Seward

Poll workers Patricia Linville, left,, and Mark Kansteiner prepare to assist voters in Seward’s special election on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward certifies special election results

Seward residents narrowly voted against the sale of the utility to Homer Electric Association

Poll workers Patricia Linville, left,, and Mark Kansteiner prepare to assist voters in Seward’s special election on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow falls on a "vote here" sign outside of Seward City Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 in Seward, Alaska. Residents voted in a special election to determine whether or not to sell the city’s electric utility and to change the city’s residency requirements for city manager. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

7 votes kill Seward utility sale

The decision not to sell the City of Seward’s electric utility to Homer Electric Association came down to just seven votes, unofficial final election results… Continue reading

Snow falls on a "vote here" sign outside of Seward City Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 in Seward, Alaska. Residents voted in a special election to determine whether or not to sell the city’s electric utility and to change the city’s residency requirements for city manager. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow falls on a “vote here” sign outside of Seward City Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Seward, Alaska. Residents voted in a special election to determine whether or not to sell the city’s electric utility and to change the city’s residency requirements for city manager. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voters weigh in on future of Seward electric utility

This story has been updated with the latest results. A majority of Seward residents on Tuesday voted in favor of the city selling its electric… Continue reading

Snow falls on a “vote here” sign outside of Seward City Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Seward, Alaska. Residents voted in a special election to determine whether or not to sell the city’s electric utility and to change the city’s residency requirements for city manager. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Acting Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Michele Turner, left, accepts a ballot from Richard Derkevorkian during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly considers resuming annual meetings in Homer, Seward

The assembly currently meets at the George A. Navarre Administration Building in Soldotna

Acting Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Michele Turner, left, accepts a ballot from Richard Derkevorkian during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward mulls sale of electric utility to HEA

Voters will get the final say during a special election on May 2

Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Bruce Jaffa, of Jaffa Construction, speaks to a group of students at Seward High School’s Career Day on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Seward High School in Seward, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bruce Jaffa, of Jaffa Construction, speaks to a group of students at Seward High School’s Career Day on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Seward High School in Seward, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The northern fur seal rescued by Alaska SeaLife Center staff is seen on Jan. 31, 2023, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

Northern fur seal pup admitted to SeaLife Center rescue program

The pup was reported by Sitka residents using the center’s 24-hour stranding hotline

The northern fur seal rescued by Alaska SeaLife Center staff is seen on Jan. 31, 2023, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
ASLC Seasonal Animal Care Specialist Emma Begalka interacts with Mist the Steller sea lion in the Underwater viewing area at the Alaska SeaLife Center during an enrichment session on November 30, 2022. Mist unexpectedly passed away on January 23, 2023 after staff observed seizure-like tremors. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

Young sea lion dies unexpectedly at SeaLife Center

Mist, who was approximately 2-and-a-half years old, had been socializing with three other Steller sea lions

ASLC Seasonal Animal Care Specialist Emma Begalka interacts with Mist the Steller sea lion in the Underwater viewing area at the Alaska SeaLife Center during an enrichment session on November 30, 2022. Mist unexpectedly passed away on January 23, 2023 after staff observed seizure-like tremors. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Alaska Vocational Technical Center Executive Director Cathy LeCompte presents during a Soldotna Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

AVTEC director plugs programming at chamber luncheon

AVTEC is about more, LeCompte said, than just checking off classes to gain certification

Alaska Vocational Technical Center Executive Director Cathy LeCompte presents during a Soldotna Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)
Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)

Infrastructure dollars flood peninsula

Federal infrastructure bill makes available more than $232M for peninsula projects

Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)
Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)
Houses are seen in Seward, Alaska on Thursday, April 15, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward delays action on short-term rental regs

The limits are meant to ameliorate the city’s housing shortage

Houses are seen in Seward, Alaska on Thursday, April 15, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Qilak the otter pup looks at the camera after a feeding session at the Alaska SeaLife Center. The otter pup was admitted as a patient on Sept. 7, 2022, after being found on top of his moribund mother. (Photo Credit: Alaska SeaLife Center)

Rescued otter pup finds new home in Chicago

Qilak was rescued by the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response program in early September

Qilak the otter pup looks at the camera after a feeding session at the Alaska SeaLife Center. The otter pup was admitted as a patient on Sept. 7, 2022, after being found on top of his moribund mother. (Photo Credit: Alaska SeaLife Center)
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)
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)
Silver salmon hang in the Seward Boat Harbor during the 2018 Seward Silver Salmon Derby. (Photo courtesy of Seward Chamber of Commerce)

Seward Silver Salmon derby runs Aug. 13-21

Last year’s derby featured 1,800 contestants competing across eight days

Silver salmon hang in the Seward Boat Harbor during the 2018 Seward Silver Salmon Derby. (Photo courtesy of Seward Chamber of Commerce)
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)
Landslide debris surrounds part of Lowell Point Road on Friday, June 3, 2022, in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly looks to mitigate future Lowell Point Road dangers

Assembly members approved legislation supporting agencies working to address the “repetitive hazards”

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)

Intermittent closures coming to Lowell Point Road

The work is in part of ongoing work related to the May 7 landslide

Landslide debris surrounds part of Lowell Point Road on Friday, June 3, 2022, in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)