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Voter turnout on the entire peninsula, including Districts 29, 30 and 31 was 42.9 percent, which is slightly above the state voter turnout of 41.4 percent of registered voters, according to the Alaska Division of Elections, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

How the peninsula voted: A breakdown of Tuesday’s elections results

Peninsula voter turnout for this week’s midterm elections saw a major increase from August’s primary elections and a sharp decrease from other elections in years… Continue reading

Voter turnout on the entire peninsula, including Districts 29, 30 and 31 was 42.9 percent, which is slightly above the state voter turnout of 41.4 percent of registered voters, according to the Alaska Division of Elections, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A spruce tree showing heavy damage from spruce bark beetles stands on Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boetttger/Peninsula Clarion file)

Forestry to host Spruce bark beetle workshops amid outbreak

The Division of Forestry and Cooperative Extension will host a spruce bark beetle workshop Thursday. The event is being offered because of increased spruce bark… Continue reading

A spruce tree showing heavy damage from spruce bark beetles stands on Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boetttger/Peninsula Clarion file)
U.S. Rep. Don Young, a Republican, is shown prior to a debate Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. Young is being challenged by Alyse Galvin, an independent who won the Alaska Democratic primary. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Running for Congress: Get to know Congressman Don Young

Ahead of Tuesday’s election, the Clarion is publishing interviews with candidates vying to represent Alaskan communities. In our final set of interviews, we talked to… Continue reading

U.S. Rep. Don Young, a Republican, is shown prior to a debate Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. Young is being challenged by Alyse Galvin, an independent who won the Alaska Democratic primary. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Alyse Galvin, an independent, is shown prior to a debate Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. Galvin is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Young, a Republican who has been in office since 1973. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen) Alyse Galvin, an independent, is shown prior to a debate Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. Galvin is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Young, a Republican who has been in office since 1973. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Running for Congress: Get to know Alyse Galvin

Ahead of Tuesday’s election, the Clarion is publishing interviews with candidates vying to represent Alaskan communities. In our final set of interviews, we talked to… Continue reading

Alyse Galvin, an independent, is shown prior to a debate Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. Galvin is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Young, a Republican who has been in office since 1973. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen) Alyse Galvin, an independent, is shown prior to a debate Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. Galvin is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Young, a Republican who has been in office since 1973. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Parents, teachers, staff and concerned public gather at the Kenai Central High School library to listen to Superintendent Sean Dusek and Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones discuss the future Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget on Tuesday in Kenai. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

District begins future budget development with public input

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is already breaking ground on their upcoming budget development — and is getting the community involved. Superintendent Sean Dusek… Continue reading

Parents, teachers, staff and concerned public gather at the Kenai Central High School library to listen to Superintendent Sean Dusek and Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones discuss the future Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget on Tuesday in Kenai. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, prepares to open a floor session of the Alaska Senate on April 27, 2018. (Daniel McDonald | Alaska Senate Majority)

Senate District O spotlight: An interview with Sen. Peter Micciche

Question: Should you be re-elected, what would your first priority be as Senator? Answer: I have several that are right at the top of the… Continue reading

Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, prepares to open a floor session of the Alaska Senate on April 27, 2018. (Daniel McDonald | Alaska Senate Majority)
Suzie Kendrick from the Kenai Peninsula College gave a campus update at the Soldotna Chamber Luncheon, on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, in Soldotna, AK. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Official: Kenai Peninsula College student enrollment down

After years of growth, Kenai Peninsula College is seeing a decline in student enrollment. Enrollment decreased 4 percent between 2017 and 2018, according to an… Continue reading

Suzie Kendrick from the Kenai Peninsula College gave a campus update at the Soldotna Chamber Luncheon, on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, in Soldotna, AK. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
King looks to dethrone Micciche with write-in campaign

King looks to dethrone Micciche with write-in campaign

With election day around the corner, Soldotna’s Willow King has launched a write-in campaign for Senate District O. Incumbent Senator Peter Micciche’s name will be… Continue reading

King looks to dethrone Micciche with write-in campaign
Senate District O spotlight: An interview with write-in candidate Ron Gillham

Senate District O spotlight: An interview with write-in candidate Ron Gillham

Question: What would your first priority be as the senator, should you get elected? Answer: One of the first priorities will be trying to get… Continue reading

