Kenai Police Chief David Ross. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai police chief offered city manager position

Current City Manager Paul Ostrander announced in September that he would not renew his contract

Kenai Police Chief David Ross. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Homer Forest School logo. (Image from Homer Forest School draft charter)

Homer group envisions school in nature

Homer Forest School would offer KPBSD students a learning model focused on immersion in the outdoors

Homer Forest School logo. (Image from Homer Forest School draft charter)
Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Free parking at Alaska State Parks the day after Thanksgiving

The move aims to encourage Alaskans to get outside during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend

Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
From left: Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, Kenai City Council member Henry Knackstedt and Kenai Vice Mayor James Baisden listen to public testimony during a city council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Draft plan maps out future Kenai capital projects

The two largest projects described in the draft plan are the bluff stabilization project and the airport runway rehabilitation project

From left: Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, Kenai City Council member Henry Knackstedt and Kenai Vice Mayor James Baisden listen to public testimony during a city council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Man arrested in connection with Kenai killing

The Kenai Police Department received a report of a shooting on California Street

The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Abbi Suprick is seen at Everything Bagels in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Bagelista’ becomes new owner of Everything Bagels

Abbi Suprick takes the reins of local shop after selling bagels for four years

Abbi Suprick is seen at Everything Bagels in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Fishing guide Reubin Payne testifies in support of a public boat takeout facility on the Kasilof River during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15. 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly rejects resolution supporting privately owned boat takeouts

The resolution was in response to a plan by the State of Alaska to develop a drift boat takeout in the lower Kasilof River

Fishing guide Reubin Payne testifies in support of a public boat takeout facility on the Kasilof River during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15. 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs in honor of Duffy Murnane were available for people to hold while retracing her last known steps during the memorial walk on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2021. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Man accused in Homer death extradited to Alaska

Kirby Calderwood is accused of killing Anesha “Duffy” Murnane

Signs in honor of Duffy Murnane were available for people to hold while retracing her last known steps during the memorial walk on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2021. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship stands near a bouquet of flowers and her workspace during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough staff, assembly members honor outgoing clerk

Johni Blankenship began working in the borough clerk’s office in 1999

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship stands near a bouquet of flowers and her workspace during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Pat Tynan, left, and Tom Melville, review absentee ballots Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at the Division of Elections office at the Mendenhall Mall in Juneau, Alaska. The review process is taking place in a separate room from where ballots are being tallied for the official results. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pat Tynan, left, and Tom Melville, review absentee ballots Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at the Division of Elections office at the Mendenhall Mall in Juneau, Alaska. The review process is taking place in a separate room from where ballots are being tallied for the official results. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski, Tshibaka in dead heat; Peltola inches toward 50% in latest election results

The Alaska Division of Elections updated results with newly counted absentee, early and question ballots

Pat Tynan, left, and Tom Melville, review absentee ballots Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at the Division of Elections office at the Mendenhall Mall in Juneau, Alaska. The review process is taking place in a separate room from where ballots are being tallied for the official results. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pat Tynan, left, and Tom Melville, review absentee ballots Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at the Division of Elections office at the Mendenhall Mall in Juneau, Alaska. The review process is taking place in a separate room from where ballots are being tallied for the official results. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Respiratory virus surge concerns health officials

RSV-associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations, the CDC says, are increasing

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
AK STAR testing results and materials are displayed on a table at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District office on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Most AK students not proficient in math, reading, new assessment finds

The first set of AK STAR results were published by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development last week

AK STAR testing results and materials are displayed on a table at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District office on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Attendees of the opening reception for the Mural 2022 Exhibition view this year’s mural at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Group project

Community artists work together to create Kenai Art Center mural

Attendees of the opening reception for the Mural 2022 Exhibition view this year’s mural at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Principal Denise Kelly helps Grecia Martinez Sandstrom, second grade, dispose of lunch materials at Sterling Elementary School on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘It takes just that one person’

Sterling Elementary principal spearheads zero-waste program in lunchtime cafeteria

Principal Denise Kelly helps Grecia Martinez Sandstrom, second grade, dispose of lunch materials at Sterling Elementary School on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
Soldotna Creek Park is photographed on June 29, 2021.

Soldotna to hold work session on park use next month

The meeting comes in response to public outcry over a summer drag performance

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
Soldotna Creek Park is photographed on June 29, 2021.
Dave Segura, commander of American Legion Post 20, leads a celebration of Veterans Day at American Legion Post 20 in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Community honors veterans on day of remembrance

Veterans Day was celebrated with a series of speeches, commemorations and the firing of rifles

Dave Segura, commander of American Legion Post 20, leads a celebration of Veterans Day at American Legion Post 20 in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Audra Calloway directs the Soldotna High School Choir in a rehersal on Oct. 11, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Putting the band back together

SoHi band and choir rebuild after several years of interruptions

Audra Calloway directs the Soldotna High School Choir in a rehersal on Oct. 11, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Homer Public Library as seen on Aug. 18, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (File photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Library Advisory Board to consider petition to move LGBQT+ children’s books

By Michael Armstrong Homer News Should books with LGBQT+ themes be removed from the children’s and juvenile sections of the Homer Public Library? At its… Continue reading

The Homer Public Library as seen on Aug. 18, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (File photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
From left, Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney swears in new Soldotna Police Officers AJ Fresquez and Reid Culver while Police Chief Dale "Gene" Meek looks on during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna swears in two new police officers

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney swore in two new Soldotna police officers during Wednesday’s meeting of the Soldotna City Council, where they received their badges and… Continue reading

From left, Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney swears in new Soldotna Police Officers AJ Fresquez and Reid Culver while Police Chief Dale "Gene" Meek looks on during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The cast of “Something Rotten” rehearse on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A ‘Rotten’ performance

Musical comedy “Something Rotten” takes aim at Shakespeare and theater in new SoHi production

The cast of “Something Rotten” rehearse on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)