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Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

City of Seward says commission was not authorized to solicit public funds for project

The project would create a walking tour of historic properties in Seward

Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ryanna Thurman uses a holds locker at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Computers, Wi-Fi available for checkout at Soldotna library

The technology was made available through federal grant funds

Ryanna Thurman uses a holds locker at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow and debris from an avalanche can be seen near Mile 45 on the Seward Highway on Monday, March 29, 2021. An avalanche shut down traffic on both sides Monday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Goldie Shealy)

More snow, traffic delays expected for Southcentral

Motorists traveling on some sections of the Seward Highway should expect intermittent traffic delays of up to 45 minutes Wednesday, as state maintenance crews conduct… Continue reading

Snow and debris from an avalanche can be seen near Mile 45 on the Seward Highway on Monday, March 29, 2021. An avalanche shut down traffic on both sides Monday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Goldie Shealy)
A DHSS map shows every region of Alaska to be at "high" COVID-19 alert level. (Screenshot)

State reports 1,800 COVID cases over the weekend

The cases include some reported in peninsula communities

A DHSS map shows every region of Alaska to be at "high" COVID-19 alert level. (Screenshot)
A sign urging caution stands on the Slaughter Ridge Trail in an area cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass, on Aug. 10 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Cooper Landing residents concerned about borough development in area

A desire by the Kenai Peninsula Borough to explore development on a chunk of land east of Cooper Landing is causing concern from some who… Continue reading

A sign urging caution stands on the Slaughter Ridge Trail in an area cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass, on Aug. 10 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna quarterback Brandon Crowder hands to Aaron Faletoi (34) on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, before a full house at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

KCHS looks to improve Ed Hollier Field

Kenai Central High School has long wanted to build permanent restrooms and concessions facilities for its track and field. In response to limited available funds… Continue reading

Soldotna quarterback Brandon Crowder hands to Aaron Faletoi (34) on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, before a full house at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Aaron Rhoades, Charlie Pierce, Richard Derkevorkian and Jesse Bjorkman listen to testimony during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to use grant funds for COVID treatments, testing

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved a spending plan for the funds during the body’s Feb. 1 meeting

Aaron Rhoades, Charlie Pierce, Richard Derkevorkian and Jesse Bjorkman listen to testimony during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The 2021 Final Redistricting Map features newly drawn boundaries for Alaska State House race on the Kenai Peninsula. (akredistrict.org/Screenshot)

Assembly, school board need to be reapportioned

Some areas of the Kenai Peninsula are gaining new residents at faster rates than other areas, and it’s skewing how they’re represented on the Kenai… Continue reading

The 2021 Final Redistricting Map features newly drawn boundaries for Alaska State House race on the Kenai Peninsula. (akredistrict.org/Screenshot)
Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

District nixes contact tracing for schools with universal masking

When a school moves to universal masking, nurse and staff time is “no longer dedicated” to contact tracing

Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Teea Winger testifies in opposition to universal masking in schools during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Board of Education on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Screenshot)

School mask policies frustrate some community members

To mask or not to mask? The question continues to cause headaches within the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, where the debate has raged almost… Continue reading

Teea Winger testifies in opposition to universal masking in schools during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Board of Education on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Screenshot)
KPBSD Assistant Superintendent Kari Dendurent presents an update on the district’s strategic plan during a board of education work session on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Screenshot)

District developing 5-year plan for schools

The plan will be informed by data collected via surveys distributed throughout the district community

KPBSD Assistant Superintendent Kari Dendurent presents an update on the district’s strategic plan during a board of education work session on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins the magic wheel to determine the winners of this year’s silver salmon derby at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Firm updates council on efforts to market Kenai to visitors

During 2021, the company seized opportunities to highlight local businesses and promoted relocation to Kenai

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins the magic wheel to determine the winners of this year’s silver salmon derby at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The state of Alaska remains in high-alert level for COVID-19 cases on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. (Image via Alaska Department of Health and Social Services)

More than 3,000 new COVID cases statewide

The cases were reported over the weekend

The state of Alaska remains in high-alert level for COVID-19 cases on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. (Image via Alaska Department of Health and Social Services)
Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. Relocating the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration to the location is one of the projects for which the borough is seeking state funds. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion) Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. Relocating the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration to the location is one of the projects for which the borough is seeking state funds. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to lobby state for $87 million for local projects

The projects include funds for a new fire station, school district relocation and flood mitigation

Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. Relocating the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration to the location is one of the projects for which the borough is seeking state funds. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion) Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. Relocating the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration to the location is one of the projects for which the borough is seeking state funds. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council member James Baisden speaks in support of legislation opposing government COVID-19 mandates during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council OKs grant funds for COVID leave, testing for city employees

The grant funds were made available under the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services

Kenai City Council member James Baisden speaks in support of legislation opposing government COVID-19 mandates during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign along a trail to Exit Glacier marks the spot to where the toe of the glacier reached in 2010, photographed on June 22, 2018. The glacier has receded so much the National Park Service is reconceiving its plan management. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

As Exit Glacier recedes, park seeks new management plan

The glacier has retreated by about 2,300 feet in the last 13 years

A sign along a trail to Exit Glacier marks the spot to where the toe of the glacier reached in 2010, photographed on June 22, 2018. The glacier has receded so much the National Park Service is reconceiving its plan management. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Murkowski ahead in campaign funds; Tshibaka brings in local money

U.S. Senate hopeful Kelly Tshibaka continues to report financial support from residents of the Kenai Peninsula, but falls behind incumbent Lisa Murkowski overall. That’s per… Continue reading

Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly President Brent Johnson presides over a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly forms committee for gravel pit regs

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly voted Tuesday to further table legislation that would overhaul the sections of borough code that address the regulation of material… Continue reading

Assembly President Brent Johnson presides over a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Oct. 8, 2021.

School district, borough begin budget talks

Fiscal year 2023 begins on July 1, 2022

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Oct. 8, 2021.
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

HEA sues Sterling man over power theft

Suit alleges more than $325,000 worth of power stolen from the cooperative since 2014.

The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)