Senate District O spotlight: An interview with write-in candidate Ron Gillham
Health department releases annual Vital Statistics

Health department releases annual Vital Statistics

Monday, the state Health Department released the 2017 Alaska Vital Statistics Report. The annual report features new insights into marriage and divorce, baby names, fertility… Continue reading

Health department releases annual Vital Statistics
Suzanne Goodwill received the National Education Association of Alaska Education Support Professional of the Year award in a surprise assembly at Skyview Middle School in Soldotna, AK, on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Skyview tutor receives state’s highest honor for education support professionals

In a surprise assembly Tuesday morning, the National Education Association of Alaska awarded Soldotna’s Suzanne Goodwill the title of Alaska Education Support Professional of the… Continue reading

Suzanne Goodwill received the National Education Association of Alaska Education Support Professional of the Year award in a surprise assembly at Skyview Middle School in Soldotna, AK, on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Panelists, Kaitlin Vadla, Laura Rhyne, Linda Hutchings and Owen Phillips present information about Alaska Ballot Measure 1 at an event hosted by the League of Women Voters on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, in Soldotna, AK. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

League of Women Voters holds Prop 1 forum

The League of Women Voters hosted a forum last week to help inform voters on Alaska Ballot Measure 1. Kaitlin Vadla and Laura Rhyne from… Continue reading

Panelists, Kaitlin Vadla, Laura Rhyne, Linda Hutchings and Owen Phillips present information about Alaska Ballot Measure 1 at an event hosted by the League of Women Voters on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, in Soldotna, AK. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A conversation with District 29 candidate Shawn Butler

A conversation with District 29 candidate Shawn Butler

Editor’s note: The story has been updated to show that Chenault was previously, not currently, Speaker of the House. Ahead of next week’s election, the… Continue reading

A conversation with District 29 candidate Shawn Butler
A conversation with District 29 candidate Ben Carpenter

A conversation with District 29 candidate Ben Carpenter

Editor’s note: The story has been updated to show that Chenault was previously, not currently, Speaker of the House. Ahead of next week’s election, the… Continue reading

A conversation with District 29 candidate Ben Carpenter

Soldotna changes Kleeb to Whistle Hill Loop

The Soldotna City Council voted to rename Kleeb Loop to Whistle Hill Loop. Mary Krull is the owner of Brew@602, a train-car-turned-coffee-shop, which sits on… Continue reading

School Briefs week of Oct. 29 - Nov. 4

School Briefs week of Oct. 29 – Nov. 4

Soldotna High School Parent Teacher Conferences are 11/1/18 from 12-3 pm and 4-7 pm The Soldotna Girls Basketball team will be hosting their annual What… Continue reading

School Briefs week of Oct. 29 - Nov. 4
Women in Agriculture Conference comes to the Kenai

Women in Agriculture Conference comes to the Kenai

The Women in Agriculture Conference will be coming to the peninsula for its second year this weekend. The one-day virtual gathering for anyone interested in… Continue reading

Women in Agriculture Conference comes to the Kenai
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly stands in silence while Assembly President Wayne Ogle offers an invocation before the meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Soldotna, AK. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly continues invocations, despite court ruling

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify details about the court ruling on the borough assembly’s invocation policy. Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly… Continue reading

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly stands in silence while Assembly President Wayne Ogle offers an invocation before the meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Soldotna, AK. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly reelects Ogle, Bagley for President and Vice President

Assembly reelects Ogle, Bagley for President and Vice President

Current Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly President Wayne Ogle and Vice President Dale Bagley were re-elected into the assembly’s president and vice president seats at Tuesday’s… Continue reading

Assembly reelects Ogle, Bagley for President and Vice President
Landon Lightfoot jumps into the Nikiski pool during a training scenario, June 30, 2014, at the Nikiski Pool, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski Pool to open sooner than expected

Swimmers are able to get back into the Nikiski Pool earlier than expected. The pool officially opened on Wednesday morning, Nigel LaRiccia, the pool supervisor,… Continue reading

Landon Lightfoot jumps into the Nikiski pool during a training scenario, June 30, 2014, at the Nikiski Pool, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion)