Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Kenai Peninsula Re-Entry Coalition President Katie Cowgill speaks about the organization’s reentry simulation event during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Re-Entry Coalition President Katie Cowgill speaks about the organization’s reentry simulation event during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Kenai City Council participate in a council meeting on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Council formalizes support for field facilities fundraising

Kenai Central High School issued an open call for help funding the $250,000 project

Members of the Kenai City Council participate in a council meeting on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sara Bieber, who supervises the Peninsula Job Center for the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, presents during a joint chamber of commerce luncheon at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula Job Center rep discusses resources for those seeking employment

Information was presented at a joint chamber of commerce luncheon Wednesday

Sara Bieber, who supervises the Peninsula Job Center for the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, presents during a joint chamber of commerce luncheon at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer High School student and Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education Student Representative Neviya Reed speaks during a board meeting on Monday, March 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Students take advantage of new speaking opportunities at school district meetings

Students were able to communicate directly with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District at Monday’s Board of Education meeting, where they shared student council resolutions… Continue reading

Homer High School student and Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education Student Representative Neviya Reed speaks during a board meeting on Monday, March 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Charlie Pierce stands in his home on Thursday, March 11, 2022 in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce would seek to reduce spending, boost education as governor

The borough mayor sat down with the Clarion at his Sterling home to discuss his gubernatorial platform

Charlie Pierce stands in his home on Thursday, March 11, 2022 in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Linda Farnsworth Hutchings, left, and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce participate in a mayoral candidate forum hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center on Sept. 9, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Farnsworth-Hutchings gets 4th nod for planning commission

The city’s seat has been the subject of a back-and-forth between Soldotna and the borough mayor

Linda Farnsworth Hutchings, left, and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce participate in a mayoral candidate forum hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center on Sept. 9, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen listens to a presentation from Alaska Communications during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

ACS looks to bring faster internet to the central peninsula

The company successfully piloted the mesh network technology in Anchorage in 2020

Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen listens to a presentation from Alaska Communications during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A spruce tree seeps sap outside of the Kenai Post Office on Friday, July 2, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Russian River, Quartz Creek campgrounds closed for tree removal

The closure will allow trees infected with spruce bark beetles to be removed

A spruce tree seeps sap outside of the Kenai Post Office on Friday, July 2, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Former Kenai Vice Mayor Bob Molloy proposes changes to the City of Kenai’s draft Land Management Plan during a city council work session on Monday, March 7, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai finalizing comprehensive inventory of city land

The final plan is subject to approval by the city council

Former Kenai Vice Mayor Bob Molloy proposes changes to the City of Kenai’s draft Land Management Plan during a city council work session on Monday, March 7, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski Fire Station No. 3 is seen on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Project will treat water at Nikiski Fire Station #3

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved additional funds for the project this month

Nikiski Fire Station No. 3 is seen on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a board meeting on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a board meeting on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara)

Borough seeks to fill planning commission vacancies

Two new commissioners took their seats for the Monday night meeting

Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara)
The Kenai Peninsula’s Community Level is shown as medium on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled new metrics to assess COVID-19 risk level last week. (cdc.gov)

State COVID cases declining

The new cases come days after new masking guidelines were issued by the CDC

The Kenai Peninsula’s Community Level is shown as medium on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled new metrics to assess COVID-19 risk level last week. (cdc.gov)
Community agencies administer social services during the Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna mini grant goes to Project Homeless Connect effort

$5 gift cards from Arby’s, Subway and Safeway were distributed to Project Homeless Connect participants

Community agencies administer social services during the Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Brad Walker speaks during a small group activity as part of a community vision session for the Kenai Waterfront Revitalization Project on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Community brainstorms future of Kenai’s waterfront

The City of Kenai moderated an event Thursday at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center

Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Brad Walker speaks during a small group activity as part of a community vision session for the Kenai Waterfront Revitalization Project on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A map of COVID-19 Community Levels by county show the Kenai Peninsula have a “medium” community level on Friday, Feb. 24, 2022. (CDC.gov)

CDC: Many more can ditch masks, for now

The agency is now only advising universal masking in regions where community COVID level is high

A map of COVID-19 Community Levels by county show the Kenai Peninsula have a “medium” community level on Friday, Feb. 24, 2022. (CDC.gov)
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna looks to outsource grant-writing labor

The city wants to maximize funding opportunities made available through the federal government

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council members James Baisden and Teea Winger deliberate at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai mulls benefit of rec center as repair costs add up

The Kenai City Council voted this month to consolidate project funding for the building

Kenai City Council members James Baisden and Teea Winger deliberate at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)