Bear Mountain is seen in Seward, Alaska, on Sunday, July 2, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Seismic and survey work for Seward tunnel project to start next week

Contractors with the Corps will work in Lowell Canyon, west of the current tunnel and diversion dam, July 12 through July 15

Bear Mountain is seen in Seward, Alaska, on Sunday, July 2, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Demonstrators in support of abortion rights stand at the intersection of the Kenai and Sterling highways on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

With post-Roe focus on abortion access, Alaska advocates plan events for Saturday

July 9 events taking place in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Homer

Demonstrators in support of abortion rights stand at the intersection of the Kenai and Sterling highways on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Megan Pacer / Homer News 
A giant silver salmon is paraded through Salmonfest on Aug. 3, 2019, in Ninilchik.
Megan Pacer / Homer News 
A giant silver salmon is paraded through Salmonfest on Aug. 3, 2019, in Ninilchik.
Recycling signage is displayed on an upscaled dumpster used to collect plastics as part of a project to turn discarded plastic waste into artificial lumber, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Lori Landstrom)

Seward recycling program to turn plastic into lumber

The program was made possible by grant money awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency

Recycling signage is displayed on an upscaled dumpster used to collect plastics as part of a project to turn discarded plastic waste into artificial lumber, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Lori Landstrom)
This map shows a proposed rezone from rural residential to urban residential for the lower West Hill Road area. The Homer Planning Commission recommended only rezoning the area east of West Hill Road, and the Homer City Council introduced an ordinance at its June 27 meeting to just rezone the east side. (Map courtesy of city of Homer)

Homer council considers West Hill rezoning

East side of lower West Hill would be rezoned to urban residential

This map shows a proposed rezone from rural residential to urban residential for the lower West Hill Road area. The Homer Planning Commission recommended only rezoning the area east of West Hill Road, and the Homer City Council introduced an ordinance at its June 27 meeting to just rezone the east side. (Map courtesy of city of Homer)
Slash is piled at the City of Kenai’s slash disposal site on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough will use $300,000 in general funds to set up temporary slash disposal sites in multiple communities throughout the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs $300k for borough slash sites

The move is in response to the ongoing spruce bark beetle outbreak

Slash is piled at the City of Kenai’s slash disposal site on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough will use $300,000 in general funds to set up temporary slash disposal sites in multiple communities throughout the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID

COVID cases, hospitalizations, down from last week’s report

Officials say hospitalization data is the most effective indicator of the prevalence of the virus

COVID
Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Window of opportunity’ seen for LNG Project

Brad Chastain presented the current status of the project Wednesday

Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
People line the streets in downtown Kenai, Alaska on Monday, July 4, 2022 for the annual Independence Day parade. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Red, white and blue all day

Kenai turns out for parade, activities to celebrate Independence Day

People line the streets in downtown Kenai, Alaska on Monday, July 4, 2022 for the annual Independence Day parade. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

ATV accident leaves teen dead in Ninilchik

A 15-year-old girl was driving an ATV with a 14-year-old female passenger

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Cook Inlet can be seen at low tide from North Kenai Beach on June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Comment period on proposed Cook Inlet lease sale opens Friday

Cook Inlet is one of 11 locations described in the department’s Proposed Program for the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program

Cook Inlet can be seen at low tide from North Kenai Beach on June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Pottery pieces are displayed as a part of the Kenai Potters’ Guild July show at the Kenai Art Center on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Throwing together

Potters’ Guild artists show off their clay creations

Pottery pieces are displayed as a part of the Kenai Potters’ Guild July show at the Kenai Art Center on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Fishermen took to the mouth of the Kasilof River for opening day of dipnetting, on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion file)

Kasilof dipnetting expanded, sockeye catch upped

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued multiple advisory announcements for sport anglers and dipnetters

Fishermen took to the mouth of the Kasilof River for opening day of dipnetting, on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion file)
Mount Redoubt can be seen acoss Cook Inlet from North Kenai Beach on Thursday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Offshore oil plan envisions a single Cook Inlet sale

The proposed 2023-2028 plan is similar to the just-ended Obama administration five-year plan

Mount Redoubt can be seen acoss Cook Inlet from North Kenai Beach on Thursday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A podium marks the beginning of a StoryWalk at Soldotna Creek Park on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

StoryWalk is back after vandalism

The installation was discontinued last September after someone damaged the poles and podium plexiglass

A podium marks the beginning of a StoryWalk at Soldotna Creek Park on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Shawn Dick of Talkneetna carries a fresh catch out of the water while dipnetting on the Kenai Beach on July 10, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai River dipnetting opens this month

The Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery opens July 10

Shawn Dick of Talkneetna carries a fresh catch out of the water while dipnetting on the Kenai Beach on July 10, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A map shows active fires around the state of Alaska on Friday, July 1, 2022. (Screenshot from Alaska Wildland Fire Information Map)

Fire danger prompts restrictions on burning, fireworks

There were 160 fires in Alaska as of Thursday, and of those 17 were staffed with fire personnel

A map shows active fires around the state of Alaska on Friday, July 1, 2022. (Screenshot from Alaska Wildland Fire Information Map)
Jessica Cook, left, and Les Gara are photographed in The Peninsula Clarion’s offices Thursday in Kenai. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Gara, Cook campaign on the Kenai Peninsula

The pair cited education funding, reproductive rights and election security as priorities

Jessica Cook, left, and Les Gara are photographed in The Peninsula Clarion’s offices Thursday in Kenai. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A map shows the Seward Highway MP 17-22.5 Rehabilitation Project area. The Seward Highway between Mileposts 17 and 22.5 — from about Primrose Campground to near Teddy’s Inn The Woods — will be closed from 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesday starting July 18, 2022. (Screenshot)

Roadwork in Moose Pass to shut parts of Seward Highway

The Seward Highway between Mileposts 17 and 22.5 will be closed from 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesday starting July 18

A map shows the Seward Highway MP 17-22.5 Rehabilitation Project area. The Seward Highway between Mileposts 17 and 22.5 — from about Primrose Campground to near Teddy’s Inn The Woods — will be closed from 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesday starting July 18, 2022. (Screenshot)