Local News

The Kenai Peninsula’s cannabis industry seems to be swinging into high gear, though some challenges remain for local marijuana business owners.

Less than a week after the Alaska State Legislature finally passed a capital budget during a special session, the Kenai Peninsula Borough introduced a resolution divvying up the Community Assistance Program money it will receive, and moved it on to its Finance Committee.

The picture of a future, revamped, reformed sign ordinance in Soldotna is beginning to come into focus.

The fisherman reported missing overboard from a fishing boat in Bristol Bay a week ago has been identified as being from the Kenai Peninsula. According to a dispatch from the Alaska State Troopers, 57-year-old Frederic Bock of Ninilchik is believed to have fallen overboard from the fishing vessel Lady Colleen, near Pilot Point on July 26th.

After searching all the next day, Coast Guard helicopters from Air Station Kodiak suspended its efforts early Friday morning.

Bock was wearing rain gear and Xtra Tuffs, but no life preserver.

Commercial fishing for the drift and set-net fleets was generous last week, but things look to be slowing down a bit.

Firefighters in Kenai responded to a fire on the Kenai River south beach Thursday night.

“It was a fully involved fire," said Kenai Fire Chief Jeff Tucker.

"It turned out to be a Westfalia Volkswagen camper van. We responded down on the beach, we used one of our brush trucks, which are pickup trucks with 200-gallon water tanks with a pump. Our fire engines aren’t able to drive on the beach. We put the fire out. There were no injuries and at this time there’s no determination for what caused the fire.”

Voters in Soldotna will not have to consider a ballot question changing the city’s charter, which was just updated last year.

The city of Soldotna is working on updating its sign code. It has been since the beginning of the year, and there’s still a lot to flesh out before anything resembling an ordinance goes to the city council. I caught up with city planner John Czarnezki to see where things stand now, and what’s coming up.

The Soldotna city council will vote on putting a question to voters on the fall ballot about the role of the mayor at its meeting Wednesday night.

Last year, Soldotna became a home rule city. But some language in the new charter didn’t line up with city code regarding what role the mayor plays in administering local government. Mayor Pete Sprague says he wants that role to remain unchanged, and to have it not only codified in the city’s books, but also in the city’s charter, which has to be done at the ballot.

After 10 years as executive director of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Jaylene Peterson-Nyren has resigned, effective June 16. A statement issued by the tribe says current Operations Director Dee Dee Fowler will lead the Tribal Council in its search for a new ED. During her time with the tribe, Peterson-Nyren oversaw the opening of the Dena’ina Wellness Center, the Tyotkas Elder Center and the new Henu’ Community Wellness Court, which began taking cases earlier this year.

Domestic assault charges filed against Kenai City Councilman Tim Navarre have been dropped. Navarre was charged with fourth-degree domestic violence assault last month after a witness alleged he threw a young child from the back of his car, landing several feet away. Navarre denied the charges and his attorney cited a state statute that justifies the use of force in special relationships, such as that between a parent or guardian and an under-aged child. Navarre told police at the time the 6-year-old who was in his care was set outside the vehicle after misbehaving.