Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna man arrested after police chase, multiple collisions

Aldon Burns is charged with failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer, fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest.

Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A preserved polar bear is displayed at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai accepts donation of bears displayed at airport

The pair have been displayed at the airport since 2014.

A preserved polar bear is displayed at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow collects near the entrance to the Kenai Community Library on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai library receives $14K in donations

The funds will purchase new materials, equipment and furniture.

Snow collects near the entrance to the Kenai Community Library on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Laila Taylor sits with her 1st place medal from the Kenai Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot at the Kenai Elks Lodge in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo provided by Amber Rouswell)

Local 9-year-old to shoot hoops in Idaho

If she wins in that competition, she could go to the national finals in Chicago in April.

Laila Taylor sits with her 1st place medal from the Kenai Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot at the Kenai Elks Lodge in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo provided by Amber Rouswell)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks at a town hall meeting in the Moose Pass Sportsman’s Club in Moose Pass on Friday, Feb. 28.

Community airs concerns about education, energy at town halls

Bjorkman hosts meetings in Moose Pass, Nikiski and Soldotna.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks at a town hall meeting in the Moose Pass Sportsman’s Club in Moose Pass on Friday, Feb. 28.
The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Aleutian Airways to launch Kenai route in June

Starting in June, the airline will fly two daily round-trip flights.

The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Virginia Morgan speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer, Alaska, on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School budget scenarios would cut staffing, programs

Even at the highest level of funding, the drafts describe significant cuts.

Virginia Morgan speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer, Alaska, on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Around 100 people fill seats during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer on Monday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board strikes 6 schools from closure consideration

The board will continue to consider closing Nikolaevsk School, Sterling and Tustumena.

Around 100 people fill seats during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer on Monday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cook Inlet can be seen through the window of a Ravn aircraft in October 2019. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Ravn discontinues service to Homer

Aleutian Airways continues to provide service to and from Homer.

Cook Inlet can be seen through the window of a Ravn aircraft in October 2019. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

7 candidates in running for HEA board

Members can cast ballots starting March 28.

The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Mi’shell French, director of rural housing for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, speaks at a celebration of more than 100 homes constructed by RurAL CAP’s Mutual Self-Help Housing Program near Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

RurAL CAP marks over 100 homes constructed by mutual self-help program

The program is a response to Alaska’s housing crisis.

Mi’shell French, director of rural housing for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, speaks at a celebration of more than 100 homes constructed by RurAL CAP’s Mutual Self-Help Housing Program near Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Member Jordan Chilson speaks in support of an ordinance that would establish a residential property tax exemption during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna joins call for increased school funding

The city is calling for an increase to the BSA and ongoing inflation proofing of that amount.

Member Jordan Chilson speaks in support of an ordinance that would establish a residential property tax exemption during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kimberly Powell, coach of the Soldotna High School soccer team, speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Girls soccer, Homeless Connect receive Soldotna mini grants

Both received $1,000 to assist with operating expenses.

Kimberly Powell, coach of the Soldotna High School soccer team, speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Biologist Heather Renner presents the results of her recently published study on the 2014-2016 common murre mass die-off on Feb. 18, 2025, at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge in Homer, Alaska. Renner’s research showed that the actual number of dead murre was closer to 4 million birds, compared to earlier estimates of only 500,000 to 1 million. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Biologist reports on mass murre die-off

A mass marine heat wave known simply as “the Blob” decimated their food system from multiple angles.

Biologist Heather Renner presents the results of her recently published study on the 2014-2016 common murre mass die-off on Feb. 18, 2025, at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge in Homer, Alaska. Renner’s research showed that the actual number of dead murre was closer to 4 million birds, compared to earlier estimates of only 500,000 to 1 million. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Writer Tom Kizzia shares his latest story with community members during his presentation on Thursday, Feb. 20 at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Homer author Tom Kizzia shares ‘Josie’s Story’

The story highlights the complexity of Jewish-Alaskan history.

Writer Tom Kizzia shares his latest story with community members during his presentation on Thursday, Feb. 20 at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Cy Garcia, a student at Soldotna High School, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly calls on state to boost school funding

The move was made as the school district faces a $17 million budget deficit.

Cy Garcia, a student at Soldotna High School, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Heidi Sorrell, executive director of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, speaks during a chamber luncheon at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sorrell named new director of Soldotna Chamber

Sorrell was introduced by Chamber Board President Chuck Winters during a Wednesday luncheon.

Heidi Sorrell, executive director of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, speaks during a chamber luncheon at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A table used by parties to a case sits empty in Courtroom 4 of the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Attorney requests delay in trooper assault case

Joseph Miller Jr., 50, and Jason Woodruff, 42, were indicted on felony assault in October.

A table used by parties to a case sits empty in Courtroom 4 of the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Professor of Process Technology Jeffrey Laube explains equipment to Kachemak Bay Campus Director Brian Partridge at a showcase of Kenai Peninsula College’s career and technical education programs in the college’s Career and Technical Center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula College showcases career programs to Board of Regents

A group of KPC students were first to speak during the full board meeting Thursday afternoon.

Professor of Process Technology Jeffrey Laube explains equipment to Kachemak Bay Campus Director Brian Partridge at a showcase of Kenai Peninsula College’s career and technical education programs in the college’s Career and Technical Center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)