LATEST NEWS
Sterling contractor charged in illegal COVID-19 relief loan scam
A Sterling man was indicted by a federal grand jury last month for a scam involving COVID-19 relief business loans. According to a federal indictment, 55-year-old Kent Tompkins illegally schemed to receive federal loans of more than $300,000 between 2020 and 2021. Tompkins requested the loans on behalf of his...
Kenai Conversation: Levitt AMP 2024 Lineup
As the snow melts and the days get longer, another year of the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series is in the works. The free concert series in Soldotna Creek Park kicks off in June. The Music in the Park events began in 2015, and have evolved into a much larger, grant-funded event over time.
Feds declare economic disaster for east side set-net fishery in 2021, 2022
The federal government has declared a fishery disaster for salmon setnetters on the east side of Upper Cook Inlet for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Last year, east side set-netters didn’t fish for sockeye salmon at all, but revenue was declining for years before that. Set-netters and local governments asked Gov. Mike Dunleavy to request a federal disaster designation for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, which he did in September.
Soldotna solar installation set to go online this summer
Whistle Hill, the complex of businesses just east of Soldotna including a coffee shop, restaurant and frame store, is now accompanied by a large assortment of solar panels. The final phase of the two-stage project, which will be completed this summer, was just awarded a $460,000 grant from the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly holds meeting in Seward
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly held its April 16 meeting in Seward instead of Soldotna, which it does once a year. During the meeting, they presented certificates to the Seward High School boys wrestling team. They previously passed a resolution in February commending the wrestling team, but waited until the meeting in Seward to present the certificates.
Funny River home damaged in fire
A structure fire did extensive damage to a home in Funny River on Friday morning. The fire was reported to Central Emergency Services at 9:13 a.m. CES Deputy Fire Chief Dan Grimes said all units were in Soldotna for training at the time and had to make the 19-mile drive from town, instead of responding from the Funny River CES station.
Bobbie Jackson from Jackson Gardens
Bobbie Jackson with Jackson Gardens shares her decades of Alaska gardening know-how. Learn from the master!. Larry started gardening in first grade when he took a bag of navy beans from the kitchen and threw them all over his backyard. They grew and his dad mowed around all the plants and he got a great bean harvest that year. From then on, he was hooked. Larry has gardened for over 60 years and the last 30 years in Alaska. He is on the Central Peninsula Garden Club board of directors and also the board of the Kenai Soil & Water Conservation District. His goal for Growing a Greener Kenai is to disseminate the most accurate information possible in order to help Kenai Peninsula gardeners achieve the best results for their gardening endeavors and efforts.
Alaska businessman charged with Covid-19 relief fund fraud
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - A Sterling businessman was charged with wire fraud concerning Covid-19 relief funds. Kent Tompkins, owner of J & B Construction, allegedly received $95,000 in relief funds and attempted to receive $276,500 more, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office District of Alaska.
A Soldotna teacher is in the TOP 10 running to be 2024 Reader’s Digest’s America’s Favorite Teacher!
Elizabeth Terry, a 6th grade teacher at Soldotna Elementary in the small Alaska town of Soldotna is currently in the TOP 10 running for Reader’s Digest’s ‘America’s Favorite Teacher’. The wonderfully affable and dedicated educator hails from Tennessee. She loves teaching and her Southern accent mixes well with her tough but caring style of teaching with a smile and getting her students to know the value of an education. I met up with Beth here in Anchorage as she was bringing her kids to the Broadway show Aladdin. I talked to her about what makes an America’s favorite teacher and to six of her students who not only sing her praises but have learned new words like ‘ya’ll’ and ‘fix’in’ and other Southernisms that endear Elizabeth Terry to her students. She has been a teacher for 17 years. She got her undergraduate degree at University of Tennessee and her master’s degree at Arkansas State University. One of her current students is her own daughter who says her mom is “tough, but fair and really funny!’ Voting now for America’s Favorite Teacher continues next week: Here’s the link to vote and learn more about Elizabeth Terry: https://www.americasfavteacher.org/2024/beth-terry If she wins? Elizabeth with receive $25,000 and a trip for two to Hawaii! Dave Allgood - The Allgood News - Email: AllgoodNews@KTUU.com or AllgoodLife@outlook.com.
Health fair to occur in Soldotna
Alaska Health Fair, Inc, a nonprofit that organizes health fairs throughout the state, will host an event this Friday and Saturday at Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna. The educational event will inform attendees about services provided by the American Cancer Society, Cook Inlet Counseling, Alaska Breast and Cervical Screening and other local health services.
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