Poll worker Harmony Bolden, right, helps a voter cast their ballot at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Local candidates react to preliminary general election results

Bjorkman leads Babcock; Ruffridge on track to edge out Gillham

Poll worker Harmony Bolden, right, helps a voter cast their ballot at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican running for reelection Nov. 8, 2022, is shown prior to a televised debate Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Early results favor Dunleavy in governor’s race

The Republican incumbent had clinched about 51.7% of the roughly 200,000 votes counted as of about 10:50 p.m.

Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican running for reelection Nov. 8, 2022, is shown prior to a televised debate Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Friends and family of Louie Flora wave signs in support of the candidate for District 6 State House Representative on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Chelsea Jones, Jon Flora, Sandy the dog, Sarah Banks and Mikee Flora. Louie Flora’s children Sidney and Rocco are in the tent to the right. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Friends and family of Louie Flora wave signs in support of the candidate for District 6 State House Representative on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Chelsea Jones, Jon Flora, Sandy the dog, Sarah Banks and Mikee Flora. Louie Flora’s children Sidney and Rocco are in the tent to the right. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Stevens, Vance lead in preliminary results.

If results hold, incumbents could win on first round of ranked-choice voting.

Friends and family of Louie Flora wave signs in support of the candidate for District 6 State House Representative on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Chelsea Jones, Jon Flora, Sandy the dog, Sarah Banks and Mikee Flora. Louie Flora’s children Sidney and Rocco are in the tent to the right. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Friends and family of Louie Flora wave signs in support of the candidate for District 6 State House Representative on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Chelsea Jones, Jon Flora, Sandy the dog, Sarah Banks and Mikee Flora. Louie Flora’s children Sidney and Rocco are in the tent to the right. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Kit Hill checks in a voter at the Kenai Mall, voting place for Kenai’s Precinct #1 in Kenai, Alaska on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Enthusiasm, busy polls mark local Election Day

Residents throughout Kenai and Soldotna ventured into snowy conditions to make their voices heard

Kit Hill checks in a voter at the Kenai Mall, voting place for Kenai’s Precinct #1 in Kenai, Alaska on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Michael O’Rourke and another supporter wave signs for Justin Ruffridge on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Preliminary results: Ruffridge, Bjorkman lead in state House, Senate races

The two are competing in races for Senate District D and House District 7

Michael O’Rourke and another supporter wave signs for Justin Ruffridge on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Susie Smalley demonstrates during the Many Voices Ukraine vigil on Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

KCHS grad returns to discuss war in Ukraine at Soldotna library

The presentation is titled “What the He** is He Thinking: Putin’s War in Ukraine.”

Susie Smalley demonstrates during the Many Voices Ukraine vigil on Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Nikiski residents arrested in Moose Pass drug bust

The arrests happened after a traffic stop

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Soldotna man killed in Seward Highway wreck

The wreck happened around Mile 47.5 of the Seward Highway

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion 
Laura Black, owner of Fireweed Bakery, sells some of her wares during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska on Nov. 7, 2020.

Getting into the holiday spirit with crafts, bazaars and expos

Wares from local businesses and craftspeople will be on sale each weekend in November

Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion 
Laura Black, owner of Fireweed Bakery, sells some of her wares during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska on Nov. 7, 2020.
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Campaign signs decorate the outside of Paradisos Restaurant on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Campaign signs decorate the outside of Paradisos Restaurant on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
As measured by the CDC, dispensing rate reflects the number of prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons per year. While the United States’ dispensing rate peaked at 81.3 in 2012, the Kenai Peninsula’s rate was 100 or higher every year between 2001 and 2015. Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara.

Borough opioid grant program accepting applications through end of month

The program was launched in August and has not yet received applications

As measured by the CDC, dispensing rate reflects the number of prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons per year. While the United States’ dispensing rate peaked at 81.3 in 2012, the Kenai Peninsula’s rate was 100 or higher every year between 2001 and 2015. Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara.
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander speak at the Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai plans to hire new manager by end of month

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander announced he will not be renewing his contract with the city

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander speak at the Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow is cleared from a parking lot at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Central peninsula again walloped by snowstorm

6 to 20 inches were reported in areas from Ninilchik to Nikiski

Snow is cleared from a parking lot at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A recent photo of Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)
A photo of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. Kirby Calderwood, 32, of Ogden, Utah, is charged in the murder and kidnapping of Murnane. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)

Calderwood to be extradited to Alaska

Man accused of killing Anesha “Duffy” Murnane pleads guilty to Utah charges, will come back to Alaska.

A recent photo of Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)
A photo of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. Kirby Calderwood, 32, of Ogden, Utah, is charged in the murder and kidnapping of Murnane. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)
From left, Alaska State House candidates Ron Gillham, Ben Carpenter and Justin Ruffridge participate in a candidate forum on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Babcock, Ruffridge bring in most cash in state Senate, House races

Candidates for Legislature report financial support ahead of Tuesday

From left, Alaska State House candidates Ron Gillham, Ben Carpenter and Justin Ruffridge participate in a candidate forum on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A map showing tracts available as part of an upcoming state oil and gas lease sale in Cook Inlet. (Map via Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Oil and Gas)
A map showing tracts available as part of an upcoming state oil and gas lease sale in Cook Inlet. (Map via Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Oil and Gas)
A program for “Lame Ducks & Dark Horses is photographed on a table on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A program for “Lame Ducks & Dark Horses is photographed on a table on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer Electric Association Board of Directors Dan Furlong, center, cuts the ribbon at a ceremony celebrating HEA’s Tesla battery energy storage system on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

HEA celebrates new battery energy storage system

The system, also called BESS, is made by Tesla

Homer Electric Association Board of Directors Dan Furlong, center, cuts the ribbon at a ceremony celebrating HEA’s Tesla battery energy storage system on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ronald Dean Beyering. (Photo via Alaska State Troopers)

Man wanted in Funny River shooting, fire remains at large

Troopers located a vehicle associated with Beyering

Ronald Dean Beyering. (Photo via Alaska State Troopers)