Shaylon Cochran, KDLL - Kenai
Shaylon Cochran is a host and reporter at KDLL in Kenai. He’s reported on fishing, energy, agriculture and local politics since coming to Alaska in 2011. He has worked at KDLL/KBBI on the Kenai Peninsula, where he picked up lots of new hobbies, like smoking salmon, raising chickens, skiing and counting RV’s. He holds a bachelors degree in Journalism from Iowa State University.
Parnell Proposes Chinook Salmon Research Initiative
Governor Sean Parnell visited Kenai Wednesday to meet with local officials, mingle with residents and make a $30 million announcement. That’s the amount the Governor is proposing to spend on a five-year Chinook Salmon Research Initiative.
A New Paradigm: Salmon Task Force Meets In Soldotna
The Task Force organized in October to address issues related to the Department of Fish and Game’s king salmon management plan met for the first of four meetings Friday at Kenai Peninsula College.
Slow Vehicle Turnouts Planned For Sterling Highway Between Soldotna, Homer
The state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is developing a Highway Safety Improvement Program project that will construct Slow Vehicle Turnouts on the Sterling Highway. The project would add 22 of the turnouts to reduce injuries and fatalities between Soldotna and Bay Crest Hill in Homer.
FTC Investigation Into Hilcorp, Marathon Deal Closed
The energy company Hilcorp has announced another step toward finalizing its acquisition of Cook Inlet assets from Marathon. The transaction had been under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, but that investigation has closed and the deal will move forward as South Central Alaska braces for a possible natural gas shortage in the coming years.
Anthropologists Studying Subsistence-Based Economies
As modern development speeds toward some of the last truly subsistence-based economies and tribes in the world, researchers are working to better understand this way of life. Two anthropologists from Kenai Peninsula College have been working on a project just like that for the past two years and recently presented what they learned in Soldotna.
Hilcorp Gets Permits For Construction At Redoubt Bay
After concerns were raised about the safety of the Drift River storage facility located at the base of Mt. Redoubt, the energy company Hilcorp has started a project to ensure protection of the large oil tanks located there. But, the project first needed waivers from provisions of the Redoubt Bay Critical Habitat Management Plan.
Kenai River Flood Warning Extended Through Thursday
Flood waters have begun to recede in Seward and points north, but the National Weather Service has extended its flood warning for the Kenai River until Thursday. Flooding along the Kenai has been reported in several areas and forced road closures and evacuations.
Kenai Peninsula Incumbent Loses To Soldotna Mayor
After a long summer of heated campaigning, the Senate race on the Kenai Peninsula ended with the incumbent defeated. The winner, Soldotna Mayor Peter Micciche does not face a challenger in November.
Kenai King Concerns Prompt Disaster Declaration Request
The concerns over this year’s low return of king salmon to Cook Inlet have made it to the federal level. Governor Sean Parnell sent a letter to the Commerce Department last week seeking a federal disaster declaration for Cook Inlet fisheries.
No Relief In Sight For Cook Inlet Set Netters
Thursday’s meeting of the Board of Fisheries did little to offer relief to set netters on Cook Inlet’s east side. Presented with seven petitions asking for the chance to salvage the last few days of the sockeye season, the Board voted 5-2 to take no action.
Hilcorp To Reopen Drift River Terminal Oil Storage Facility
This spring, Hilcorp, Alaska announced plans to reopen the Drift River Terminal oil storage facility on the west side of Cook Inlet. Hilcorp’s announcement raised concerns about the safety of the terminal because it’s at the base of Redoubt Volcano. Calls have been made for construction of a pipeline to transfer oil to the east side of the Inlet for processing, most recently by the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council or CIRCAC.
Commercial Fishermen Rally For Change In Fishing Policies
Nearly 200 commercial set net fishermen from the east side of Cook Inlet gathered Friday with their families to rally support for a change in the policies that have allowed just three days of fishing so far this year.
Kenai King Fishing Shuts Down
As in many parts of the state, so far, 2012 has been a rough year for fishing on the Kenai Peninsula. Despite a healthy run of sockeye salmon to the Kenai River, king salmon fishing was shut down completely this week. The slow season is beginning to take its toll, and not just on the sport fishermen.
Soldotna Hold First Public Hearing On Coastal Zone Management Initiative
The first of 10 public hearings on the proposed Alaska Coastal Zone Management ballot Initiative took place Monday evening in Soldotna. After expiring in 2011, the state legislature failed to come to an agreement on terms to extend the previous management plan. The initiative will come before voters in August as Proposition Two.
AK: Ionia
Among thick spruce forests just a few miles offshore of Cook Inlet near, Kasilof about 40 people have been carving out their own version of an Alaskan life. It's called Ionia- not a commune exactly, but a place where residents can live a different kind of life. Now in its third decade on the Kenai Peninsula, the community continues to grow, and not just in numbers.
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Workforce Program Celebrates Anniversary
The All Alaska Workforce Initiative celebrated its one year anniversary earlier this week. The program is a joint venture between the state and federal Departments of Labor and seeks to put Alaskans to work...
Hilcorp Plans To Increase Cook Inlet Energy Production
After buying the legacy assets of Chevron in Cook Inlet – Hilcorp, Alaska is moving forward with plans to increase energy production in several fields there. Part of that plan includes reopening the Drift River Terminal Storage Facility at the base of Mt. Redoubt on the west side of Cook Inlet. But, an eruption of Redoubt in 2009 has many wondering about the wisdom of that plan.
Gas Storage Facility Opens In Kenai
Utility companies in Southcentral Alaska will enjoy a little more stability in their supply of natural gas this winter with the opening of a new $160 million storage facility in Kenai. Operated by Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska, or CINGSA, the new facility is the first of its kind in Alaska and will provide a buffer between the seasons of peak production and peak demand.
Fish And Game Announces Ninilchik River Restrictions
Last weekend was the King salmon opener on the Ninilchik River. Yesterday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announce new restrictions for the river after seeing lower than expected escapement numbers for Kings.
Officials Anticipate Similar Kenai Salmon Numbers To 2011
The Department of Fish and Game has announced the projected outlook for salmon runs on the Kenai Peninsula. The numbers look a lot like last year. Fish and Game is transitioning to a new method of counting salmon on the River and in the Upper Cook Inlet, which has left a lot of questions for both the commercial and sport fishing communities, who are returning from a rough year in 2011.