. Schoonmaker recites poetry as part of the opening of his show “Symbiotic Symphony: Alders and Salmon” at Cook Inletkeeper’s Community Action Studio on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘The giving of self’

Community art show celebrates symbiosis in nature

Steve M. Schoonmaker recites poetry as part of the opening of his show “Symbiotic Symphony: Alders and Salmon” at Cook Inletkeeper’s Community Action Studio on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Jesse Bjorkman (center) speaks while Aaron Rhoades (right) looks on during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly opposes making mayor’s assistant full time

The borough was looking to bring on the mayor’s former chief of staff for the special assistant role

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Jesse Bjorkman (center) speaks while Aaron Rhoades (right) looks on during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Crystal Locke speaks in support of the donation of an additional .53 acres of land for a community dog park during a presentation to the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More land donated for planned Kenai dog park

Organizers say more space will make the park more accommodating

Crystal Locke speaks in support of the donation of an additional .53 acres of land for a community dog park during a presentation to the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

East peninsula fire leaves resident badly burned

Officials responded to the structure fire at 1:49 a.m. Easter Sunday

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Chain link fencing outlines the site of the former Jesse Lee Home on April 3 in Seward.

Contaminated materials at Jesse Lee Home site delay park construction

City administrators gave project updates during a special meeting of the Seward City Council

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Chain link fencing outlines the site of the former Jesse Lee Home on April 3 in Seward.
Larry Opperman sings the “Green Acres” theme song as part of a radiothon pledge during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Fundraiser brings ‘Green Acres’ theme to assembly

The fundraiser was hosted by KSRM for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Larry Opperman sings the “Green Acres” theme song as part of a radiothon pledge during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A caribou has holiday lights tangled in its antlers on April 13, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Robin Andree)

Springtime brings out the animals

Wildlife sightings might become more prevalent in the coming weeks

A caribou has holiday lights tangled in its antlers on April 13, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Robin Andree)
Vaughn Dosko is seen in this undated photo. Dosko was awarded region 3 principal of the year by the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals. (Photos courtesy of the Alaska Council of School Administrators)

Kenai Middle School administrator receives principal of the year award

Vaughn Dosko, the principal at Kenai Middle School, attributed the award to his students and staff

Vaughn Dosko is seen in this undated photo. Dosko was awarded region 3 principal of the year by the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals. (Photos courtesy of the Alaska Council of School Administrators)
(From left) Mike Frost, Monica Frost, Tara Sweeney and Sue Carter attend a campaign meet and greet at Addie Camp on Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Sweeney is running to fill the seat of former U.S. House Rep. Don Young, who died in March. (Photo courtesy Karina Waller)

Sweeney brings Congressional campaign to the central peninsula

She is one of 48 candidates vying for Alaska’s vacant U.S. House seat

(From left) Mike Frost, Monica Frost, Tara Sweeney and Sue Carter attend a campaign meet and greet at Addie Camp on Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Sweeney is running to fill the seat of former U.S. House Rep. Don Young, who died in March. (Photo courtesy Karina Waller)