A “Vote Here” sign is seen outside of the City of Kenai Building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska.

Assembly considers dates for special mayoral election

Outgoing Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce announced last month that he would be stepping down effective Sept. 30

A “Vote Here” sign is seen outside of the City of Kenai Building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska.
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel prepares to spin one of the wheels that determine the magic weight at the closing ceremony of the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Silver Salmon Derby winners announced

5-year-old hits magic weight

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel prepares to spin one of the wheels that determine the magic weight at the closing ceremony of the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Landslide debris surrounds part of Lowell Point Road on Friday, June 3, 2022, in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Landslide debris surrounds part of Lowell Point Road on Friday, June 3, 2022, in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
(From left) Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education candidates Patti Truesdell, Virgil Gattenby, Virginia Morgan, Ryan Culbertson and Zen Kelly participate in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Sept. 20, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board hopefuls talk education at forum

Among topics discussed include bond proposition, teacher retention and federal funding

(From left) Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education candidates Patti Truesdell, Virgil Gattenby, Virginia Morgan, Ryan Culbertson and Zen Kelly participate in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Sept. 20, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Director of Economic Development John Czarnezki, right, presents proposed changes to city code relating to accessory dwelling units during a work session on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Council to consider accessory dwellings in Soldotna

The subordinate, detached units would have to provide “basic requirements” for living, sleeping, cooking and sanitation

Soldotna Director of Economic Development John Czarnezki, right, presents proposed changes to city code relating to accessory dwelling units during a work session on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nicole Schmitt (in yellow), director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, points out belugas for attendees of Belugas Count! on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Belugas make a splash at annual count

The belugas were close enough that they could be spotted even without using cameras or binoculars

Nicole Schmitt (in yellow), director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, points out belugas for attendees of Belugas Count! on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tyler Cordes. (Photo courtesy Homer Police)

Man charged in 2021 vehicle death

Police seek whereabouts of Tyler Cordes, charged with murder, manslaughter in death of Drew Brown.

Tyler Cordes. (Photo courtesy Homer Police)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Nikiski man charged with mother’s murder

The 20-year-old could face as many as 104 years in prison if convicted

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Fishing season wraps up

Waters in the Kenai River are high and cloudy

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula College Advancement Programs Manager Alasha Brito unveils a new framed photo that hangs at the entryway of the newly dedicated Alan ‘Tiqutsex’ Boraas Anthropology Lab at KPC on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. A new plaque and a piece of artwork to commemorate Boraas also hang by the entryway. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Remembering a ‘trailblazer’

Anthropology lab dedicated to late professor Alan Boraas

Kenai Peninsula College Advancement Programs Manager Alasha Brito unveils a new framed photo that hangs at the entryway of the newly dedicated Alan ‘Tiqutsex’ Boraas Anthropology Lab at KPC on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. A new plaque and a piece of artwork to commemorate Boraas also hang by the entryway. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Nurse Tracy Silta draws a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the walk-in clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna, Alaska on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Updated COVID booster now available around peninsula

The bivalent vaccine contains targets both the original COVID-19 strain and the current BA.4 and BA.5 sub variants of Omicron

Nurse Tracy Silta draws a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the walk-in clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna, Alaska on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Wood is piled near the entrance to Centennial Park on Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More state money rolls in for Soldotna spruce bark beetle mitigation

The $200,000 accepted by council members Wednesday comes from the Alaska Division of Forestry

Wood is piled near the entrance to Centennial Park on Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Joel Caldwell shows off the new Tecnam Traveller on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Aviation ready to take off

The local airline begins scheduled commuter service Oct. 3

Joel Caldwell shows off the new Tecnam Traveller on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Pollworkers Carol Louthan, center, and Harmony Bolden work at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Absentee in-person voting starts Monday for Oct. 4 election

The Soldotna Prep School building has ballot styles for all Kenai Peninsula Borough precincts

Pollworkers Carol Louthan, center, and Harmony Bolden work at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
As about 200 people watch, the 19th annual Burning Basket, "Breathe," catches fire on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Just breathe

Annual Homer Burning Basket lights up the Spit on Sunday night

As about 200 people watch, the 19th annual Burning Basket, "Breathe," catches fire on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
From left: Lacey Jane Brewster, Terri Zopf-Schoessler, Donna Shirnberg, Tracie Sanborn and Bill Taylor (center) rehearse “Menopause Made Me Do It” on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Applause for menopause

Kenai Performers’ new play takes aim at ‘not the most glorious part of womanhood’

From left: Lacey Jane Brewster, Terri Zopf-Schoessler, Donna Shirnberg, Tracie Sanborn and Bill Taylor (center) rehearse “Menopause Made Me Do It” on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska lieutenant governor candidates Jessica Cook (left) and Edie Grunwald (right) participate in a forum at the Kenai Chamber of Commberce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Grunwald, Cook split on state issues at Wednesday forum

Lieutenant governor candidates Heidi Drygas and Nancy Dahlstrom did not attend Wednesday’s forum

Alaska lieutenant governor candidates Jessica Cook (left) and Edie Grunwald (right) participate in a forum at the Kenai Chamber of Commberce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis, right, answers questions from Jeff Dolifka, left, regarding the Soldotna Field House on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Supporters look to boost field house project ahead of vote

A different bond proposition to fund the field house failed by 18 votes

Soldotna Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis, right, answers questions from Jeff Dolifka, left, regarding the Soldotna Field House on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A rescued harbor seal pup undergoes care at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center admits harbor seal pup, baby sea otter

A harbor seal pup was rescued on Aug. 22 and a sea otter pup was rescued Sept. 7

A rescued harbor seal pup undergoes care at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)
A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)

Special election for mayor could take place as early as January

A special election is necessitated by Charlie Pierce’s resignation — as his current term does not expire until the end of next year

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)