Elizabeth Earl

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Clouds and smoke curl around the top of Augustine Volcano on Sunday, June 4, 2017 on Augustine Island, Alaska. The remote island in Cook Inlet is composed of little more than the volcano and its surrounding debris. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

State seeks geothermal energy land nominations

The state is looking for takers to explore new energy — specifically, geothermal energy. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Oil and Gas… Continue reading

 

Crime

Crime increased in Alaska in 2017; most in central Kenai low-level or property offenses

The upswing in crime across Alaska continued in 2017, with the increase mostly in low-level and property crimes on the Kenai. The Alaska Department of… Continue reading

 

A fisherman’s stringer of Kasilof River sockeye salmon caught in the personal-use dipnet fishery lies on the beach on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game increases Kasilof sockeye bag limit

With the Kasilof River sockeye run safely within the optimum escapement goal, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will allow anglers to keep more… Continue reading

 

This screenshot taken from Google Maps shows Koyuktolik Bay, known as Dog Fish Bay, south of Homer on the Kenai Peninsula. Four commercial fishermen from the Homer area are charged with illegally commercial fishing in Dog Fish Bay. (Courtesy Alphabet Inc)

4 charged in illegal commercial fishing near Homer

Editor’s note: This article has been clarified that not all four fishermen are charged with the same charges. The state has filed charges against four… Continue reading

This screenshot taken from Google Maps shows Koyuktolik Bay, known as Dog Fish Bay, south of Homer on the Kenai Peninsula. Four commercial fishermen from the Homer area are charged with illegally commercial fishing in Dog Fish Bay. (Courtesy Alphabet Inc)
Salmon initiative would criss-cross state jurisdictions, officials say

Salmon initiative would criss-cross state jurisdictions, officials say

Beyond just the cost and politics of Ballot Measure 1, state administrators have expressed concern about who would be in charge of what land. Ballot… Continue reading

Salmon initiative would criss-cross state jurisdictions, officials say
<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Peninsula Clarion file photo</span> This May 15, 2017 photo shows a drift gillnet reel on the back of a commercial fishing vessel docked in the Homer small boat harbor in Homer.

Federal council names 5 commercial fishermen to committee

A committee of five fishermen, four of whom live on the Kenai Peninsula, will help provide advice to the council that will write a new… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Peninsula Clarion file photo</span> This May 15, 2017 photo shows a drift gillnet reel on the back of a commercial fishing vessel docked in the Homer small boat harbor in Homer.

Sales tax initiative won’t go to ballot this year

Kenai Peninsula voters won’t have to decide on a half-percent increase in the sales tax this October, though they still may in 2019. A citizen… Continue reading

Borough mayor’s vetoes on school, tourism funding stand

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and the Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council will have to live with less money than the assembly originally approved… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Peninsula Clarion file photo</span> Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet wait to be set to the a processor on July 11, 2016 near Kenai.

Tariffs ding commercial fishing industry

Fishermen and seafood harvesters may take a major trade hit with the announcement of new tariffs from China, though the details still aren’t clear. The… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Peninsula Clarion file photo</span> Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet wait to be set to the a processor on July 11, 2016 near Kenai.
An Anchor River king salmon landed by Anchorage resident Terry Umatum lies on the bank Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Salmon runs lackluster so far across Gulf of Alaska

It’s not a great summer to be a salmon fisherman in Southcentral Alaska so far. Several major river systems are seeing paltry salmon returns. The… Continue reading

An Anchor River king salmon landed by Anchorage resident Terry Umatum lies on the bank Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Gravel pit group chips away at bond issues

One of the key controversies with gravel pits in the borough is who is responsible for cleaning them up after the digging, crushing and hauling… Continue reading

Assembly to consider bonds for K-Selo school

Kenai Peninsula Borough voters may be asked this fall to take on several million dollars in bond debt to pay for a new school in… Continue reading

Public education supporters gather for a barbecue in the parking lot behind the George A. Navarre Borough Administration Building before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s meeting on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. Teachers, parents and school district administrators turned out in force to ask the assembly to increase funding to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday. The assembly agreed to at least provide as much funding as it did in fiscal year 2018, but with a deficit in the borough budget, the source of the funding is still unclear. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly sets base funding for school district at $49.7M

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will get at least as much funding from the borough in fiscal year 2019 as it did this year.… Continue reading

Public education supporters gather for a barbecue in the parking lot behind the George A. Navarre Borough Administration Building before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s meeting on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. Teachers, parents and school district administrators turned out in force to ask the assembly to increase funding to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday. The assembly agreed to at least provide as much funding as it did in fiscal year 2018, but with a deficit in the borough budget, the source of the funding is still unclear. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough trims employees, travel to cut back expenses

Borough trims employees, travel to cut back expenses

Most departments in the borough are looking at budget cuts in the upcoming fiscal year in personnel, supplies, contracts or other assorted expenses. The Kenai… Continue reading

Borough trims employees, travel to cut back expenses
Map by Kenai Peninsula Borough This map shows the proposed boundary change of the Central Peninsula Hospital Service Area from the Clam Gulch Tower north to Oil Well Road south.

Health clinic, hospital finances center stage in boundary debate

For the third time in four years, the community of Ninilchik is the center of a debate about who in the Kenai Peninsula Borough should… Continue reading

Map by Kenai Peninsula Borough This map shows the proposed boundary change of the Central Peninsula Hospital Service Area from the Clam Gulch Tower north to Oil Well Road south.
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion A group of farm operators, local food enthusiasts and restaurateurs attend a presentation and workshop on agritourism by Alaska Farm Tours owner Margaret Adsit at the Donald E. Gilman Kenai River Center on Thursday in Soldotna.

Growing agritourism: Farmers look to attract tourists

Farmers in Alaska are looking to tourists to help round out their profit margins. Agritourism, or farm-based tourism, is already a staple for many farmers… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion A group of farm operators, local food enthusiasts and restaurateurs attend a presentation and workshop on agritourism by Alaska Farm Tours owner Margaret Adsit at the Donald E. Gilman Kenai River Center on Thursday in Soldotna.

Result in borough invocation case could take 6 months

With the open court discussion done, the plaintiffs and the Kenai Peninsula Borough may have to wait up to six months for a decision in… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Snow-covered mountains provide a backdrop for Cooper Landing in this April 11 photo. The Sterling Highway, the main corridor to and from the Kenai Peninsula, winds through the little community of Cooper Landing, often bringing dense traffic and car accidents with it, particularly in the summer.

Resolution would ask DOT to lower Cooper Landing speed limit

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly may ask the state to drop the speed limit on part of the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing. The assembly… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Snow-covered mountains provide a backdrop for Cooper Landing in this April 11 photo. The Sterling Highway, the main corridor to and from the Kenai Peninsula, winds through the little community of Cooper Landing, often bringing dense traffic and car accidents with it, particularly in the summer.
In this August 2017 photo, sockeye salmon mill in the pool just below the Russian River Falls near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Salmon habitat bill still milling in House Fisheries committee

With the Legislature closing in on the final day of its regular session, the battle over a bill to tighten restrictions on permits to develop… Continue reading

In this August 2017 photo, sockeye salmon mill in the pool just below the Russian River Falls near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Assembly revisits moving hospital service area boundary

The debate over who has to pay property taxes to which of the borough’s hospitals is getting into gear again. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly… Continue reading