Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Best shows off a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai awards contract to develop Parks and Rec master plan

The document is expected to guide the next 20 years of outdoors and recreation development in the city.

Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Best shows off a new inclusive seesaw at Kenai Municipal Park in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Balancing Act’s homepage for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. (Screenshot)

KPBSD launches ‘Balancing Act’ software, calls for public to balance $17 million deficit

The district and other education advocates have said that the base student allocation has failed to keep up with inflation.

Balancing Act’s homepage for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. (Screenshot)
Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Harvest Alaska announces proposed redevelopment of Kenai LNG terminal

The project could deliver additional natural gas supplies to the Southcentral market as early as 2026, developers said.

Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Co-owner Susannah Webster (right) checks in another attendee of The Porcupine Theater’s grand reopening gala on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

A night out at the theater

The Porcupine successfully held its long-awaited grand opening last weekend.

Co-owner Susannah Webster (right) checks in another attendee of The Porcupine Theater’s grand reopening gala on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Heather Rinke, RaChelle Gruenberg, Sara Bundy and Becky Hart won best costume for “Golden Girls” at the Ski for Women on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Poor snow cover cancels Ski for Women

There’s still hope for Tour of Tsalteshi

Heather Rinke, RaChelle Gruenberg, Sara Bundy and Becky Hart won best costume for “Golden Girls” at the Ski for Women on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A depth marker is almost entirely subsumed by the waters of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

After delay, borough adopts updated flood insurance maps

The assembly had previously postponed the legislation amid outcry from the Kenai River Keys Property Owners Association.

A depth marker is almost entirely subsumed by the waters of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche points to where the disconnected baler ram has bent piping at the Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough approves federal request to fund recycling redesign

A large baler that was used for recycling was recently left inoperable by a catastrophic failure in its main ram.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche points to where the disconnected baler ram has bent piping at the Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough Clerk Michele Turner administers an oath of office to Leslie Morton after Morton was appointed as the new Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly representative for Sterling and Funny River during an assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Morton appointed to assembly’s Sterling and Funny River seat

A vacancy on the assembly was created when Rep. Bill Elam resigned after winning election to the Alaska Legislature in November.

Borough Clerk Michele Turner administers an oath of office to Leslie Morton after Morton was appointed as the new Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly representative for Sterling and Funny River during an assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Milly Hornung and Halle Blades speak in opposition to a possible closure of Nikiski Middle/High School during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD discusses possible school closures in face of $17 million deficit

A presentation from borough administration to the board on Tuesday outlined a series of scenarios for closure of up to nine schools.

Milly Hornung and Halle Blades speak in opposition to a possible closure of Nikiski Middle/High School during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cook Inletkeeper Energy Policy Analyst Ben Boettger presents information about retrofitting homes to be more energy efficient at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Cook Inletkeeper to launch salmon solution community project

The program aims to address the impacts of pollution and warming temperatures in the Cook Inlet watershed.

Cook Inletkeeper Energy Policy Analyst Ben Boettger presents information about retrofitting homes to be more energy efficient at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

8 candidates file for assembly’s Sterling and Funny River seat

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly will hear from the candidates and select an appointee on Tuesday.

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks at the ribbon-cutting for the Kenai River Bluff Stabilization Project on the bluff above the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Local students nominated to military academies

The students will compete with other candidates for a spot at the school they have been nominated for.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks at the ribbon-cutting for the Kenai River Bluff Stabilization Project on the bluff above the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Logo for the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. (Image via Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection)

Peninsula fire departments receive grant funding

Thirty-three rural fire departments within the state were awarded funds in a total amount of $306,292.

Logo for the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. (Image via Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference Dec. 12, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Updated: Move to pause federal funding leaves local groups reeling

Questions remain after a Monday night order pausing disbursement of federal grants and loans was rescinded Wednesday.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference Dec. 12, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Mersha Tamrat gives free haircuts during the 14th Annual Project Homeless Connect at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Serving a ‘big need’

Project Homeless Connect offers services to people experiencing housing insecurity for 14th year.

Mersha Tamrat gives free haircuts during the 14th Annual Project Homeless Connect at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alexis Alamillo, of Anchorage, carries a sockeye salmon caught in a dipnet from the mouth of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game projects 7 million sockeye for Upper Cook Inlet

This year’s forecast is greater than the department’s projections from last year.

Alexis Alamillo, of Anchorage, carries a sockeye salmon caught in a dipnet from the mouth of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 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)

Barnes sentenced to 6 months for felony cruelty to animals

He has motioned to have previous time spent under house arrest credited as time served.

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)
Ryan Tunseth speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough considers Seward land purchase

A public hearing on Ordinance 2024-19-24 will be held at the Feb. 4 assembly meeting.

Ryan Tunseth speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Troopers shoot, kill 32-year-old Kasilof man after they say he shot a trooper

Troopers and a SWAT team responded to reports of a man yelling and firing a gun late Thursday night.

Alaska State Troopers logo.