Preventing suicide one day at a time

Preventing suicide one day at a time

Alaska consistently tops the nation in suicides — in 2014 and 2015 the state’s suicide deaths were ranked second in the nation by the Centers… Continue reading

Preventing suicide one day at a time

Planning commission makes marijuana recommendations

The Soldotna Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended marijuana regulations for the Soldotna City Council to consider as the city’s two-year ban on commercial marijuana… Continue reading

Chelsea Samora of Kenai holds her newborn daughter, Zoe, whose Jan. 3 birthday makes her the first baby born in Central Peninsula Hospital in 2018. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

CPH’s first 2018 baby born Wednesday

If her first day is any indication, Zoe Rae Samora is going to be an early bird. The newborn was born 11 days before her… Continue reading

Chelsea Samora of Kenai holds her newborn daughter, Zoe, whose Jan. 3 birthday makes her the first baby born in Central Peninsula Hospital in 2018. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

PEAKS test adds writing analysis portion

The Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools, or PEAKS, test will feature a new prompt in the English language arts section for grades four through nine… Continue reading

“I’m entering the new year with a new career, so I’m going to try to nail it. Nail this job.” — Kenai Firefighter Jesse Tauriainen, 31, of Nikiski

What’s your New Year’s Resolution?

In celebration of the New Year, the Clarion staff asked community members what their New Year’s resolutions are or what they hope 2018 has in… Continue reading

“I’m entering the new year with a new career, so I’m going to try to nail it. Nail this job.” — Kenai Firefighter Jesse Tauriainen, 31, of Nikiski
Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Since the start of the school year, the Kenai Central High School choir has been singing. From the chambers during Borough Assembly meeting, to Soldotna… Continue reading

Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Kenai bluff project gained ground in 2017

In 2017, the mile of bluff between Old Town Kenai and the Kenai River mouth may have receded three feet — the amount of ground… Continue reading

Assembly considers fixes for service area board vacancies

Right now, the Seldovia Recreational Service Area Board cannot meet. There aren’t enough members to make a quorum. Three of the five seats are empty… Continue reading

Dylan Griffith (left) and Chase Griffith (right), co-owners of cannabis retailer and cultivator Permafrost Distributors, talk behind the counter at their Sterling Highway store on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 in Sterling, Alaska. The brothers opened their Nikiski limited cultivation operation in December 2016 and expanded to the Sterling retail store and cultivation operation in June 2017. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Post-vote, cannabis businesses bloom on peninsula

Every time brothers Chase and Dylan Griffith make a business decision, instead of shaking hands, they bump fists. It’s par for the course in their… Continue reading

Dylan Griffith (left) and Chase Griffith (right), co-owners of cannabis retailer and cultivator Permafrost Distributors, talk behind the counter at their Sterling Highway store on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 in Sterling, Alaska. The brothers opened their Nikiski limited cultivation operation in December 2016 and expanded to the Sterling retail store and cultivation operation in June 2017. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Health care cost transparency rules gain advocates

Officials say they’ve seen benefits of a health care cost transparency ordinance passed by the Anchorage Assembly last February, and now Ketchikan is exploring a… Continue reading

Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship (left) administers the oath of office to Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce during a swearing-in ceremony at the George A. Navarre Borough Administration Building on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Pierce won the mayor’s seat in a runoff election held Oct. 24, narrowly defeating opponent Linda Hutchings with a margin of 45 votes. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce hits the ground running as mayor

It’s been a busy few months for the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s new mayor. Charlie Pierce took over the borough mayor’s office Nov. 5 after a… Continue reading

Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship (left) administers the oath of office to Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce during a swearing-in ceremony at the George A. Navarre Borough Administration Building on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Pierce won the mayor’s seat in a runoff election held Oct. 24, narrowly defeating opponent Linda Hutchings with a margin of 45 votes. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Seagulls flock to where participants in the personal use dipnet fishery fish on the north beach of the Kenai River on July 10, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska.

Borough releases draft comprehensive plan

Economic opportunity, freedom, natural resources, and strong community connections are among the things Kenai Peninsula residents value most about the area, according to the first… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Seagulls flock to where participants in the personal use dipnet fishery fish on the north beach of the Kenai River on July 10, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska.
This undated Facebook photo shows Soldotna resident Jeremy Dooley and the dog he adopted. After Dooley died suddenly in January 2016, his organs were donated and saved the lives of four people in the Pacific Northwest.

After tragic death, Soldotna man gives life through organ donation

There’s a scene that William Dooley remembers about his son Jeremy as a child. On a family visit to the Detroit Zoo, a luminous blue… Continue reading

This undated Facebook photo shows Soldotna resident Jeremy Dooley and the dog he adopted. After Dooley died suddenly in January 2016, his organs were donated and saved the lives of four people in the Pacific Northwest.

Joint board of fish, game considers meeting

The two boards regulating fisheries and game in the state are considering a joint meeting next spring. The Joint Board, which brings together the members… Continue reading

Halibut hang from the display rack at North Country Charters on the Homer Spit on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Commission to consider cutting halibut catch quotas

Halibut fishermen may see a reduction in the total amount of fish they’re allowed to catch in 2018. Data presented to the International Pacific Halibut… Continue reading

Halibut hang from the display rack at North Country Charters on the Homer Spit on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Aud Walaszek, Heritage Place activities coordinator introduces Bethlehem players.

A visit from Bethlehem

Revisiting Bethlehem is a local Christmas tradition that started nine years ago when Becky Moore had a Bethlehem revisited experience at a church in the… Continue reading

Aud Walaszek, Heritage Place activities coordinator introduces Bethlehem players.
Hale Holiday house on Henrich Street in Soldotna.

Lighting up the holidays

The Hale House in Soldotna on Henrich Street off Redoubt once again is over the top for holiday night lights. As an added bonus, tune… Continue reading

Hale Holiday house on Henrich Street in Soldotna.
John Walker, Commander Jerry V. Horn Memorial Post 10046 VFW places a wreath on a veteran’s grave in Soldotna.

Wreaths across America honors veterans

December 16 was the National Wreaths Across America Day. The day’s mission is to Remember, Honor and Teach, carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at… Continue reading

John Walker, Commander Jerry V. Horn Memorial Post 10046 VFW places a wreath on a veteran’s grave in Soldotna.
Orca Theatre manager Jordan Gruber makes popcorn for the next rush of movie-goers on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at the Orca Theatre on Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas at the Orca

While the muffled sounds of lightsabers buzzing and TIE fighters screaming came through one wall of the lobby and jungle drums through the other, the… Continue reading

Orca Theatre manager Jordan Gruber makes popcorn for the next rush of movie-goers on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at the Orca Theatre on Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Man arrested after crashing vehicle discovered to be stolen

Troopers shoot man after he pulls handgun in back of patrol car

A man was sent to Central Peninsula Hospital on Saturday after Alaska State Troopers shot him following a confrontation in the back of a patrol… Continue reading

Man arrested after crashing vehicle discovered to be stolen