🌱 Why a Soldotna-backed child advocacy center was rejected in Juneau’s budget fight

Cheers Soldotna! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why a Soldotna-backed child advocacy center was rejected in Juneau’s budget fight
• Which Soldotna High wrestler just earned Alaska’s top excellence award?

Also on today's calendar: 2026 AKSAF Annual Meeting and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Friday: Snow and rain, up to 1", with a high of 39 and low of 27 degrees.
• Saturday: Mainly cloudy, temps: high: 44, low: 32.
• Sunday: A.M. rain; cloudy and chilly, with a high of 41 and low of 33 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

• Ruffridge Blasts House Budget After 'No' Vote, Says State Missed Chance to Cut Spending (radiokenai.com) — Soldotna residents are directly affected as Rep. Justin Ruffridge criticizes the new Alaska House budget and highlights a failed amendment that would have funded a child advocacy center serving the Kenai–Soldotna area. He argues the plan relies on volatile oil prices, lacks clear backup if revenues fall short, and doesn’t prioritize local public safety and child protection the way his constituents expect.
   

• Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award State Winners Announced (nwcaonline.com) — A Soldotna High School senior, Michael Dickinson, has been named Alaska’s winner of the prestigious Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, spotlighting both his wrestling success and academics. The national Wrestling Hall of Fame honor puts Soldotna on a national stage as state winners advance toward regional and national recognition later this month.
   

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📸 Around Soldotna

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Soldotna

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday April 17

• A Night of New Songs w/ Blackwater Railroad
  Main Street Tap & Grill, 10800 Kenai Spur Hwy, Kenai
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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Other local events

Wednesday April 22

• 2026 AKSAF Annual Meeting
  Soldotna Regional Sports Complex , 538 Arena Ave #8200 , Soldotna
  9:00 am
• Salmon Tales: Stories Told Live
  Cook Inletkeeper Central Peninsula Community Studio , 35911 Kenai Spur Hwy #13 , Soldotna
  6:00 pm

Monday April 27

• Soldotna JV Softball @ Kenai Central
  Kenai Central High School , 9583 Kenai Spur Hwy , Kenai
  6:00 pm

Tuesday April 28

• Soldotna Girls JV Soccer @ Kenai Central
  Kenai Central High School , 9583 Kenai Spur Hwy , Kenai
  1:00 pm
• Soldotna Boys JV Soccer @ Kenai Central
  Kenai Central High School , 9583 Kenai Spur Hwy , Kenai
  5:00 pm
• Soldotna Varsity Softball @ Kenai Central
  Kenai Central High School Athletic Track , 9583 Kenai Spur Hwy , Kenai
  5:00 pm

Friday May 1

• Kenai Peninsula Sport Rec & Trade Show
  Soldotna Regional Sports Complex , 538 Arena Ave #8200 , Soldotna
  9:30 am

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📣 Soldotna Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Friday April 17

• David Nevue in Concert - An Evening at the Piano - Kenai, AK
  Triumvirate North Theater , 475 Daubenspeck Rd , Kenai
  7:00 pm

Wednesday April 22

• Homer JV Softball @ Kenai Central
  Kenai Central High School Athletic Track , 9583 Kenai Spur Hwy , Kenai
  4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• ⚠️ Magnitude 3.2 earthquake reported
  Apr 15 at 4:55 AM AKDT: 3.2 magnitude earthquake occurred near Point Possession, Alaska. (Nextdoor )

• Kenai Peninsula Borough posted a job opening for Public Safety Dispatcher I in Soldotna. Apply here.
• Kroger posted a job opening for Bakery/Deli Clerk in Soldotna. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Soldotna here.

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🗞 Nearby News

Kenai

• Alaska House rejects Senate effort to impose corporate taxes on Hilcorp (alaskapublic.org)
• Kenai eyes vacant Challenger Center for potential public safety building (kbbi.org)
• How A Bowhunter Found His Trapping Niche (aksportingjournal.com)

Nikiski

• Different routes, same climb — Remembering my dad (Wicked Gravity) (dailycamera.com)
• DOT implements traffic diversion on Seward Highway after rock fall (alaskasnewssource.com)
• Wednesday Morning 04/15/2026 (kbbi.org)

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Ok Soldotna! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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