Then-candidates for Soldotna City Council Lisa Parker, Pamela Parker (center) and Dave Carey speak to members of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at the Soldotna Sports Complex on Sept. 11, 2019. Parker resigned her seat effective May 27. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Sweeney, Hugarte apply for Soldotna council vacancy

Pamela Parker’s successor will be selected during the council’s Wednesday meeting.

Then-candidates for Soldotna City Council Lisa Parker, Pamela Parker (center) and Dave Carey speak to members of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at the Soldotna Sports Complex on Sept. 11, 2019. Parker resigned her seat effective May 27. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly debates, approves inclusion of emergency personnel in budget

Assembly member Jesse Bjorkman proposed removing the positions from the budget.

Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Visitors interact with the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Rocky Coast Discovery Pool on May 28 in Seward. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center reports increase in visitors

The center is encouraging people to buy tickets online

Visitors interact with the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Rocky Coast Discovery Pool on May 28 in Seward. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)
Shawn Dick of Talkneetna carries a fresh catch out of the water while dipnetting on the Kenai Beach on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Online reporting required for personal use fishing

Harvest and participation reporting must be done online by no later than Aug. 15, 2021.

Shawn Dick of Talkneetna carries a fresh catch out of the water while dipnetting on the Kenai Beach on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Eroding bluffs can be seen on Kenai North Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on June 3, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai City Council contracts HDR Engineering for bluff stabilization project

The project aims to install large boulder-armored barriers at the base to absorb the impact from the waves.

Eroding bluffs can be seen on Kenai North Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on June 3, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Vendors sell locally grown and crafted products at the Soldotna Saturday Farmers Market during the 2019 season. (Photo provided)

Soldotna farmers market opens Saturday

Vendors are required to grow and produce all their products locally.

Vendors sell locally grown and crafted products at the Soldotna Saturday Farmers Market during the 2019 season. (Photo provided)
Freshly baked loaves are ready for resale at Lucy’s Market in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘I managed to keep it alive all this time’

Born over 250 years ago in Germany, “Marlis” is now vital at a Soldotna bakery

Freshly baked loaves are ready for resale at Lucy’s Market in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A rescued dog is pictured at the Kenai Animal Shelter on Thursday, May 17, 2018. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Mini-grant program funds animal spay and neutering

The amount of financial aid ranged anywhere from $60 to $110 per surgery.

A rescued dog is pictured at the Kenai Animal Shelter on Thursday, May 17, 2018. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Fjords National Park can be seen in June 2018 in Seward, Alaska. (Clarion file)

Rangers kill aggressive bear in Kenai Fjords

The park plans to donate the bear to charity so its meat can be salvaged.

Kenai Fjords National Park can be seen in June 2018 in Seward, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Sarah Knapp / Homer News
Alaska Chief Medical Officer Anne Zink, M.D., left, poses for a selfie with Kelly Bolt, right, and Debbie Gardner, who work at WIC, at a meet-and-greet on Thursday, May 27, at the Homer Public Health Center in Homer.

Dr. Zink visits Homer

Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer holds meet-and-greet, visits pop-up clinic on Spit.

Sarah Knapp / Homer News
Alaska Chief Medical Officer Anne Zink, M.D., left, poses for a selfie with Kelly Bolt, right, and Debbie Gardner, who work at WIC, at a meet-and-greet on Thursday, May 27, at the Homer Public Health Center in Homer.
Heather Renner and Tasha Reynolds run and fat bike to the finish during 2019 Mouth to Mouth Wild Run & Ride. (Courtesy photo)

Mouth to Mouth up and running

The monthlong run and fat bike challenge kicked off in person on Tuesday at South Kenai Beach.

Heather Renner and Tasha Reynolds run and fat bike to the finish during 2019 Mouth to Mouth Wild Run & Ride. (Courtesy photo)
Soldotna Parks and Recreation employees Brock Kant, left, and Kenneth Butler plant trees along the Sterling Highway in Soldotna on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

More greenery coming to Soldotna

The city planted around 43 trees in 2019 and plans to put another 43 in the ground this summer.

Soldotna Parks and Recreation employees Brock Kant, left, and Kenneth Butler plant trees along the Sterling Highway in Soldotna on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
The community attends the first Wednesday Market at Soldotna Creek Park on May 26, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Music in the park back after yearlong hiatus

The free concert series kicks off following last week’s opening of the Soldotna Wednesday Market.

The community attends the first Wednesday Market at Soldotna Creek Park on May 26, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Seward fisherman assisted after falling into Resurrection Bay

The man was walking through the water in his waders and stepped into a drop-off in the bay.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche (R-Soldotna) lays a poppy flower on a remberance wreath with his family during the Memorial Day ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, May 31, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A true expression of selfless service’

Community gathers to honor the fallen in Memorial Day service

Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche (R-Soldotna) lays a poppy flower on a remberance wreath with his family during the Memorial Day ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, May 31, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A newborn harbor seal is found and transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Photo by the Alaska SeaLife Center)

Newborn seal pup transported to SeaLife Center in critical condition

The male harbor seal pup appeared to be abandoned at birth.

A newborn harbor seal is found and transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Photo by the Alaska SeaLife Center)
The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

Burn suspension lifted on Kenai Peninsula

Burn permits were suspended on May 24 because of weather conditions.

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)
Kids take part in Boys & Girls Club summer activities in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula)

Grants issued for youth summer camps

Many summer camps on the central Kenai Peninsula were either scaled back or canceled altogether because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kids take part in Boys & Girls Club summer activities in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula)
This photo taken Beryl Air pilot Stephanie Greer on Friday, May 21, over Grewingk Glacier and Glacier Spit shows the mesodinium rubrum bloom to the left as contrasted with the normal ocean water of Kachemak Bay near Homer. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Greer/Beryl Air)

Plankton bloom brings red hues to Kachemak Bay

Though plankton turned Kachemak Bay pale red, the bloom isn’t harmful, scientists say.

This photo taken Beryl Air pilot Stephanie Greer on Friday, May 21, over Grewingk Glacier and Glacier Spit shows the mesodinium rubrum bloom to the left as contrasted with the normal ocean water of Kachemak Bay near Homer. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Greer/Beryl Air)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)