A new sign welcomes people to the City of Soldotna stands near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Kenai River on May 1, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to use $20k grant for arts and culture master plan

The council last summer approved legislation supporting the creation of the master plan

A new sign welcomes people to the City of Soldotna stands near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Kenai River on May 1, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council members thank outgoing council member Justin Ruffridge for his years of service to the city during a council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska.. Ruffridge was elected last month to the Alaska Legislature. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

4 vie for vacant Soldotna council seat

City council members will interview applicants Wednesday

Soldotna City Council members thank outgoing council member Justin Ruffridge for his years of service to the city during a council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska.. Ruffridge was elected last month to the Alaska Legislature. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

City manager to take over parking rules in Kenai

Kenai Municipal Code currently prohibits parking on city streets between 4-8 a.m. from Oct. 1 to May 1 of the following year

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A rainbow trout is released in a restocking event at the 21st annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration in Kasilof on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game taking public comment on stocking plan for local waters

The 2023 Stocking Plan outlines the locations, numbers, sizes and life stages for each species of fish that will be stocked

A rainbow trout is released in a restocking event at the 21st annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration in Kasilof on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelsey Shields applies a “Lucy’s Market” sticker to a Cheese of the Month subscription box on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 at Lucy’s Market in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

New month, new cheese

Lucy’s Market launches subscription box for monthly cheese selections

Kelsey Shields applies a “Lucy’s Market” sticker to a Cheese of the Month subscription box on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 at Lucy’s Market in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A map of 2023 construction projects on the Kenai Peninsula shared during the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s Industry Outlook Forum on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, at the Christian Community Church in Homer, Alaska. (Screenshot)

State outlines a year of transportation projects at industry forum

Planning Manager David Post gave a presentation covering the department’s Surface Transportation Program

A map of 2023 construction projects on the Kenai Peninsula shared during the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s Industry Outlook Forum on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, at the Christian Community Church in Homer, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Visitor guides await travelers at the Kenai Municipal Airport, Thursday, June 20, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai Peninsula tourists trending older, staying longer

Tourism is bouncing back from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

Visitor guides await travelers at the Kenai Municipal Airport, Thursday, June 20, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion file)
The Kenai Fire Department headquarters are photographed on Feb. 13, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)

911 texting soon available

The service will allow residents to contact emergency services via traditional cellphone texting services

The Kenai Fire Department headquarters are photographed on Feb. 13, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
The Kenai/Soldotna Advisory Committee meets at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Building in Kalifornsky, Alaska, on Jan. 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Fish and Game advisory committee meeting Monday

There are 67 proposals to the Board of Game impacting the Southcentral region

The Kenai/Soldotna Advisory Committee meets at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Building in Kalifornsky, Alaska, on Jan. 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Members of the Kenai Central High School cheerleading team (back row, left to right): Kaitlyn Taylor, Sylvia McGraw, Malena Grieme, Maya Montague, Cali Holmes and Genesis Trevino; (front row, left to right): Makenzie Harden, Ella Romero and Brooklyn Reed stand for a photo at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday, Jan. 1, 2023, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. (Photo courtesy Brianna Force)

Hard work and good attitudes pay off

Kenai Central Cheerleading performs at Citrus Bowl in Florida

Members of the Kenai Central High School cheerleading team (back row, left to right): Kaitlyn Taylor, Sylvia McGraw, Malena Grieme, Maya Montague, Cali Holmes and Genesis Trevino; (front row, left to right): Makenzie Harden, Ella Romero and Brooklyn Reed stand for a photo at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday, Jan. 1, 2023, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. (Photo courtesy Brianna Force)
Matt Clarke and Homer Harbor crew assess vessel sunk vessel in Homer Harbor on Dec. 27, 2022. (Photo provided by Harbor crew)

Homer Harbor crew and team salvage submersed sailboat

Wet winter conditions create heavy ice on decks

Matt Clarke and Homer Harbor crew assess vessel sunk vessel in Homer Harbor on Dec. 27, 2022. (Photo provided by Harbor crew)
Alaska Association of Realtors President Dale Bagely presents a regional real estate update during the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s 2022 Industry Outlook Forum on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPEDD forum to offer overview of peninsula economic projects

The all-day forum will feature panels on topics including mariculture, oil and gas, food sustainability, tourism and broadband

Alaska Association of Realtors President Dale Bagely presents a regional real estate update during the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s 2022 Industry Outlook Forum on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Mount Redoubt can be seen acoss Cook Inlet from North Kenai Beach on Thursday, July 2, 2022. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Hilcorp lone bidder in state Cook Inlet lease sale

Hilcorp Alaska stands to claim 22,783 acres for a total of $359,483.23

Mount Redoubt can be seen acoss Cook Inlet from North Kenai Beach on Thursday, July 2, 2022. (Peninsula Clarion file)
The Kasilof River can be seen in June 2019. (Clarion file)

State to update public on Kasilof boat retrieval

Alaska State Parks has acquired two lots on Williamson Drive in Kasilof for the project

The Kasilof River can be seen in June 2019. (Clarion file)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Seward resident arrested after Department of Public Safety advisory

The advisory, published around 3 a.m., said that 44-year-old Cash Christensen was sought by the Seward Police Department

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Peninsula Clarion File 
Mounts Iliamna and Redoubt are seen at sunset on Feb. 22, 2022, in Kenai.

Hilcorp makes lone bid for Cook Inlet oil and gas lease sale

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management was offering leases for 193 blocks totaling some 958,000 acres

Peninsula Clarion File 
Mounts Iliamna and Redoubt are seen at sunset on Feb. 22, 2022, in Kenai.
A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Jon Boehmler grinds the floors at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, as part of a flooring renovation on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

New year, new floor, new shows

Kenai Art Center to open two exhibitions next week alongside debut of renovated floor

Jon Boehmler grinds the floors at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, as part of a flooring renovation on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye / Peninsula Clarion 
Ryanna Thurman, assistant Soldotna Public Library director, pulls a copy of “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe from the shelves on Tuesday, Below, examples of contemporary books that have been banned or challenged in recent years are displayed at the library on Sept. 24.

Library tackles controversial material in monthly Banned Book Club

The Banned Book Club was started as a one-time event

Jake Dye / Peninsula Clarion 
Ryanna Thurman, assistant Soldotna Public Library director, pulls a copy of “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe from the shelves on Tuesday, Below, examples of contemporary books that have been banned or challenged in recent years are displayed at the library on Sept. 24.
Change 4 the Kenai community coalition is launching a 100% Alaska survey for the central Kenai Peninsula. (Promotional flyer)

Change 4 the Kenai gauging community access to vital services

Information collected in the survey will be used to address needs

Change 4 the Kenai community coalition is launching a 100% Alaska survey for the central Kenai Peninsula. (Promotional flyer)